James 1:2-3
When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
How often do we get held up in a long line of traffic anxious to continue on our way. Then only a short distance away we find a terrible crash and realize that had we been a minuter earlier it could have been us. Years ago when I would just miss an accident caused by another driver cutting me off or running a light, I would yell out at the person who put me in danger giving them a piece of my mind. Now I take that opportunity to thank God for the miss.
We all run into trouble or things that come in the way of our perfect plan. Often these are circumstances of life caused by others. Sometimes they are the result of poor choices of our own. But out of every one we have a chance to grow.
The test is in what we do as a result of the misfortune. How do we react? It is easy to sit back and analyze a situation someone else is in and use our logic and our experiences in life to determine the best way to handle things; the right way to react. That is reacting out of our intellect. But what about reacting out of our heart?
God sees it all. He is constantly looking at how much we have grown. The test is in how much we have grown to be more like Christ in how we react. Did we counter with Love or with something else bent on revenge?
Either way, we grow. One way is towards a more Christ centered character and the other takes us the other way. When the later happens, we need to stop, ask God for forgiveness, and pray He helps us react differently the next time a challenge comes our way.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Down a Notch
1 John 3:16
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. (NLT)
When I was a young child I would go to the Saturday matinee at the local movie theater. There was always a double feature with a serial between them. I do not remember any of the feature movies, but I do remember the serial. It was Superman. He was "faster than a speeding bullet..."
When we read this verse, we might think about jumping in front of a bullet to spare another's life. Of course the bullet would not bounce off of us as it did Superman in those old movies. We would give up this human life to save another.
Our lives are not just this human body. As a matter of fact, Jesus died for us to live. As believers we are already dead to this world and alive to the next. From that new life, we cannot die.
I do not think this verse is speaking about jumping in front of a bullet or any other dramatic ways to save someone from physical harm. He is speaking about our way of life.
Are we willing to step down a notch or two to allow someone else to step up? Will we give up something in our life so someone else might have it instead?
What are we doing this week to help someone else out? Perhaps it is a family without food or shelter or just a person in need of a friend that cares. Would we be willing to drop cable television to give that money to someone in need each month? What about giving up that cappuccino at the coffee shop each morning? Or even going out of our way every Sunday to bring someone to church?
Isn't it time to step down a notch and allow someone else to step up?
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. (NLT)
When I was a young child I would go to the Saturday matinee at the local movie theater. There was always a double feature with a serial between them. I do not remember any of the feature movies, but I do remember the serial. It was Superman. He was "faster than a speeding bullet..."
When we read this verse, we might think about jumping in front of a bullet to spare another's life. Of course the bullet would not bounce off of us as it did Superman in those old movies. We would give up this human life to save another.
Our lives are not just this human body. As a matter of fact, Jesus died for us to live. As believers we are already dead to this world and alive to the next. From that new life, we cannot die.
I do not think this verse is speaking about jumping in front of a bullet or any other dramatic ways to save someone from physical harm. He is speaking about our way of life.
Are we willing to step down a notch or two to allow someone else to step up? Will we give up something in our life so someone else might have it instead?
What are we doing this week to help someone else out? Perhaps it is a family without food or shelter or just a person in need of a friend that cares. Would we be willing to drop cable television to give that money to someone in need each month? What about giving up that cappuccino at the coffee shop each morning? Or even going out of our way every Sunday to bring someone to church?
Isn't it time to step down a notch and allow someone else to step up?
Remain in Fellowship
1 John 2:28
Remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. (NLT)
We have all heard the old adage "Out of sight, out of mind", and how true this is. We leave a job we have had for years, often those we were close to seem to fall off the edge of the earth. We never hear from them again nor do we think to call them. Same happens when we leave high school, college, and even a church we had been involved in for years. We lose contact.
For some this may even happen in the home. Living in the same house with someone does not automatically equal having fellowship with them. Tragically many marriages fall into this trap. The two that became one have become the two that exist in the same house. No longer are they in relationship as it has turned into a living arrangement instead of a loving relationship.
In John 13 Jesus tells us that as He loves us, so we must love one another and that others will know we are His disciples, if we love one another. So if we want to be loved, shouldn't we show love to others?
With the world made smaller with apps like Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, and Texting there is no reason to stay out of touch with anyone. Yet, we let it happen.
Want to get an instant message, then send one. Want to hear from someone you have not talked to in a long time, then call them. Want to get a bunch of emails, then send a bunch-and I do not mean those jokes and chain letters.
Relationships do not just happen. They take time and energy to start and to maintain. The same is true with our relationship with Jesus. He has always been waiting on us. We took the step of accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. That gave us the open door to a daily relationship with Him.
Now isn't it time to be in fellowship with Jesus, to talk to Him and grow that relationship?
Remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. (NLT)
We have all heard the old adage "Out of sight, out of mind", and how true this is. We leave a job we have had for years, often those we were close to seem to fall off the edge of the earth. We never hear from them again nor do we think to call them. Same happens when we leave high school, college, and even a church we had been involved in for years. We lose contact.
For some this may even happen in the home. Living in the same house with someone does not automatically equal having fellowship with them. Tragically many marriages fall into this trap. The two that became one have become the two that exist in the same house. No longer are they in relationship as it has turned into a living arrangement instead of a loving relationship.
In John 13 Jesus tells us that as He loves us, so we must love one another and that others will know we are His disciples, if we love one another. So if we want to be loved, shouldn't we show love to others?
With the world made smaller with apps like Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, and Texting there is no reason to stay out of touch with anyone. Yet, we let it happen.
Want to get an instant message, then send one. Want to hear from someone you have not talked to in a long time, then call them. Want to get a bunch of emails, then send a bunch-and I do not mean those jokes and chain letters.
Relationships do not just happen. They take time and energy to start and to maintain. The same is true with our relationship with Jesus. He has always been waiting on us. We took the step of accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. That gave us the open door to a daily relationship with Him.
Now isn't it time to be in fellowship with Jesus, to talk to Him and grow that relationship?
Monday, December 06, 2010
A New Chapter
2 John 1:4
How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. (NLT)
Over the years we have met many families. Not all have had children that showed God's love in all we saw them doing. Most have been children of this world in their dress, their speech, and their actions. Perhaps this is how others felt when they came into my family when I was growing up. And how do others see me in my current life?
To those who knew us in our past, they may see us differently than those who have just gotten to know us. Our life is an open book, but it is the newer chapters that are the most open. They are the visible portions of our lives others get to see.
God has taken away the old and sometimes worn chapters of our life. He ripped them out of the book when we gave our life to Jesus. He forgave us of all our sin. He wrote a new chapter into our book of life and what is written there depends on how we follow His word.
People of the past still have the old chapters in their "book of us" and they have not ripped them out. As a matter of fact, they often refer back to them as they hold back their love from us. As we make mistakes, as we will always do, in this walk we walk they are the first to point back to those old chapters. They are anxious to find fault in who we have become.
And then he goes on in the next couple of verses to say: "I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning."
It is up to us to remember these verses and love one another. We are all in various places in our new chapter of life. Our pasts were different, so there are things we have to get over and through that others may never have experienced. So we must love all our Christian brothers and sisters as they push through their walk, as we work on loving them through their walk.
How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. (NLT)
Over the years we have met many families. Not all have had children that showed God's love in all we saw them doing. Most have been children of this world in their dress, their speech, and their actions. Perhaps this is how others felt when they came into my family when I was growing up. And how do others see me in my current life?
To those who knew us in our past, they may see us differently than those who have just gotten to know us. Our life is an open book, but it is the newer chapters that are the most open. They are the visible portions of our lives others get to see.
God has taken away the old and sometimes worn chapters of our life. He ripped them out of the book when we gave our life to Jesus. He forgave us of all our sin. He wrote a new chapter into our book of life and what is written there depends on how we follow His word.
People of the past still have the old chapters in their "book of us" and they have not ripped them out. As a matter of fact, they often refer back to them as they hold back their love from us. As we make mistakes, as we will always do, in this walk we walk they are the first to point back to those old chapters. They are anxious to find fault in who we have become.
And then he goes on in the next couple of verses to say: "I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning."
It is up to us to remember these verses and love one another. We are all in various places in our new chapter of life. Our pasts were different, so there are things we have to get over and through that others may never have experienced. So we must love all our Christian brothers and sisters as they push through their walk, as we work on loving them through their walk.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Work to be Done
2 Peter 1:8
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
In the previous verses he talks about responding to the promises of God. And he tells us we should supplement our faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
In other words, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to grow us daily into the character of Christ. This is a lifelong quest. Being a believer is not a onetime use of a seed of faith to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not just getting the ticket to get on the bus to eternity. There is a price to pay while we are still on this earth.
There is work to be done. We can only do so much with the knowledge we first had after that saving encounter with Jesus. But as we let the Holy Spirit teach us we do grow in our moral excellence. We obtain self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and love for everyone.
As we walk out shining His light to a dark world we open doors for others to step into and as we do so we grow. And as we grow in Christ, so grows our faith. It is an exciting journey!
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
In the previous verses he talks about responding to the promises of God. And he tells us we should supplement our faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
In other words, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to grow us daily into the character of Christ. This is a lifelong quest. Being a believer is not a onetime use of a seed of faith to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not just getting the ticket to get on the bus to eternity. There is a price to pay while we are still on this earth.
There is work to be done. We can only do so much with the knowledge we first had after that saving encounter with Jesus. But as we let the Holy Spirit teach us we do grow in our moral excellence. We obtain self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and love for everyone.
As we walk out shining His light to a dark world we open doors for others to step into and as we do so we grow. And as we grow in Christ, so grows our faith. It is an exciting journey!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Owe Nothing
Romans 13:8
Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. (NLT)
Debt is the one word common to almost everyone in our society. Sit back and think about what your life would be like if you had no bills. The only things that come in the mailbox are cards and letters from family and friends. No credit card bills. No insurance bills. No tax bills. No solicitations.
Can you imagine that? Probably not. We have lived with the buy now pay later mentality all our lives. The idea of saving first and then buying has been long forgotten.
Yet this scripture tells us to owe nothing. We are to be debt free owing nothing except love to one another. Isn't it time to work on getting to that position in life? Isn't it time for us to stop spending more than we are make by not balancing what we are taking in with what we are putting on that credit card?
Would this mean giving up things we like, things we have grown accustomed to having? I am sure it would. We might have to drop the cable connection and even the Internet. Dumb down to a simple cell phone. Remove snack food and for some remove cigarettes and candy and beer and even soda and trips to the coffee shop. We might even have to depend on others for help.
What would happen if we started to live with bare necessities as we paid down those bills? First we would remove the worry about the bills and second we would learn to live with less. Simple steps: give to God, pay debt, and then live on what is left.
With God's help we can do anything. We can even change our lifestyle to obey His word.
Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. (NLT)
Debt is the one word common to almost everyone in our society. Sit back and think about what your life would be like if you had no bills. The only things that come in the mailbox are cards and letters from family and friends. No credit card bills. No insurance bills. No tax bills. No solicitations.
Can you imagine that? Probably not. We have lived with the buy now pay later mentality all our lives. The idea of saving first and then buying has been long forgotten.
Yet this scripture tells us to owe nothing. We are to be debt free owing nothing except love to one another. Isn't it time to work on getting to that position in life? Isn't it time for us to stop spending more than we are make by not balancing what we are taking in with what we are putting on that credit card?
Would this mean giving up things we like, things we have grown accustomed to having? I am sure it would. We might have to drop the cable connection and even the Internet. Dumb down to a simple cell phone. Remove snack food and for some remove cigarettes and candy and beer and even soda and trips to the coffee shop. We might even have to depend on others for help.
What would happen if we started to live with bare necessities as we paid down those bills? First we would remove the worry about the bills and second we would learn to live with less. Simple steps: give to God, pay debt, and then live on what is left.
With God's help we can do anything. We can even change our lifestyle to obey His word.
Monday, November 01, 2010
Show Me
Luke 3:8
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (NLT)
Show me! That is the unofficial motto of the state of Missouri. We tend to make a joke out of it when we want someone to prove what they are saying. We say "I'm from Missouri. Show me!".
Being a Christian is more than going to church on Sunday and more than reading the Bible. It is not how well we follow the doctrine of the church we attend. It is not how well be obey the Ten Commandments.
We may appear to be following Jesus because of what we let others see about us. We act the part very well because we are focused on doing and saying the right things. But has there really been change in our lives?
How we make ourselves appear to other does not make us a Christian any more than attending a church every week does. When we have asked Jesus into our heart and allowed the Holy Spirit to change us, we do not have to do anything. He changes us from the inside out and others see a new person because of who we are and not because of how we decide to be.
The way we live changes because we have yielded our lives to Him and He changes us and those changes continue to occur as we walk with Jesus each day.
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (NLT)
Show me! That is the unofficial motto of the state of Missouri. We tend to make a joke out of it when we want someone to prove what they are saying. We say "I'm from Missouri. Show me!".
Being a Christian is more than going to church on Sunday and more than reading the Bible. It is not how well we follow the doctrine of the church we attend. It is not how well be obey the Ten Commandments.
We may appear to be following Jesus because of what we let others see about us. We act the part very well because we are focused on doing and saying the right things. But has there really been change in our lives?
How we make ourselves appear to other does not make us a Christian any more than attending a church every week does. When we have asked Jesus into our heart and allowed the Holy Spirit to change us, we do not have to do anything. He changes us from the inside out and others see a new person because of who we are and not because of how we decide to be.
The way we live changes because we have yielded our lives to Him and He changes us and those changes continue to occur as we walk with Jesus each day.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Living Jesus
Romans 9:17-18
For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. (NLT)
As believers partaking in the benefits of a relationship with Jesus, we know He is alive today. We see Him working in and around us every day. But others do not know Him as being alive. To them He is may be just a name in a book.
The Word tells us that we are in Jesus and He is in us. Therefore, God’s glory is in each believer. And it is for the purpose of displaying His power to others that they may see Jesus in each of us. It is His light that is to shine though us in all we say and do.
The words out of our mouths should be formed by the Holy Spirit that lives within us and not out of our carnal mind. But it is up to us to allow Him to work through us. As we lay hands on others we can pray with our carnal mind that the Father touch them in Jesus name. And He promises to hear our prayers.
We can also lay hands on the sick and see them recover by letting the Holy Spirit do His work through us directly. The Holy Spirit living in us is the living Jesus for the entire world to see. But it is up to us to let Him out.
For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. (NLT)
As believers partaking in the benefits of a relationship with Jesus, we know He is alive today. We see Him working in and around us every day. But others do not know Him as being alive. To them He is may be just a name in a book.
The Word tells us that we are in Jesus and He is in us. Therefore, God’s glory is in each believer. And it is for the purpose of displaying His power to others that they may see Jesus in each of us. It is His light that is to shine though us in all we say and do.
The words out of our mouths should be formed by the Holy Spirit that lives within us and not out of our carnal mind. But it is up to us to allow Him to work through us. As we lay hands on others we can pray with our carnal mind that the Father touch them in Jesus name. And He promises to hear our prayers.
We can also lay hands on the sick and see them recover by letting the Holy Spirit do His work through us directly. The Holy Spirit living in us is the living Jesus for the entire world to see. But it is up to us to let Him out.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tell Everyone
Acts 12:16-1717
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place. (NLT)
When something good happens we are always ready to tell about it. Like when our favorite team wins the game. We talk about it all day to everyone we meet. We are so excited. Or if we won the prize at the office party. We are quick to tell about our worldly good fortune.
