Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.—Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)
Sometimes I miss the moments where God is actually attempting to grab my attention. So many times Jesus had to say to those that he was speaking to, "if only you had eyes to see and ears to hear." I've wondered about those words over the years. I now understand that Jesus is fully present and that He is trying to call me into participation with Him in this moment right now.
What I have missed, or better yet, ignored, is that Jesus is pulling me into this moment.
God is looking for me to put my hope and trust in Him today, ALL day long, not just tomorrow or when I’m in need of Him. He's challenging me to see all the moments of my life as being filled with meaning. Each moment is filled with the presence of God, but sometimes I'm so stuck on vision and dreams that I miss this moment right now. As a result, I’ve decided to start my days differently. I’m going to start each day by praying, asking God to give me a clear understanding of each moment. I’ll still plan and dream about the future, of course, but I’m going to concentrate more on each moment, as well! How about you? If you find that you’re like me – prone to overlook the moment in order to get to the future – I invite you to join me in this daily prayer!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
1. Think about the day you lived yesterday: Is it possible you missed God moving or speaking to you? How did He try to grab your attention?
2. What are you running from in your life? What are you trying to prove? What do you think God would say about that? Take a moment or two and talk to the Lord about your feelings.
READ THIS:Psalm 25; Psalm 4; Genesis 2:1-3; Matthew 14:13-14
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Why are you following Jesus or are you?
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
— Revelation 1:8
Some folks follow Jesus because they want God to conform to their plans instead of conforming to His.
Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is come into the world." Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to a mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:14–15)
They wanted to take Him by force and make Him the king. They saw the Messiah as a political liberator. They didn't understand that before He will come to reign as Lord of lords and King of kings and establish His kingdom, He would first suffer and die for the sins of humanity.
Oftentimes people are that way with God today. They expect the Lord to conform to their conception of Him. They expect God to conform to their plans. They decide, and He is supposed to cooperate.
ALERT-“It doesn't work that way. He doesn't conform to your plans. You conform to His plans.” The only thing that is going to turn us around, conform us, is a change of heart, a spiritual awakening, and that can only happen through prayer and the study of God’s Word the Bible. See Romans 12:1-2.
Jesus Christ is not a means to an end. He is the end. He is the all in all. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
— Revelation 1:8
Some folks follow Jesus because they want God to conform to their plans instead of conforming to His.
Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is come into the world." Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to a mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:14–15)
They wanted to take Him by force and make Him the king. They saw the Messiah as a political liberator. They didn't understand that before He will come to reign as Lord of lords and King of kings and establish His kingdom, He would first suffer and die for the sins of humanity.
Oftentimes people are that way with God today. They expect the Lord to conform to their conception of Him. They expect God to conform to their plans. They decide, and He is supposed to cooperate.
ALERT-“It doesn't work that way. He doesn't conform to your plans. You conform to His plans.” The only thing that is going to turn us around, conform us, is a change of heart, a spiritual awakening, and that can only happen through prayer and the study of God’s Word the Bible. See Romans 12:1-2.
Jesus Christ is not a means to an end. He is the end. He is the all in all. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Who or What is The Holy Spirit? Part 2
When is the Holy Spirit Being Sinned against?
The Bible speaks about six sins one can commit against the Holy Spirit. Some of them can only be committed by nonbelievers, while others could be committed by believers.
1) Lying to the Spirit.
"These people draw near to me with their mouth...but their hearts are far from me" (Isaiah 29:13).
Lying to the Holy Spirit means to pretend to be something you are not—to go through the motions of the Christian life without really meaning it in your heart of hearts.
2) A believer can grieve the Holy Spirit.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:30, 31).
Grieving the Holy Spirit means to make sad or sorrowful. When we allow bitterness (an unforgiving spirit) to poison our lives or we slander others, we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
3) A believer can quench the Holy Spirit.
"Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5: 19).
Quenching suggests extinguishing a fire. Unbelief can certainly hinder the working and moving of God's Holy Spirit (see Mark 6:4-5). This sin is also committed when the Holy Spirit leads you to do a certain thing (share your faith, pray more, take a step of faith) and you refuse to do it.
