Whatever else you might be "doing for God", if it's not love and of love, it's all just noise. Noise. No substance, but the clanging that results from doing something else instead of what ought to be / has to be done.
But, don't call stuff "love" that's not love. Real love ALWAYS bears in it the nature and character of God.
No love = just noise.
Love that is not like the nature of God = imitation.
We do a lot of things in the name of "love" that aren't love at all, because those things do not reflect the holiness of God.
We do a lot of things in the name of God that don't reflect love, and those things are not really of God!
Think on these things, dear friends!
"But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine." (2 Corinthians 8:7-8 ESV)
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Who do we desire to flourish? Who do we want to make famous?
Look for the leader who isn't
concerned about their reputation...
Too many people want to be liked. Too many people want to be thought well of. Too many people want to be seen as clever. Too many value popularity over righteousness.
Thank God, Jesus didn't work in society to secure His reputation; He worked to obey His Father.
"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." (John 7:18 ESV)
In your company, look for people who are ambitious for the company to succeed. They promote the company's ideal, speak the company's message, pursue the company's mission. Look for that person that is ambitious to make the whole organization thrive. It's rare to (1) find a company worth living for like that and (2) find the person worth following a good mission.
This is doubly true of spiritual endeavors.
That's why I love Jesus so much. He came to obey the Father. Jesus did not come to build a personal reputation; He did not come with original designs, desires and ambitions. He came to speak what the Father wanted Him to speak, do what the Father wanted Him to do and make the Father famous in the process.
Too many preacher boys today want to be famous. They want to write books and blogs (I've written a book and have a blog...LOL!...you're reading this on my blog!) and be known far and wide. They want to be known for their thoughts and their sayings. They want to be on the radio (I'm on the radio! LOL!) and they want a website and a podcast and all the trappings of religious success...even moolah.
Now, there are a great many preachers who do not desire to be famous; those are the ones who want Jesus to be famous!
Those are the people to listen to! They say what Jesus says! They say what the Father says! They reveal the work of the Spirit! It's not about them! They want the Body of Christ to flourish, and not just their personal bottom line.
And, you know what? You don't have to be a preacher to care about the words of Jesus. You don't have to be a preacher to have a heart desire to see the Body flourish. Likewise, you don't have to be a preacher to fall into the trap of using religion to promote self.
Whatever level, trade or profession, look for people who want others to flourish. Look for people who are not ambitious for their reputation, but for the success of the whole. In the faith, especially, look for people who desire to make God famous and who care for the Body of Christ.
Might such a person be well known in the process? Yes.
Might such a person be quoted by others? Yes.
Should such a person parlay this "success" into riches and self promotion? No.
Jesus does not need our reputation. He has one. Let's make His name famous and introduce Him to people and let Him worry about both His and our reputations.
The example of Jesus convicts and inspires on so many levels!
Too many people want to be liked. Too many people want to be thought well of. Too many people want to be seen as clever. Too many value popularity over righteousness.
Thank God, Jesus didn't work in society to secure His reputation; He worked to obey His Father.
"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." (John 7:18 ESV)
In your company, look for people who are ambitious for the company to succeed. They promote the company's ideal, speak the company's message, pursue the company's mission. Look for that person that is ambitious to make the whole organization thrive. It's rare to (1) find a company worth living for like that and (2) find the person worth following a good mission.
This is doubly true of spiritual endeavors.
That's why I love Jesus so much. He came to obey the Father. Jesus did not come to build a personal reputation; He did not come with original designs, desires and ambitions. He came to speak what the Father wanted Him to speak, do what the Father wanted Him to do and make the Father famous in the process.
Too many preacher boys today want to be famous. They want to write books and blogs (I've written a book and have a blog...LOL!...you're reading this on my blog!) and be known far and wide. They want to be known for their thoughts and their sayings. They want to be on the radio (I'm on the radio! LOL!) and they want a website and a podcast and all the trappings of religious success...even moolah.
Now, there are a great many preachers who do not desire to be famous; those are the ones who want Jesus to be famous!
Those are the people to listen to! They say what Jesus says! They say what the Father says! They reveal the work of the Spirit! It's not about them! They want the Body of Christ to flourish, and not just their personal bottom line.
And, you know what? You don't have to be a preacher to care about the words of Jesus. You don't have to be a preacher to have a heart desire to see the Body flourish. Likewise, you don't have to be a preacher to fall into the trap of using religion to promote self.
Whatever level, trade or profession, look for people who want others to flourish. Look for people who are not ambitious for their reputation, but for the success of the whole. In the faith, especially, look for people who desire to make God famous and who care for the Body of Christ.