Peter was excited about what had happened to him. He was in prison and an angel sprung him. He was free by an act of God. He went directly to Mary's house to tell them what had happened, but he did not stay. He went on to tell others.
When God touches our lives, it should not be a secret. Yes it was a personal thing when He healed us or spoke into our lives in some way. But we need to not keep it to ourselves. We need to go around knocking on doors and tell.
As we tell the story of what Jesus has done for us we do two things. First we reinforce what He has done in us which diminishes what the enemy is trying to do to take it away. And second we encourage others about Jesus and what it means to have a relationship with Him.
By spreading the good news of Jesus in our lives, we are spreading the Good News to others.
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place. (NLT)
When something good happens we are always ready to tell about it. Like when our favorite team wins the game. We talk about it all day to everyone we meet. We are so excited. Or if we won the prize at the office party. We are quick to tell about our worldly good fortune.
Peter was excited about what had happened to him. He was in prison and an angel sprung him. He was free by an act of God. He went directly to Mary's house to tell them what had happened, but he did not stay. He went on to tell others.
When God touches our lives, it should not be a secret. Yes it was a personal thing when He healed us or spoke into our lives in some way. But we need to not keep it to ourselves. We need to go around knocking on doors and tell.
As we tell the story of what Jesus has done for us we do two things. First we reinforce what He has done in us which diminishes what the enemy is trying to do to take it away. And second we encourage others about Jesus and what it means to have a relationship with Him.
By spreading the good news of Jesus in our lives, we are spreading the Good News to others.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Plan
Colossians 4:5-6
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (NLT)
Most of us have heard the old adage If you fail to plan you plan to fail. So we set out on our life journey with a plan. We set goals for our lives and work our plan. Schooling leads to job opportunities and they set us out on our carrier path with the ultimate goal of a comfortable retirement package.
It all sounds good, but most never make it. The schooling that looked so right did not get us into that perfect job. We either did not end up liking what we trained for or there just were not jobs available in that field. Or the jobs were available, but the carrier path never unfolded. The result was that we did not end up meeting those goals set early on.
Then we met Jesus. These earthly plans we had depended on all of a sudden were meaningless. We now understood that He held the ultimate plan and He would help us meet the true goals of life, if we would allow Him to do so.
In our Bible we read the Great Commission and found ourselves eager to do what He told us. We were so eager we told everyone we met about our encounter with Jesus and how they had to meet Him, too. We set our goals and made our plan, once again. We decided how we could best do the job for God and became a salesman for Jesus.
But He tells us to live wisely among those who are not believers, and to make the most of every opportunity. We realized that it is His plan and not ours that will complete the journey. If we wait on the Lord, He will show us when it is time to tell our story. He makes the opportunities and it is up to us to listen for them and then act in faith on them.
And when we do step out and speak we are to let our conversation be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (NLT)
Most of us have heard the old adage If you fail to plan you plan to fail. So we set out on our life journey with a plan. We set goals for our lives and work our plan. Schooling leads to job opportunities and they set us out on our carrier path with the ultimate goal of a comfortable retirement package.
It all sounds good, but most never make it. The schooling that looked so right did not get us into that perfect job. We either did not end up liking what we trained for or there just were not jobs available in that field. Or the jobs were available, but the carrier path never unfolded. The result was that we did not end up meeting those goals set early on.
Then we met Jesus. These earthly plans we had depended on all of a sudden were meaningless. We now understood that He held the ultimate plan and He would help us meet the true goals of life, if we would allow Him to do so.
In our Bible we read the Great Commission and found ourselves eager to do what He told us. We were so eager we told everyone we met about our encounter with Jesus and how they had to meet Him, too. We set our goals and made our plan, once again. We decided how we could best do the job for God and became a salesman for Jesus.
But He tells us to live wisely among those who are not believers, and to make the most of every opportunity. We realized that it is His plan and not ours that will complete the journey. If we wait on the Lord, He will show us when it is time to tell our story. He makes the opportunities and it is up to us to listen for them and then act in faith on them.
And when we do step out and speak we are to let our conversation be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Seeing is Believing
Acts 13:12
When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. (NLT)
Have faith you say. Well Dianne and I had faith to go to that meeting the day she was miraculously healed of Crohn's disease. That was faith to go. We had already been praying and had been seeking all the earthly possibilities we could find.
During that morning we saw things happen in front of our eyes. People were coming up on the platform in pain. You could see it on their faces and in their stature. Then with a quick touch and the name of Jesus the pain left and they could do what they were unable to do before. We saw what had happened.
Our housekeeper had told us about it, but we had not seen. We wanted to believe and had just enough faith to go. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Had we seen healing on television we probably would have rationalized them away as smoke and mirrors. You know those weight loss ads? They show you the before person and then the picture of that same person a few weeks later with a new body. Sure you say and somehow know it cannot be that easy.
But we did see it with our own eyes and heard the teachings about the Lord straight from the Bible. It was so simple when we realized what Jesus had told us in His Word. We are all to lay hands on the sick and see them recover!
When we saw what had happened, we became believers. Then when hands were placed on Dianne she was instantly healed. We saw. We believed. We received. Thank you Jesus.
When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. (NLT)
Have faith you say. Well Dianne and I had faith to go to that meeting the day she was miraculously healed of Crohn's disease. That was faith to go. We had already been praying and had been seeking all the earthly possibilities we could find.
During that morning we saw things happen in front of our eyes. People were coming up on the platform in pain. You could see it on their faces and in their stature. Then with a quick touch and the name of Jesus the pain left and they could do what they were unable to do before. We saw what had happened.
Our housekeeper had told us about it, but we had not seen. We wanted to believe and had just enough faith to go. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Had we seen healing on television we probably would have rationalized them away as smoke and mirrors. You know those weight loss ads? They show you the before person and then the picture of that same person a few weeks later with a new body. Sure you say and somehow know it cannot be that easy.
But we did see it with our own eyes and heard the teachings about the Lord straight from the Bible. It was so simple when we realized what Jesus had told us in His Word. We are all to lay hands on the sick and see them recover!
When we saw what had happened, we became believers. Then when hands were placed on Dianne she was instantly healed. We saw. We believed. We received. Thank you Jesus.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Abba Father
Galatians 4:6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (NLT)
The verses before this tell us that God sent Jesus to redeem us so we might receive the full rights of sons. As sons and daughters, we have varying ideas of what that means.
It depends on the childhood we had. For some of us it was a loving family life with our Dad coming home from work and loving on us. Vacations were fun as we went away to the beach or on a trip to the mountains. Family meant together.
For others, we had childhoods that were well off, but our father was never around. Our mother ruled with the threat of what our father would do if we got out of line. He worked all the time and was out of town often. Vacations, when we got to take one, were times away from home usually without Dad.
And then there were families where the parents split while we were young. We went to live full time with mom and spent little time with dad. Mom would anxiously await the monthly child support check, but that was the bulk of our involvement with him. He was our biological father, but not much of an influence in our lives.
There are many other scenarios we could talk about and yours might be unique. In any case there are two ways we come to Christ viewing God the Father. He is either a loving, caring Father God or one whose love is questionable or perhaps conditional.
The Spirit of Christ lives within us. He is the Holy Spirit. He calls out to Abba, which is Aramaic for Father or Daddy. But do we feel the same way about our Father God as the Holy Spirit does? Do we give the Holy Spirit permission to accept the Father's Love?
Without fully accepting His Love, how can we accept the full rights as sons and daughters?
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." (NLT)
The verses before this tell us that God sent Jesus to redeem us so we might receive the full rights of sons. As sons and daughters, we have varying ideas of what that means.
It depends on the childhood we had. For some of us it was a loving family life with our Dad coming home from work and loving on us. Vacations were fun as we went away to the beach or on a trip to the mountains. Family meant together.
For others, we had childhoods that were well off, but our father was never around. Our mother ruled with the threat of what our father would do if we got out of line. He worked all the time and was out of town often. Vacations, when we got to take one, were times away from home usually without Dad.
And then there were families where the parents split while we were young. We went to live full time with mom and spent little time with dad. Mom would anxiously await the monthly child support check, but that was the bulk of our involvement with him. He was our biological father, but not much of an influence in our lives.
There are many other scenarios we could talk about and yours might be unique. In any case there are two ways we come to Christ viewing God the Father. He is either a loving, caring Father God or one whose love is questionable or perhaps conditional.
The Spirit of Christ lives within us. He is the Holy Spirit. He calls out to Abba, which is Aramaic for Father or Daddy. But do we feel the same way about our Father God as the Holy Spirit does? Do we give the Holy Spirit permission to accept the Father's Love?
Without fully accepting His Love, how can we accept the full rights as sons and daughters?
Monday, September 13, 2010
In the Spirit
Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (NLT)
Jesus told His followers to gather together and wait. He promised to have the Father send the Holy Spirit to live in all believers from then on. As such, we who believe have been sent the Holy Spirit as well.
Wow! We have the spirit of the living God living in us. That is hard to wrap our human minds around. And yet we still sin. We have been brought up listening to man, learning from man, and doing what man does. Unless we give way to the Holy Spirit and let Him speak to us and guide us daily, it is easy to keep on keeping on just as we have always done.
How do we get the Holy Spirit and how do we know we have Him? I believe it happens as soon as we truly accept Jesus into our heart. The only reasons the first followers had to wait was because Jesus had not gone to the Father yet. Since then, He has continued to sit at the right hand of the Father.
In the Great Commission Jesus tells us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Those who believe will be saved and will be baptized. Jesus baptized by fire-the fire of the Holy Ghost. It is then that the Holy Spirit is activated in each believer with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Later in verses 26-27 Paul speaks about praying in the Spirit, the tongues He has given us. I believe this opens a direct line between our spirit and the Father's spirit. This is how we receive whatever we need from God. This is how we receive power to do the miraculous.
Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and I believe this is about praying in our prayer language. The more we do the stronger in the Spirit we get. Try it!
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (NLT)
Jesus told His followers to gather together and wait. He promised to have the Father send the Holy Spirit to live in all believers from then on. As such, we who believe have been sent the Holy Spirit as well.
Wow! We have the spirit of the living God living in us. That is hard to wrap our human minds around. And yet we still sin. We have been brought up listening to man, learning from man, and doing what man does. Unless we give way to the Holy Spirit and let Him speak to us and guide us daily, it is easy to keep on keeping on just as we have always done.
How do we get the Holy Spirit and how do we know we have Him? I believe it happens as soon as we truly accept Jesus into our heart. The only reasons the first followers had to wait was because Jesus had not gone to the Father yet. Since then, He has continued to sit at the right hand of the Father.
In the Great Commission Jesus tells us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Those who believe will be saved and will be baptized. Jesus baptized by fire-the fire of the Holy Ghost. It is then that the Holy Spirit is activated in each believer with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Later in verses 26-27 Paul speaks about praying in the Spirit, the tongues He has given us. I believe this opens a direct line between our spirit and the Father's spirit. This is how we receive whatever we need from God. This is how we receive power to do the miraculous.
Paul tells us to pray without ceasing and I believe this is about praying in our prayer language. The more we do the stronger in the Spirit we get. Try it!
Monday, September 06, 2010
Complete Harmony
Romans 15:5-6
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Living in harmony with others seems a day-to-day challenge for most of us. Sometimes we just have to grit our teeth and push through the day. Complete harmony? Are you kidding?
But think about it. Jesus did it. And as His followers we should be able to do the same. So why does it seem impossible?
We are born again but living in this mortal body. As our relationship with God grows and we allow Him to change us, we take on more and more of the mind of Christ. You see, we can try to be that nice person who is in harmony with others, but it is just a mask we wear. We act the way we believe we should while inside we may be screaming. So what others see of us is not who we really are, yet.
It is through quiet time with God that we build that relationship. It is through time in His word and time in prayer coupled with giving the Holy Spirit permission to change us. We can read all we want and say as many prayers as we can, but without giving it all up to Him, we stay the same.
And change does not happen all at once. God changes us over time and in the sequence He knows is best for us. But as the Holy Spirit reveals things in us that may be holding us back from receiving more, we need to give that thing to God as well. When we do, we change a little more.
Did you give something new to God today?
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)
Living in harmony with others seems a day-to-day challenge for most of us. Sometimes we just have to grit our teeth and push through the day. Complete harmony? Are you kidding?
But think about it. Jesus did it. And as His followers we should be able to do the same. So why does it seem impossible?
We are born again but living in this mortal body. As our relationship with God grows and we allow Him to change us, we take on more and more of the mind of Christ. You see, we can try to be that nice person who is in harmony with others, but it is just a mask we wear. We act the way we believe we should while inside we may be screaming. So what others see of us is not who we really are, yet.
It is through quiet time with God that we build that relationship. It is through time in His word and time in prayer coupled with giving the Holy Spirit permission to change us. We can read all we want and say as many prayers as we can, but without giving it all up to Him, we stay the same.
And change does not happen all at once. God changes us over time and in the sequence He knows is best for us. But as the Holy Spirit reveals things in us that may be holding us back from receiving more, we need to give that thing to God as well. When we do, we change a little more.
Did you give something new to God today?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Because I Can
1 Corinthians 6 12
Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. (The Message)
We live in a world of rules and laws. Our society tells us what is right and wrong. Then we know what we know to be right and wrong, but this does not always line up with society. And even worse, our decisions about choosing right from wrong might not line up with God.
What do we do when decisions have to be made? In this day-to-day existence, the easy answer is to follow the letter of the law. We do it on the highway all the time. How fast should I go? Well the sign says 55 so that is how fast we go. Or do we? Technically we can go faster and our logic tells us we can push the envelope a little and not get pulled over so maybe we do 60 or even 65. We feel justified every time we aren't caught.
We know lying is a sin, but we skirt the truth at times because we don't want to get caught. How do I look says the friend as she tries on a new dress. Not wanting to make her feel bad, you avoid saying hideous and instead let different words escape tour lips. And you say "That dress makes you look so slim." It may not have been a total lie, but it was not the truth either.
The laws in some states tell us it is legal for any two persons to marry regardless of gender. This is a big debate across the land. Man says one thing and God's word says another. It is technically all right, but not spiritually appropriate.
God loves all His children. However, I believe His expectations for those of us professing to be believers and filled with His Holy Spirit are higher than those who have yet to meet Him. With the Holy Spirit to guide us in our every day decisions we should be led to follow the right path regardless of the direction society and the current laws of the land lead us to.
It is not about what we want to satisfy our desires. It is about what God has for us to do.
Did you follow your own whims today or His lead?
Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. (The Message)
We live in a world of rules and laws. Our society tells us what is right and wrong. Then we know what we know to be right and wrong, but this does not always line up with society. And even worse, our decisions about choosing right from wrong might not line up with God.
What do we do when decisions have to be made? In this day-to-day existence, the easy answer is to follow the letter of the law. We do it on the highway all the time. How fast should I go? Well the sign says 55 so that is how fast we go. Or do we? Technically we can go faster and our logic tells us we can push the envelope a little and not get pulled over so maybe we do 60 or even 65. We feel justified every time we aren't caught.
