Soil

Much of what we produce in our personal ministries is brought about from where we're planted. Where we decide to plant our roots needs to not be taken lightly. We need to approach the matter with much prayer and follow only the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, where we're planted and what we're planted in will be the reason for the success or failure of our ministries.

Different Types of Soils:

1. Content Soil
    -This soil once had a fire and a spark to it, but it's been burnt out for decades. It has an impeccable legacy, but no clear future. People are happy staying in the soil because of the name that is built on top of it. There's no stirring, no moving, just content people sitting in lukewarm soil.

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 2. Abusive Soil
     -This soil doesn't do much, but talk. They like a "good, hard preaching," and they like to judge others for not being as 'Holy' as they are. In their heart-of-hearts they don't feel like they're being judgmental at all. They feel like they've been given marching orders and they're obeying. However, the orders have no vision, no passion and they are left to wander. They are following a man instead of a King.

3. Guilty Soil
    -This soil has taken up residence in your mind rather than your heart. It continually tells you that you're a sinner and you could never possibly do any good for the Kingdom of God. This soil makes you believe the lie that you have to carry your sins, and therefore, paralyzes your ministry and your spiritual growth.

4. Busy Soil
    -This soil knows how to throw a good party, while doing prison ministry, nursing home outreach and service to local homeless shelter. It delivers babies on the weekend and builds sweet old sister Sue a shed in her backyard. This soil is spread too thin and worried too much about disappointing others than they are about pleasing the Lord. Yes, the work is good work, but the motive is in vain. No one can be useful when they have too much to handle.

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5. God-given Soil
    -This soil is unique. No two soils are the same, and if God isn't the one to lead you to this soil, you won't grow. This soil is personalized, fertilized and cultivated for the obedient. This soil is easy and light. Roots are able to be formed immediately and fruit is seen instantaneously.

Crazy things happen when people find 'their Soil'.
If you find yourself in one of the above 'Soil's' that isn't #5, you need to be praying about how God can get you to #5. Look at where you are and how effective you're being. Are your gifts recognized, are they being put to work, are you seeing results...does anyone even know you're in the pew?

My wife and I found our 'Soil' in REACH. Crazy things are happening, and unbelievable fruit is beginning to blossom. Take your step of faith and search out where you'll be able to grow.

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Become what "They" need

 Christ's mission on earth was to "seek and save the lost." His mission for us is to go into all nations with the gospel so that all may hear and have the opportunity to know Him. Although churches across this country have multimillion dollar facilities, eloquent preachers and an outreach program...what are they really accomplishing?
Even with all of these state-of-the-art amenities, churches are closing their doors by the thousands. People aren't interested in buying what the churches are selling anymore. People have grown tired of the show and are hungry for more.

Just because we go to church on Sunday morning, and some on Wednesday nights, doesn't mean that we're fulfilling what God has called us to do.

Think about it:
1. Are you being used?
    -Are your gifts realized and put to maximum work for the furtherance of the Kingdom? Or are you comfortable listening to a message and going home, never to open your Bible until next Sunday?
2. Are you continually being pushed?
    -Are you always being pushed to search God's heart more deeply, more intimately, more passionately? Are you able to get enough of His word?
3. Are you changing?
    -Are your thoughts, actions, perspective, circumstances, opinions, etc. changing to a more Christ-centered direction?
4. Are you reaching people with His word?
    -How many people were you able to lead to Christ last year...this year? How many people were you able to minister to?
5. Are you being taught?
    -Are you being taught and guided how to accomplish all of the above? Does the church you attend care for your spiritual-man? Are they investing in you in order to reach more?

We are not called to be like the world. In fact, the Bible states in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV) So how do we reach a world that doesn't act like us?

We have to understand them. We have to search their hurt and desire full restoration of their heart. If we cannot find common ground with people we will be unable to reach them with the truth they're so desperately looking for.

1 Cor 9:22 "To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some." (HCSB)
Our heart must be so set to searching out the lost that we become their weakness, their hurt, their worthlessness in order to understand where they are and how they need to receive the Word.

This great nation was built on those very principles. Even our Statue of Liberty has an inscription reading,
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

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 The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom. To the immigrants coming in trough Ellis Island, she was hope. She was a dream of a better tomorrow; a savior.
Our great country has forgotten this, and our churches have forgotten the true message and calling of Christ.

Are you being used, prepared and encouraged to be everything you need to be in order to fulfill the mission Christ has called you to do? Are we reaching people with a genuine love and hunger to seek actual transformation? Are we willing to fight for the truth at all cost?