Might such a person be well known in the process? Yes.
Might such a person be quoted by others? Yes.
Should such a person parlay this "success" into riches and self promotion? No.
Jesus does not need our reputation. He has one. Let's make His name famous and introduce Him to people and let Him worry about both His and our reputations.
The example of Jesus convicts and inspires on so many levels!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Don't forget the primary mission of Jesus...
Jesus
is a good teacher, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus is a great example, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus works miracles, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus receives children, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus confronted religious people, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus dealt with demons, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus heals the sick, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus calls people to serve Him, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus is a great example, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus works miracles, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus receives children, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus confronted religious people, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus dealt with demons, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus heals the sick, but don't forget His primary mission...
Jesus calls people to serve Him, but don't forget His primary mission...
"The
saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME
INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy
1:15 ESV, emphasis mine)
We
love it when Jesus deals with others, but Jesus also wants to deal with us. He
wants to save sinners! He wants to save EVERY sinner! He wants to save YOU! He
has saved me! I am being saved! I will be saved! That's what Jesus came to do!
Whatever
you might think of Jesus, don't forget His primary mission! HE CAME TO SAVE
SINNERS!
Don't
expect Jesus to deal with you in any of His offices and capacities while His
main mission toward you has yet to be dealt with! HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS!
He
did not come to approve of sin; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to fulfill the "American Dream"; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to make us wealthy; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to give us empty religion; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to fulfill the "American Dream"; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to make us wealthy; He came to save sinners...
He did not come to give us empty religion; He came to save sinners...
Let
us not talk about Jesus without considering this faithful saying: Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners!
Hey,
sinner, Jesus came to save you!
He came to save you from God's wrath...
He came to save you from Satan's grasp...
He came to save you from yourself...
He came to save you from hell...
He came to save you from just judgment...
And, more...
He came to save you from God's wrath...
He came to save you from Satan's grasp...
He came to save you from yourself...
He came to save you from hell...
He came to save you from just judgment...
And, more...
Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners!
Like Paul, I can say, "...of whom I am foremost."
I thank God the Father that God the Son came to save sinners, for surely He came to save me!
Like Paul, I can say, "...of whom I am foremost."
I thank God the Father that God the Son came to save sinners, for surely He came to save me!
I
believe on Jesus...
I receive the Lord Jesus...
By grace, through faith, this sinner is saved by Jesus!
I receive the Lord Jesus...
By grace, through faith, this sinner is saved by Jesus!
How
about you?
Sunday, September 14, 2014
In Christ, the Local Church pictures Hostility being Crushed
The local church I'm a part of has its weekly,
corporate gathering on Sunday nights (versus Sunday morning, which is more
typical where we live). That being said, I usually go somewhere on Sunday mornings;
sometimes to preach, sometimes to rep YFC, sometimes to simply enjoy the Body
of Christ. This morning, I decided to rest a bit and wait for our local
church's gathering tonight. So, here I am watching Thomas Road Baptist Church's
weekly service. It's great...it's better than watching a lot of other things I
could be watching...the music is awesome...the mission focus on Guatemala was
inspiring...I'm betting the preaching will be solid (hadn't gotten to it
yet)...BUT NOTHING REPLACES the dynamic of actually being together, and nothing
is supposed to REPLACE it! Things like this can encourage us, but we are
designed for community. The Spirit calls us to community. The Lord commands us
to community. For any of my dear and beloved FB friends who enjoy watching
church services on TV, don't stop! Don't stop listening to solid doctrine;
don't stop singing along with the choirs, praise teams and soloists...BUT DO
GATHER WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST IN PERSON AND REGULARLY! Do not think for one
moment that what is coming across the TV waves is enough. True, it may be all
you have at this moment, but don't let it stay that way!
One of the great testimonies of the church is to
live on display. In other words, we live out in the world and among each other,
that God's work might be seen in us. I'm oft encouraged by this passage:
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one
and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing
the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in
himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile
us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
(Ephesians 2:13-16 ESV)
One of the beautiful things about the work of Christ
is breaking down walls of division. Primarily and preeminently, Christ breaks
down the walls between God and sinful men and women. But, Jesus also destroys
the dividing walls of hostility between man and man. He brings peace. A church
gathering puts that peace on display. Local churches gather and show -- or
SHOULD show -- that we CAN unite in Christ and focus together on Him. Local
churches should embrace diversity that puts the dividing-wall-busting power of
Jesus on display...
Rich and poor, together because of Jesus...
Old and young, together because of Jesus...
Differing races, together because of Jesus...
