DeanSweetman.com » God’s Gifts and Calling http://deansweetman.com Sermons, Podcasts and Teachings to Live Your Best Life Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:55:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Dean Sweetman is Sr Pastor of the C3 Church with a campus in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He also serves as Executive Regional Overseer for C3 Americas. The Sweetmans moved to the USA in 1996 for the sole purpose of planting the Lawrenceville church. C3 Church currently serves the Atlanta community in a unique way through itís technology and charity work. Last year, Dean and Jill planted the C3 Church in Studio City, California. As Sr Pastors of both churches, they split their time between Atlanta and Studio City and have homes in both cities. Dean is a sought-after speaker in both church and business settings and an emerging author. His passionate and uncompromising preaching will inspire the most on-fire believer as challenge those who lack the fervor required to serve God. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA webmaster@christiancitychurch.com webmaster@christiancitychurch.com (C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA) C3 Atlanta Online with Dean Sweetman DeanSweetman.com » God’s Gifts and Calling http://audio.thec3church.com/podcasticon.jpg http://deansweetman.com/category/gods-gifts-and-calling/ The Four Rivers – The River of Anointing part 2 http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:01:35 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=568 The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? Do we store it in barns, afraid that we won’t have enough seed in the future? Or do we give the seed to God and let Him scatter it? God can do more with the little seed that we have then we could ever hope to dream of if we keep it stored away. God has promised time and again that whatever we give to Him, He will give back to us. And He has also shown that whatever we hold in our hands, refusing to let go for fear of loss, will be lost through the decay of time and death. No man on his death bed is happy that he clung to all his riches. No, he wishes more than anything that he had done something with that which he had obtained.

The River Gihon, as stated last week, is the River of the Anointing. It means “to burst forth.” When something bursts up, it flows out. God began with the River Pishon (increase) and the moved on to Gihon (anointing or flow). You first receive increase and then you let it go somewhere. There is no use having seed if it is not going to go anywhere. You can have it all–fame, fortune, the praise and accord of others–but it means nothing without the anointing that flows out into the world.

John 9 tells the tale of Jesus healing a blind man by placing mud on his eyes and telling him to “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” Siloam means “sent.” Siloam is also the spring of the River Gihon. Jesus sent the blind man on a mission to receive his healing. The blind man had to grope about, asking for help to find the spring of the sent. And it was there that he was healed. Gihon and Siloam are the River of the sent: those who are sent out on missions; those who are a part of other people’s miracles. Do you want to be a apart of someone’s miracle? Then GO! You don’t have to (and we strongly advise against this) put mud in people’s eyes. But speak well of them. Tell those in authority that their employees are the best! Help with your words and actions! And through that, people will receive their miracle.

Verses Used:
*Genesis 2: 13
*John 9:6 & 7
*I Kings 1: 32-35

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/feed/ 0 The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? Do we store it in barns, afraid that we won't have enough seed in the future? Or do we give the seed to God and let Him scatter it? God can do more with the little seed that we have then we could ever hope to dream of if we keep it stored away. God has promised time and again that whatever we give to Him, He will give back to us. And He has also shown that whatever we hold in our hands, refusing to let go for fear of loss, will be lost through the decay of time and death. No man on his death bed is happy that he clung to all his riches. No, he wishes more than anything that he had done something with that which he had obtained. The River Gihon, as stated last week, is the River of the Anointing. It means "to burst forth." When something bursts up, it flows out. God began with the River Pishon (increase) and the moved on to Gihon (anointing or flow). You first receive increase and then you let it go somewhere. There is no use having seed if it is not going to go anywhere. You can have it all--fame, fortune, the praise and accord of others--but it means nothing without the anointing that flows out into the world. John 9 tells the tale of Jesus healing a blind man by placing mud on his eyes and telling him to “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” Siloam means "sent." Siloam is also the spring of the River Gihon. Jesus sent the blind man on a mission to receive his healing. The blind man had to grope about, asking for help to find the spring of the sent. And it was there that he was healed. Gihon and Siloam are the River of the sent: those who are sent out on missions; those who are a part of other people's miracles. Do you want to be a apart of someone's miracle? Then GO! You don't have to (and we strongly advise against this) put mud in people's eyes. But speak well of them. Tell those in authority that their employees are the best! Help with your words and actions! And through that, people will receive their miracle. Verses Used: *Genesis 2: 13 *John 9:6 & 7 *I Kings 1: 32-35 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 29:21 The Four Rivers – The River of Anointing http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:34:25 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=564 The second river is the River Gihon–the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon – favor and blessing stay within God’s anointing and presence. King David’s son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, to symbolize the presence of God in his reign. Since Solomon did not ask for riches, but wisdom, God chose to bless Solomon – gifts come from blessing and His presence. Each of us has an anointing to be something or have something that God can use- the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or the gifts of faith, prophecy, miracles, etc. God anoints us to do His work as we stay in His presence, which can be found as we seek God in our private times, and more importantly, in the House of God as we come together in corporate worship, connecting ourselves to God. The anointing carries us onward and we need the presence of God to do what He is calling us to do, to handle the pressure of that call at times, and to anoint the ideas He gives us so they come to pass. The C3 church is not just a cool place to come worship & learn about God, the presence and anointing of the Lord have to be here or it would all come tumbling down like a house of cards. We need the anointing to fulfill the visions we receive while in His presence!

