Refreshing Worship part 2

Posted on by pastordavidturner

Part 1: Refresh the heart of God with your praise

Part 2: when God is refreshed, he refreshes you.

When God is refreshed, he refreshes us. When we praise him, he sits down; when he sits down, his brings his kingdom (Psalm 22:3)– his kingdom full of joy, peace, righteousness, freedom, wisdom, and power. He has everything you need! God created us so we could enjoy him and he could enjoy us. Bring him joy through worship and you will encounter the presence of the Lord full of his enjoyment of you.  


Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 


Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Give God a sacrifice of praise; pour out all your heart in worship. You will find your heart flooded with peace and joy. God is an extravagant giver and we were created to be filled with his joy and pleasure. 


Psalm 16:9-11
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.10For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.11You will show me the path of life;In Your presence is fullness of joy;At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

When God appeared to Abraham (recorded in Genesis 18), Abraham first honored God, hosting his presence, seeking to refresh God’s heart. Only THEN was the power of God released, only THEN was Abraham’s prayer answered.  


Genesis 18:9-10
THEN they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”So he said, “Here, in the tent.”10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

Abraham and Sarah had a promise from God; they waited 25 years to conceive a child together. When God appeared to Abraham and his presence was honored, Abraham’s desire became reality.  The power to fulfill God’s promise was received when God’s presence was received. 

Refresh the heart of God with praise and he will refresh your heart with the blessings and promises of his kingdom. 




Thankfulness is the healthiest emotion

Posted on by pastordavidturner

Thankfulness is reality

1 thess 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thankfulness is the healthiest emotion.  It is the most “real” feeling, because thankfulness aligns with the reality that all we are and have is a gift from our Creator and Redeemer–something he has graciously done and given rather than something we have earned or deserve.  Every breath and every gift is from above.  Therefore, when we are grateful, we are in agreement with truth, with reality.  It is truly the only appropriate response from a creature to the Creator, from the redeemed to the Redeemer.

And because it’s the most real emotion, it’s the healthiest.  When a person is full of thankfulness it puts their heart at rest and stimulates joy.  When a person is ungrateful, envious, greedy, prideful, boastful, or complaining it robs people of joy and peace.  From ungratefulness flows depression, anxiety, anger, discouragement, disunity, and such.

Faith thanks God

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were  thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

People don’t believe in God because they are not thankful.  This, Paul says in romans 1, is fundamentally what is wrong with humanity.  At the core of our disease–our sin, our rebellion, our insanity–is that we are ungrateful.  Idolatry begins with ungratefulness, legalism/religion begins with ungratefulness (and that rooted in a lie about God we have believed). Paul brings the indictment to all humanity: you know there is a Creator but you don’t want to acknowledge your dependance on his sustaining power and grace; you know he is the source but don’t want to give him the credit.  It’s not for a lack of evidence that we struggle to believe; its for a lack of thankfulness.  Our resistance to the humbling effect of worship is what blinds us and causes us to be selective in our honest assessment of the facts staring us in the face.

If we think God owes us or is stingy we try to manipulate him or control him like an idol.  If we think we have to earn something from him, we become legalists seeking to earn favor. If we work for our salvation or blessing, then we are to praise. We have something to boast about.  Eph 2:8

But the reason why life is a gift, and more so salvation, is because it removes all boasting in self. It destroys that pagan, religious effort.  Even unhealthy responses like shame, condemnation, guilt, and such are rooted in this lie of needing to earn from God and produces ungratefulness.  When something is a gift, you simply receive it with thankfulness… like a child–unbridled gratefulness and enjoyment.  The truth is that God is good; that he is all good, all the time; that every good and perfect gifts come from God; that there is no darkness, wickedness, evil, ulterior motives in him.  He created us because he is good, he created everything good, he created everything for our good.  He loves us and wants the best.  And the same motive drove him to the cross.  He redeemed for our good.

If everything comes from God, if all good gifts in life are from God (James 1), then the only logical response is thankfulness.  When we are ungrateful for any aspect of life, for any person or gift, we are being ungrateful to God and dishonoring him.  When we complain or grumble, when we compare or are envious, we are discrediting and dishonoring the one who has given us everything.