Differing levels of education together, because of Jesus...
Professionals and laborers together, because of Jesus..
And, more...
Rich and poor, together because of Jesus...
Old and young, together because of Jesus...
Differing races, together because of Jesus...
Differing levels of education together, because of Jesus...
Professionals and laborers together, because of Jesus..
And, more...
See it, yet?
The peace and the diversity and the
joy...together...needs to be on display, for our joy and our growth...but for
more than that, for God's glory!
There are more reasons to be involved in a local
church -- bodily involved, spiritually involved, etc. -- but the reason that is
encouraging my heart this morning is the desire to bring God glory as we
display His walls-of-division-destroying heart!
If you have no 11:00 AM church home, perhaps you are
reading this so I can invite you to be a part of our 6:00 PM church home. If
you have an 11:00 AM church home -- or 10:30 or 8:30 or AM in general --
perhaps you are reading this to either #1 remind you to be there next week OR
#2 to encourage your heart as to the reason to be there OR #3 embrace diversity
for the glory of God. Desire unity in solid doctrine, for it truly does unify,
and diversity in people-type. Ask God to break down walls of hostility and put
that on display in local churches!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Withdraw, and pray...
Withdraw, and pray...
Jesus healed many, people thronged to Him with
requests... He withdrew to pray (Luke 5:12-16). When we are busy, pressed by
life, we should withdraw and pray.
Jesus healed a friend's mom, healed many more, dealt with demons and withdrew to pray; upon withdrawing to pray, Jesus prepared to preach (Mark 1:29-39). Whether having been busy in ministry, being pressed in spiritual warfare or preparing for spiritual work, we ought to withdraw and pray.
Jesus healed a man's withered hand, realized the intentions of conspiring persecutors and He withdrew (Matthew 12:9-16). Whether He prayed or not, Jesus withdrew. He came apart from the conspirators and continued His work. When we are serving the Lord, pressure comes, and we must be discerning when we ought to go forth, and when we ought to withdraw. Jesus's pattern seemed to be to go forth in work and withdraw into intimate fellowship with the Father. We'd be wise to follow His pattern.
In the death of John the Baptist, Jesus experienced the loss of a cousin, saw the persecution of the righteous, witnessed the wickedness of ruling powers and loss an honorable partner in Kingdom work; then, Jesus withdrew to pray (Matthew 14:1-13). In loss, we should withdraw in prayer. In empathy with the persecuted, we should withdraw to pray. In the oppressing pressure of this wicked world, we should withdraw to pray.
Jesus intended to withdraw in prayer when He heard of
the death of John, but was interrupted by the necessity of ministry; doubly
needful now, Jesus did indeed withdraw (Matthew 14:22-33). When our need to
pray is interrupted, we must remain committed to our need to pray! (Fact is, we
probably rarely realize how deep our need to pray is!)
In discerning those He would call into apostolic
ministry, Jesus prayed ALL NIGHT LONG (Luke 6:12-16). We all face big
decisions, and we'd be wise to withdraw and pray, seek the Father, and ask for discernment.
In Matthew 26:26-44, Jesus knew He was facing the cross; He withdrew to pray on multiple occasions over the course of the entire night, AND recruited others to pray as well. None of us face dying for the sins of mankind by crucifixion, but all of us face bearing our cross. In going to the cross, Jesus also knew for the first / only time that He would have fellowship with the Father broken, so He prayed all night. In the prospects of bearing our own cross, or at the risk -- which is daily -- of fellowship being broken with our heavenly Father, we NEED to pray!
For every important reason, Jesus prayed. He didn't always withdraw, but at many times and for many reasons, He did. There's a lesson in this for us! Even when Jesus did not withdraw, His prayer life was active, vibrant and constant.
Our life necessitates prayer! Prayer is our
opportunity and our privilege! Whatever you're facing, withdraw and pray.
Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Hey, Misfit, God loves you through and through...
Here are some facts your heart needs to remember this morning...
God made you. In your mom's womb, God personally knitted you together. He likes the way you look. Your hair and eyes are beautiful to Him. Your cheek bones and your nose and your skinny/fat/long/short feet were fashioned in His heart and created by His hand. He breathed life into you. He made you to please Himself. You ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.
Now, you may feel like a misfit toy.
God made you. In your mom's womb, God personally knitted you together. He likes the way you look. Your hair and eyes are beautiful to Him. Your cheek bones and your nose and your skinny/fat/long/short feet were fashioned in His heart and created by His hand. He breathed life into you. He made you to please Himself. You ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.
Now, you may feel like a misfit toy.