4) A nonbeliever can resist the Holy Spirit.
"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51).
These words were spoken by the early Christian martyr Stephen, as he spoke to the unbelieving Sanhedrin shortly before his death. The Holy Spirit seeks to speak to the heart of the unbeliever and lead him to God. This speaks of those who are convinced of the truth of the gospel, yet who refuse to yield their hearts to God.
5) A nonbeliever can insult the Holy Spirit.
"How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29).
It is the office of the Holy Spirit to present the saving work of Jesus Christ to the unsaved. A person insults the love of God by saying that he does not really need God's gift of salvation, or by insisting that Christ's death on the cross was unnecessary or unable to save him. To resist the Spirit's appeal is to insult God and to cut off all hope of salvation.
6) A nonbeliever can blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
"And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).
This is the most serious offense against the Holy Spirit, for there is no forgiveness for the person who commits it. In the context of Matthew 12, Jesus said that they blasphemed the Holy Spirit because they attributed his works to the devil. The work of the Spirit is to convict us of sin and bring us to Jesus Christ. To blaspheme Him is similar to insulting, in that we resist His work altogether. This should not be the concern of any Christian, for this is not a sin he can or will commit.
The Holy Spirit's plan (purpose) for your life is to lead you in the will of God.
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).
In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded; “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” “filled” is from a greek word that literally means “controlled by” and it’s in the aorist tense which means something that happens constantly as opposed to a onetime event. The passage is literally saying “be being constantly controlled by the Spirit! We will speak more of being filled with the Spirit in part 3.
Instead of lying to, grieving, quenching, or insulting and resisting the Holy Spirit, we should allow Him to freely work in our lives.
The Bible speaks about six sins one can commit against the Holy Spirit. Some of them can only be committed by nonbelievers, while others could be committed by believers.
1) Lying to the Spirit.
"These people draw near to me with their mouth...but their hearts are far from me" (Isaiah 29:13).
Lying to the Holy Spirit means to pretend to be something you are not—to go through the motions of the Christian life without really meaning it in your heart of hearts.
2) A believer can grieve the Holy Spirit.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:30, 31).
Grieving the Holy Spirit means to make sad or sorrowful. When we allow bitterness (an unforgiving spirit) to poison our lives or we slander others, we are grieving the Holy Spirit.
3) A believer can quench the Holy Spirit.
"Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5: 19).
Quenching suggests extinguishing a fire. Unbelief can certainly hinder the working and moving of God's Holy Spirit (see Mark 6:4-5). This sin is also committed when the Holy Spirit leads you to do a certain thing (share your faith, pray more, take a step of faith) and you refuse to do it.
4) A nonbeliever can resist the Holy Spirit.
"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51).
These words were spoken by the early Christian martyr Stephen, as he spoke to the unbelieving Sanhedrin shortly before his death. The Holy Spirit seeks to speak to the heart of the unbeliever and lead him to God. This speaks of those who are convinced of the truth of the gospel, yet who refuse to yield their hearts to God.
5) A nonbeliever can insult the Holy Spirit.
"How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29).
It is the office of the Holy Spirit to present the saving work of Jesus Christ to the unsaved. A person insults the love of God by saying that he does not really need God's gift of salvation, or by insisting that Christ's death on the cross was unnecessary or unable to save him. To resist the Spirit's appeal is to insult God and to cut off all hope of salvation.
6) A nonbeliever can blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
"And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).
This is the most serious offense against the Holy Spirit, for there is no forgiveness for the person who commits it. In the context of Matthew 12, Jesus said that they blasphemed the Holy Spirit because they attributed his works to the devil. The work of the Spirit is to convict us of sin and bring us to Jesus Christ. To blaspheme Him is similar to insulting, in that we resist His work altogether. This should not be the concern of any Christian, for this is not a sin he can or will commit.
The Holy Spirit's plan (purpose) for your life is to lead you in the will of God.
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).