How would you feel? 

Numbers14:11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “ How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?

What if you gave me a gift and I grabbed the gift, held it to my chest and said “thank you gift for giving me yourself.”  Or what if someone asked me who gave me the gift and, while you stood silently by, I explained how I bought it, how I earned it because I’m awesome. How would you feel?

And so, faith is always thankful.  Gratefulness is the manifestation of faith because it’s rooted in truth. We are grateful when we believe that God is and is a rewarder of those who seek him diligently (Hebrews 11), when we believe that he is good and every good and perfect gift comes from him, when we believe that in him we move and breathe and have our being, when we believe that he is for us and not against us….  Faith simply receives the gift with thankfulness and enjoyment.  Faith boasts in God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Faith is thankful because it embraces the truth that I did not earn this, I cannot deserve this; my life is contingent on another’s choice, work, generosity, mercy, kindness and patience. As my friend Clint says, “you can’t be thankful for something you have done.”

Zero complaining

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world….

We have much to be thankful for (a list would stretch across the galaxies) and nothing to be ungrateful for.  Mindsets like envy, complaining, blaming God and others, entitlement (you owe me), and such are rooted in ungratefulness and unbelief.  These stem from faith in our efforts or in another person.  Those responses and emotions are evidence we have idolatry in our hearts (see Psalms 37).  They are unbecoming of a Christ follower.  Those things should not be among us–in our hearts, churches, families, words.  You may think you are a “fairly grateful person” but the presence of emotions and vocabulary rooted in things like envy and complaining are the opposite of gratefulness. Listen to your words, watch your heart; are you truly thankful, fundamentally thankful?  Freedom begins when you realize: no one owes me anything!  God doesn’t, people don’t, your parents don’t, your employer doesn’t, the government doesn’t.  We need to return to the basics of life: everything is a gift from God.  This is Faith 101.   If our expectations or words don’t align with that truth, we have lost our way.

Can you imagine giving someone a gift only to have them ask why you didn’t spend more or why you didn’t give them what the other person got? Can you imagine them complaining about the gift?  Or what if the day before Christmas, after you labored over a special present to give your friend, they bemoan, “you never give me anything, you never think of me.”–how would you feel?

Faith believes God will do what he says and waits patiently with thankfulness to come through.  Faith does not compare or envy or complain.  It gratefully receives from God what HE wills to give.

Thankfulness is attractive

Psalm 22:3 But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

God is attracted to a grateful heart.  People are attracted to a grateful heart. When we are grateful we shine like lights in darkness (Philippians 2:15). Not only is thankfulness one of the healthiest emotions but it is one of the most attractive ones–to God and people.  God is drawn to it.  It pleases him because it honors him for who he is and what he has done.  So let praise fill your lips always–Psalms 34.  He is always worthy of our thankfulness, praise, rejoicing, worship.

If you want to always be filled with the Spirit, always saturated in his presence; If you want God to be drawn to you, attracted to you; if you want him to want to be around you; if you long for the presence of the Lord then always praise him.  Aren’t you the same?  Would you rather be around a grateful person or a complainer?  If someone always talks about themselves or always complains, do you feel drained or filled?

Psalms 100:1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be  filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving  thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

And thankfulness attracts people who are far from God, without hope, in disappear.  When they see light shining at the end of their dark tunnel they run to it.  When they hear words of thankfulness, see you filled with joy even in hard times, observe your contentment and peace in a storm, they are experiencing your faith which points to God’s faithfulness and truth.  Your thankfulness is a great witness of Christ, your gratefulness shouts “hope” to them.  So shine!