You may BE a misfit toy. Lord knows, I've felt like a misfit toy most of my life. I reckon the feelings are founded.
Sometimes, we're different because circumstances beyond our control have affected us in ways even we cannot quite explain.
Sometimes, we're different because we are warped by our own sin.
Sometimes, we're different because God fashioned that difference into us.
He's working on and out the circumstances. We need to turn to Him about the sin, own it and seek healing. We need to embrace the way we're different. Don't confuse the way we're made and our sin; where we're different because of sin, that's on us. Still, God sees that and desires to work in that, too!
Either way, God loves you. He loves you, not in the romantic sense, but in the sense of action and mercy and grace and benevolent concern over His creation. He has ACTED in love for us...over and over and over...sustaining creation, NOT striking us dead as our sin deserves...and...no, AND, in giving the precious blood of Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin.
Whenever you wonder if God loves you, remember...
Either way, God loves you. He loves you, not in the romantic sense, but in the sense of action and mercy and grace and benevolent concern over His creation. He has ACTED in love for us...over and over and over...sustaining creation, NOT striking us dead as our sin deserves...and...no, AND, in giving the precious blood of Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin.
Whenever you wonder if God loves you, remember...
- He personally made you
- He IS exercising grace and mercy right now; today ('cause you're breathing!)
- He sustains creation to support you
- He gave Jesus to win you
- He is revealing Himself to you (How? you might ask...even right now, He is showing you Himself through these reminders -- or, for some, they may be revelations)
Sure, many of us feel like misfit toys, rejected by the "normal" folk. Sure, many of us feel broken. Well, actually, all of us ARE broken. But, today is a good day to heed the voice of the Lord. Today is a good day to call out to Father God, Lord Jesus and Helper Spirit...come over me, we might pray, make me new...be near me...I see [remember] Your goodness to me in Christ Jesus...I need You...I confess, I am broken...I am a misfit...I need You, Lord! More than ever, today, I need You.
I love the precious words of Jesus, calling to even mine own heart today: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 ESV)
Unlike people, God sees you. He knows you. AND, He loves you through and through.
Will Reagan and United Pursuit do well to musically remind us of God's beautiful, all-knowing, yet loving understanding of us...
In the children's special Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, King Moonracer has to give Rudolph and his friends special permission to stay on the Island of Misfit Toys. King Moonracer's provision is simple; Rudolph can stay one night, but they must go tell Santa about the island so Santa will help find these toys special, loving places to live.
God's story for me and you is a little different. In Jesus, the Father accepts us and never casts us out. In Jesus, we are home. In Jesus, there is room for every misfit toy. In Jesus, we have family. In Jesus, we have mission; we can tell all the toys -- misfit or not -- they too can have a home where they are loved!
He does see us. He does know us. And, He loves us through and through.
God will take us as we are, but, praise Him, He does not leave us there. Are you the train with the square wheels? Are you the spotted elephant? Are you the red nosed reindeer? God will use your difference or heal it...whatever is required for you and whatever is good for His glory!
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Let's talk about church / Church...
Words...let's deal with one
today...
"Church"...huh? What exactly is that?
The Word used the word -- that is Jesus said "church" -- and The Word used the word: ekklēsia, which means, "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly." (see more in link) Here's one example where Jesus used the word where He talks about the forming of the Body of Believers who would be the ekklēsia: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18 ESV)
Here's another case where Jesus is telling someone how to function inside a Body He already envisions being formed: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17 ESV)
Peter used the same word. So did Paul, Luke and John and whoever wrote Hebrews.
So, the "church" are those called out to assemble together; we might call the "church" the "called out ones." It's no doubt that all the individuals are called out from something individual into some corporate. The church is often called the "body of Christ" (sōma Christos), which we might explain by saying, "the church is those ones called out of their lives to become one together, hidden in Christ and filled by Him with Himself." (Note: no "Lone Ranger" images here! There are NO images of being "in Christ" all by yourself! Whatever the church is -- messed up and everything -- we are corporate!)
The true "public assembly" is not the weekly meeting of this group or that, though it's important those meetings mirror the true "public assembly." The real and true "public assembly" is the Body of Christ called out to live in missional community together wherever they are. In other words, wherever believers are in the world -- whatever town or community -- we're called from our own lives and goals to live the life of Jesus together in our area. We are assembled to be public; we are to be Christ on display!
The Church, then, is a living organism that defies walls and organizations. However, and here's where we are simply going to deal with words, we often call the building the church, and the activities the church, and the weekly gathering the church, and our denomination, or lack thereof, the church...in other words, we call a lot of stuff church!