Isaiah 66 says the oil of joy replaces mourning,that praise relieves heaviness. Peace comes out of His presence, it changes our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit goes to work, making us different. Joshua gave us the greatest example of how going into the Temple, into the presence of God, set him apart from the rest of Israel, who stood outside their tent doors and watched the one man brave enough and wise enough to get literally into the presence of God. Because of Christ’s anointing to die on the Cross, we can now freely go into the House – the Presence – of the Lord, worship, serve and fulfill His call that is unique to each one of us. We don’t naturally know how to get into God’s presence, we have to choose like Joshua to get ourselves to church and connect in worship and the Word.

In Revelation 22:1-5 the apostle John writes about what he saw there in Heaven. He speaks of an angel showing him a pure, clear river running thru the main street, which had trees growing on either side. These trees were for the healing of the nations, and bore a different fruit once a month every twelve months. There is so much here – the river begins at the Throne of God, runs where everyone has access to it, and the fruit of it’s trees is not for us, it is for others, since God wants everyone to come into His Kingdom! He is a river without limit or end, He does not want us to segment off our lives into “Sunday I go to church, Monday through Saturday I live my life”, He truly wants to give us unlimited blessings – a different one every month if we are ready for it! Jesus follows up that thought when he said, “He who believes in Me, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) Meaning that LIFE comes from knowing and believing in all the blessing, favor, anointing and presence that God is freely offering us. Why would we not want to follow Him to the ends of the earth – He has everything we need to LIVE! His blessings are unlimited, His presence pulls us in and brings change to our lives. We can come out of that dry, dusty riverbed we have been living in and experience the full-on wetness of journeying with the Lord in the Four Rivers. Changes are instant and imminent – are you ready to move forward?
Verses Used:
*Genesis 2:13
*Exodus 33
*Isaiah 66
*John 7:38

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/09/25/the-four-rivers-the-river-of-anointing/feed/ 0 The second river is the River Gihon--the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon - favor and blessing stay within God's anointing and presence. King David's son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, The second river is the River Gihon--the river of anointing. The River Gihon branches off the River Pshon - favor and blessing stay within God's anointing and presence. King David's son, Solomon, was anointed king at the river Gihon with oil, to symbolize the presence of God in his reign. Since Solomon did not ask for riches, but wisdom, God chose to bless Solomon - gifts come from blessing and His presence. Each of us has an anointing to be something or have something that God can use- the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or the gifts of faith, prophecy, miracles, etc. God anoints us to do His work as we stay in His presence, which can be found as we seek God in our private times, and more importantly, in the House of God as we come together in corporate worship, connecting ourselves to God. The anointing carries us onward and we need the presence of God to do what He is calling us to do, to handle the pressure of that call at times, and to anoint the ideas He gives us so they come to pass. The C3 church is not just a cool place to come worship & learn about God, the presence and anointing of the Lord have to be here or it would all come tumbling down like a house of cards. We need the anointing to fulfill the visions we receive while in His presence! Isaiah 66 says the oil of joy replaces mourning,that praise relieves heaviness. Peace comes out of His presence, it changes our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit goes to work, making us different. Joshua gave us the greatest example of how going into the Temple, into the presence of God, set him apart from the rest of Israel, who stood outside their tent doors and watched the one man brave enough and wise enough to get literally into the presence of God. Because of Christ's anointing to die on the Cross, we can now freely go into the House - the Presence - of the Lord, worship, serve and fulfill His call that is unique to each one of us. We don't naturally know how to get into God's presence, we have to choose like Joshua to get ourselves to church and connect in worship and the Word. In Revelation 22:1-5 the apostle John writes about what he saw there in Heaven. He speaks of an angel showing him a pure, clear river running thru the main street, which had trees growing on either side. These trees were for the healing of the nations, and bore a different fruit once a month every twelve months. There is so much here - the river begins at the Throne of God, runs where everyone has access to it, and the fruit of it's trees is not for us, it is for others, since God wants everyone to come into His Kingdom! He is a river without limit or end, He does not want us to segment off our lives into "Sunday I go to church, Monday through Saturday I live my life", He truly wants to give us unlimited blessings - a different one every month if we are ready for it! Jesus follows up that thought when he said, "He who believes in Me, out of your belly will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) Meaning that LIFE comes from knowing and believing in all the blessing, favor, anointing and presence that God is freely offering us. Why would we not want to follow Him to the ends of the earth - He has everything we need to LIVE! His blessings are unlimited, His presence pulls us in and brings change to our lives. We can come out of that dry, dusty riverbed we have been living in and experience the full-on wetness of journeying with the Lord in the Four Rivers. Changes are instant and imminent - are you ready to move forward? Verses Used: *Genesis 2:13 *Exodus 33 *Isaiah 66 *John 7:38 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 34:49 Biblical Freedom http://deansweetman.com/2011/06/25/biblical-freedom/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/06/25/biblical-freedom/#comments Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:51:04 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=480 There has been some confusion over what it means to live as the Christians did in the New Testament—when the Holy Spirit came to earth—and Old Testament—when laws and rules were overruled. The Galatian church began in freedom but, after false teaching was introduced, was going back into bondage to the law. The laws of Moses were revered and adhered to by the Jews because they were readable and understandable, but they just weren’t doable! It was a comfort to know what God wanted, but the Israelites continually deviated from the law, becoming influenced by the numerous pagan cultures of lands they conquered. King David established Jerusalem under Jewish laws in a godly state of mind, but Solomon, his son, married pagan women & turned the people to those gods. By the time Jesus came, only a few “religious sects” like the Pharisees and Sadducees were following God, and they had added to the burden and bondage that the law brings upon those who try to follow it without grace.