We know lying is a sin, but we skirt the truth at times because we don't want to get caught. How do I look says the friend as she tries on a new dress. Not wanting to make her feel bad, you avoid saying hideous and instead let different words escape tour lips. And you say "That dress makes you look so slim." It may not have been a total lie, but it was not the truth either.
The laws in some states tell us it is legal for any two persons to marry regardless of gender. This is a big debate across the land. Man says one thing and God's word says another. It is technically all right, but not spiritually appropriate.
God loves all His children. However, I believe His expectations for those of us professing to be believers and filled with His Holy Spirit are higher than those who have yet to meet Him. With the Holy Spirit to guide us in our every day decisions we should be led to follow the right path regardless of the direction society and the current laws of the land lead us to.
It is not about what we want to satisfy our desires. It is about what God has for us to do.
Did you follow your own whims today or His lead?
Monday, August 23, 2010
God is Light
1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
We are who we associate with. It does not matter how strong we are, we do pick up stuff from others. It might be something as simple as the local accent when visiting a friend in another part of the country. And it could be something that subtlety changes our core values. Satan is a subtle serpent.
Simply put, God is light. Take away light and you have darkness; take away God and you no longer have Truth. In the absence of Truth is found lies. Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
In your mind's eye, picture walking in an underground cave. Perhaps it is an abandoned gold mine in the Midwest. There are old small wattage light bulbs every thirty to forty feet along the way. It is interesting to see where people worked long and hard in the ninetieth century. Then the unthinkable happens. The lights go out! You are in total darkness unable to even see your own hands. You reach into your backpack for a flashlight and snap it on. Those feelings of confusion and fear leave instantly.
You begin to walk back to the surface thankful you have the light. Not quite to the surface your batteries get weak and the amount of light becomes less and less. But even with only a little amount of light, the darkness is gone. Then as you look to where you are heading, you see a dim light at the end of the tunnel. As you move forward toward the light it become brighter and brighter. As you reach the end you step out into daylight.
As believers, we carry the light of Jesus into a dark world. Wherever we go His light removes the darkness enabling those who are ready to take up their portion of light and continue the process. Those who are not ready, who are unknowingly too deep into a relationship with satan close their eyes and ears to the Truth. They block the light and fail to receive.
Like flashlight batteries, our light can become dimmer. The anointing leaks out a little each day.
Many believe it is on Sunday morning at a church service that we are refilled with a fresh anointing from God. This can be true depending on the church and the mix of attendees. Often there is a mix of light and darkness in a large gathering. Just because a person attends church does not make them a carrier of His light. We can come away refilled or even less full depending on what is happening and who we are with.
We need to be in constant relationship with others carrying His light. We draw on each other and our lights shine brighter. This is good, but not the true source of the light. It is our relationship with Jesus, our reading of the Word, and our praise to God that builds the anointing. We can be refilled daily. Then as we go into the world those we meet will see God's light shining bright in our words, actions, and even in our presence.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
We are who we associate with. It does not matter how strong we are, we do pick up stuff from others. It might be something as simple as the local accent when visiting a friend in another part of the country. And it could be something that subtlety changes our core values. Satan is a subtle serpent.
Simply put, God is light. Take away light and you have darkness; take away God and you no longer have Truth. In the absence of Truth is found lies. Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
In your mind's eye, picture walking in an underground cave. Perhaps it is an abandoned gold mine in the Midwest. There are old small wattage light bulbs every thirty to forty feet along the way. It is interesting to see where people worked long and hard in the ninetieth century. Then the unthinkable happens. The lights go out! You are in total darkness unable to even see your own hands. You reach into your backpack for a flashlight and snap it on. Those feelings of confusion and fear leave instantly.
You begin to walk back to the surface thankful you have the light. Not quite to the surface your batteries get weak and the amount of light becomes less and less. But even with only a little amount of light, the darkness is gone. Then as you look to where you are heading, you see a dim light at the end of the tunnel. As you move forward toward the light it become brighter and brighter. As you reach the end you step out into daylight.
As believers, we carry the light of Jesus into a dark world. Wherever we go His light removes the darkness enabling those who are ready to take up their portion of light and continue the process. Those who are not ready, who are unknowingly too deep into a relationship with satan close their eyes and ears to the Truth. They block the light and fail to receive.
Like flashlight batteries, our light can become dimmer. The anointing leaks out a little each day.
Many believe it is on Sunday morning at a church service that we are refilled with a fresh anointing from God. This can be true depending on the church and the mix of attendees. Often there is a mix of light and darkness in a large gathering. Just because a person attends church does not make them a carrier of His light. We can come away refilled or even less full depending on what is happening and who we are with.
We need to be in constant relationship with others carrying His light. We draw on each other and our lights shine brighter. This is good, but not the true source of the light. It is our relationship with Jesus, our reading of the Word, and our praise to God that builds the anointing. We can be refilled daily. Then as we go into the world those we meet will see God's light shining bright in our words, actions, and even in our presence.
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Faithful Ones
Hebrews 10:38-39
And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. (NLT)
Have you ever been on a team or been part of a group of friends that were always together? I am sure you have. Maybe it was a team in High School. I was on the tennis team in school. That was not like being on a baseball team in that tennis is a one or two person sport. My teammate, the one I played doubles with is still a friend today although we have been apart for quite a few years.
Perhaps you were in a club of some kind. In school I was involved with a number of clubs, one of which was the Ham Radio Club. There were a bunch of us that had our Amateur Radio licenses from the FCC and that common interest brought us together. After many years one of my club members and I have finally got back together. It is fun catching up on the years in between.
Since school, I have been in other clubs or organizations from Sport Car Rallying, to Ham Radio, to a Stock Club, to Computer User's Groups, and more.
What about church? Is that a club or a team? For some it may just be a club. It is a place to gather on Sunday mornings like parents and grandparents have done for generations at the same building. The faces change and new leadership comes and goes, but the same families are still part of the club.
For others it is a team. Or at least the church within the church is a team. That is the remnant that gathers seeking God's face. The ones eager to hear His voice and step out of the boat to do His will.
When someone is part of a club or a team and they turn away from it, the team members no longer associate with them. They are not interested in the new direction the lost members are heading in. They may have tried to dissuade them from departing. But once gone, they have nothing in common any more.
The team we are on with our brothers and sisters in Christ are seeking a deeper relationship with Him. They are seeking His face and His word for them. They want His will in all they do. Those that turn away from the team, from the direction of the Holy Spirit, are lost to their own destruction. The remaining are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. (NLT)
Have you ever been on a team or been part of a group of friends that were always together? I am sure you have. Maybe it was a team in High School. I was on the tennis team in school. That was not like being on a baseball team in that tennis is a one or two person sport. My teammate, the one I played doubles with is still a friend today although we have been apart for quite a few years.
Perhaps you were in a club of some kind. In school I was involved with a number of clubs, one of which was the Ham Radio Club. There were a bunch of us that had our Amateur Radio licenses from the FCC and that common interest brought us together. After many years one of my club members and I have finally got back together. It is fun catching up on the years in between.
Since school, I have been in other clubs or organizations from Sport Car Rallying, to Ham Radio, to a Stock Club, to Computer User's Groups, and more.
What about church? Is that a club or a team? For some it may just be a club. It is a place to gather on Sunday mornings like parents and grandparents have done for generations at the same building. The faces change and new leadership comes and goes, but the same families are still part of the club.
For others it is a team. Or at least the church within the church is a team. That is the remnant that gathers seeking God's face. The ones eager to hear His voice and step out of the boat to do His will.
When someone is part of a club or a team and they turn away from it, the team members no longer associate with them. They are not interested in the new direction the lost members are heading in. They may have tried to dissuade them from departing. But once gone, they have nothing in common any more.
The team we are on with our brothers and sisters in Christ are seeking a deeper relationship with Him. They are seeking His face and His word for them. They want His will in all they do. Those that turn away from the team, from the direction of the Holy Spirit, are lost to their own destruction. The remaining are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Right and Wrong
2 Timothy 2:14
Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. (NIV)
Nobody wins an argument, ever. All that ever happens is one person gives in. Sometimes right is wrong and wrong is right. It all depends on which side you are on and what era you are from. What was acceptable behavior in the mid-twentieth century is no longer acceptable in the early twenty-first. That does not make either right or wrong, but what was right fifty years ago is now considered wrong by society.
God's truth was true in the beginning and is still true today. He is the same yesterday, today, and in the future. Truth is truth forever. Throughout history man has changed and society has matured into today's version. This has affected how we live with each other and how we handle what the current society considers wrongs. Even the punishment for wrong doings has been altered overt he centuries.
As believers we were given a mandate to preach the Gospel to the four corners of the Earth. Back then this referred to the four rivers and the tribes of the known world. With today's knowledge of the Earth, we know that means the whole Earth. It means we have the responsibility to tell all we meet about Jesus.
We are to preach the Gospel; not argue the Gospel. We do not have to convince others to believe by manipulating them into agreeing with our words. The Truth stands on its own with no help from us. Those that hear it from us know we believe and will be moved toward us or away. That is their choice and no amount of arguing will change their mind. We can only present them a door. They have to choose to open it.
What Gospel do we preach? If we quote Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John we are quoting "the gospels", but all can be left to interpretation especially by the unbeliever we are confronting. But if we preach our Gospel how can it be refuted?
We tell the story of Jesus in our lives. We tell of the changes that have happened in our own lives as a result of the relationship we have with Him. This is the Gospel message and it is a personal message that lets them know why we know we are on a journey with God that will end in eternity with Him.
Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. (NIV)
Nobody wins an argument, ever. All that ever happens is one person gives in. Sometimes right is wrong and wrong is right. It all depends on which side you are on and what era you are from. What was acceptable behavior in the mid-twentieth century is no longer acceptable in the early twenty-first. That does not make either right or wrong, but what was right fifty years ago is now considered wrong by society.
God's truth was true in the beginning and is still true today. He is the same yesterday, today, and in the future. Truth is truth forever. Throughout history man has changed and society has matured into today's version. This has affected how we live with each other and how we handle what the current society considers wrongs. Even the punishment for wrong doings has been altered overt he centuries.
As believers we were given a mandate to preach the Gospel to the four corners of the Earth. Back then this referred to the four rivers and the tribes of the known world. With today's knowledge of the Earth, we know that means the whole Earth. It means we have the responsibility to tell all we meet about Jesus.
We are to preach the Gospel; not argue the Gospel. We do not have to convince others to believe by manipulating them into agreeing with our words. The Truth stands on its own with no help from us. Those that hear it from us know we believe and will be moved toward us or away. That is their choice and no amount of arguing will change their mind. We can only present them a door. They have to choose to open it.
What Gospel do we preach? If we quote Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John we are quoting "the gospels", but all can be left to interpretation especially by the unbeliever we are confronting. But if we preach our Gospel how can it be refuted?
We tell the story of Jesus in our lives. We tell of the changes that have happened in our own lives as a result of the relationship we have with Him. This is the Gospel message and it is a personal message that lets them know why we know we are on a journey with God that will end in eternity with Him.
Monday, August 02, 2010
The Band-Aid
Have you ever had a cut? Of course you have. It is easy to misjudge and find our skin cut and bleeding. After yelling ouch, we look for a Band-Aid. But first we clean the cut by pouring clean water in it and even some peroxide.
If left alone, the bleeding will eventually stop as the blood clots. If dirt was in the cut, it is likely an infection will occur and the area will be tender to the touch. Healing will take a while longer and may even require cutting the wound open again to force the results of the infection out. Until the infected area is cleaned out, full healing will not occur.
Isn't it the same in the spiritual? We accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are now born again. God sent the Holy Spirit to live in us to comfort us to guide us to teach us. He forgave us of our sins, but does not unpack our bags. We have baggage no matter where we came from. That baggage is like an infection that stops the total healing.
Some of that baggage is unforgiveness. Things have happened to us in the past and we hold it against others. We need to rid ourselves of the baggage from our past. As we recognize it, we need to command it out for it is not of God. All this baggage comes between us and receiving from God. As we get rid of it, we close windows into error and allow more of us to be in touch with more of Him.
So let's clean out the wounds of our past so God can have full access to us and we can receive our complete healing and restoration.
If left alone, the bleeding will eventually stop as the blood clots. If dirt was in the cut, it is likely an infection will occur and the area will be tender to the touch. Healing will take a while longer and may even require cutting the wound open again to force the results of the infection out. Until the infected area is cleaned out, full healing will not occur.
Isn't it the same in the spiritual? We accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are now born again. God sent the Holy Spirit to live in us to comfort us to guide us to teach us. He forgave us of our sins, but does not unpack our bags. We have baggage no matter where we came from. That baggage is like an infection that stops the total healing.
Some of that baggage is unforgiveness. Things have happened to us in the past and we hold it against others. We need to rid ourselves of the baggage from our past. As we recognize it, we need to command it out for it is not of God. All this baggage comes between us and receiving from God. As we get rid of it, we close windows into error and allow more of us to be in touch with more of Him.
So let's clean out the wounds of our past so God can have full access to us and we can receive our complete healing and restoration.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Christian Walk
1 John 2:27
You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true-it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (NLT)
I have learned from many over the years. As long as was with them I always picked up something new. Just watching them work at something would give me ideas to use. Afterwards, I could call on what I had learned for years to come. I often think of things my father had told me and how I still think as he did because of what I learned.
Many of us have been molded by one or more teachers in school. We were drawn to them for whatever reason and what they taught us has stayed with us over the years. I always remember a science teacher from junior high that taught with demonstrations. I still remember him shooting a 22 rifle in class to calculate the speed of the bullet. We could never do that in today's schoolroom!
When we asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins and to come into our heart, we became born again. As promised, He asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to live in us. He knows all things and we can learn from Him daily.
I do not learn from my father anymore because he has gone to be with the Lord. I do not learn from that school teacher anymore because I have not seen him since then. We need a working relationship with someone to learn from them. The same can be said for the Holy Spirit.
We must remain in fellowship with Christ. We must have a personal relationship with Him to continually learn what He has to teach us.
Sure, we can go to classes at our local church. Sunday School is great and fills us with useful information that we should sift through the filter of our Bible. Perhaps what is discussed in class sparks revelation in us and we then can ask the Holy Spirit to tell us more.
The key is a working relationship with Jesus. Without it we do not have a true Christian walk.
You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true-it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (NLT)
I have learned from many over the years. As long as was with them I always picked up something new. Just watching them work at something would give me ideas to use. Afterwards, I could call on what I had learned for years to come. I often think of things my father had told me and how I still think as he did because of what I learned.
Many of us have been molded by one or more teachers in school. We were drawn to them for whatever reason and what they taught us has stayed with us over the years. I always remember a science teacher from junior high that taught with demonstrations. I still remember him shooting a 22 rifle in class to calculate the speed of the bullet. We could never do that in today's schoolroom!
When we asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins and to come into our heart, we became born again. As promised, He asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to live in us. He knows all things and we can learn from Him daily.
I do not learn from my father anymore because he has gone to be with the Lord. I do not learn from that school teacher anymore because I have not seen him since then. We need a working relationship with someone to learn from them. The same can be said for the Holy Spirit.
We must remain in fellowship with Christ. We must have a personal relationship with Him to continually learn what He has to teach us.
Sure, we can go to classes at our local church. Sunday School is great and fills us with useful information that we should sift through the filter of our Bible. Perhaps what is discussed in class sparks revelation in us and we then can ask the Holy Spirit to tell us more.