Let's just own that...we use the word that's supposed to describe the reality and life of the living organism known as the "church" for a lot of stuff. We use the word for the living organism to describe the often very dead organization. Let's just embrace it!
However, if we are not part of the living organism, then the works of the organization mean nothing. That's heavy, but it's fact.
And, this is huge, if we think we can exist alone, out of the community of the assembly, we are simply mistaken. NONE of us are called to do our own thing. We all called to be in Christ together, and His goal is to make us individually AND corporately like Himself.
So, non-living-organism people can do organization stuff. What I mean to say is that people who aren't actually in the church can do church stuff. They can go to church (the meeting) or go to church (the building) or do stuff with a church (denomination or location) or join the church (the organization) without ever being made alive as part of the organism. Now, we are getting some where! That's where the confusion often is!
There is danger in the church (organization) doing stuff that's not the life of the Church (organism). That's what confuses us so many times! We see a dead organization doing stuff that is not what the living organism is called to do!
That is no excuse for the living to ignore the calling of being what God calls us to be...
It's no excuse for the dead to stay dead when Christ calls any who will receive Him to life...
The Church is the worldwide Body of Christ called out by Him to be filled by Him with Himself to do the works He desires to do. If the organization is not doing that, ask for revival and work for reform. If YOU aren't doing the works of Christ and growing in the character of Christ, it's possible you are going to church but are not being the Church.
Let's not let words be an excuse or a roadblock. Jesus is calling. He is inviting. Don't let what the church has done to disappoint you make you miss this Jesus calling you into the Church (and the church...wink / smile). The dead organization does not produce the good works of the living organism. It is like God to call us into both, that both may be full of life.
And, church, don't think because we are going to the building, joining the organization, attending the meeting and doing some activity within a local group or denomination that we are BEING who God has called us to be! Reform and revival! Reform sets the sails while revival brings the wind; I want both!
Think on this...
"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.'" (Revelation 3:1-3 ESV)
Go to church AND be the Church...
Go to the church AND be the Church...
Join the church AND be the Church...
I have more to say about these words, but let's start with this.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1577&t=KJV
"Church"...huh? What exactly is that?
The Word used the word -- that is Jesus said "church" -- and The Word used the word: ekklēsia, which means, "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly." (see more in link) Here's one example where Jesus used the word where He talks about the forming of the Body of Believers who would be the ekklēsia: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18 ESV)
Here's another case where Jesus is telling someone how to function inside a Body He already envisions being formed: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17 ESV)
Peter used the same word. So did Paul, Luke and John and whoever wrote Hebrews.
So, the "church" are those called out to assemble together; we might call the "church" the "called out ones." It's no doubt that all the individuals are called out from something individual into some corporate. The church is often called the "body of Christ" (sōma Christos), which we might explain by saying, "the church is those ones called out of their lives to become one together, hidden in Christ and filled by Him with Himself." (Note: no "Lone Ranger" images here! There are NO images of being "in Christ" all by yourself! Whatever the church is -- messed up and everything -- we are corporate!)
The true "public assembly" is not the weekly meeting of this group or that, though it's important those meetings mirror the true "public assembly." The real and true "public assembly" is the Body of Christ called out to live in missional community together wherever they are. In other words, wherever believers are in the world -- whatever town or community -- we're called from our own lives and goals to live the life of Jesus together in our area. We are assembled to be public; we are to be Christ on display!
The Church, then, is a living organism that defies walls and organizations. However, and here's where we are simply going to deal with words, we often call the building the church, and the activities the church, and the weekly gathering the church, and our denomination, or lack thereof, the church...in other words, we call a lot of stuff church!
Let's just own that...we use the word that's supposed to describe the reality and life of the living organism known as the "church" for a lot of stuff. We use the word for the living organism to describe the often very dead organization. Let's just embrace it!
However, if we are not part of the living organism, then the works of the organization mean nothing. That's heavy, but it's fact.
And, this is huge, if we think we can exist alone, out of the community of the assembly, we are simply mistaken. NONE of us are called to do our own thing. We all called to be in Christ together, and His goal is to make us individually AND corporately like Himself.
So, non-living-organism people can do organization stuff. What I mean to say is that people who aren't actually in the church can do church stuff. They can go to church (the meeting) or go to church (the building) or do stuff with a church (denomination or location) or join the church (the organization) without ever being made alive as part of the organism. Now, we are getting some where! That's where the confusion often is!
There is danger in the church (organization) doing stuff that's not the life of the Church (organism). That's what confuses us so many times! We see a dead organization doing stuff that is not what the living organism is called to do!
That is no excuse for the living to ignore the calling of being what God calls us to be...