Give me the hungry, homeless, displaced, exhausted, disgusted, too-far-gone.
Give me the unlovable and allow me to show them true love.

Love for Fellow Man

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The complete disregard for human life was astonishing and sickening.
Today we remember 11 million innocent people who lost their lives because of the evil that swept through Germany.

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 As followers of Christ we are commanded to love one another.
However, I feel we as Americans, have lost the compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters. Instead we protect the liars and fakes, we exalt the immoral and unrighteous and we encourage what continues to corrupt our families. We are giving into the same sins that ultimately lead to the happenings at Auschwitz.

You may think that our sins of immorality pale in comparison to what took place during the Holocaust.
Rev. Billy Graham stated,
"It is always difficult and dangerous to attempt to list sins according to their degree of seriousness. In one sense, all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God. The Bible’s statement, “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23), applies to all sin, whether in thought, word, or deed.

At the same time, it seems obvious that some sins are worse than others in both motivation and effects, and should be judged accordingly. Stealing a loaf of bread is vastly different than exterminating a million people. Sins may also differ at their root." Quote Credit

So you may have not killed millions of people, but the root of your sin is still evil. In 1 John 3:15-16 it says, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (ESV)
Your thoughts and your intentions of hate are considered murder in the eyes of God.

I'm calling for this nation, our churches, our families to rethink morality vs. political correctness. Do we want to ride the fence and let evil continue to speak over our lives in order to preserve our comfort zones? Or are we made for something more?

Last time I checked, I was made to break boundaries, speak truth, ignite passion, inspire change and reinvent what it means to humbly serve a Risen Savior.

Colossians 3:12-15 says, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (ESV)

Put on love. Exalt forgiveness and offer it freely. Encourage morality and whose who humbly follow and seek after God's Word.

We were made for more than what we're being.
Be more!

Fear for Freedom?

In today's politically correct world, we are often stifled as believers to keep all of our opinions to ourselves. Even in the churches we are told to suppress our true thoughts on Biblical topics that are otherwise unsavory in order to preserve the comfort of the masses. 
(i.e. They want their pews to remain filled!)

We are called to be genuine and forthright with the Word of God and with the urgency in which the writers of the gospels had. Today there are but a precious few of genuine character. We ought to seek after these people, encourage them, learn their boldness and the source of it.

"For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should." (Ephesians 6:20 HCSB)
We, as believers, are given power and authority that most Christian's never tap into. We are told to pray for boldness, for God expects it.

He knew that speaking the truth would be difficult for us, which is why He sent His Son. Jesus spoke boldly and gave His life for it! We are called to the same purpose. Our mission is not easy, but our purpose is eternal.

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Luke 10:19 says, "Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you." (HCSB)

-Stay with me now.

I'm not saying to go and dance with snakes...this is metaphorical, meaning that even in the craziest of situations when we feel evil itself coming up against us, that we have God-given Authority through Jesus Christ to overpower all. Nothing can harm us.

Let's speak boldly, intentionally, genuinely...
Let's encourage other believers to do the same.

Who knows, maybe we'll change the world...

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 HCSB)

Starting Anew

Blessings!

I am Pastor Matt Greer.

My family and I are on the verge of stepping out into a new journey that God has so graciously laid on our hearts! We are humbled that He has chosen us for this adventure and it is our hope that we have continued support in the form of prayers!

 I live with my beautiful wife and our three sons in Memphis, TN. It is our goal to reach the inner city in order to allow God to begin to heal the very visible wounds. We desire to reach the ones who have turned away from traditional church because of 'hypocrites, unscriptural teachings or hurts' in order to allow God to heal the brokenhearted. We feel it is our calling, as believers, to reach the lost. We're not a ministry who wants your money. We want people whose heart's desire is to reach a broken and dark world with the truth. We want people who are willing to actually show the love of Christ instead of being present for the 'show' on Sunday mornings. This is a ministry where love is put into action. It's personal, compassionate and alive!

R.E.A.C.H. Home Ministries stands for: Re-think Everything And Come Help!
Meaning...re-think what it means to "do church". Re-think the 'scriptural truths' you've been taught as fact. Re-think what it means to be a believer of Jesus Christ and what He expects of us. Re-think what it means to love people. Lastly...help. Go and Do!

'Send us, God! For if not us, then who? We'll go through whatever it takes to get Your truth to the masses!'

Please follow this blog and our youtube page (once it's up and running) for daily encouragement, devotionals, advice, testimonials, updates and Word God has laid on my heart!

Thank you for your support and furtherance of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ!

Get Hungry!