The key is a working relationship with Jesus. Without it we do not have a true Christian walk.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Serve One Another
1 Peter 4:10
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)
We grow up learning what talents we have naturally. For some it may be a musical gift. Or perhaps they might do well playing sports. Some are good with mathematics. Others might be good at listening.
As little children we use our talents to have fun and enjoy ourselves. When it comes time to decide what we will do in life, we cultivate our talents by pursuing some career that will make use of them to earn an income.
Some make the mistake of deciding on a course for their life based on income potential without regard for natural talents. This can lead to a good job, but not necessarily to a happy life.
And yet real happiness comes when we use our natural talents and our spiritual gifts to server one another without regard for what we will gain from doing so. It comes when our concern is only for them.
It is my experience that the more we give out, the more we receive. And the receiving usually comes from some place far removed from where we gave, but only when the giving was done in love without any thought to getting something in return.
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)
We grow up learning what talents we have naturally. For some it may be a musical gift. Or perhaps they might do well playing sports. Some are good with mathematics. Others might be good at listening.
As little children we use our talents to have fun and enjoy ourselves. When it comes time to decide what we will do in life, we cultivate our talents by pursuing some career that will make use of them to earn an income.
Some make the mistake of deciding on a course for their life based on income potential without regard for natural talents. This can lead to a good job, but not necessarily to a happy life.
And yet real happiness comes when we use our natural talents and our spiritual gifts to server one another without regard for what we will gain from doing so. It comes when our concern is only for them.
It is my experience that the more we give out, the more we receive. And the receiving usually comes from some place far removed from where we gave, but only when the giving was done in love without any thought to getting something in return.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Children of Abraham
Galatians 3:2-3
You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (NLT)
According to Wikipedia, perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. This is an impossible state for us as mere humans to obtain. There was only one perfect man and that is Jesus.
There are many good people trying hard to be as perfect as they can be. They follow a moral standard. That standard might be the Jewish laws still in practice today. Perhaps it is the standards they learned as children growing up in a moral society. Maybe it is simply rules they have been given in the church they attend.
Some just think before they act and wonder WWJD or what would Jesus do in this situation? They analyze and then act.
Yet each of these are all about us changing our behavior according to the beliefs we hold. Does this have anything to do with being an Christian or living by the Spirit? I do not think so.
Galatians 3:5
Does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
I believe He gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us because we are followers of Jesus. The perfect spirit is inside us, but we have to give Him permission to come forth. We can let Him hide backstage watching us blunder through life on our own, in our human effort. Or we can bring Him on stage with us and let Him take the lead.
Galatians 3:6
"Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
And are we not those children? Yes, we are because we have asked Jesus, the son of the one true God, into our heart. We have asked for forgiveness for our sins and confessed our faith in Him whose name is above all names and in Him who is part of the triune Godhead--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The blood relatives of Abraham were not all counted as his children. Blood does run deep. However, it is the blood of Jesus and our faith that makes us the real children of Abraham. Many in his mortal blood line did not become counted as his "children".
It does not matter where the ancestral line comes from. We are counted as soon as we put our faith in Jesus.
Galatians 3:8-9
The Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
So because of Christ, we are as Abraham was and receive the same blessing from our Father God.
Galatians 3:10-12
But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life."
Because of Jesus who took away all sin on the cross, we are righteous in Him. Because of Him we do not depend on the law, on a set of rules, on works of man, to become right with God. And if we do depend on them, we are cursed because we cannot obey them all. It is only through faith that we have life and life everlasting.
Galatians 3:13-14
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
And so we believe and therefore we have the promised Holy Spirit. The evidence of that are the apparent changes in our life, the fruit of the Spirit evident in us. And as Mark 16:15-18 tells us, the gift of speaking with new tongues, our prayer language, allowing us to pray in the spirit at all times.
You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (NLT)
According to Wikipedia, perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. This is an impossible state for us as mere humans to obtain. There was only one perfect man and that is Jesus.
There are many good people trying hard to be as perfect as they can be. They follow a moral standard. That standard might be the Jewish laws still in practice today. Perhaps it is the standards they learned as children growing up in a moral society. Maybe it is simply rules they have been given in the church they attend.
Some just think before they act and wonder WWJD or what would Jesus do in this situation? They analyze and then act.
Yet each of these are all about us changing our behavior according to the beliefs we hold. Does this have anything to do with being an Christian or living by the Spirit? I do not think so.
Galatians 3:5
Does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.
I believe He gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us because we are followers of Jesus. The perfect spirit is inside us, but we have to give Him permission to come forth. We can let Him hide backstage watching us blunder through life on our own, in our human effort. Or we can bring Him on stage with us and let Him take the lead.
Galatians 3:6
"Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
And are we not those children? Yes, we are because we have asked Jesus, the son of the one true God, into our heart. We have asked for forgiveness for our sins and confessed our faith in Him whose name is above all names and in Him who is part of the triune Godhead--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The blood relatives of Abraham were not all counted as his children. Blood does run deep. However, it is the blood of Jesus and our faith that makes us the real children of Abraham. Many in his mortal blood line did not become counted as his "children".
It does not matter where the ancestral line comes from. We are counted as soon as we put our faith in Jesus.
Galatians 3:8-9
The Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
So because of Christ, we are as Abraham was and receive the same blessing from our Father God.
Galatians 3:10-12
But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life."
Because of Jesus who took away all sin on the cross, we are righteous in Him. Because of Him we do not depend on the law, on a set of rules, on works of man, to become right with God. And if we do depend on them, we are cursed because we cannot obey them all. It is only through faith that we have life and life everlasting.
Galatians 3:13-14
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
And so we believe and therefore we have the promised Holy Spirit. The evidence of that are the apparent changes in our life, the fruit of the Spirit evident in us. And as Mark 16:15-18 tells us, the gift of speaking with new tongues, our prayer language, allowing us to pray in the spirit at all times.
Monday, July 05, 2010
The Hard Drive
1 John 2:27
You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true-it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (NLT)
It is easy to become excited about the new computers we see advertised. They have the latest version of Windows and appear to allow easy access to displaying things from one computer to another and even to our wide screen televisions. The ads make us think that purchasing that computer is all we need to do. When we get it, we will have everything we need.
As you probably know, that is not the whole truth. Windows 7 may be a great new operating system, but is it the end all to everything else we use our computers for? No. We can browse the Web with the included software and connect to other computers, but there is more we need. The hard drive is not already filled with everything there is. We have to purchase other applications to use our computer to do things such as word processing, picture editing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, Web page editing, accounting, and the list goes on.
We are constantly adding to the base computer additional applications to allow us to fully utilize the power it has. As we grow in our knowledge, we add additional applications to use more and more of that power.
Many of us believe it is the same with being a Christian. We have been taught that man has to teach us as new Christians what it takes to walk the walk. They give us a tremendous amount of knowledge to help us understand the Bible as they understand it. We learn what we should and should not do as Christians.
If I read 1 John and understand what he is telling us, I see that we do not need man to teach us at all.
The Holy Spirit teaches us all things. We already have the hard drive filled with all knowledge inside of us. We were given it when we believed. This is the Christ within that Paul speaks of. To know more, we must ask for it to be revealed to us.
There are things we know are on our computer but we cannot find them. So we do a search by typing some key words and let the machine search through all the content to locate the file for us. We even use the Web to do the same thing. We bring up Google and type in a phone number and are taken right to the person's address and a link to see their location on a map.
The Holy Spirit is our search engine. When we need something and ask in Jesus name, He locates the answer for us and brings it to our mind. As we remain in fellowship with Christ, the Holy Spirit teaches us everything we need to know, and what he teaches is true.
You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true-it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (NLT)
It is easy to become excited about the new computers we see advertised. They have the latest version of Windows and appear to allow easy access to displaying things from one computer to another and even to our wide screen televisions. The ads make us think that purchasing that computer is all we need to do. When we get it, we will have everything we need.
As you probably know, that is not the whole truth. Windows 7 may be a great new operating system, but is it the end all to everything else we use our computers for? No. We can browse the Web with the included software and connect to other computers, but there is more we need. The hard drive is not already filled with everything there is. We have to purchase other applications to use our computer to do things such as word processing, picture editing, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, Web page editing, accounting, and the list goes on.
We are constantly adding to the base computer additional applications to allow us to fully utilize the power it has. As we grow in our knowledge, we add additional applications to use more and more of that power.
Many of us believe it is the same with being a Christian. We have been taught that man has to teach us as new Christians what it takes to walk the walk. They give us a tremendous amount of knowledge to help us understand the Bible as they understand it. We learn what we should and should not do as Christians.
If I read 1 John and understand what he is telling us, I see that we do not need man to teach us at all.
The Holy Spirit teaches us all things. We already have the hard drive filled with all knowledge inside of us. We were given it when we believed. This is the Christ within that Paul speaks of. To know more, we must ask for it to be revealed to us.
There are things we know are on our computer but we cannot find them. So we do a search by typing some key words and let the machine search through all the content to locate the file for us. We even use the Web to do the same thing. We bring up Google and type in a phone number and are taken right to the person's address and a link to see their location on a map.
The Holy Spirit is our search engine. When we need something and ask in Jesus name, He locates the answer for us and brings it to our mind. As we remain in fellowship with Christ, the Holy Spirit teaches us everything we need to know, and what he teaches is true.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Pick Up the Phone
Galatians 6:3
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. (NLT)
When we think of someone in need we may think about a homeless person, or someone who just ran out of money before they ran out of month.
How often do we decide to help someone else based on how doing so will affect us? All too often we are "me focused". We tend to think of our wellbeing before others. So we find excuses like we do not have the time right now or someone else would be better suited to help.
We think "Can I afford to send a check to someone in the middle of a tragedy in their life"? But thinking that, are we trusting in God to supply our every need first? As we reach out and help someone in their need, will we trust Him to supply ours? Do we have faith to know He will make a way for our month to end with just the right amount of money left over?
And we tend to think of needs in the form of finances. The reality is that many needs are emotional. People need a friend to talk to. They need someone to help unburden them by just listening. We do not have to resolve their problems. All we need to do is listen to them and then help them pray for divine intervention.
Have you ever thought of someone you have not heard from in a long while? Perhaps they need your help. Maybe we need to make a simple phone call to cheer them up or to let them talk to someone who cares.
None of us is too important to ignore others in their time of need. We need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking we do not matter and someone else can do a better job. We need to pick up the phone and call that person we have been thinking about.
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. (NLT)
When we think of someone in need we may think about a homeless person, or someone who just ran out of money before they ran out of month.
How often do we decide to help someone else based on how doing so will affect us? All too often we are "me focused". We tend to think of our wellbeing before others. So we find excuses like we do not have the time right now or someone else would be better suited to help.
We think "Can I afford to send a check to someone in the middle of a tragedy in their life"? But thinking that, are we trusting in God to supply our every need first? As we reach out and help someone in their need, will we trust Him to supply ours? Do we have faith to know He will make a way for our month to end with just the right amount of money left over?
And we tend to think of needs in the form of finances. The reality is that many needs are emotional. People need a friend to talk to. They need someone to help unburden them by just listening. We do not have to resolve their problems. All we need to do is listen to them and then help them pray for divine intervention.
Have you ever thought of someone you have not heard from in a long while? Perhaps they need your help. Maybe we need to make a simple phone call to cheer them up or to let them talk to someone who cares.
None of us is too important to ignore others in their time of need. We need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking we do not matter and someone else can do a better job. We need to pick up the phone and call that person we have been thinking about.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Following the Law
Galatians 4:10-12
You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles-free from those laws. (NLT)
We live in a world filled with laws. Our government creates new ones daily. Who knows them all? Even the lawyers only know a few. They know the ones they have studied for the practice they have. As new cases are presented to them, they discover the laws that apply.
There are many laws, even some which have been around for hundreds of years that make no sense today. The more laws, the more restrictive a society we live in. We have to wear seatbelts when we drive. Those that smoke have to do it some many feet outside a building. The list goes on. Soon we will not be allowed by law to use incandescent light bulbs as they must be replaced by the new energy efficient florescent ones.
The Jews lived by their laws and were under the impression that strictly following them was the way to heaven. Mess up and you missed it. The fact is, as Jesus pointed out hundreds of years later, it is impossible not to mess up. Nobody except a perfect man could ever live up to all of them, and there was only one perfect man. He fulfilled the law so we would not have to live by it.
Paul preached to the Gentiles about Jesus, not about obeying the law. He did not ignore the law, but he knew it was following Jesus that brings salvation, not the law.
We are not to live encased in a cage of rules that limit our activity. Our life is not to revolve around a building full of believers; it is to be focused on the commission Jesus gave to each of us.
We are to be in the world, in the daily marketplace, letting the Holy Spirit guide us to encounters where we can share the good news that Jesus is alive today!
You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles-free from those laws. (NLT)
We live in a world filled with laws. Our government creates new ones daily. Who knows them all? Even the lawyers only know a few. They know the ones they have studied for the practice they have. As new cases are presented to them, they discover the laws that apply.
There are many laws, even some which have been around for hundreds of years that make no sense today. The more laws, the more restrictive a society we live in. We have to wear seatbelts when we drive. Those that smoke have to do it some many feet outside a building. The list goes on. Soon we will not be allowed by law to use incandescent light bulbs as they must be replaced by the new energy efficient florescent ones.
The Jews lived by their laws and were under the impression that strictly following them was the way to heaven. Mess up and you missed it. The fact is, as Jesus pointed out hundreds of years later, it is impossible not to mess up. Nobody except a perfect man could ever live up to all of them, and there was only one perfect man. He fulfilled the law so we would not have to live by it.
Paul preached to the Gentiles about Jesus, not about obeying the law. He did not ignore the law, but he knew it was following Jesus that brings salvation, not the law.
We are not to live encased in a cage of rules that limit our activity. Our life is not to revolve around a building full of believers; it is to be focused on the commission Jesus gave to each of us.
We are to be in the world, in the daily marketplace, letting the Holy Spirit guide us to encounters where we can share the good news that Jesus is alive today!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Follow the Rules
Galatians 2:17-18
Suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. (NLT)
Paul speaks here with simple logic. If we do not follow the rules man has made it does not have an effect on our relationship with Jesus. Jesus said to follow him, not follow a set of rules or abide by Jewish laws to be saved. If we want to take on some of the old laws for our self because we like what they tell us, it is not wrong unless they go against what Jesus taught us.
Man seems to want to have both worlds. Over the years we have created our own set of rules or laws. No matter which institutional church you belong to, there is a set of rules you are to abide to. Before Jesus became part of my life, I lived under the assumption that if I was a good person and did good deeds for others, I would go to heaven when I died. In other words, my good works would save me.
Jesus came to dispel that theory. He said that to be saved we had to follow Him. So we came up with another rule (law) and that is what we call the sinners prayer. Nothing wrong with it as it fulfills Jesus requirement to follow Him. However, how often do we require it to be said before we believe they are really saved?
Then we look at the various churches in our communities. Each has their own set of laws-their doctrines. Some even decide what they want to believe from the Bible. They chalk up many of the teachings as belonging to the first generation of Christ followers. Yet, Jesus was speaking to all believers. And ALL means you and me.
I guess it comes down to this for me. Following man made laws makes life easy. We memorize them and abide by them and everyone we associate with is happy with us. However, it is the Holy Spirit that I want to follow, not the laws of man. The more I lean to the rules, the less I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me.