It's no excuse for the dead to stay dead when Christ calls any who will receive Him to life...
The Church is the worldwide Body of Christ called out by Him to be filled by Him with Himself to do the works He desires to do. If the organization is not doing that, ask for revival and work for reform. If YOU aren't doing the works of Christ and growing in the character of Christ, it's possible you are going to church but are not being the Church.
Let's not let words be an excuse or a roadblock. Jesus is calling. He is inviting. Don't let what the church has done to disappoint you make you miss this Jesus calling you into the Church (and the church...wink / smile). The dead organization does not produce the good works of the living organism. It is like God to call us into both, that both may be full of life.
And, church, don't think because we are going to the building, joining the organization, attending the meeting and doing some activity within a local group or denomination that we are BEING who God has called us to be! Reform and revival! Reform sets the sails while revival brings the wind; I want both!
Think on this...
"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.'" (Revelation 3:1-3 ESV)
Go to church AND be the Church...
Go to the church AND be the Church...
Join the church AND be the Church...
I have more to say about these words, but let's start with this.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1577&t=KJV
Friday, August 22, 2014
Not a condiment...
A Ministry Report...
One of the great mistakes in Christendom is to think we can simply add Jesus to our life. No. I fear many who take that approach will hear the Father say "depart from Me" on judgment day. No, we don't add Jesus to our life. Jesus gives life to our death. If we don't get spiritual life in the place of our natural state of spiritual death we remain lost, unredeemed, undone and damned.
Consider some of Paul's counsel to the church at Ephesus...
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV, emphasis mine)
Too often, too, we make salvation a thing of knowledge, rather than a thing of Christ's life. We think salvation is some things we learn rather than someone we know. Even today, recognizing this reality, David Paul Tripp tweeted, "No one gets smart and gets saved. Blind and dead, we were all saved by sight-giving, life-giving grace alone." We're all blind and dead until we are quickened by the Spirit of God and given life in Christ Jesus.
Now, I say all this to tell you about a couple of meetings I had yesterday. I am privileged to enjoy regular discipleship meetings with young people. Let me say this, within the process of discipleship there is both evangelization of the unredeemed and edification of the redeemed; so, whether I am dealing with a "Christian kid" or a "lost" kid, it's the same process, and I push on pushing them to love God through Jesus.
We take God at His word, that Jesus is enough, and we lovingly, share that message with the world and beg the Spirit to provoke them to recognize the sufficiency of Christ, believe Him and receive Him.
Then, in community, I think all of us live a life time of figuring this out, and much of our discipling others should be helping each other understand this life from God and walk in it.
One young man I was meeting with yesterday came to the conclusion that he had no objection to believe the things of God, but that he had not received life from God. That was his own conclusion. "What holds you back from receiving life in Christ?" ----- long pause ------ he was thinking, weighing. "Is it being afraid of what you think you'll lose? Is it worry of what God will change?" I asked. ---- more thinking --- Finally, he said, "Man, I don't know what holds me back."
Do you know where that conversation started? I simply asked him to define several Christian words; for example, I asked him what it meant to be a Christian and what does it mean to be saved, etc. You see, after weeks and weeks of meeting with this young man, after weeks and weeks of listening to his story, after weeks and weeks of learning about his life, it was time to press in. He'd told me on more than one occasion he'd been a Christian "all my life" (as he put it). No one is a Christian all their life. We are born lost, born spiritually dead, born in need of redemption. But, I didn't press in until I knew where to press. I'm not even saying the young man isn't a Christian; I'm saying he keeps saying he is a Christian but doesn't seem to have Christ's life in him. Jesus, at best, is a conversation piece to him; at best, Jesus is a historical figure.
If the young man is a Christian, I want him to grow into a person who enjoys abiding in Christ and seeks to bring God glory. If he is a Christian, I want him to recognize his own conversion and learn to walk in it.
Do I believe this young man is "saved"? It doesn't matter what I believe...I am praying he comes to cast all on Christ day by day.
The other discipleship meeting I wanted to highlight came with a young man I'd spent many meetings with. I'd explained to him over and over again things like condemnation, justification, sanctification and glorification. I'd explained to him what it means to believe and receive Jesus, how trusting and believing are connected and many other things. Then, one day, this young man believed on the name of Jesus and asked to receive life from God through Jesus. Now, I'm just trying to help him learn what happened to him at conversion. Yesterday, we synchronized our mobile phones to a You Version Bible and devotion reading plan so that he and I can be in the word together each day for the next few days, even when we're not together.