In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded; “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” “filled” is from a greek word that literally means “controlled by” and it’s in the aorist tense which means something that happens constantly as opposed to a onetime event. The passage is literally saying “be being constantly controlled by the Spirit! We will speak more of being filled with the Spirit in part 3.
Instead of lying to, grieving, quenching, or insulting and resisting the Holy Spirit, we should allow Him to freely work in our lives.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Who or What is The Holy Spirit? Part 1
In the Bible The Holy Spirit is often called the Paraclete in the original Greek, which literally means, "one called alongside to help." He is here for you—and He wants to do a wonderful work in your life (see John l 4:l 6-l8)
Some have wrongly assumed that the Spirit is more of an "It" than a "Him." That is probably due in part to descriptions of Him in Scripture that refer to Him as being like the wind or a fire, or as coming on Jesus in the form of a dove. Yet, this must be balanced with the rest of Scripture.
In the New Testament, Jesus referred to Himself as "the Bread of Life" and "the Door." The Bible also refers to God as "a Refuge" and "a Consuming Fire," as well as One who will protect us "under His wings." Does that mean that Jesus is a loaf of bread or a door? Does that imply that God the Father is a pile of rocks or a blast furnace, as well as some sort of "giant bird" in heaven? Of course not! In the same way, those descriptions of the Holy Spirit do not mean that He is simply some sort of "force" or power." In order for a being to be considered a person, he or she must possess three characteristics: intelligence, will, and emotion. The Holy Spirit displays all three.
1. The Holy Spirit has intelligence.
"But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God " (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Paul tells us that the Spirit "knows the thoughts of God." Only a person with intelligence can actually know things. A fire does not "know" things, nor does a plant or a tree. But the Holy Spirit does.
2. The Holy Spirit has a will.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing [gifts] to each one . . . as He wills." (I Corinthians 12:11 )
It is the Holy Spirit who decides what kind of spiritual gifts each believer should receive. Other evidences of the Holy Spirit's will include Acts 15:28, when the Apostles prefaced their judgment on a question of Church doctrine by saying, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit." In addition, the Holy Spirit has shown His will in setting apart people for the Lord's service (Acts l 3:2). Only persons with a will are able to communicate this way.
3. The Holy Spirit has emotion.
"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men, but to God'" (Acts 5:3a-4b).
Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit can be grieved, quenched, resisted, blasphemed, and—as this passage attests—even lied to. This passage, found in the account of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11, also clearly states that the Holy Spirit is God.
In part 2, we will look at how we sin against the Spirit as well as answer the question “Are you Filled with the Spirit?"
Some have wrongly assumed that the Spirit is more of an "It" than a "Him." That is probably due in part to descriptions of Him in Scripture that refer to Him as being like the wind or a fire, or as coming on Jesus in the form of a dove. Yet, this must be balanced with the rest of Scripture.
In the New Testament, Jesus referred to Himself as "the Bread of Life" and "the Door." The Bible also refers to God as "a Refuge" and "a Consuming Fire," as well as One who will protect us "under His wings." Does that mean that Jesus is a loaf of bread or a door? Does that imply that God the Father is a pile of rocks or a blast furnace, as well as some sort of "giant bird" in heaven? Of course not! In the same way, those descriptions of the Holy Spirit do not mean that He is simply some sort of "force" or power." In order for a being to be considered a person, he or she must possess three characteristics: intelligence, will, and emotion. The Holy Spirit displays all three.
1. The Holy Spirit has intelligence.
"But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God " (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Paul tells us that the Spirit "knows the thoughts of God." Only a person with intelligence can actually know things. A fire does not "know" things, nor does a plant or a tree. But the Holy Spirit does.
2. The Holy Spirit has a will.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing [gifts] to each one . . . as He wills." (I Corinthians 12:11 )
It is the Holy Spirit who decides what kind of spiritual gifts each believer should receive. Other evidences of the Holy Spirit's will include Acts 15:28, when the Apostles prefaced their judgment on a question of Church doctrine by saying, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit." In addition, the Holy Spirit has shown His will in setting apart people for the Lord's service (Acts l 3:2). Only persons with a will are able to communicate this way.