Thankfulness is the healthiest emotion

And finally, to repeat, thankfulness is the healthiest emotion.  When you are grateful you will break anxiety and control, fear, and anger; you will break depression and hopelessness.  When you align your heart and words with truth by thanking God (out loud with praise) for who he is, what he has done and what he has promised (i.e. In alignment with his Word), you will find the fruits of joy and peace fill your heart, reshape your emotions, renew your mind, and transform your attitude and the quality of your relationships, ministry, work, and life.  Simply begin to say, “Thank you Lord for… (Insert truth from the Word of God)”.  Do this about everything in your life.  Simply begin to speak and sing praise to God throughout your day.  Like a seed planted in the ground, thankfulness begins in the heart and then manifests in our emotions, thoughts, and relationships.  Like a seed, it takes time to germinate, grow and bear fruit.  But if you stick with it, you will experience a harvest of wholeness.  Thankfulness can literally transform your whole life.  It is that powerful!  You will see the desires of your heart fulfilled, greater fruitfulness, confidence, blessing, and such when you are thankful.  And even in the hard times, you will have a joy and peace inside you that the storms of this life can’t touch.  Can you imagine: everything falls apart and everyone else is freaking out, but you are totally at rest, filled with joy, intimately connected to God, filled with praise, confidently waiting on the Lord.  Why?  Because you chose to be thankful.  It is that simple!  It may not be easy, but it is that simple!

Thankfulness changed my life!

Are these just ideas?  Or is this what has transformed my life?  If someone were to ask me what is the one habit that has changed your life? I would simply reply, “Thankfulness!”.  In a time of deep despair, depression, hopelessness, unbelief, and bondage the Lord led me to thank him.  First, for each day.  Then, for life itself.  Then, for the cross.  Then, for every truth about him, every gift from him, and every promise to me.  He coached me to voice reality with a grateful heart.  He taught me to align my words with his Word in praise.  That simple lesson was THE transition point for breakthrough in my life, relationships, ministry; it was that small act that has rippled through the rest of my life releasing joy, confidence, rest, and influence.

Try it: 24-7 thankfulness for years. The let me know the results.  I’m a satisfied costumer.

Why am I going to St. Louis?

Posted on by pastordavidturner

Many have asked me, “Why are you going to St. Louis?”  The simple answer: God told me to.

Let me tell you the story:

I had served at NewCommunity Church for 17 years; I’d been the lead pastor for over 7.  I love the people; I loved the assignment.  The community had been a family to me, a place of healing, a place I grew in the Lord and my calling.   The church was gaining momentum spiritually and numerically.  Vision we had seen and worked in faith towards was beginning to bud.  It was one of the most exhilarating times of ministry.  I wasn’t looking elsewhere; I wasn’t wanting something different.  I only longed to see the vision within me become a reality outside of me.

And then I had a dream (like that kind you have while you are sleeping).  I don’t often dream but one week in Spring 2014 I had three dreams and each were clearly from the Lord.  How did I know?  Because of the content and the presence of the Lord.  In one dream, I was walking through a courtyard with my wife, Michele. We walked out into a grassy area and were standing under the St. Louis arch when I heard Jesus speak to me saying, “This is is your city.”  I sensed the presence of God and the compassion of God exploded in my heart.  I began to pray for God’s unfailing love to be revealed to the city.  Then I woke up.

My first thought was, ” Lord I don’t like the cold.”  As I began to debate with God, he began to speak to me.  He spoke to me (or impressed on me) that we would bring the gospel to St. Louis, planting churches, bringing healing to neighborhoods in the city through serving people.  He even said, “This year.”   That word made my brain go tilt.

I’d love to tell you how full of faith I was; how surrendered I was.  But it would not be true.  I could not fathom what God was calling me to.  I could not comprehend moving my family or leaving my church.  I could not fathom something that was so far outside of my “plans”.  So I asked God for a confirmation.  Sounds noble?  But it was really out of fear. God can confirm his word if he deems it necessary.  But to ask God for a sign when he has already revealed himself is just stubborn unbelief.  I was bordering on phariseeism.  I told God I was willingly but I was not truly surrendered.  In fact, I tried to forget it. I tried to wait it out.  For three months I wrestled.  I could not shake it.  I’d heard God before.  I’d left everything in the past to serve the Lord (and he had blessed me).  I taught my church to do the same: hear God, do what he says.  I was torn between love for my church and obedience to Jesus; between comfortability and blessing and full surrender; between desire to follow Jesus and fear.  How could I teach and lead others and not surrender?  How could I be a man of integrity and not surrender?  How could I follow Jesus and stay in SoCal?  I told Jesus when I was 16 that I would leave all to follow him.  This was a test of that vow.