There is a rich, beautiful, dynamic, flowing life that comes to those who have life from God in Christ Jesus. That's what I want from young people! I don't want anyone to think Jesus is a condiment; you know, something they sprinkle on certain portions of their lifestyle. No, Jesus is life, and if we don't receive His life, we have missed His salvation.
One of the great mistakes in Christendom is to think we can simply add Jesus to our life. No. I fear many who take that approach will hear the Father say "depart from Me" on judgment day. No, we don't add Jesus to our life. Jesus gives life to our death. If we don't get spiritual life in the place of our natural state of spiritual death we remain lost, unredeemed, undone and damned.
Consider some of Paul's counsel to the church at Ephesus...
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV, emphasis mine)
Too often, too, we make salvation a thing of knowledge, rather than a thing of Christ's life. We think salvation is some things we learn rather than someone we know. Even today, recognizing this reality, David Paul Tripp tweeted, "No one gets smart and gets saved. Blind and dead, we were all saved by sight-giving, life-giving grace alone." We're all blind and dead until we are quickened by the Spirit of God and given life in Christ Jesus.
Now, I say all this to tell you about a couple of meetings I had yesterday. I am privileged to enjoy regular discipleship meetings with young people. Let me say this, within the process of discipleship there is both evangelization of the unredeemed and edification of the redeemed; so, whether I am dealing with a "Christian kid" or a "lost" kid, it's the same process, and I push on pushing them to love God through Jesus.
We take God at His word, that Jesus is enough, and we lovingly, share that message with the world and beg the Spirit to provoke them to recognize the sufficiency of Christ, believe Him and receive Him.
Then, in community, I think all of us live a life time of figuring this out, and much of our discipling others should be helping each other understand this life from God and walk in it.
One young man I was meeting with yesterday came to the conclusion that he had no objection to believe the things of God, but that he had not received life from God. That was his own conclusion. "What holds you back from receiving life in Christ?" ----- long pause ------ he was thinking, weighing. "Is it being afraid of what you think you'll lose? Is it worry of what God will change?" I asked. ---- more thinking --- Finally, he said, "Man, I don't know what holds me back."
Do you know where that conversation started? I simply asked him to define several Christian words; for example, I asked him what it meant to be a Christian and what does it mean to be saved, etc. You see, after weeks and weeks of meeting with this young man, after weeks and weeks of listening to his story, after weeks and weeks of learning about his life, it was time to press in. He'd told me on more than one occasion he'd been a Christian "all my life" (as he put it). No one is a Christian all their life. We are born lost, born spiritually dead, born in need of redemption. But, I didn't press in until I knew where to press. I'm not even saying the young man isn't a Christian; I'm saying he keeps saying he is a Christian but doesn't seem to have Christ's life in him. Jesus, at best, is a conversation piece to him; at best, Jesus is a historical figure.
If the young man is a Christian, I want him to grow into a person who enjoys abiding in Christ and seeks to bring God glory. If he is a Christian, I want him to recognize his own conversion and learn to walk in it.
Do I believe this young man is "saved"? It doesn't matter what I believe...I am praying he comes to cast all on Christ day by day.
The other discipleship meeting I wanted to highlight came with a young man I'd spent many meetings with. I'd explained to him over and over again things like condemnation, justification, sanctification and glorification. I'd explained to him what it means to believe and receive Jesus, how trusting and believing are connected and many other things. Then, one day, this young man believed on the name of Jesus and asked to receive life from God through Jesus. Now, I'm just trying to help him learn what happened to him at conversion. Yesterday, we synchronized our mobile phones to a You Version Bible and devotion reading plan so that he and I can be in the word together each day for the next few days, even when we're not together.
There is a rich, beautiful, dynamic, flowing life that comes to those who have life from God in Christ Jesus. That's what I want from young people! I don't want anyone to think Jesus is a condiment; you know, something they sprinkle on certain portions of their lifestyle. No, Jesus is life, and if we don't receive His life, we have missed His salvation.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
I get Bruce Springsteen's heart...
A Prayer Appeal...
You are familiar with God's command to the Hebrews in Babylonian captivity: "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7 ESV)
If we believers have no other motivation to work in our community than the sense made by Jeremiah to the Exiles, then that alone would be enough. Seek the welfare of the city you are in -- want good for it, work for good in it, pray for good, strive for peace, strive for success. Why? If our city is doing well, it will be good for us, too.
I drove around our city and county yesterday. As I drove around, Bruce Springsteen's song came to my mind. Springsteen sings:
Springsteen sings quite literally of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Springsteen wrote the song as part of an effort to revitalize what was once a premier resort area (it's been working, too...since 2000, the Asbury Park has experienced an amazing turn around). However, the song grips my heart in a different way. My city grips my heart in a different way.