Jesus sets us free from SIN, which is the slave-master of humanity. Sin slowly degrades and eats away at the conscience of a human being. We cover up, trying to cope with living under the world’s system. Then along comes Christ to shield, block, and destroy the power of sin. As we believe, at that moment we are released from bondage. Where the Spirit is, the truth is also! Galatians 5:16-18 says, “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?” These 2 natures that we grapple with—sin and Spirit— are bound by the world and bound by Christ.

Galations 5:19-21 continues the results of living in sin. We are led into bondage by not choosing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives to freedom. “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.” BUT as we look on to the next verses, we are told what it looks like to live & be led by the Spirit, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness & self-control” – the last one is the most important!! Respond in worship and prayer to convictions. When we’re worn down after allowing sin to rule us, prayer and worship lead us to strength to repent and become stronger.

When we give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to move freely, He will break the rules!! We struggle to stay free –even the apostle Peter got called out by Paul when he chose to stop fellowshipping with Gentiles once other important Jews came to the town they were both in at the time. Religion may make us FEEL spiritual, but it’s a counterfeit and does NOT set us free! Sin has no power over us when we’re led by the Spirit. The law exposes sin, but we can never get to God thru obeying the law—only thru Jesus and the Holy Spirit and not by the works we do. There is a constant fight within all humanity between the flesh and the Spirit to do the right thing or the thing we WANT to do. Only the life-giving, freedom-loving Holy Spirit, who can’t be contained, brings pure, real, total freedom! He obliterates what we think God should or should not be doing. We know we are being led by the Spirit when His fruits show up in our lives (while the fruit of religion is hypocrisy -the thing that set Jesus off the most!)

This week we are going to be led into a new level of freedom during the Encounter conference. There is a response to the conviction of the Spirit, to repentance and letting go—let it flow through you!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/06/25/biblical-freedom/feed/ 2 What We Have In Christ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/08/what-we-have-in-christ/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/08/what-we-have-in-christ/#comments Sun, 08 May 2011 16:51:53 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=465 Ever imagine what is was like back in the beginning, when the church was still new, and the term “Christian” was not in use? Oh, the stories the believers of that day could tell! When we get to Heaven, we’ll get to ask, “What was it like?” But then, they will ask us, “What about you? What was it like for you?” What will you say then?

So the question must be asked…how do you live the gospel in 2011? It is almost easy to say, “Well, it was easier for the early church to live the gospel, they were starting it out!” But the sad truth is, too many Christians struggle with being Children of God because they have forgotten what Jesus died to give us. Jesus died to open a way–Christianity was first known as “The Way”–for us to reconnect with God! But what does that mean? What is it that Jesus gave us?

Sit back, because it’s time for a refresher:

First off, Jesus saved us from sin and eternal death. I John 3:4-6 states that all who believe in Christ are saved; all who do not, are not. Acts 2–Peter’s powerful message at Pentecost was a declaration: Salvation comes through the name of Jesus Christ! And Acts 4: Peter and John stand up to the Pharisees to declare the truth–Jesus is the only way. Jesus is the only way to be saved from sin and death!

Secondly, Jesus saved us from a wretched, unfulfilled life! He brought peace into our chaos! His presence is with us always, filling us with His love and life. He brings His light into our darkness, driving away the chaos of the world, and brining His order. Jesus’ name is Emmanuel, which means “God with us!” Jesus died to be with us! Thus, His very presence drives out the essence of the world that makes life so hallow.

Jesus’ death brought us assurance and stability! Which the world is running about in a panic–I don’t have enough money; I’m going to loose my house; I need to have these clothes; I have to buy that car; I need; I need; I need!–we stand firm on the promise that God is our provider. He will take care of all our needs. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” God’s promises are eternal; everything God gives is eternal. The things of this world are temporary; the things of the Kingdom are eternal! We build our lives on God promises (the house on the stone); when the storms of life come, we stand strong. Safe. Stable.