A few months later, I was listening to the Word at a conference.  One of the speakers prophesied, saying, “You are about to do something you thought you never would.” Instantly, I knew the word was for me (and others).  I began to weep and surrender to the Lord.  I heard Him tell me, “It’s time to surrender.”  And I did.  As I wept before God, I decided in my heart to leave everything and follow him.  I resolved to go to St. Louis.  All fear went away and God’s love filled my heart with faith for what he said he will do.

And so I am going to St. Louis because God told me to.  It was hard to leave my church, but God has blessed that church with a new pastor.  I have grieved deeply.  And yet, I am filled with exhilarating joy for this new assignment.  After all, though I did not know it, this is what I am created for, this is the vision that burns in my heart.  I am excited for what he will do.  Since I surrendered, I have not been afraid (well, I was tempted for a few days).  I am at rest, confident he will lead us, provide for us, and produce much fruit through us.  Following Jesus, losing all for him, is the best place to be!  Its so good to be at the center of his will, walking in the path of his commands.

What’s next?

The Lord led me to 1) transition leadership in my church before 2015 and 2) partner with the Rock Foursquare Church in Anaheim (a partnership that was birthed by God about 6 years ago).  We will serve at the Rock in Anaheim for about a year while we learn and prepare (I am realizing it just takes time to plant churches).  As the Lord leads, we will launch a Rock church in St. Louis.  Yes!  The Rock is going to St. Louis!  Our church will reach tons of people for Christ, disciple them, and empower them to fulfill their destiny.  Our church will love God, walk in His fullness, and serve their neighbors in love.  Our church will multiply leaders and plant other churches.  Our church will be a blessing to St. Louis.  We will bear much fruit to God’s glory.

You can pray for us and our kids as we walk through transition.  You can pray God brings a team around us and you can pray for the people of St. Louis.  Please declare with me over St. Louis that God’s love is unfailing.  He is pursuing that city, loving that city. He has a purpose for that city. He will restore and fulfill the destiny of that city and the people who live in it.  Thanks!

God enjoys you even in the process

Posted on by pastordavidturner

Philippians 2:12-13 “WORK out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who WORKS in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Each of us is called to take responsibility for our own relationship with God.  We are not saved by works but there is a work of faith involved in our relationship with God.  We are to partner with the Lord by faith, with a deep desire to please him, in order to grow in Christ-like character.  Our participation is required.

But, for many of us, that call to growth is frightening.  We fear failing. We fear that, if we are not perfect, God or others will be angry, disappointed, or displeased with us.  We fear we will be rejected.  And that fear shuts down our motivation and robs us of courage.  We either strive in our human effort, driven by guilt, to earn his acceptance; or we hide in shame, victimized by bondage; or we try to fake out God or others with religious behavior.  All of these unhealthy responses are rooted in a lie about God, rooted in fear.

In this passage, Paul explains what our motivation to partner with God should be rooted in saying, “FOR it is God who works in you….”  Notice we are called to work with him, but our work is a response to something he has already done and is doing.  The truth is that God loves us and is pleased with us even while we are in process. He is working in us to will and to do FOR his good pleasure!  Our work is a partnering with a work he is already doing.  Like kids helping their dad carry a heavy box, he is bearing the weight and we are simply participating for our development and his enjoyment.  He does not need our help.  We are the ones who need his strength.  He is not sitting while we work, but he is calling us to get up and work with him for our benefit and growth.  This truth frees us from fear, guilt, shame, and hiding. This truth motives us to grow and fills us with courage.  God is already pleased. He enjoys us in the process, he likes working with us and in us.