We don't have urban blight. Sure, there are plenty of empty buildings, and most of that is bad stewardship, not urban blight. What we have is spiritual ruin. The church doors are open, but the congregations are gone.
I am praying for revival. But, like Springsteen, I'm oft left with a question... "Now tell me how do I begin again?"
Easy...I get it...I already knew it...I just needed to remember it...
Get to work. That's the answer. Get to work. Build the Kingdom. Be intentional. Be sacrificial. Truly, seek the welfare of my city by Kingdom building. Put MY hands in the work. Encourage, exhort and enable others to put their hands in the work.
Springsteen sang...
You are familiar with God's command to the Hebrews in Babylonian captivity: "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7 ESV)
If we believers have no other motivation to work in our community than the sense made by Jeremiah to the Exiles, then that alone would be enough. Seek the welfare of the city you are in -- want good for it, work for good in it, pray for good, strive for peace, strive for success. Why? If our city is doing well, it will be good for us, too.
I drove around our city and county yesterday. As I drove around, Bruce Springsteen's song came to my mind. Springsteen sings:
The church doors blown open
I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins
Springsteen sings quite literally of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Springsteen wrote the song as part of an effort to revitalize what was once a premier resort area (it's been working, too...since 2000, the Asbury Park has experienced an amazing turn around). However, the song grips my heart in a different way. My city grips my heart in a different way.
We don't have urban blight. Sure, there are plenty of empty buildings, and most of that is bad stewardship, not urban blight. What we have is spiritual ruin. The church doors are open, but the congregations are gone.
I am praying for revival. But, like Springsteen, I'm oft left with a question... "Now tell me how do I begin again?"
Easy...I get it...I already knew it...I just needed to remember it...
Get to work. That's the answer. Get to work. Build the Kingdom. Be intentional. Be sacrificial. Truly, seek the welfare of my city by Kingdom building. Put MY hands in the work. Encourage, exhort and enable others to put their hands in the work.
Springsteen sang...
Now with these hands
I pray Lord
with these hands
for the strength Lord
with these hands
for the faith Lord
with these hands
I pray Lord
with these hands
for the strength Lord
with these hands
for the faith Lord
with these hands
Pray. Work. Pray. Evangelize. Pray. Edify. Pray. Encourage. Pray. Build. Pray. Restore. Pray. And, with me, sing...
Come on rise up!
Come on rise up!
Rise up
Truth be told, we've got much better and bigger reasons to seek the welfare of our communities than wanting a life of prosperity and ease. God's called us to make disciples, build the Kingdom, live in love, stand in truth and so much more. God has called us to rise up and walk with Jesus. He's called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. He's made us alive, quickened out of spiritual death and into life.
Shouldn't we, in the very minimum, want the same for every other person breathing on this globe?
Now, Andrew Liggitt's song is pulsing through my heart. Yes, God is working on my heart. He's giving me a new care for the welfare of our city. We need a revival. And, it must begin in me...
I pray you feel the same.
Pray for our city...
Pray God revives the spiritual ruin...
Pray for revival, and pray it begins with the man and woman who is willing to say "Amen"...
Pray for our city...
Pray God revives the spiritual ruin...
Pray for revival, and pray it begins with the man and woman who is willing to say "Amen"...
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Witness reflection August 20, 2014
No tricks, no gimmicks, letting it say what it says to who it says what it says...
It's not just an American temptation, but we seem to have perfected it; we want things to be slick. We want to be famous. We want to be known. We want to be original.
Listen, you are original. You don't have to prove it. You are it. You were designed in the mind of God, created by the power of God, loved in the heart of God and brought forth by the hand of God. You don't have to work to be an original; you ARE original.
With that in mind, don't use or receive slick approaches to the Word of God. Just open it. Read it. Meditate. Get quiet and listen for God to speak to you.
Be the student who listens to non-slick, solid teachers...
Be the witness who uses non-slick, loving methods...
"But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV)
It's not just an American temptation, but we seem to have perfected it; we want things to be slick. We want to be famous. We want to be known. We want to be original.
Listen, you are original. You don't have to prove it. You are it. You were designed in the mind of God, created by the power of God, loved in the heart of God and brought forth by the hand of God. You don't have to work to be an original; you ARE original.
With that in mind, don't use or receive slick approaches to the Word of God. Just open it. Read it. Meditate. Get quiet and listen for God to speak to you.
Be the student who listens to non-slick, solid teachers...
Be the witness who uses non-slick, loving methods...
"But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV)
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