One of the best results of Jesus’ death and resurrection is that He droves away all fear! The entire Bible–Old and New–is full of God’s assurance that we have nothing to fear because He is with us! Jesus affirmed it. Matthew 6, again, He is urging us not to fear, for we are more precious to Him then all of creation. Do not be afraid! I’m here with you! It is going to be great!

In Christ, we have the Kingdom in us! The Kingdom is not an invading force; it is not a conquering army of men; it is the Power that destroys all that the devil is forcing upon the world. Where he brings chaos, the Kingdom brings peace. Where there is hate, the Kingdom brings love. Where there is selfishness, the Kingdom brings selfless service (service that gains rewards in Heaven–another perk!) When the world stands divided, the Kingdom stands united! And with the Kingdom in us, we have the authority to speak God’s will into existence! John 3:16 makes God’s will very clear. It is His will that no one should perish. We have the power to make that happen. We speak God’s will into existence through prayer and proclaiming His Word. And His will changes peoples’ lives!

When you know what Jesus died for, when it dawns on you, then everything clicks into place. And when everything clicks, you understand who you are! We are the Children of God! And when we bring the Kingdom into the world with humility and authority, lives change.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/08/what-we-have-in-christ/feed/ 0 Ever imagine what is was like back in the beginning, when the church was still new, and the term "Christian" was not in use? Oh, the stories the believers of that day could tell! When we get to Heaven, we'll get to ask, "What was it like?" But then, Ever imagine what is was like back in the beginning, when the church was still new, and the term "Christian" was not in use? Oh, the stories the believers of that day could tell! When we get to Heaven, we'll get to ask, "What was it like?" But then, they will ask us, "What about you? What was it like for you?" What will you say then? So the question must be asked...how do you live the gospel in 2011? It is almost easy to say, "Well, it was easier for the early church to live the gospel, they were starting it out!" But the sad truth is, too many Christians struggle with being Children of God because they have forgotten what Jesus died to give us. Jesus died to open a way--Christianity was first known as "The Way"--for us to reconnect with God! But what does that mean? What is it that Jesus gave us? Sit back, because it's time for a refresher: First off, Jesus saved us from sin and eternal death. I John 3:4-6 states that all who believe in Christ are saved; all who do not, are not. Acts 2--Peter's powerful message at Pentecost was a declaration: Salvation comes through the name of Jesus Christ! And Acts 4: Peter and John stand up to the Pharisees to declare the truth--Jesus is the only way. Jesus is the only way to be saved from sin and death! Secondly, Jesus saved us from a wretched, unfulfilled life! He brought peace into our chaos! His presence is with us always, filling us with His love and life. He brings His light into our darkness, driving away the chaos of the world, and brining His order. Jesus' name is Emmanuel, which means "God with us!" Jesus died to be with us! Thus, His very presence drives out the essence of the world that makes life so hallow. Jesus' death brought us assurance and stability! Which the world is running about in a panic--I don't have enough money; I'm going to loose my house; I need to have these clothes; I have to buy that car; I need; I need; I need!--we stand firm on the promise that God is our provider. He will take care of all our needs. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." God's promises are eternal; everything God gives is eternal. The things of this world are temporary; the things of the Kingdom are eternal! We build our lives on God promises (the house on the stone); when the storms of life come, we stand strong. Safe. Stable. One of the best results of Jesus' death and resurrection is that He droves away all fear! The entire Bible--Old and New--is full of God's assurance that we have nothing to fear because He is with us! Jesus affirmed it. Matthew 6, again, He is urging us not to fear, for we are more precious to Him then all of creation. Do not be afraid! I'm here with you! It is going to be great! In Christ, we have the Kingdom in us! The Kingdom is not an invading force; it is not a conquering army of men; it is the Power that destroys all that the devil is forcing upon the world. Where he brings chaos, the Kingdom brings peace. Where there is hate, the Kingdom brings love. Where there is selfishness, the Kingdom brings selfless service (service that gains rewards in Heaven--another perk!) When the world stands divided, the Kingdom stands united! And with the Kingdom in us, we have the authority to speak God's will into existence! John 3:16 makes God's will very clear. It is His will that no one should perish. We have the power to make that happen. We speak God's will into existence through prayer and proclaiming His Word. And His will changes peoples' lives! When you know what Jesus died for, when it dawns on you, then everything clicks into place. And when everything clicks, you understand who you are! We are the Children of God! And when we bring the Kingdom into the world with humility and authority, lives change. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 30:38 Spiritual Maturity http://deansweetman.com/2010/11/21/spiritual-maturity/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/11/21/spiritual-maturity/#comments Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:54:49 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=378 Ephesians 4:7-17 (NLT): However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

There comes a time in the growth of a church where it becomes less about getting new people into the House and more about GROWING the people you already have. People discover who they are and what they can do in the growth. The key to growing is willingness. God can do anything with a heart that is willing.