I choose Holy Spirit.
Suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. (NLT)
Paul speaks here with simple logic. If we do not follow the rules man has made it does not have an effect on our relationship with Jesus. Jesus said to follow him, not follow a set of rules or abide by Jewish laws to be saved. If we want to take on some of the old laws for our self because we like what they tell us, it is not wrong unless they go against what Jesus taught us.
Man seems to want to have both worlds. Over the years we have created our own set of rules or laws. No matter which institutional church you belong to, there is a set of rules you are to abide to. Before Jesus became part of my life, I lived under the assumption that if I was a good person and did good deeds for others, I would go to heaven when I died. In other words, my good works would save me.
Jesus came to dispel that theory. He said that to be saved we had to follow Him. So we came up with another rule (law) and that is what we call the sinners prayer. Nothing wrong with it as it fulfills Jesus requirement to follow Him. However, how often do we require it to be said before we believe they are really saved?
Then we look at the various churches in our communities. Each has their own set of laws-their doctrines. Some even decide what they want to believe from the Bible. They chalk up many of the teachings as belonging to the first generation of Christ followers. Yet, Jesus was speaking to all believers. And ALL means you and me.
I guess it comes down to this for me. Following man made laws makes life easy. We memorize them and abide by them and everyone we associate with is happy with us. However, it is the Holy Spirit that I want to follow, not the laws of man. The more I lean to the rules, the less I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me.
I choose Holy Spirit.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Depend on Him
Galatians 3:2-3
Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (NLT)
I enjoy reading. I like to sit back with a good novel and read for enjoyment. I even like to read about history; about things that happened long ago. Sometimes I can get lost for a while in my browser as I look up something and it leads to something else which takes me off in another area altogether.
In school we all learned to read for knowledge. We read to know about stuff. We read to fill our head with useful information-data from the past we may be able to apply later in life. Some of it is useless and I really cannot understand why I still know it! Other bits have been quite useful and throughout my life I have needed to know them.
However, it is as I used that stored data in life that it became real. The application of the information created personal experiences which helped mold me into the person I am today.
When I received the Holy Spirit it was not because of what I had learned from books or from the Internet or from others. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and He came to live in me. I was baptized by fire in the name of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
There was nothing logical about it. I believed the message I had heard and my spirit man was born again. I was a new person in the spirit. However, I was still an old person in the flesh.
My flesh, my mortal man rather than my spirit man, learned all the "rules" about being a Christian. So I set out to become a good Christian. There were things I should do and things I should avoid. There were people I should hang out with and people to be avoided. There were movies good to watch and movies to be avoided. Some things were good to talk about and others not. And I learned new phrases that all good Christians seemed to be using.
If I could just appear to be a good Christian I would be all set. I was trying to become perfect by my own human effort.
I am not saying this was necessarily a bad thing. It just was not changing the real me. It just allowed others to see the person I wanted to be, and this was not the person I turned into under pressure.
Only God can change us and that occurs when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. It is He that convicts us when we drift off the path. As we recognize His voice and ask to be changed, our desires to repeat what He pointed out leave and we are changed.
I no longer want to view those movies, hang around with people using coarse language, gossip about others, or even be fluent in the latest Christianize phrases. Do not get me wrong here. I am nowhere near perfection. I just want to give God all the glory, praise Him in my life, and let the Holy Spirit guide me through this life long journey.
Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (NLT)
I enjoy reading. I like to sit back with a good novel and read for enjoyment. I even like to read about history; about things that happened long ago. Sometimes I can get lost for a while in my browser as I look up something and it leads to something else which takes me off in another area altogether.
In school we all learned to read for knowledge. We read to know about stuff. We read to fill our head with useful information-data from the past we may be able to apply later in life. Some of it is useless and I really cannot understand why I still know it! Other bits have been quite useful and throughout my life I have needed to know them.
However, it is as I used that stored data in life that it became real. The application of the information created personal experiences which helped mold me into the person I am today.
When I received the Holy Spirit it was not because of what I had learned from books or from the Internet or from others. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and He came to live in me. I was baptized by fire in the name of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
There was nothing logical about it. I believed the message I had heard and my spirit man was born again. I was a new person in the spirit. However, I was still an old person in the flesh.
My flesh, my mortal man rather than my spirit man, learned all the "rules" about being a Christian. So I set out to become a good Christian. There were things I should do and things I should avoid. There were people I should hang out with and people to be avoided. There were movies good to watch and movies to be avoided. Some things were good to talk about and others not. And I learned new phrases that all good Christians seemed to be using.
If I could just appear to be a good Christian I would be all set. I was trying to become perfect by my own human effort.
I am not saying this was necessarily a bad thing. It just was not changing the real me. It just allowed others to see the person I wanted to be, and this was not the person I turned into under pressure.
Only God can change us and that occurs when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. It is He that convicts us when we drift off the path. As we recognize His voice and ask to be changed, our desires to repeat what He pointed out leave and we are changed.
I no longer want to view those movies, hang around with people using coarse language, gossip about others, or even be fluent in the latest Christianize phrases. Do not get me wrong here. I am nowhere near perfection. I just want to give God all the glory, praise Him in my life, and let the Holy Spirit guide me through this life long journey.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Use Your Voice
1 John 5:6
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross-not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. (NLT)
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist it fulfilled prophecy bringing Him to the next place in His life on earth. It was His rite of passage to begin His ministry on earth on the way to fulfilling His purpose. If destiny was to come to pass, He would have to go from baptism to ministry to the cross.
After the fulfilling of all prophecy about Him, Jesus Christ was ultimately revealed to the world as the Son of God.
When we are baptized in the tradition of John by being dunked in water, or sprinkled, or whatever your tradition is, we are publicly exclaiming our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We are declaring our faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
When I was growing in my faith I experienced many who proclaimed to believe, but told me their faith was a private thing. Attending church was their pronouncement of their belief. Beyond that they did not wish to say.
I do not believe our faith is so personal that we are to keep it to ourselves. We are to share it with others everywhere our feet tread. If we do not, then we are not obeying the commission Jesus gave to each of us.
We have become complacent in our churches depending on the latest marketing program to entice the lost to come through our doors. We may even have programs that take a few of our members and place them out in society in various ways to reach the lost and get them to come to church Sunday.
Have we lost the voice? We tell about out latest adventures in this life. We are excited about our great new vacation, our big screen TV, the latest deal we got at Wal-Mart, the game our son won on the weekend, etc. What about our excitement about our Lord and Savior and what He has been doing in our lives?
Perhaps we are not talking because we have not been listening to the Holy Spirit and letting Him guide us in all things. Perhaps our communion with God starts and stops with passing the bread and grape juice on Sunday morning in church.
I hope this is not true and that we truly are excited about Jesus Christ, His life and death on the cross for our sins, and His daily work in our lives. As we use our voice to tell others about what the Godhead does in and for our lives others will be touched. They will see the light of Christ shining in our lives and seek Him out.
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross-not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. (NLT)
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist it fulfilled prophecy bringing Him to the next place in His life on earth. It was His rite of passage to begin His ministry on earth on the way to fulfilling His purpose. If destiny was to come to pass, He would have to go from baptism to ministry to the cross.
After the fulfilling of all prophecy about Him, Jesus Christ was ultimately revealed to the world as the Son of God.
When we are baptized in the tradition of John by being dunked in water, or sprinkled, or whatever your tradition is, we are publicly exclaiming our belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We are declaring our faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
When I was growing in my faith I experienced many who proclaimed to believe, but told me their faith was a private thing. Attending church was their pronouncement of their belief. Beyond that they did not wish to say.
I do not believe our faith is so personal that we are to keep it to ourselves. We are to share it with others everywhere our feet tread. If we do not, then we are not obeying the commission Jesus gave to each of us.
We have become complacent in our churches depending on the latest marketing program to entice the lost to come through our doors. We may even have programs that take a few of our members and place them out in society in various ways to reach the lost and get them to come to church Sunday.
Have we lost the voice? We tell about out latest adventures in this life. We are excited about our great new vacation, our big screen TV, the latest deal we got at Wal-Mart, the game our son won on the weekend, etc. What about our excitement about our Lord and Savior and what He has been doing in our lives?
Perhaps we are not talking because we have not been listening to the Holy Spirit and letting Him guide us in all things. Perhaps our communion with God starts and stops with passing the bread and grape juice on Sunday morning in church.
I hope this is not true and that we truly are excited about Jesus Christ, His life and death on the cross for our sins, and His daily work in our lives. As we use our voice to tell others about what the Godhead does in and for our lives others will be touched. They will see the light of Christ shining in our lives and seek Him out.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Temptation
Matthew 18:7
How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. (NLT)
There is not one of us who can say; we have never been tempted; nor can we say, we have never given into temptation. But can we be blamed for tempting someone else?
I have been doing real well over the past few months in the eating department. We have changed our eating habits to try to eat healthier. I did not think it would be possible to go without bread and deserts, but I have managed well and even lost a few pounds. Add to that drinking lots of water each day and exercise and the results are obvious.
However, when I go somewhere like one of our great Bible Discovery Group meetings during the week, I am tempted to try a piece or two of the scrumptious looking deserts someone brings for us to snack on. Sometimes I just give in to that temptation and have a piece, ruining my calorie intake number for that day.
Often we get excited about something we have gotten involved in and try to convince others to jump on the bandwagon with us. Yet what is a small investment to us could be someone else's life savings. Our little venture could temp them into overextending themselves causing them to sin.
Our excitement and commitment can be so overwhelming for others that they ignore that still small voice of warning in instead only hear our loud cry. And if we say it is alright, it must be so. Wrong. We are causing them to sin by grieving the Holy Spirit trying to lead them on the right path for them.
So whether it is food or finances or just our lifestyle, we need to be careful we do not manipulate others to our way of thinking. We must listen to the Holy Spirit to guide our day-to-day decisions. We need to let others do the same.
How terrible it will be for anyone who causes others to sin. Temptation to do wrong is inevitable, but how terrible it will be for the person who does the tempting. (NLT)
There is not one of us who can say; we have never been tempted; nor can we say, we have never given into temptation. But can we be blamed for tempting someone else?
I have been doing real well over the past few months in the eating department. We have changed our eating habits to try to eat healthier. I did not think it would be possible to go without bread and deserts, but I have managed well and even lost a few pounds. Add to that drinking lots of water each day and exercise and the results are obvious.
However, when I go somewhere like one of our great Bible Discovery Group meetings during the week, I am tempted to try a piece or two of the scrumptious looking deserts someone brings for us to snack on. Sometimes I just give in to that temptation and have a piece, ruining my calorie intake number for that day.
Often we get excited about something we have gotten involved in and try to convince others to jump on the bandwagon with us. Yet what is a small investment to us could be someone else's life savings. Our little venture could temp them into overextending themselves causing them to sin.
Our excitement and commitment can be so overwhelming for others that they ignore that still small voice of warning in instead only hear our loud cry. And if we say it is alright, it must be so. Wrong. We are causing them to sin by grieving the Holy Spirit trying to lead them on the right path for them.
So whether it is food or finances or just our lifestyle, we need to be careful we do not manipulate others to our way of thinking. We must listen to the Holy Spirit to guide our day-to-day decisions. We need to let others do the same.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Open Doors
Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains (NIV)
In my past, I thought we were the ones that controlled opening and closing of doors. There was a TV show where the contestant had to choose from three doors. Do you want what is behind door number 1, 2, or 3?
The doors we chose in life were doors we thought would allow us to have fun, to enjoy life.
When we were growing up, we turned many corners in life looking for new ways to have fun. After High School, I looked to the ways of the world. My friends smoked cigarettes and drank drinks like whiskey sours, wine coolers, or rum and coke. So I tried out their ways for a while, but I never really had fun.
In my teen years, I played tennis and spent hours talking on my ham radio. Those were fun things for me. I have not played tennis in years, but did try my hand at it again in Florida a few weeks ago. I was surprised that I could still get the ball over the net. It was still fun.
Ham Radio had been a silent hobby for years. Back in the 80's I taught classes and helped many in Rhode Island learn Morse code and get their Novice license from the FCC. Then life got busy and that hobby took a back seat. Recently I have had the time to dabble a little and it is still fun talking to someone halfway around the world.
Back to open doors. They are all around us. There are doors for us to walk through in this life that will prosper us and doors allowing us the opportunity to complete the Father's work. God uses the Holy Spirit to show us where they are.
It is a wonder every time a door opens and we are able to preach the message God has given us.
Often we miss the open doors because we are not looking for them. We are not open for the Holy Spirit to tell us. It is not His job to shout at us. It is our job to be open to Him and to use those opportunities to tell the story of Jesus in our life.
"Father, open my spiritual ears. Show me the open doors you have for me to walk through. Guide me in the natural to those things I need to prosper. And show me the work you have for me to further the Kingdom of God. In Jesus mighty name, I pray. Amen."
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains (NIV)
In my past, I thought we were the ones that controlled opening and closing of doors. There was a TV show where the contestant had to choose from three doors. Do you want what is behind door number 1, 2, or 3?
The doors we chose in life were doors we thought would allow us to have fun, to enjoy life.
When we were growing up, we turned many corners in life looking for new ways to have fun. After High School, I looked to the ways of the world. My friends smoked cigarettes and drank drinks like whiskey sours, wine coolers, or rum and coke. So I tried out their ways for a while, but I never really had fun.
In my teen years, I played tennis and spent hours talking on my ham radio. Those were fun things for me. I have not played tennis in years, but did try my hand at it again in Florida a few weeks ago. I was surprised that I could still get the ball over the net. It was still fun.
Ham Radio had been a silent hobby for years. Back in the 80's I taught classes and helped many in Rhode Island learn Morse code and get their Novice license from the FCC. Then life got busy and that hobby took a back seat. Recently I have had the time to dabble a little and it is still fun talking to someone halfway around the world.
Back to open doors. They are all around us. There are doors for us to walk through in this life that will prosper us and doors allowing us the opportunity to complete the Father's work. God uses the Holy Spirit to show us where they are.
It is a wonder every time a door opens and we are able to preach the message God has given us.
Often we miss the open doors because we are not looking for them. We are not open for the Holy Spirit to tell us. It is not His job to shout at us. It is our job to be open to Him and to use those opportunities to tell the story of Jesus in our life.
"Father, open my spiritual ears. Show me the open doors you have for me to walk through. Guide me in the natural to those things I need to prosper. And show me the work you have for me to further the Kingdom of God. In Jesus mighty name, I pray. Amen."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Live Wisely
Colossians 4:5-6
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone. (NLT)
How many of us spend most of our free time involved with other Christians and one church event or another? We attend a worship service on Sunday and perhaps an evening service as well. During the week, we have small groups, committee meetings, mid-week service, and perhaps some organized outreach programs to the local food bank or soup kitchen.
On a night free from church activities, we get together for a relaxing evening with a few close friends from church. Except when we are at work during the week, almost all of our time is spent at home or with our church family.
At work, we are around the same people all the time and they are tired of us attempting to convert them. Many shy away from us after a while. They say good morning and are friendly enough about work issues, but do not try to spend any personal time with us.
How are we to reach the lost when we only hang around with Christians and we have exhausted the possibilities at work?
