Throwback Thursday | September 1st, 2013 | Like and subscribe!

Main message: God calls people to get off the frantic "treadmill" of busyness or wrong priorities, make themselves available to him, and allow him to cleanse and redirect their lives so they become faithful servants rather than merely successful performers.

Key points:

• Jesus heals the demon-possessed blind and mute (Matt. 12:22); the preacher clarifies this account doesn't mean all illness is demonic but illustrates spiritual cleansing and authority over evil.
• The pastor's primary goal is faithfulness to Christ (to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant"), not simply building a bigger ministry.
• A personal sabbatical exposed an unusual spiritual/physical experience (white smoke/ash) that he interprets as God beginning a cleansing and a call to stop the treadmill of activity.
• A brain scan revealed ADD; he emphasizes stewardship of the brain—questioning deceptive thoughts, taking thoughts captive, and using diet, exercise, supplements (not medication in his case) to aid health and clarity.
• Practical outcomes: learn to say no, remove harmful routines/habits, be available to God's direction even without knowing the next steps; personal experiences (learning Spanish, his father's death) were part of refinement.

Scriptures mentioned: Matthew 12:22