God has a big pan for the earth. Ephesians four talks a lot about this plan. Verses seven and eight outline it quite nicely. God wants to fill the universe with Jesus. How can He do that? Through His people. However, His people need to be willing to grow or to become mature.

Christian maturity is when we attain the stature of Christ. Back up. We can attain the stature of Christ on earth? Yep. But how? Paul tells us. Continuing through verses 9 to sixteen, Paul outlines what it means to be mature in Christ.

The first step is developing ourselves to the place where we know the Spirit is in us and we flow with Him. This means we are no longer thrown in confusion by the “winds of the world.” This means new philosophies that challenge our faith do nothing to us. We know who we are, we know what we believe, and we know where we are going. That knowledge, that place of pure faith and trust in God is the foundation for the stature of Christ.

The second step is the ability to reign in the tongue. Paul calls it “speaking with love.” We are able to halt what we want to say–things we know we will regret later but feel right in the moment of emotional turmoil–and speak the Words of the Spirit instead. An undisciplined tongue comes from an undisciplined minds and underdeveloped emotions. By submitting to the Spirit, we subject our minds to Him and allow Him to take us through the necessary GROWTH that leads to the ability to reign in the tongue.

The third step is the commitment to growth. This is, perhaps, the hardest, for commitment equates submission. We set aside our pride 24/7 and listen to the correction of the Spirit. This means being willing to be corrected even when you think you know everything there is to know about a situation. Humbling yourself before God and being willing to listen to Him are key. He can do ANYTHING with a person who is in this state.

God wants to take imperfect people and use them as a force–with Him at the Head–to fill the universe with Jesus. He is seeking the mature church. A church that knows who they are, has control of their words, and are willing and humble before Him. Then, and here is the kicker, Jesus makes His Body PERFECT! He creates His Body. And His will is accomplished…PERFECTLY!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/11/21/spiritual-maturity/feed/ 0 Ephesians 4:7-17 (NLT): However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, - “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people. Ephesians 4:7-17 (NLT): However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. There comes a time in the growth of a church where it becomes less about getting new people into the House and more about GROWING the people you already have. People discover who they are and what they can do in the growth. The key to growing is willingness. God can do anything with a heart that is willing. God has a big pan for the earth. Ephesians four talks a lot about this plan. Verses seven and eight outline it quite nicely. God wants to fill the universe with Jesus. How can He do that? Through His people. However, His people need to be willing to grow or to become mature. Christian maturity is when we attain the stature of Christ. Back up. We can attain the stature of Christ on earth? Yep. But how? Paul tells us. Continuing through verses 9 to sixteen, Paul outlines what it means to be mature in Christ. The first step is developing ourselves to the place where we know the Spirit is in us and we flow with Him. This means we are no longer thrown in confusion by the "winds of the world." This means new philosophies that challenge our faith do nothing to us. We know who we are, we know what we believe, and we know where we are going. That knowledge, that place of pure faith and trust in God is the foundation for the stature of Christ. The second step is the ability to reign in the tongue. Paul calls it "speaking with love." We are able to halt what we want to say--things we know we will regret later but feel right in the moment of emotional turmoil--and speak the Words of the Spirit instead. An undisciplined tongue comes from an undisciplined minds and underdeveloped emotions. By submitting to the Spirit, we subject our minds to Him and allow Him to take us through the necessary GROWTH that leads to the ability to reign in the tongue. The third step is the commitment to growth. This is, perhaps, the hardest, for commitment equates submission. We set aside our pride 24/7 and listen to the correction of the Spirit. This means being willing to be corrected even when you think you know everything there is to know about a situation. Humbling yourself before God and being willing to listen to Him are key. He can do ANYTHING with a person who is in this state. God wants to take imperfect people and use them as a force--with Him at the Head--to fill the universe with Jesus. He is seeking the mature church. A church that knows who they are, has control of their words, and are willing and humble before Him. Then, and here is the kicker, Jesus makes His Body PERFECT! C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 48:07 Now http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/15/now/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/15/now/#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:23:35 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=306 Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT): When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

God offers us a big life! It is a life filled with big dreams and big opportunities! He is a God of BIG plans! He encourages us to think bigger, to act smarter, to see further, and to come up higher so that we can catch a glimpse of hat He has planned for us and what He says about us! However, this BIG PLAN must be balanced with a reality check. God wants us to look to HIS plans while also being mindful of the present. He wants us to focus on the here and now!

Where do you want to go in God? What is the big dream He has placed inside of you? Why aren’t you there yet? When we focus on the future, we neglect the present–a present that has problems that need to be addressed. Take inventory of your life. You dream of a great marriage; how is you marriage right now? You dream of owning a thriving business; how is your business right now? There are details in the present that must be addressed before the BIG LIFE God has for you can come to pass.

Don’t fret, though. We are all a work in progress. We all lack. We all want to be better, to be what God wants us to be; however, we lack the ability to do so. Don’t focus on what you don’t have, least you get down on yourself and begin to think about what YOU can do to fix it. That leads to a work’s mindset, and a work’s mindset is dangerous territory. Focus on GOD! God has more than enough to meet where you leave off! God never lacks.