3. The Holy Spirit has emotion.
"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men, but to God'" (Acts 5:3a-4b).
Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit can be grieved, quenched, resisted, blasphemed, and—as this passage attests—even lied to. This passage, found in the account of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5:1-11, also clearly states that the Holy Spirit is God.
In part 2, we will look at how we sin against the Spirit as well as answer the question “Are you Filled with the Spirit?"
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Are You Following The Code? The Wrong Jesus?
Remember Hurricane Andrew, where a reporter discovered one house standing firm on its foundation amid the devastation and debris. Extremely curious, the reporter approached the owner of the only house standing as he was cleaning up his yard. "Sir," asked the reporter, "why is your house the only one still standing?""Well sir," the man replied, "I built this house by myself. I built it according to the Florida State building code. When the code called for: 2 x 6 trusses, I used 2 x 6 trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane, so I did, and it did! I suppose no one else around here followed the code."
Are You Following "God's Code"
Tragically, many people today are not "following the code" as laid out in God's Word, the Bible. Yes, we may be prepared for the more obvious sins of life. Yet we may be completely oblivious to the more subtle sins of deception and false teaching that are so prevalent in the so-called "new spirituality" in America today—and even in many of our churches.In The People's Religion, pollster George Gallup Jr. finds that most people who consider themselves religious "do not see truth as a high priority." He writes, "While religion is highly popular in America, it is to a large extent fake and superficial. There is a knowledge gap between America's stated faith and the lack of the most basic knowledge about that faith."
In other words, people are claiming to believe in things but they don’t know why!This is why we are looking at the foundations of our Christian faith in our Tuesday night Bible-study. Non-believers, skeptics, seekers - they all raise this popular objection: If God is all loving, then how can He allow evil to exist in the world? Is God being cruel in allowing evil, or is He just not powerful enough to do anything about it? Does this prove there is no God at all? Find out how to give a reason for the hope that lies in you when these questions come up, we will also look at why evil proves that God must exist.
We are, for all practical purposes, studying theology! The Christian writer, C. S. Lewis, gave this warning years ago: "If you do not listen to theology that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones."
If you have the wrong theology, you may love the wrong Jesus.
The Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine (teachings) closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).
When it comes to building a strong foundation in our spiritual lives, there is no better place to start than with God Himself. According to Scripture, there is a single God who manifests Himself in three distinct persons, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the next message we will look at the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit, and answer the frequently asked question “Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?”.Read John 16:7-11
During the days that Jesus walked on the earth, His disciples could talk and listen to Him, gaze upon Him, and even reach out and touch Him. But on the day Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples that He would lead and guide them in an entirely new way—through the Holy Spirit. See you Tuesday!
Are You Following "God's Code"
Tragically, many people today are not "following the code" as laid out in God's Word, the Bible. Yes, we may be prepared for the more obvious sins of life. Yet we may be completely oblivious to the more subtle sins of deception and false teaching that are so prevalent in the so-called "new spirituality" in America today—and even in many of our churches.In The People's Religion, pollster George Gallup Jr. finds that most people who consider themselves religious "do not see truth as a high priority." He writes, "While religion is highly popular in America, it is to a large extent fake and superficial. There is a knowledge gap between America's stated faith and the lack of the most basic knowledge about that faith."
In other words, people are claiming to believe in things but they don’t know why!This is why we are looking at the foundations of our Christian faith in our Tuesday night Bible-study. Non-believers, skeptics, seekers - they all raise this popular objection: If God is all loving, then how can He allow evil to exist in the world? Is God being cruel in allowing evil, or is He just not powerful enough to do anything about it? Does this prove there is no God at all? Find out how to give a reason for the hope that lies in you when these questions come up, we will also look at why evil proves that God must exist.
We are, for all practical purposes, studying theology! The Christian writer, C. S. Lewis, gave this warning years ago: "If you do not listen to theology that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones."