All week long we have opportunities, but we are unaware of them. We are wrapped up in life and all the things we have to do with job, family, and church. We all eat out at times. We stop for a coffee at Dunkin Donuts. We get gas for our car. We go to Wal-Mart, Sam's, or BJ's for weekly shopping or a local store like Kroger, Publix, or Shaws. We are around possibilities every day and let them pass us by.
How about avoiding the drive through for that fast food lunch or that cup of coffee? Park and walk inside where we can see other customers and the employees face to face. Ask God to show us the opportunities and keep our ears open. Give us the boldness to start a conversation with a stranger and give the Holy Spirit permission to fill our mouth. It is amazing what He will do.
With His help, our conversation will be gracious and effective and we will have the right word for everyone.
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone. (NLT)
How many of us spend most of our free time involved with other Christians and one church event or another? We attend a worship service on Sunday and perhaps an evening service as well. During the week, we have small groups, committee meetings, mid-week service, and perhaps some organized outreach programs to the local food bank or soup kitchen.
On a night free from church activities, we get together for a relaxing evening with a few close friends from church. Except when we are at work during the week, almost all of our time is spent at home or with our church family.
At work, we are around the same people all the time and they are tired of us attempting to convert them. Many shy away from us after a while. They say good morning and are friendly enough about work issues, but do not try to spend any personal time with us.
How are we to reach the lost when we only hang around with Christians and we have exhausted the possibilities at work?
All week long we have opportunities, but we are unaware of them. We are wrapped up in life and all the things we have to do with job, family, and church. We all eat out at times. We stop for a coffee at Dunkin Donuts. We get gas for our car. We go to Wal-Mart, Sam's, or BJ's for weekly shopping or a local store like Kroger, Publix, or Shaws. We are around possibilities every day and let them pass us by.
How about avoiding the drive through for that fast food lunch or that cup of coffee? Park and walk inside where we can see other customers and the employees face to face. Ask God to show us the opportunities and keep our ears open. Give us the boldness to start a conversation with a stranger and give the Holy Spirit permission to fill our mouth. It is amazing what He will do.
With His help, our conversation will be gracious and effective and we will have the right word for everyone.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Christ Like
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (NIV)
Notice he does not tell us to wait for God to create those gifts within us. He says to clothe yourself. Does this mean we are to fake it?
As we give our lives over to God and let Him take over, we let Jesus in as the Lord of our life. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to live in us as believers. Paul refers to this as Christ within.
As believers, Jesus is in us and we are in Him. However, this does not mean we change. The act of believing is not a switch that turns us from being who we have grown up as in these mortal bodies to being just like Christ.
Believing and asking Jesus to be Lord gives Him permission to change us. He does this one thing at a time, but with our involvement. He shows us our evil ways and as we acknowledge them to Him and ask for His help, He takes those things away.
Others see the changes in us. They see our nature change to be more Christ like. They witness a new person coming forth out of that old body.
So what does he mean when he tells us to clothe ourselves? We knew right from wrong even before we were born again. While we are allowing God to change us, we need to be aware of our words and our actions toward others. As such, we should show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience in all we do even before it is our nature to do so.
In all we do, we should be Christ. Others should see His light shine through us.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (NIV)
Notice he does not tell us to wait for God to create those gifts within us. He says to clothe yourself. Does this mean we are to fake it?
As we give our lives over to God and let Him take over, we let Jesus in as the Lord of our life. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to live in us as believers. Paul refers to this as Christ within.
As believers, Jesus is in us and we are in Him. However, this does not mean we change. The act of believing is not a switch that turns us from being who we have grown up as in these mortal bodies to being just like Christ.
Believing and asking Jesus to be Lord gives Him permission to change us. He does this one thing at a time, but with our involvement. He shows us our evil ways and as we acknowledge them to Him and ask for His help, He takes those things away.
Others see the changes in us. They see our nature change to be more Christ like. They witness a new person coming forth out of that old body.
So what does he mean when he tells us to clothe ourselves? We knew right from wrong even before we were born again. While we are allowing God to change us, we need to be aware of our words and our actions toward others. As such, we should show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience in all we do even before it is our nature to do so.
In all we do, we should be Christ. Others should see His light shine through us.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Conversation
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act to outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV)
Often in conversation with others, we speak from our own point of view. After all, we know we are right. We may even be only half listening to what they are saying as we formulate a rebuttal in our mind sometimes giving it in the middle of their speaking.
It is not a matter of being right. It is a matter of being Christ like. Listening to others should not be focused on fueling our own thoughts to proving how right we are. It should be listening to what is behind their words and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our mouth with the proper response.
It is not about being right; it is about relationship. If we are truly right, it will come out in the end. As we let their thoughts unfold, it is not uncommon for them to come to new conclusions. And it is not uncommon, after hearing what they have to say, that we see error in our own thinking and see the right in their point of view.
This applies to believers and unbelievers (outsiders) alike. The subject matter may be different, but how we interact with them should be similar. We listen first, then, letting the Holy Spirit guide our words, we speak with love. When we speak, it should always be with an encouraging word. Our reactions to what they have to say can build a relationship or tear one down. They can open doors or build walls.
With outsiders our purpose is to let the Holy Spirit guide us into sharing the gospel message and bringing them to their own relationship with Christ. We want them to see Christ in us and feel His love in what we have to say. With insiders, we want to always encourage them to be closer to Him and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in their day-to-day walk.
As I see other Christians with their blatant tee shirts emblazoned with Christianize, I wonder how they can open doors for the lost. It is easy to start a conversation with another believer when we see their Jesus clothing. What I pray for are opportunities to start conversations the Holy Spirit initiates with people I do not know. They may be or not be believers, but if we let the Holy Spirit lead, we know we can encourage them either to Christ if they do not know Him or in Christ if they do.
So how do we talk with a stranger about Christ? We don't. The Holy Spirit will show us the open door and that is usually the conversation opener. Then we ask questions to find out more about who they are and where they come from. The more they talk the better. They do not want to hear about us. Their favorite subject is them and that is what they know the best. Get to know them. The Holy Spirit will guide the conversation to Christ or to another encounter with them.
We need to trust the Holy Spirit and let Him do the work. If we try to force the conversation to Jesus, we may be putting up walls blocking them from hearing the truth. And if their walls are already up, the Holy Spirit knows it. Just out showing Christ's love to them may be the part we have to play and may leave them open for the next person to chip away at their wall a little more.
We do need to be billboards to the world with Christ as the message. But that billboard is not one that is read with their natural eyes. It is the message we send in the Spirit by who we are in Christ.
Be wise in the way you act to outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV)
Often in conversation with others, we speak from our own point of view. After all, we know we are right. We may even be only half listening to what they are saying as we formulate a rebuttal in our mind sometimes giving it in the middle of their speaking.
It is not a matter of being right. It is a matter of being Christ like. Listening to others should not be focused on fueling our own thoughts to proving how right we are. It should be listening to what is behind their words and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our mouth with the proper response.
It is not about being right; it is about relationship. If we are truly right, it will come out in the end. As we let their thoughts unfold, it is not uncommon for them to come to new conclusions. And it is not uncommon, after hearing what they have to say, that we see error in our own thinking and see the right in their point of view.
This applies to believers and unbelievers (outsiders) alike. The subject matter may be different, but how we interact with them should be similar. We listen first, then, letting the Holy Spirit guide our words, we speak with love. When we speak, it should always be with an encouraging word. Our reactions to what they have to say can build a relationship or tear one down. They can open doors or build walls.
With outsiders our purpose is to let the Holy Spirit guide us into sharing the gospel message and bringing them to their own relationship with Christ. We want them to see Christ in us and feel His love in what we have to say. With insiders, we want to always encourage them to be closer to Him and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in their day-to-day walk.
As I see other Christians with their blatant tee shirts emblazoned with Christianize, I wonder how they can open doors for the lost. It is easy to start a conversation with another believer when we see their Jesus clothing. What I pray for are opportunities to start conversations the Holy Spirit initiates with people I do not know. They may be or not be believers, but if we let the Holy Spirit lead, we know we can encourage them either to Christ if they do not know Him or in Christ if they do.
So how do we talk with a stranger about Christ? We don't. The Holy Spirit will show us the open door and that is usually the conversation opener. Then we ask questions to find out more about who they are and where they come from. The more they talk the better. They do not want to hear about us. Their favorite subject is them and that is what they know the best. Get to know them. The Holy Spirit will guide the conversation to Christ or to another encounter with them.
We need to trust the Holy Spirit and let Him do the work. If we try to force the conversation to Jesus, we may be putting up walls blocking them from hearing the truth. And if their walls are already up, the Holy Spirit knows it. Just out showing Christ's love to them may be the part we have to play and may leave them open for the next person to chip away at their wall a little more.
We do need to be billboards to the world with Christ as the message. But that billboard is not one that is read with their natural eyes. It is the message we send in the Spirit by who we are in Christ.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Evangelism
As Christians, when we think of evangelism, we think of tent meetings, inner city events to find the lost and share the Gospel message, and even passing out tracts. However, according to the dictionary it is also great enthusiasm, fervor, or zeal for a particular cause.
As a former New England resident for most of my life, I can understand the zeal others have for the New England Patriots. They are enthusiastic about their team and even come to work with jackets, hats, and other items with their team colors and even its name emblazed on each piece. Some even have screen savers on their computers showing the team.
Do not get me wrong. This kind of enthusiasm is good. They are evangelizing their team. They brag about their victories prophecy their future.
We all know who Microsoft is. They have Technical Evangelists and Developer Evangelists and others. These experts spread the word about Microsoft and their products.
Many Christian evangelize their church and their pastor. They are enthused and let others know about how great they are. They invite them to church and pray their friends will be saved at an alter call. In their initial talks, the gospel message is never brought up; just the church and how great it is.
The fact is that their friend knows what is coming next. After all, it is a church they are going to. Let's look again at the great commission.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
He tells us to go into all nations and make disciples. He did not tell is to go out and coerce people to come back and meet Jesus. They meet Jesus in us and it is our task to tell others about Jesus in our life and explain the gospel message. Then, after they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we are commissioned to teach them to obey all of His commands.
Where does church fit into this? Being a Christian is not a Lone Ranger thing. It is important that we gather together with other Christian to Praise God, to hear new revelation, and to experience Him in the signs and wonders that follow His presence. Church is the body of Christ and although this does not mean a physical brick and mortar building, most Christian attend a church of their choice on Sunday mornings and experience the joy of corporate worship.
We are all to evangelize, but this does not mean we wear Jesus tee shirts and hand out tracts. It means we are to be a light to the world through our lifestyle and as such draw the lost into conversation as the Holy Spirit leads. It is there that we introduce them to what a relationship with Jesus has done in our life.
As a former New England resident for most of my life, I can understand the zeal others have for the New England Patriots. They are enthusiastic about their team and even come to work with jackets, hats, and other items with their team colors and even its name emblazed on each piece. Some even have screen savers on their computers showing the team.
Do not get me wrong. This kind of enthusiasm is good. They are evangelizing their team. They brag about their victories prophecy their future.
We all know who Microsoft is. They have Technical Evangelists and Developer Evangelists and others. These experts spread the word about Microsoft and their products.
Many Christian evangelize their church and their pastor. They are enthused and let others know about how great they are. They invite them to church and pray their friends will be saved at an alter call. In their initial talks, the gospel message is never brought up; just the church and how great it is.
The fact is that their friend knows what is coming next. After all, it is a church they are going to. Let's look again at the great commission.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
He tells us to go into all nations and make disciples. He did not tell is to go out and coerce people to come back and meet Jesus. They meet Jesus in us and it is our task to tell others about Jesus in our life and explain the gospel message. Then, after they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we are commissioned to teach them to obey all of His commands.
Where does church fit into this? Being a Christian is not a Lone Ranger thing. It is important that we gather together with other Christian to Praise God, to hear new revelation, and to experience Him in the signs and wonders that follow His presence. Church is the body of Christ and although this does not mean a physical brick and mortar building, most Christian attend a church of their choice on Sunday mornings and experience the joy of corporate worship.
We are all to evangelize, but this does not mean we wear Jesus tee shirts and hand out tracts. It means we are to be a light to the world through our lifestyle and as such draw the lost into conversation as the Holy Spirit leads. It is there that we introduce them to what a relationship with Jesus has done in our life.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
We Judge
Romans 2:1-4
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (NLT)
It is easy to read this and other letters about Paul's adventures in the first century and think of it as just that. They are interesting reads and tell us about what was happening way back then. But why it is there? Why were these letters included in the New Testament for us to read thousands of years later? Was it for a history lesson? I do not think so.
I look at each book in the New Testament as a word to me. Those words were placed there for me to read and they are to have an effect on how I live my life. They are words of encouragement and words of correction. What we see in them depends on where we are in our walk with Christ. Since each day we are one step further along, those same words can take on an entirely different meaning. Words read before now jump out at us like a blinking neon sign.
Read the first sentence again. We judge and love to listen to others judging. How many of us spend time during the day listening to the news or talk radio? What is that but judgment or news that lends itself to us judging those being reported about? We condemn others without know them or the facts. We depend on what others tell us on television news stations.
We have been taught to judge. The competition in life places us on the winning or loosing side. We judge people in politics taking sides even after the election is over. And yet the next sentence tells us our sin of judging is just as bad as what we are agreeing to condemn another for.
Sin is sin and God does not like sin. Only He can judge and it is up to Him to inflict punishment on those who do such things. So judging another because of what they do is as bad in His eyes as the sin we were judging!
It is hard for us as human beings not to sin. Remember the first Adam. He was born without sin and yet he fell into temptation and sinned. In fact, it is impossible for us not to sin. Thank God that He sent His Son Jesus to show us the way to eternal life. Thank Jesus for taking all our sins to the cross that day and freeing us from that bondage. We were forgiven at the cross and continue to be forgiven thanks to that one act.
God is love. He is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient with each of us. And we are to show His love in all we do including how we view others. We are to look past their sin to the child of God inside and love them. We are to love the person not their sin. We are to be Jesus to those around us wherever the Holy Spirit leads us to go.
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (NLT)
It is easy to read this and other letters about Paul's adventures in the first century and think of it as just that. They are interesting reads and tell us about what was happening way back then. But why it is there? Why were these letters included in the New Testament for us to read thousands of years later? Was it for a history lesson? I do not think so.
I look at each book in the New Testament as a word to me. Those words were placed there for me to read and they are to have an effect on how I live my life. They are words of encouragement and words of correction. What we see in them depends on where we are in our walk with Christ. Since each day we are one step further along, those same words can take on an entirely different meaning. Words read before now jump out at us like a blinking neon sign.
Read the first sentence again. We judge and love to listen to others judging. How many of us spend time during the day listening to the news or talk radio? What is that but judgment or news that lends itself to us judging those being reported about? We condemn others without know them or the facts. We depend on what others tell us on television news stations.
We have been taught to judge. The competition in life places us on the winning or loosing side. We judge people in politics taking sides even after the election is over. And yet the next sentence tells us our sin of judging is just as bad as what we are agreeing to condemn another for.
Sin is sin and God does not like sin. Only He can judge and it is up to Him to inflict punishment on those who do such things. So judging another because of what they do is as bad in His eyes as the sin we were judging!