As Paul wrote in the above passage, God has unlimited resources! If you want to love, He gives you love. If you want faith, He gives you faith! He wants you to work at it. He plants the seed so that you can work it and grow it, but He is always there to help feed the seed! Whatever you don’t have, GOD has for you.

It is hard to believe in a BIG GOD when life gets hard. Finances get tight. Prayers don’t get answered. Relationships fall apart. Suddenly, feels God is a million miles away and the Bible becomes bland. How do you cope in this sort of situation? How do you apply the promises of God when all hell is breaking loose? You go back to the place where you trusted God. There, as Paul writes, you find the inner strength given to you by the Holy Spirit. Ask God to reveal that strength to you.

The BIG LIFE is out there! But there will be moments in your world that will so radically test your resolve that all you can do is cling to the inner strength and wait! You CHOOSE to wait! Choice is the key. Choose now to hold on! Choose now to make that change. Choose now to work on your marriage. Do it NOW! And when the good days come, strengthen your relationship with Christ. He will become more and more at home in your heart. Then, when the chaos of life swoops in, you will be strengthened to stand against it. With Jesus by your side and the strength of the Holy Spirit inside you, you will have the ability o pursue you dreams!

So, choose now! Choose now to pursue the BIG LIFE God has for you. And choose now to hold onto the strength of the Spirit inside you. Choose now!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/15/now/feed/ 3 Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT): When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT): When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. God offers us a big life! It is a life filled with big dreams and big opportunities! He is a God of BIG plans! He encourages us to think bigger, to act smarter, to see further, and to come up higher so that we can catch a glimpse of hat He has planned for us and what He says about us! However, this BIG PLAN must be balanced with a reality check. God wants us to look to HIS plans while also being mindful of the present. He wants us to focus on the here and now! Where do you want to go in God? What is the big dream He has placed inside of you? Why aren't you there yet? When we focus on the future, we neglect the present--a present that has problems that need to be addressed. Take inventory of your life. You dream of a great marriage; how is you marriage right now? You dream of owning a thriving business; how is your business right now? There are details in the present that must be addressed before the BIG LIFE God has for you can come to pass. Don't fret, though. We are all a work in progress. We all lack. We all want to be better, to be what God wants us to be; however, we lack the ability to do so. Don't focus on what you don't have, least you get down on yourself and begin to think about what YOU can do to fix it. That leads to a work's mindset, and a work's mindset is dangerous territory. Focus on GOD! God has more than enough to meet where you leave off! God never lacks. As Paul wrote in the above passage, God has unlimited resources! If you want to love, He gives you love. If you want faith, He gives you faith! He wants you to work at it. He plants the seed so that you can work it and grow it, but He is always there to help feed the seed! Whatever you don't have, GOD has for you. It is hard to believe in a BIG GOD when life gets hard. Finances get tight. Prayers don't get answered. Relationships fall apart. Suddenly, feels God is a million miles away and the Bible becomes bland. How do you cope in this sort of situation? How do you apply the promises of God when all hell is breaking loose? You go back to the place where you trusted God. There, as Paul writes, you find the inner strength given to you by the Holy Spirit. Ask God to reveal that strength to you. The BIG LIFE is out there! But there will be moments in your world that will so radically test your resolve that all you can do is cling to the inner strength and wait! You CHOOSE to wait! Choice is the key. Choose now to hold on! Choose now to make that change. Choose now to work on your marriage. Do it NOW! And when the good days come, strengthen your relationship with Christ. He will become more and more at home in your heart. Then, when the chaos of life swoops in, you will be strengthened to stand against it. With Jesus by your side and the strength of the Holy Spirit inside you, you will have the ability o pursue you dreams! So, choose now! Choose now to pursue the BIG LIFE God has for you. And choose now to hold onto the strength of the Spirit inside you. Choose now! C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 33:13 Making Disciples http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:37:51 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=268 Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There is a big difference between being a believer and a disciple. Most people probably don’t stop and really think about this. Most people probably picture a bearded man in sandals when the hear the word disciple. What’s more, most people probably tend to think that the end of their faith journey culminates in their belief, in their salvation moment. A lifetime spent away from God pivots upon the events of one morning, wherein a person’s heart becomes inexplicably soft—by a pointed sermon or a moment of worship or even the power withheld in the very name of Jesus himself—they respond to that altar call, confess their sins, give their life to Christ, and then for many, they’re done. Not so for the disciple.

Getting saved by Jesus is the easiest task one could ever hope to perform. One doesn’t have to accomplish anything by their own cleverness or effort. One doesn’t need to do anything period. Except surrender their pride and accept the gift. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who is doing the saving anyway. It’s his work to his glory; not yours. Consider it this way: if salvation were the goal for humanity, if it alone was the charge of the Great Commission, then Scripture would read, “Go into all the world and save people.” Instead it reads, “make disciples of all nations.” Disciples, unlike Christians, are not born. They are made.