If you have the wrong theology, you may love the wrong Jesus.
The Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine (teachings) closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).
When it comes to building a strong foundation in our spiritual lives, there is no better place to start than with God Himself. According to Scripture, there is a single God who manifests Himself in three distinct persons, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the next message we will look at the most mysterious and misunderstood person of the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit, and answer the frequently asked question “Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?”.Read John 16:7-11
During the days that Jesus walked on the earth, His disciples could talk and listen to Him, gaze upon Him, and even reach out and touch Him. But on the day Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples that He would lead and guide them in an entirely new way—through the Holy Spirit. See you Tuesday!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Why Are You Still Stuck in The Past?
One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 3:13–14
Read the above verse again, it says "one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead . . ." (Philippians 3:13).
The writer Paul (like many of us) had committed horrible things, hunting down Christians and throwing them in prison. Yet he said, "I am forgetting it. I am not going to be crippled by my past." So I am asking you “why are you still troubling yourself because of something that happened in the past?” You can’t go back and change it, can you? So you might as well take the advice of the above verse and move on, right?
Our adversary the devil desires nothing more than to cripple you with your past, he whispers in your ear things like "You are an awful person because you did….” Or
“Remember what you used to do?” can you believe you did that he says.Paul, the writer of Philippians put his past behind him and moved forward as a new person in Christ. You can do that, too. The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).You say, "I have done some pretty bad things." Welcome to the club! We all have sinned. We have all fallen short (see Romans 3:23). But God can change you and make you a different person on the inside. It's so great to say, "I'm not looking back. I am moving forward as a Christian."
Remember when Lot's wife looked back (Genesis 19:26). She was led by the angels and actually left Sodom and Gomorrah with her family. She was almost out of that place. But she didn't get far enough. She just had to steal that one last backward glance.
The lesson of Lot's wife is clear: don't look back.
Don't let that happen to you. You can be crippled by past failures and past sins. Or you can put them behind you as you start over again and you follow Jesus Christ, what say you?
“A cross around the neck is no substitute for a cross on your back.”
— Philippians 3:13–14
Read the above verse again, it says "one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead . . ." (Philippians 3:13).
The writer Paul (like many of us) had committed horrible things, hunting down Christians and throwing them in prison. Yet he said, "I am forgetting it. I am not going to be crippled by my past." So I am asking you “why are you still troubling yourself because of something that happened in the past?” You can’t go back and change it, can you? So you might as well take the advice of the above verse and move on, right?
Our adversary the devil desires nothing more than to cripple you with your past, he whispers in your ear things like "You are an awful person because you did….” Or
“Remember what you used to do?” can you believe you did that he says.Paul, the writer of Philippians put his past behind him and moved forward as a new person in Christ. You can do that, too. The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).You say, "I have done some pretty bad things." Welcome to the club! We all have sinned. We have all fallen short (see Romans 3:23). But God can change you and make you a different person on the inside. It's so great to say, "I'm not looking back. I am moving forward as a Christian."
Remember when Lot's wife looked back (Genesis 19:26). She was led by the angels and actually left Sodom and Gomorrah with her family. She was almost out of that place. But she didn't get far enough. She just had to steal that one last backward glance.
The lesson of Lot's wife is clear: don't look back.
Don't let that happen to you. You can be crippled by past failures and past sins. Or you can put them behind you as you start over again and you follow Jesus Christ, what say you?
“A cross around the neck is no substitute for a cross on your back.”
Monday, February 9, 2009
IS THAT ALL THAT YOU ARE LIVING FOR!
What drives you with extreme passion? If you had to sum up in one phrase what you actually live for, what would you say? Stop, come on, go there for a moment and write it down!
In Philippians 1, Paul stated what he was passionate about and what he lived for. And, it is what all believers should be living for as well.Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). When we hear someone make a statement like that, we might feel as though there is a bit of naiveté on his or her part. We might think, "That is a nice sentiment, but I don't know how practical it is."We have heard the criticism of those who are perceived as overly spiritual: "They are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good."