I say it again: our work is a partnering with a work he has already done and is doing.  Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”  First, God has already made us perfect in Christ.  Because of the blood Jesus shed for us we are already perfected, forgiven, righteous, free, accepted, loved, adopted, and more. He has “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5).”  According to the pleasure of his will!  That means you are his kid because he wanted you to be.  He made you, he chose you, he saved you, he adopted you.  And the very fact you are his, makes him glad.  He is filled with pleasure simply because you are his. Second, he is the one sanctifying us.  He is making us increasingly like his Son Jesus.  He is healing us, shaping and molding our character, renewing our mind, transforming our lives. It’s his work in us.

The goal: conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29)  Yes!  When God is all done with his work, we will look just like Jesus.  We will want what he wants, love how he loves, think how he thinks, be holy as he is holy.  This is the work he is committed to.  It’s already paid for and he is already doing it in us by his Spirit.

The process: he is working in us to will and to do.  He covers the whole process.  The willingness is given to us and the doing.  He gives us what we do not have–that’s grace.  Where we lack in motivation or willingness, he gives us that.  Where we lack the courage or ability or wisdom to do he gives us that too.  He is the author and finisher; it’s his work, strength, righteousness, power, grace in us from beginning to end.  The work he began he will finish, he will not fail.

And so He already enjoys us in Christ, he enjoys the process of making us like Jesus and he will enjoy when we are complete.  We can’t lose, we can’t fail.  He won’t reject us.  He is the one bearing the weight of the work.

So get up, come out of hiding.  Let God enjoy you.  Let him transform you.  It’s worth it.  You will not become like Christ by staying stuck in fear, shame or guilt.  You won’t become like Christ by hiding from God and trying to get “better” on your own before coming to God.  You will only become like Christ by being with Christ.  It’s his work in you and the only power for transformation is through yielding to him.  It’s by knowing him that we become like him.  So enjoy God, enjoy the process, enjoy life.

God does not want to do it for you, but with, in and through you.

Posted on by pastordavidturner

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

God does not want to do it for you, but with, in and through you.

The image of the vine and the branch is a powerful and real image of our connection to Jesus.  Vine: He is the source.  Branch: we are the conduit.  In order for fruit to be produced, the plant requires the vine and the branches.

Simple truth: we need Jesus.  Without him we can produce nothing of his Kingdom, of his character, of his power, for his glory.  Without him there is no eternal life.  But without us nothing can be produced either.  His kingdom does not come, his power is not released, his character is not manifested in the world except THROUGH us.  If we do not abide, if we do not surrender to his leadership, trust in his provision, rely and depend on him, then the life that is in him will not flow through us to produce fruit.  In order for the redemptive Kingdom of God to manifest in our lives and in this world we must be connected to the vine.

This is why faith is the essential response to the grace of God.  In Fact, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it impossible to please God.  Grace is his work; faith is our response.  As Paul says in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith….”  Notice God’s work of healing and redemption (saved) is by grace AND through faith.  Not one or the other, but his grace and our faith cooperating.

What God wants to produce for us in this world must flow in and through us.  God wants us to be fruitful.  He wants to bless us and make us a blessing to the world.  He wants his redemptive kingdom manifested in the world.  He has provided all we need through the finished work of the cross and the ongoing work of his Spirit.  And we are the conduits.   Our participation is essential.  He has decided that he will do nothing on earth except through the willingly participation of human beings.  Why?  Because he gave us this world as our home to manage (see Genesis 1-2).  He gave us dominion over this world.  We are responsible.  And so his work of redemption must flow in and through us.  He will not bypass you or your will.  He won’t produce something without a transformation of your character and an alignment of your will.  He does not want to do something for you but with, in and through you.

This is why our intimate connection of trust and dependence on the Lord is vital.  That is why Jesus calls us to ABIDE.  This is why our character development is vital.  This is why we need our mind renewed, our souls sanctified by the transforming power of the preached Word of God.  This is why submission to his leadership and to healing community is vital.  Everything he produces must done with us and flow in and through us.

Want to start a friendship with God or deepen it?  Next steps.

Got thoughts or questions?  Your turn; comment below.