Concerning the passage from Matthew above, before the charge to his disciples to go make more disciples, Jesus commands the remaining eleven to go to “the mountain” in Galilee. Scholars have debated to which Galilean mountain he directed them. Some have argued that it was perhaps Mt. Carmel, where Elijah slew the false prophets of Baal. Others have suggested Mt. Table. I personally believe that it was Mt. Hermon, a coastal mountain overlooking Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had once taken his disciples and proclaimed “I will build my church” (Matthew 16: 13-20). It is this same mountain that Peter, James, John, and Jesus ascend in Matthew 17, where the Lord appears transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. Mt. Hermon is, in short, a significant site to the disciples, and thus likely the one mentioned in this week’s passage.

So here Jesus takes all eleven disciples and, overlooking the pagan colony of Caesarea Philippi and all the sinners within, he commands, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” What, then, is the difference between the saved and the disciples? For one thing, discipleship is necessarily beyond salvation. It’s the next, big step in one’s faith walk. Again, being saved is easy; becoming a disciple, on the other hand, takes work. It takes, according to this passage, first being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, this naturally constitutes an actual physical water baptism by which one publicly and symbolically demonstrates their physical death and rebirth in Christ, but it also suggests that we are to be baptized in the name, or, in other words, immersed in the spirit of God. God has a hand in our salvation, to be sure, but He also guides us toward discipleship after He finally gets His hands on our lives.

We must get out of His way so that He may do so, however. One must never underestimate the power of his own will. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the spirit of God “cannot ravish. He can only woo.” So if the God of Heaven, who merely spoke the cosmos into existence, can approach the door of your spirit but cannot (or rather, will not) force His way through, then we can conclude that a man’s will is a strangely powerful thing. So to become a disciple, finally, we must allow God to take our hand and lead us deeper into Himself. Once this happens, we’ll begin to feel convicted about our sin. We’ll begin to actually want to spend time in prayer, in worship, and in the Word. Getting saved, you see, cleanses our spirit but doesn’t change our bad habits or attitudes. Going deeper into God’s teachings and truths is what ultimately transforms our lives from believers to disciples. We begin to talk differently, act differently. We begin, in short, to live our faith as well as believe it.

A challenge facing Christianity today is that we have a great many Christians and too few disciples. We need more disciples in the kingdom, more Christians walking out, not just believing in, their faith. If the original eleven disciples multiplied and, in time, transformed the the Roman Empire from a land of unrestrained paganism to the site of the early Church, how much more of an impact will a kingdom of disciples have today? Certainly have we more than eleven disciples at the present moment. Our focus, then, as a Church should be to foster a community of discipleship, and not belief only.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/feed/ 3 Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been g... Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." There is a big difference between being a believer and a disciple. Most people probably don’t stop and really think about this. Most people probably picture a bearded man in sandals when the hear the word disciple. What's more, most people probably tend to think that the end of their faith journey culminates in their belief, in their salvation moment. A lifetime spent away from God pivots upon the events of one morning, wherein a person’s heart becomes inexplicably soft—by a pointed sermon or a moment of worship or even the power withheld in the very name of Jesus himself—they respond to that altar call, confess their sins, give their life to Christ, and then for many, they’re done. Not so for the disciple. Getting saved by Jesus is the easiest task one could ever hope to perform. One doesn’t have to accomplish anything by their own cleverness or effort. One doesn’t need to do anything period. Except surrender their pride and accept the gift. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who is doing the saving anyway. It’s his work to his glory; not yours. Consider it this way: if salvation were the goal for humanity, if it alone was the charge of the Great Commission, then Scripture would read, “Go into all the world and save people.” Instead it reads, “make disciples of all nations.” Disciples, unlike Christians, are not born. They are made. Concerning the passage from Matthew above, before the charge to his disciples to go make more disciples, Jesus commands the remaining eleven to go to “the mountain” in Galilee. Scholars have debated to which Galilean mountain he directed them. Some have argued that it was perhaps Mt. Carmel, where Elijah slew the false prophets of Baal. Others have suggested Mt. Table. I personally believe that it was Mt. Hermon, a coastal mountain overlooking Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had once taken his disciples and proclaimed “I will build my church” (Matthew 16: 13-20). It is this same mountain that Peter, James, John, and Jesus ascend in Matthew 17, where the Lord appears transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. Mt. Hermon is, in short, a significant site to the disciples, and thus likely the one mentioned in this week’s passage. So here Jesus takes all eleven disciples and, overlooking the pagan colony of Caesarea Philippi and all the sinners within, he commands, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” What, then, is the difference between the saved and the disciples? For one thing, discipleship is necessarily beyond salvation. It’s the next, big step in one’s faith walk. Again, being saved is easy; becoming a disciple, on the other hand, takes work. It takes, according to this passage, first being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, this naturally constitutes an actual physical water baptism by which one publicly and symbolically demonstrates their physical death and rebirth in Christ, but it also suggests that we are to be baptized in the name, or, in other words, immersed in the spirit of God. God has a hand in our salvation, to be sure, but He also guides us toward discipleship after He finally gets His hands on our lives. We must get out of His way so that He may do so, however. One must never underestimate the power of his own will. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the spirit of God “cannot ravish. He can only woo.” So if the God of Heaven, who merely spoke the cosmos into existence, C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 35:12 The Power of God http://deansweetman.com/2010/04/18/the-power-of-god/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/04/18/the-power-of-god/#comments Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:48:54 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=241 John 1:3-5: (NLT) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Vision is what drives us. If we don’t have vision, we go nowhere. As a man thinks, so he becomes.