But I think we will discover that those who have been the most heavenly minded have been the most earthly good.
Christians have founded hospitals and universities. Christians have opened shelters. Christians are reaching out to the downtrodden and the hurting in our world today with the gospel of Christ, not only preaching to them, but clothing and feeding them as well. When a crisis develops somewhere in the world, such as famine or a natural disaster, it is often the Christians who lead the way in responding with help. The truth is, if you are truly heavenly minded, then you will be of the greatest earthly good.
When Paul said, "To live is Christ," he was speaking of the fact that he had an interest in the things of this life as well. A few verses later, he said, "For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (verses 23–24 NKJV). In other words, "I want to be with the Lord, but I have a job to do."What I appreciate about Paul was his practical spirituality. Paul loved Jesus and wanted to live for Him. Without question, he had a holy passion for the things of God. But it is also true that Paul was utterly human. He did not walk around with a little pedestal that he would climb up on when he wanted to say something.
He was someone just like you and me. Paul would get upset at times. But he didn't have a death wish.The godliest people I know are real people. They love God. Their priorities are in order. Yet there is balance to their lives. Theirs is a practical faith, not a spacey, wild-eyed, THE ELEVATOR IS STOPPING ONE FLOOR SHORT kind of spirituality. It is this real faith that the Bible proclaims.
We could effectively impact our culture, if we would say the same thing. To live is Christ.
In Philippians 1, Paul stated what he was passionate about and what he lived for. And, it is what all believers should be living for as well.Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21 NKJV). When we hear someone make a statement like that, we might feel as though there is a bit of naiveté on his or her part. We might think, "That is a nice sentiment, but I don't know how practical it is."We have heard the criticism of those who are perceived as overly spiritual: "They are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good."
But I think we will discover that those who have been the most heavenly minded have been the most earthly good.
Christians have founded hospitals and universities. Christians have opened shelters. Christians are reaching out to the downtrodden and the hurting in our world today with the gospel of Christ, not only preaching to them, but clothing and feeding them as well. When a crisis develops somewhere in the world, such as famine or a natural disaster, it is often the Christians who lead the way in responding with help. The truth is, if you are truly heavenly minded, then you will be of the greatest earthly good.
When Paul said, "To live is Christ," he was speaking of the fact that he had an interest in the things of this life as well. A few verses later, he said, "For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (verses 23–24 NKJV). In other words, "I want to be with the Lord, but I have a job to do."What I appreciate about Paul was his practical spirituality. Paul loved Jesus and wanted to live for Him. Without question, he had a holy passion for the things of God. But it is also true that Paul was utterly human. He did not walk around with a little pedestal that he would climb up on when he wanted to say something.
He was someone just like you and me. Paul would get upset at times. But he didn't have a death wish.The godliest people I know are real people. They love God. Their priorities are in order. Yet there is balance to their lives. Theirs is a practical faith, not a spacey, wild-eyed, THE ELEVATOR IS STOPPING ONE FLOOR SHORT kind of spirituality. It is this real faith that the Bible proclaims.
We could effectively impact our culture, if we would say the same thing. To live is Christ.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Ever Seen a Confused Soldier?
Are you living for God or the World or for God and the world?
When you try to live for both you become that poor confused soldier in the Civil War who couldn't decide what side he wanted to fight for. So he wore the coat from the Union (North) and the pants from the Confederates (South). Then he marched onto the battlefield and got shot at from both sides.
When you attempt to live in both worlds, you will end up living a miserable life and end up like the confused soldier.Living for both worlds—the life of compromise—is a dangerous thing. Just take a look at the life of Lot, the classic compromiser. Granted, he was a believer, but he made numerous mistakes. Lot lived in the wicked city of Sodom and eventually became a leader in the city. But he was so bound up in sin that when he went to tell his sons-in-law that the judgment of God was coming, they laughed and thought he was joking. (See — Genesis 19:14)There was no power in his witness, because he lived a compromised life.