It is hard for us as human beings not to sin. Remember the first Adam. He was born without sin and yet he fell into temptation and sinned. In fact, it is impossible for us not to sin. Thank God that He sent His Son Jesus to show us the way to eternal life. Thank Jesus for taking all our sins to the cross that day and freeing us from that bondage. We were forgiven at the cross and continue to be forgiven thanks to that one act.
God is love. He is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient with each of us. And we are to show His love in all we do including how we view others. We are to look past their sin to the child of God inside and love them. We are to love the person not their sin. We are to be Jesus to those around us wherever the Holy Spirit leads us to go.
Monday, April 05, 2010
This Is the Secret
Colossians 1:27-29
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me. (NLT)
Many depend on their church service to bring someone to Christ. They work hard at inviting people they meet to church on Sunday. Often they ask them to some event the church is putting on and then spring the "come to church on Sunday" invite. And of course if they are serious about getting them there on Sunday, they pick up the friend and drive them.
All through the service they are praying hard to themselves that their friend likes what is happening. They have introduced them to the friendly people before church and hope the music meets their approval. The pastor gives a great message, but who knows what their friend is thinking about it. Then comes the alter call. The pastor invites those who want to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior to come to the front of the church. They give their friend a look, even a nod, and hope they walk forward.
Now do not get me wrong. This method has been working for hundreds of years. But is it what Jesus asked us to do? He told us to go and preach the gospel everywhere. Those that believe will be saved.
It is not the Bible we wave or the Christian T-shirt we wear. As a matter of fact those things are great ways to meet other believers, but most of the time will turn away the un-believers. It is our lifestyle. It is the way we treat others. It is the way we handle things that disrupt our lives. It is how we react to pressure. It is our character resembling the character of Christ that makes a visible difference between us and their unsaved friends.
We do not have to pressure them. All we have to do is be there for them and not hide the fact that we are a Christian; that we are a follower of Jesus Christ. We need to let go of our worldly marketing schemes to get them saved and let God work through us as He intended.
Yes, when God opens the door for us to bring the Gospel message to them, we must be ready to tell the story. And that story is our story. It is not a magic formula with certain words to say; words to have them say out loud to us. It is a story of how a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed our lives; how it has changed us.
The secret is that Jesus Christ lives in us. It is the Holy Spirit in us that speaks to us in many different ways to guide us, correct us, comfort us, and teach us. As we allow Him to work in us, He reshapes our character to be more and more like the character of Christ.
The fact is that we do not bring someone to Christ; we let them see Christ in us!
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me. (NLT)
Many depend on their church service to bring someone to Christ. They work hard at inviting people they meet to church on Sunday. Often they ask them to some event the church is putting on and then spring the "come to church on Sunday" invite. And of course if they are serious about getting them there on Sunday, they pick up the friend and drive them.
All through the service they are praying hard to themselves that their friend likes what is happening. They have introduced them to the friendly people before church and hope the music meets their approval. The pastor gives a great message, but who knows what their friend is thinking about it. Then comes the alter call. The pastor invites those who want to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior to come to the front of the church. They give their friend a look, even a nod, and hope they walk forward.
Now do not get me wrong. This method has been working for hundreds of years. But is it what Jesus asked us to do? He told us to go and preach the gospel everywhere. Those that believe will be saved.
It is not the Bible we wave or the Christian T-shirt we wear. As a matter of fact those things are great ways to meet other believers, but most of the time will turn away the un-believers. It is our lifestyle. It is the way we treat others. It is the way we handle things that disrupt our lives. It is how we react to pressure. It is our character resembling the character of Christ that makes a visible difference between us and their unsaved friends.
We do not have to pressure them. All we have to do is be there for them and not hide the fact that we are a Christian; that we are a follower of Jesus Christ. We need to let go of our worldly marketing schemes to get them saved and let God work through us as He intended.
Yes, when God opens the door for us to bring the Gospel message to them, we must be ready to tell the story. And that story is our story. It is not a magic formula with certain words to say; words to have them say out loud to us. It is a story of how a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed our lives; how it has changed us.
The secret is that Jesus Christ lives in us. It is the Holy Spirit in us that speaks to us in many different ways to guide us, correct us, comfort us, and teach us. As we allow Him to work in us, He reshapes our character to be more and more like the character of Christ.
The fact is that we do not bring someone to Christ; we let them see Christ in us!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Flash Forward
1 Corinthians 14:5
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. (NLT)
We have been watching Flash Forward on television. The show is a takes place after the blackout. During it the entire population of the earth lost consciousness for a few minutes. During their blackout time, everyone had a vision of themselves three months into the future. They woke up remembering their vision and knowing what the future held.
When God speaks through someone else directly to us, it is like He showing us our own Flash Forward. He gives us a glimpse into our future. But this not His only kind of prophesy.
Many Christians today believe that prophecy is no more-God does not speak to His people through prophetic word. They were taught that the gifts went away when the first Apostles passed away. However, we have had firsthand experience with the gifts and with prophecy today and know a number of believers gifted in that way. We have also seen God speak through believers that are not usually gifted in this way, but the Holy Spirit used them as He desired to speak life into another.
As I see it, there are three types of prophetic word -- past, present, and future.
When God speaks prophetically, He may do so to confirm something we have done so we know it was His plan for us all along. Have you ever had deJa vu? This is when you feel you have been there or heard that before. It is like when you walk into a store for the first time and feel you have been there before. We believe that is God letting us know we are in the right place at the right time-we are supposed to be there and this is the time to pay special attention because He has placed us there for a purpose.
Often we are unsure of what decision to make. We pray about it. We create all sorts of logical analysis about it listing the good points and the bad points of deciding. We do everything we know in the natural. We pray some more, but are not hearing for ourselves. Then someone calls us out of the blue and tells us they have heard something from God for us. God speaks to our present situation and gives us clear guidance so we can make the right decision.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22
'How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?' If the prophet speaks in the Lord's name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. (NLT)
The one we hear about the most has to do with the future. God speaks about things to come. He calls forth our future as an encouraging word of truth for us to hang on to. But how do we know the words are from God?
Of course this is the one that seems to parallel the work of fortune tellers. Can they predict the future? Are they from God? Should I do what they say? Should I even seek them out?
I do not believe fortune tellers are from God. Many are charlatans who have learned to read body language and ask just the right questions to formulate a fortune that will make you satisfied. It like ordering Chinese takeout and after the meal opening a fortune cookie. How many think those words are really about them? Probably the same ones that read their horoscope each day.
Some really to hear things, but not from God. The enemy also sees in the spirit world, but he is not given to encouraging. His task is to knock us down and lead us into temptation. When he gives, he then takes something away. The Bible warns us to stay away from fortune tellers and horoscopes.
So how do we know it is from God? One thing I have found God do is to begin speaking about something only I can know about. This may be something I have been thinking and have not spoken to anyone. It might be something that happened in my past that few if any have heard about. He sets His word up on past truth so I may know that what comes next is from Him.
What do I do with the word after I get it? I write it down and read it over and over to understand what He is telling me. I test the word with the Bible. Is what has been said Biblical Truth? Then I put in on the shelf knowing God has a plan for my life.
As decisions are made and my path changes, I can look back on that word and say "this is that which was spoken". What I do not do is use the prophetic word as a thing to do list. God does not give the word for us to make the plan. We are to listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide our steps. The prophetic word encourages us by letting us know where those steps will take us.
So let's embrace the prophetic. Let God encourage us by confirming our past decisions, helping us in your present choices, and encouraging us in our future direction.
I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. (NLT)
We have been watching Flash Forward on television. The show is a takes place after the blackout. During it the entire population of the earth lost consciousness for a few minutes. During their blackout time, everyone had a vision of themselves three months into the future. They woke up remembering their vision and knowing what the future held.
When God speaks through someone else directly to us, it is like He showing us our own Flash Forward. He gives us a glimpse into our future. But this not His only kind of prophesy.
Many Christians today believe that prophecy is no more-God does not speak to His people through prophetic word. They were taught that the gifts went away when the first Apostles passed away. However, we have had firsthand experience with the gifts and with prophecy today and know a number of believers gifted in that way. We have also seen God speak through believers that are not usually gifted in this way, but the Holy Spirit used them as He desired to speak life into another.
As I see it, there are three types of prophetic word -- past, present, and future.
When God speaks prophetically, He may do so to confirm something we have done so we know it was His plan for us all along. Have you ever had deJa vu? This is when you feel you have been there or heard that before. It is like when you walk into a store for the first time and feel you have been there before. We believe that is God letting us know we are in the right place at the right time-we are supposed to be there and this is the time to pay special attention because He has placed us there for a purpose.
Often we are unsure of what decision to make. We pray about it. We create all sorts of logical analysis about it listing the good points and the bad points of deciding. We do everything we know in the natural. We pray some more, but are not hearing for ourselves. Then someone calls us out of the blue and tells us they have heard something from God for us. God speaks to our present situation and gives us clear guidance so we can make the right decision.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22
'How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?' If the prophet speaks in the Lord's name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. (NLT)
The one we hear about the most has to do with the future. God speaks about things to come. He calls forth our future as an encouraging word of truth for us to hang on to. But how do we know the words are from God?
Of course this is the one that seems to parallel the work of fortune tellers. Can they predict the future? Are they from God? Should I do what they say? Should I even seek them out?
I do not believe fortune tellers are from God. Many are charlatans who have learned to read body language and ask just the right questions to formulate a fortune that will make you satisfied. It like ordering Chinese takeout and after the meal opening a fortune cookie. How many think those words are really about them? Probably the same ones that read their horoscope each day.
Some really to hear things, but not from God. The enemy also sees in the spirit world, but he is not given to encouraging. His task is to knock us down and lead us into temptation. When he gives, he then takes something away. The Bible warns us to stay away from fortune tellers and horoscopes.
So how do we know it is from God? One thing I have found God do is to begin speaking about something only I can know about. This may be something I have been thinking and have not spoken to anyone. It might be something that happened in my past that few if any have heard about. He sets His word up on past truth so I may know that what comes next is from Him.
What do I do with the word after I get it? I write it down and read it over and over to understand what He is telling me. I test the word with the Bible. Is what has been said Biblical Truth? Then I put in on the shelf knowing God has a plan for my life.
As decisions are made and my path changes, I can look back on that word and say "this is that which was spoken". What I do not do is use the prophetic word as a thing to do list. God does not give the word for us to make the plan. We are to listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide our steps. The prophetic word encourages us by letting us know where those steps will take us.
So let's embrace the prophetic. Let God encourage us by confirming our past decisions, helping us in your present choices, and encouraging us in our future direction.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Test Yourself
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. (NLT)
I am not a fan of tests; even the ones that come in emails for the fun of it. I take them, but do not always do that well. My students in college did not like tests either. As a matter of fact, I cannot say anyone I know really likes them. But we have to take them to show what we know.
I had to take a test get my driver's license. The first time I did that was when I was sixteen. The registry of motor vehicles had booklets for you to study before taking the test to get your drivers permit-the first step to obtaining a license to drive. I skimmed the booklet and figured I knew it all. You guessed it. I failed the test and had to reschedule it before I could get behind the wheel to learn to drive.
Satan tested Jesus and failure would have caused Jesus to fall into sin. The first Adam was tested and he fell. I am tested all the time with temptations to move off the path God has for me. I am tempted to sin daily as I go about my daily life. I wish I could say I never fall, but like all of us I am mortal working out my salvation. Only one man was perfect and He died for my sins and yours over two thousand years ago.
We need to look back over our life and notice the changes. As we do we can see the path God has taken us on. We can see where we veered off that path and how He got us back on it. We can see where the enemy tempted us and how we either overcame or fell into the trap. And we can see how every time God was there to pick us back up.
As the body of Christ, a group of Christians bonded together, we should see evidence of Jesus amongst us. We see the fruit of the Spirit in each other's lives. We feel the presence of God amongst us as we get together and praise Him. If not, perhaps we have failed the test of genuine faith.
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. (NLT)
I am not a fan of tests; even the ones that come in emails for the fun of it. I take them, but do not always do that well. My students in college did not like tests either. As a matter of fact, I cannot say anyone I know really likes them. But we have to take them to show what we know.
I had to take a test get my driver's license. The first time I did that was when I was sixteen. The registry of motor vehicles had booklets for you to study before taking the test to get your drivers permit-the first step to obtaining a license to drive. I skimmed the booklet and figured I knew it all. You guessed it. I failed the test and had to reschedule it before I could get behind the wheel to learn to drive.
Satan tested Jesus and failure would have caused Jesus to fall into sin. The first Adam was tested and he fell. I am tested all the time with temptations to move off the path God has for me. I am tempted to sin daily as I go about my daily life. I wish I could say I never fall, but like all of us I am mortal working out my salvation. Only one man was perfect and He died for my sins and yours over two thousand years ago.
We need to look back over our life and notice the changes. As we do we can see the path God has taken us on. We can see where we veered off that path and how He got us back on it. We can see where the enemy tempted us and how we either overcame or fell into the trap. And we can see how every time God was there to pick us back up.
As the body of Christ, a group of Christians bonded together, we should see evidence of Jesus amongst us. We see the fruit of the Spirit in each other's lives. We feel the presence of God amongst us as we get together and praise Him. If not, perhaps we have failed the test of genuine faith.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Bragging
2 Corinthians 10:18
When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. (NLT)
Commending oneself is "patting yourself on the back". It is finding some way to praise yourself so many will notice. Some charities send you a sticker to put on your vehicle so you can brag about not only that you gave, but what level you gave at. The color of the sticker displays your level of commitment in dollars to that cause.
Most areas have a person or more that gives to their community. Everybody knows about them because they have buildings and events named after them. They are not only bragging about their good deeds, but attempting to affix their place in history.
Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying any of these examples are wrong. From societies point of view these are normal ways to act. We all see the bumper stickers that announce that "My Child is on the Honor Roll" at such and such school.
When we became believers, we took on a new position. We became new creatures with new goals led by the Holy Spirit. We were given a commission to go to the unsaved and tell them about the gospel. Those that believed are also saved and go on to tell others.
Nowhere does Jesus tell us to keep score and announce it to the world. He keeps score. He sees all that we do and commends us by the new opportunities He places in our path as we go forth on this journey of life. As we go, we grow.
The more time we spend in seeking recognition from others, the less we are spending listening to what God has for us to do next. We are wrapped up in patting our self on the back instead of hearing from Him.
When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. (NLT)
Commending oneself is "patting yourself on the back". It is finding some way to praise yourself so many will notice. Some charities send you a sticker to put on your vehicle so you can brag about not only that you gave, but what level you gave at. The color of the sticker displays your level of commitment in dollars to that cause.
Most areas have a person or more that gives to their community. Everybody knows about them because they have buildings and events named after them. They are not only bragging about their good deeds, but attempting to affix their place in history.
Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying any of these examples are wrong. From societies point of view these are normal ways to act. We all see the bumper stickers that announce that "My Child is on the Honor Roll" at such and such school.
When we became believers, we took on a new position. We became new creatures with new goals led by the Holy Spirit. We were given a commission to go to the unsaved and tell them about the gospel. Those that believed are also saved and go on to tell others.
Nowhere does Jesus tell us to keep score and announce it to the world. He keeps score. He sees all that we do and commends us by the new opportunities He places in our path as we go forth on this journey of life. As we go, we grow.