You can only go so far without Divine power. Man’s wisdom only goes so far. When we reach our limits, and don’t want to accept defeat, we need to go to prayer. The only thing that can do anything is God, and we have his power inside of us when we give our live to Christ. There is nothing more powerful spiritually than when you give your heart to God.

The doorway into the power of God is the understanding of the promises of God- the Bible. If you don’t understand the words of God, then you will not understand the power of God. It is our job to get into the Bible, and get to know what God says about our lives. Stuff is going to happen in our lives; we are going to get challenged. We need to put the promises from the Bible into practice in our lives. When we step over into the supernatural, we are unstoppable.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/04/18/the-power-of-god/feed/ 0 John 1:3-5: (NLT) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:3-5: (NLT) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. Vision is what drives us. If we don’t have vision, we go nowhere. As a man thinks, so he becomes. You can only go so far without Divine power. Man’s wisdom only goes so far. When we reach our limits, and don’t want to accept defeat, we need to go to prayer. The only thing that can do anything is God, and we have his power inside of us when we give our live to Christ. There is nothing more powerful spiritually than when you give your heart to God. The doorway into the power of God is the understanding of the promises of God- the Bible. If you don’t understand the words of God, then you will not understand the power of God. It is our job to get into the Bible, and get to know what God says about our lives. Stuff is going to happen in our lives; we are going to get challenged. We need to put the promises from the Bible into practice in our lives. When we step over into the supernatural, we are unstoppable. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 24:41 How to Discover God’s Gifts and Calling http://deansweetman.com/2007/08/16/how-to-discover-gods-gifts-and-calling/ http://deansweetman.com/2007/08/16/how-to-discover-gods-gifts-and-calling/#comments Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:54:17 +0000 Dean http://deanandjill.com/2007/08/16/how-to-discover-gods-gifts-and-calling/ If you want to birth anything, you birth it in PRAYER.

Birthing anything, especially a church, takes commitment and a willingness to serve, whatever the need. There are many “things” that make a church run…not just “your thing”. When someone asks you to do something that is not your thing, that is your moment to choose. Are you going to be a source of division in the church or are you going to help bring that “thing” together?

God used the unlikely to grow the early church. Stephen and Phillip cared for the poor and the widows in the early church. They were the food bringers, not the apostles preaching the gospel to the masses or the ones “on the stage” that everyone noticed.

But, when it came down to it, God used them to bring about an explosion of the faith. Philip birthed a revival in a Gentile land. Stephen’s death inspired Christians to prayer and boldness. God used them because of their hearts, and made them leaders because they were willing to put their pride aside and serve God in whatever way He asked them to. You go nowhere with God if you serve in the house to be seen. If you want to do something in the house, then you need to be prepared to feed the widows.

Being a leader is about taking control and taking people to the next level. It is also about training people up to do that thing that is yours. Good leaders train, empower and release people to do things even better than they do. Thats the only way to grow something.

For example, it is not the pastor’s job to grow the church. It is his job to lead and empower the body so that they can go out, minister, reach others and bring them into the house.

There are 3 main things to look for in a leader:

1-Respect on the inside and outside – Leaders are people that have their lives together. They understand that it isn’t what you do in public that defines who you are. It is how you live your life when no one is watching.

2-Filled with the holy spirit

3-Wisdom – Leaders know its not about the glory of man. They know that when we do things for God to see we will get a glimpse of the glory of God. Thats true leadership

It’s not always about the calling of God; its also about the gifting. God gives us gifts that he wants us to use for Him. If our hearts are right, he will bring us into the full manifestation of those gifts. Don’t get hung up on “your calling.” Just because you are over one ministry, doesn’t mean that you won’t preach the word or reach the world. But you have to be wiling to serve the need now and show God that He has your heart. It’s not about your ministry, it’s about the move of God, and God moves through those whose hearts are open and soft towards Him.

When your heart is soft, you can hear the voice of God and sense the instruction of the Holy Spirit. Understand the voice of the Holy Spirit. Be obedient and move! It’s not about your calling, its about church growth. If you are willing to serve the house, you will find your calling. Once you decide that you are all in, things will begin to happen.

Discover who you are in the house by serving. The most important parts of the body are the ones you can’t see. The heart carries the body, which is the church.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2007/08/16/how-to-discover-gods-gifts-and-calling/feed/ 3