Is that happening to you? Are you getting weaker and weaker spiritually? Do the things that once made you blush no longer shock you? Do you find yourself becoming more and more tolerant of that which is evil and less interested in that which is spiritual? Do you find that your words seem to have no effect on the nonbelievers you share them with? Such is the peril of the compromiser. They don't pull others up. Others pull them down.
“You deny Christ when you fail to deny yourself”
When you try to live for both you become that poor confused soldier in the Civil War who couldn't decide what side he wanted to fight for. So he wore the coat from the Union (North) and the pants from the Confederates (South). Then he marched onto the battlefield and got shot at from both sides.
When you attempt to live in both worlds, you will end up living a miserable life and end up like the confused soldier.Living for both worlds—the life of compromise—is a dangerous thing. Just take a look at the life of Lot, the classic compromiser. Granted, he was a believer, but he made numerous mistakes. Lot lived in the wicked city of Sodom and eventually became a leader in the city. But he was so bound up in sin that when he went to tell his sons-in-law that the judgment of God was coming, they laughed and thought he was joking. (See — Genesis 19:14)There was no power in his witness, because he lived a compromised life.
Is that happening to you? Are you getting weaker and weaker spiritually? Do the things that once made you blush no longer shock you? Do you find yourself becoming more and more tolerant of that which is evil and less interested in that which is spiritual? Do you find that your words seem to have no effect on the nonbelievers you share them with? Such is the peril of the compromiser. They don't pull others up. Others pull them down.
“You deny Christ when you fail to deny yourself”
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My Gift is Better Than Your Gift
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. . . .”
(1 Corinthians 12:6)
Are you using the spiritual gift or gifts that God has given you? Which spiritual gifts are the best for a believer to have? It all depends. If I am having a difficult time sharing my faith with someone, and you come along and have been gifted as an evangelist, then that is the best gift at that particular moment. But then let's say I am trying to understand the meaning of a particular passage of Scripture, and God has given you the gift of teaching. For you to come along could be a great benefit to me.
Then again, let's say that I am undertaking a complex project, and I need help. What I really need is someone with the gift of helps or administrations. Or, let's say that I'm lying in a hospital bed, and I'm discouraged. I don't really need a Bible study. I don't need someone to come and help me organize my life. I need someone with the gift of exhortation or encouragement. I need someone to come and help me see that God is still in control of my life. Each one of these gifts is important, as God has distributed them.
We make a big mistake when we think some gifts are of greater importance than others. They all have their place, and God has given them as He has chosen. Therefore, we need to pray, "Lord, what are my gifts? Help me to discover them. Help me to develop them. Help me to use them."
One day when you stand before God, you will be held accountable for what He called you to do. And one day, He will reward you for how faithful you were with what He gave you.
(1 Corinthians 12:6)
Are you using the spiritual gift or gifts that God has given you? Which spiritual gifts are the best for a believer to have? It all depends. If I am having a difficult time sharing my faith with someone, and you come along and have been gifted as an evangelist, then that is the best gift at that particular moment. But then let's say I am trying to understand the meaning of a particular passage of Scripture, and God has given you the gift of teaching. For you to come along could be a great benefit to me.
Then again, let's say that I am undertaking a complex project, and I need help. What I really need is someone with the gift of helps or administrations. Or, let's say that I'm lying in a hospital bed, and I'm discouraged. I don't really need a Bible study. I don't need someone to come and help me organize my life. I need someone with the gift of exhortation or encouragement. I need someone to come and help me see that God is still in control of my life. Each one of these gifts is important, as God has distributed them.
We make a big mistake when we think some gifts are of greater importance than others. They all have their place, and God has given them as He has chosen. Therefore, we need to pray, "Lord, what are my gifts? Help me to discover them. Help me to develop them. Help me to use them."
One day when you stand before God, you will be held accountable for what He called you to do. And one day, He will reward you for how faithful you were with what He gave you.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What If God Forgot About Us?