The more time we spend in seeking recognition from others, the less we are spending listening to what God has for us to do next. We are wrapped up in patting our self on the back instead of hearing from Him.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Be Generous
2 Corinthians 9:10-11
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. (NLT)
He reminds us here of the fact that God is the one that provides. God has made the opportunities available to us to have the jobs we have. He is the one who makes it possible for us to put bread on the table, purchase that new wide screen television, get that SUV, go to the movies, have cable, put cell phones in every family member's pocket, and more.
Being generous is about being willing to give money, help, or time freely.
All God wants in return is for us to be generous with what we have been given. He wants us to give out of our abundance. The hard thing for most of us is to identify our abundance. We look around and do not see all that we have as abundance. We need the cell phone, the new car, the swimming pool, the vacation to a far off place, and so forth. We worked hard and earned it. There is no abundance to give away!
Find a local food pantry or homeless shelter. Help feed some of those who go without. Get to talk to them and you will find what little we really need to live and be happy. Anything past a roof over our head, food on the table, and clean clothes is abundance.
Sure we need a vehicle to get around; especially to get to our place of work. The TV with the full cable package? The vacation to Europe? The full featured cell phone? These are things we want that are not necessary for our happiness.
Do not get me wrong. These things are not bad, they are just extras. We must not let our wants for these things overshadow our giving to others. And as we are generous with what God has given to us, He will increase our opportunities and show us more places where we can be generous to others.
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. (NLT)
He reminds us here of the fact that God is the one that provides. God has made the opportunities available to us to have the jobs we have. He is the one who makes it possible for us to put bread on the table, purchase that new wide screen television, get that SUV, go to the movies, have cable, put cell phones in every family member's pocket, and more.
Being generous is about being willing to give money, help, or time freely.
All God wants in return is for us to be generous with what we have been given. He wants us to give out of our abundance. The hard thing for most of us is to identify our abundance. We look around and do not see all that we have as abundance. We need the cell phone, the new car, the swimming pool, the vacation to a far off place, and so forth. We worked hard and earned it. There is no abundance to give away!
Find a local food pantry or homeless shelter. Help feed some of those who go without. Get to talk to them and you will find what little we really need to live and be happy. Anything past a roof over our head, food on the table, and clean clothes is abundance.
Sure we need a vehicle to get around; especially to get to our place of work. The TV with the full cable package? The vacation to Europe? The full featured cell phone? These are things we want that are not necessary for our happiness.
Do not get me wrong. These things are not bad, they are just extras. We must not let our wants for these things overshadow our giving to others. And as we are generous with what God has given to us, He will increase our opportunities and show us more places where we can be generous to others.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
A Willing Gift
2 Corinthians 9:5, 7
I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." (NLT)
We have been to churches that preach a giving sermon once a year. This is part of an annual pledge drive. Everyone decides once a year how much they will give for the year. When the drive is over, the budget is finalized and weekly envelopes handed out for people to place their offering in.
We have seen baskets passed on Sunday morning to collect the offerings during the service. At other places the members are expected to walk forward to place their offerings at the front while everyone watches. Then there are the few churches that have an offering box at the rear of the church and you just have to know about it and place your offering on your way in or out.
I cannot count how many times, just before the baskets are passed, that I have heard "God loves a cheerful giver". How many take that as meaning you will be cheerful if you give something? In reality it means we are to give cheerfully or not at all. If we do not want to give, we should not give just because it is time to do so. God and our heart must be in it or all we are doing is paying another bill.
Then I have heard the thirty minute mini-sermon on giving. They are well crafted to pressure you into digging deep and giving more than you usually do. It is like the salesman that gives you a deal but you have to decide right now. There is no waiting until you can think about it.
If you do not want to give, don't. In order for our gift to be meaningful to God, it must be a gift pleasurably offered. A gift you are giving willingly because you want to support the ministry that is visiting or that you are visiting. The same goes for the place where you are being fed spiritually. It is there that you give your tithe.
I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." (NLT)
We have been to churches that preach a giving sermon once a year. This is part of an annual pledge drive. Everyone decides once a year how much they will give for the year. When the drive is over, the budget is finalized and weekly envelopes handed out for people to place their offering in.
We have seen baskets passed on Sunday morning to collect the offerings during the service. At other places the members are expected to walk forward to place their offerings at the front while everyone watches. Then there are the few churches that have an offering box at the rear of the church and you just have to know about it and place your offering on your way in or out.
I cannot count how many times, just before the baskets are passed, that I have heard "God loves a cheerful giver". How many take that as meaning you will be cheerful if you give something? In reality it means we are to give cheerfully or not at all. If we do not want to give, we should not give just because it is time to do so. God and our heart must be in it or all we are doing is paying another bill.
Then I have heard the thirty minute mini-sermon on giving. They are well crafted to pressure you into digging deep and giving more than you usually do. It is like the salesman that gives you a deal but you have to decide right now. There is no waiting until you can think about it.
If you do not want to give, don't. In order for our gift to be meaningful to God, it must be a gift pleasurably offered. A gift you are giving willingly because you want to support the ministry that is visiting or that you are visiting. The same goes for the place where you are being fed spiritually. It is there that you give your tithe.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Share It
2 Corinthians 8:14
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. (NLT)
One of the difficult things to teach a young child is to share with others. When they are an only child, everything belongs to them. When the second child comes along, they do not want to give away rights to their things. But they are told to share by us parents.
As adults we have the same challenge. How many families have his and her vehicles and discourage each other from switching. You drive your car and I will drive mine! And how many homes have one person self appointed to control the TV remote control? You watch what they want because they do not want to share it.
When we have extra, do we find someone in need and share it with them? Maybe leftovers from supper or half of that cake we really shouldn't eat anyhow. No, we use it to get some more things for our collection of things.
I believe God is telling us to make more than a little effort to giving from our abundance to those who are in need. He is not speaking about just anyone. He is speaking about those we are in relationship with-those fellow believers that make up the body of Christ we are a part of.
Give where there is need and when the tables are turned and you are in need, others will be able to share with you.
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. (NLT)
One of the difficult things to teach a young child is to share with others. When they are an only child, everything belongs to them. When the second child comes along, they do not want to give away rights to their things. But they are told to share by us parents.
As adults we have the same challenge. How many families have his and her vehicles and discourage each other from switching. You drive your car and I will drive mine! And how many homes have one person self appointed to control the TV remote control? You watch what they want because they do not want to share it.
When we have extra, do we find someone in need and share it with them? Maybe leftovers from supper or half of that cake we really shouldn't eat anyhow. No, we use it to get some more things for our collection of things.
I believe God is telling us to make more than a little effort to giving from our abundance to those who are in need. He is not speaking about just anyone. He is speaking about those we are in relationship with-those fellow believers that make up the body of Christ we are a part of.
Give where there is need and when the tables are turned and you are in need, others will be able to share with you.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Just Give
2 Corinthians 8:12
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have. (NLT)
This is a subject that turns many a believer off. Do not tell me what to give and do not preach on giving for an hour before every offering is probably what you are thinking. Whenever I hear a message like that it makes me want to wrap my wallet with duct tape.
I let the Holy Spirit guide me in what to do. When I do and then ask my wife what she heard, we often are at the same number. Her number confirms what I thought I heard from God. I am speaking of giving an offering-usually a love offering after someone ministers.
We believe in the tithe and that the first tenth should go to God. All of it is His and this is the only thing God said to test Him in-our finances. We are blessed daily and God does not do that as the direct result of our giving. He was blessing us before we were led to tithe. But, after we began to tithe, we noticed a difference. There was always money to pay the bills and some leftover to bless others.
We have not been on a fixed income for many years. Working for ourselves we had to balance the budget based on a variable income stream. Some weeks were good and others not so good. When in need He always supplied more opportunity for work.
And giving does not have to always be money. We should be giving to others in other ways. Perhaps we can volunteer at a soup kitchen or pantry once a week, or at a non-profit that serves others. If we have a lot, we should be giving more than the average person. But if we have little, we should never consider going into debt to give. We do not believe in using our credit card to give in an offering. That is creating debt and giving what we do not have.
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have. (NLT)
This is a subject that turns many a believer off. Do not tell me what to give and do not preach on giving for an hour before every offering is probably what you are thinking. Whenever I hear a message like that it makes me want to wrap my wallet with duct tape.
I let the Holy Spirit guide me in what to do. When I do and then ask my wife what she heard, we often are at the same number. Her number confirms what I thought I heard from God. I am speaking of giving an offering-usually a love offering after someone ministers.
We believe in the tithe and that the first tenth should go to God. All of it is His and this is the only thing God said to test Him in-our finances. We are blessed daily and God does not do that as the direct result of our giving. He was blessing us before we were led to tithe. But, after we began to tithe, we noticed a difference. There was always money to pay the bills and some leftover to bless others.
We have not been on a fixed income for many years. Working for ourselves we had to balance the budget based on a variable income stream. Some weeks were good and others not so good. When in need He always supplied more opportunity for work.
And giving does not have to always be money. We should be giving to others in other ways. Perhaps we can volunteer at a soup kitchen or pantry once a week, or at a non-profit that serves others. If we have a lot, we should be giving more than the average person. But if we have little, we should never consider going into debt to give. We do not believe in using our credit card to give in an offering. That is creating debt and giving what we do not have.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
No Pain No Gain
2 Corinthians 7:10
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (NLT)
Throughout my life I have had numerous challenges. Challenge is a nice way of saying problems, difficulties, calamities, etc. Things did not go as I would have like them to go. Some things were a direct result of poor choices on my part. Some were circumstances resulting from poor choices of others. Others were just part of being human. Stuff happens!
I learned from every situation I have encountered in my lifetime. I grow as a direct result of each of them. Some experiences taught me to do things differently the next time. Some put me in a new direction in my vocation. Others made me want to hang a big sign on the wall so I would remember never to do that again!
None of us like to get hurt either physically or emotionally. It happens. Through it all, the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort us and to direct our steps. Not only do we learn from the experience we gain a new understanding about our relationship with the Lord. We see how committed He is to us.
Do not get the title wrong. We can certainly gain without pain as long as we are moving forward with the Holy Spirit's help on the right path. However, where there is pain there can be great gain. We have to look for it and grab a hold of it. We have to let the Holy Spirit teach us and then go forward with our new knowledge.
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (NLT)
Throughout my life I have had numerous challenges. Challenge is a nice way of saying problems, difficulties, calamities, etc. Things did not go as I would have like them to go. Some things were a direct result of poor choices on my part. Some were circumstances resulting from poor choices of others. Others were just part of being human. Stuff happens!
I learned from every situation I have encountered in my lifetime. I grow as a direct result of each of them. Some experiences taught me to do things differently the next time. Some put me in a new direction in my vocation. Others made me want to hang a big sign on the wall so I would remember never to do that again!
None of us like to get hurt either physically or emotionally. It happens. Through it all, the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort us and to direct our steps. Not only do we learn from the experience we gain a new understanding about our relationship with the Lord. We see how committed He is to us.
Do not get the title wrong. We can certainly gain without pain as long as we are moving forward with the Holy Spirit's help on the right path. However, where there is pain there can be great gain. We have to look for it and grab a hold of it. We have to let the Holy Spirit teach us and then go forward with our new knowledge.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Clean Up
2 Corinthians 7:1
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (NLT)
My mother taught me that cleanliness is next to godliness. You may have heard the same thing. And before we sat down to eat a meal I had to wash my hands to clean them of all the dirt of the day. We did not want all that dirt mixed into the delicious meal she had prepared.
Now we are told in the newspapers, on television, and on email how important it is to wash our hands throughout the day. What we pick up from shaking someone's hand, handling money, pumping gas, and even just opening a public door can give us something we may not want. It is a way that viruses get propagated throughout society-anything from the common cold, to the H1N1 virus, to AIDS.
As believers we want spiritual food and look to the Holy Spirit to help us obtain it. We want all we can get but often forget about washing up before eating. Just like soap and water before a natural meal, we need to clean up our act if we expect to move out spiritually.
How can we keep doing the things we did before we were saved and expect to fully receive all that God has for us? He has promised us much, but we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Not some things, but everything. This is how we work toward complete holiness.
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (NLT)
My mother taught me that cleanliness is next to godliness. You may have heard the same thing. And before we sat down to eat a meal I had to wash my hands to clean them of all the dirt of the day. We did not want all that dirt mixed into the delicious meal she had prepared.
Now we are told in the newspapers, on television, and on email how important it is to wash our hands throughout the day. What we pick up from shaking someone's hand, handling money, pumping gas, and even just opening a public door can give us something we may not want. It is a way that viruses get propagated throughout society-anything from the common cold, to the H1N1 virus, to AIDS.
As believers we want spiritual food and look to the Holy Spirit to help us obtain it. We want all we can get but often forget about washing up before eating. Just like soap and water before a natural meal, we need to clean up our act if we expect to move out spiritually.
How can we keep doing the things we did before we were saved and expect to fully receive all that God has for us? He has promised us much, but we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. Not some things, but everything. This is how we work toward complete holiness.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Your Team
2 Corinthians 6:14
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)
When I was growing up I played sports. Little League baseball was my first experience of being on a team. I played second base and sometimes shortstop. I fielded the ball well, but hitting was not my strong point. I either walked to first or was struck out. I just could not connect with the ball.
We were a team and we stood up for each other. Nobody got on my case when I struck out or missed a catch at second. We learned to encourage each other and stick together. If the other team was short handed, we did not switch sides to help them out. A team stays together.
When I was first saved, that is when I first let Jesus be not only my Savior but the Lord of my life as well, I had many friends that did not believe. I was making new friends of the believers I met at church on Sundays.
Spending time with the new friends was different than the old ones. The jokes were clean and the spoken words free of profanities. When we got together we did not have to have a few beers to feel good and our conversations were about godly things instead of gossip about friends that were not present.
I had found a new team to belong to. It was a team that encouraged me toward God. The old team I had been associated with tempted me away from God. I knew this now. What did I do with those old team members? I still keep in touch, but I do not spend the same amount of time with them. I would like to see them able to come onto my new team, but I do not let them influence me.
I believe that In Christ we are all on the same team. Just because we go to a different church on Sunday mornings, we are still on the same team. We are still followers of Jesus. The team is Christ, not Church.
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (NLT)
When I was growing up I played sports. Little League baseball was my first experience of being on a team. I played second base and sometimes shortstop. I fielded the ball well, but hitting was not my strong point. I either walked to first or was struck out. I just could not connect with the ball.
We were a team and we stood up for each other. Nobody got on my case when I struck out or missed a catch at second. We learned to encourage each other and stick together. If the other team was short handed, we did not switch sides to help them out. A team stays together.
When I was first saved, that is when I first let Jesus be not only my Savior but the Lord of my life as well, I had many friends that did not believe. I was making new friends of the believers I met at church on Sundays.
Spending time with the new friends was different than the old ones. The jokes were clean and the spoken words free of profanities. When we got together we did not have to have a few beers to feel good and our conversations were about godly things instead of gossip about friends that were not present.
I had found a new team to belong to. It was a team that encouraged me toward God. The old team I had been associated with tempted me away from God. I knew this now. What did I do with those old team members? I still keep in touch, but I do not spend the same amount of time with them. I would like to see them able to come onto my new team, but I do not let them influence me.
I believe that In Christ we are all on the same team. Just because we go to a different church on Sunday mornings, we are still on the same team. We are still followers of Jesus. The team is Christ, not Church.
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