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 )
There are times in our lives as Christians when God will do things or fail to do things that we want Him to do, and it will not make sense to us. And because we don't see the big picture, we may falsely conclude that God has abandoned us. But we need to trust Him during these times, remembering that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. In other words, what God starts, He completes.
It seems as I get older, I get distracted and forget things all the time. But what if God forgot about us? What a frightening thought. Imagine being in the midst of a fiery trial as God is watching and waiting for that moment to take us out of it. Then the phone rings, and He is gone for a decade! Thankfully, God never forgets about us. He is in full control. He knows exactly what He is doing. He will complete what He has begun.
Sometimes in the middle of that process, we may think the Lord is missing it. But He isn't. We're the ones who are missing it. From our limited human viewpoint, we think of the temporal, but God lives in the eternal. We are thinking of today, but God is planning for tomorrow. We are thinking of comfort, but God is thinking of character. We are thinking of an easy time, but God is thinking of how to make us better people.
So let's trust Him। Whatever our circumstances or hardships, let us believe His promise to His children, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). All things are working together.
"If you make the commitment, God opens the way"
Monday, February 2, 2009
If Only God Knew
What I Was going Through! Ever felt this way?
The apostle Paul was in a Roman dungeon for his faithfulness to the gospel of Christ. But one night, Jesus Christ paid him a visit and offered these encouraging words:
"But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Be of good cheer (or courage), Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome'" (Acts 23:11 NKJV). Jesus was revealing to the great apostle that he was more than aware of his situation. Just because he was in a prison didn't mean that God had lost track of him and God Knows What You Are Going Through Also!
God has not, nor will He abandon you. Even though the local Christians did not help him, the Lord had come to visit him. Later, in his last epistle, Paul wrote, "Everyone abandoned me" (2 Timothy 4:16). Have you ever felt that way? Abandoned, forgotten, forsaken? Know this: God has not abandoned you! The Lord is with you Always!
“Better to be in a jail with the Lord than to be anywhere else without Him.”
No matter what you are going through right now, you are not alone. God is there with you, wanting to bring encouragement to you regarding your future.
One of my favorite verses about God's future for each of us is in the book of Jeremiah: "I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11)
It is worth noting that these words were given to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. They had lost hope. They saw no future, and felt as if God had forgotten about them.
But the Lord was saying to them (and us too), "I have not forgotten you, and there is a future!" Note that God does not say, "I know the thoughts that I have thought toward you." Rather, He says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you."
God thinks about you all the time You are still a work in progress. God is still finishing you, so don't be impatient. Don't feel it's over, just because you are not where you want to be yet.
We see only the beginning. God sees "the expected end" and it is good!
The apostle Paul was in a Roman dungeon for his faithfulness to the gospel of Christ. But one night, Jesus Christ paid him a visit and offered these encouraging words:
"But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Be of good cheer (or courage), Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome'" (Acts 23:11 NKJV). Jesus was revealing to the great apostle that he was more than aware of his situation. Just because he was in a prison didn't mean that God had lost track of him and God Knows What You Are Going Through Also!
God has not, nor will He abandon you. Even though the local Christians did not help him, the Lord had come to visit him. Later, in his last epistle, Paul wrote, "Everyone abandoned me" (2 Timothy 4:16). Have you ever felt that way? Abandoned, forgotten, forsaken? Know this: God has not abandoned you! The Lord is with you Always!
“Better to be in a jail with the Lord than to be anywhere else without Him.”
No matter what you are going through right now, you are not alone. God is there with you, wanting to bring encouragement to you regarding your future.
One of my favorite verses about God's future for each of us is in the book of Jeremiah: "I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11)
It is worth noting that these words were given to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. They had lost hope. They saw no future, and felt as if God had forgotten about them.
But the Lord was saying to them (and us too), "I have not forgotten you, and there is a future!" Note that God does not say, "I know the thoughts that I have thought toward you." Rather, He says, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you."
God thinks about you all the time You are still a work in progress. God is still finishing you, so don't be impatient. Don't feel it's over, just because you are not where you want to be yet.
We see only the beginning. God sees "the expected end" and it is good!
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