Wednesday, December 23, 2015

OVERCOMING FEAR


2 Timothy 1:7-9 (NIV) 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 

I recently sat with someone who was dealing with a lot of fear about life. They were consumed with all the negative and bad influences of society that they couldn't even enjoy the blessings before them.

Fear is an epidemic in our world today and it is only escalating.  People have fears over so many things - fear of the dark, fear of the unknown, fear of heights, fear of germs, etc.

I could go on an on talking about fears and phobias and in the course of naming these different fears we’d probably find that all of them fall into two kinds of fear.

1- There is a fear that is good - This keeps us from driving 100 mph, picking up a rattler snake, jumping off the side of a building, or other foolish things that you can think of.

2- Then there is a fear that is harmful - This is the "spirit of fear" mentioned in this particular passage. This fear paralyzes us, keeps us from doing things we could or should do.

Perhaps there is a fear that you need to overcome tonight. This passage gives us insight on "Overcoming Fear"

SATAN’S PURPOSE FOR OUR FEAR

Satan is a master at using our fears. He can keep us from being an effective Christian, or happy person by using our own fears… He uses the "spirit of fear" to:

1. Make Our Lives Miserable.

Worry and fear can make our life miserable.

There was a lady who died in 1916 name Hetty Green. She was called America’s greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection. 

I am sure she was worried about losing her wealth, so she didn’t even enjoy her life!!- We can be so afraid of losing our wealth or job that we never enjoy our life…

Some people are so afraid that something is going to happen to their marriage, that they never get close, or have the intimacy they could have…

Have you ever met a "worry wart" who wasn’t miserable?

2. Make Us Ineffective.

Many times we do not share our faith with someone because of fear.

What will they think of me?
What if I turn them off?
What if I mess up?
They probably won’t listen to me anyway!
These are the common fears Satan uses to make us ineffective witnesses!

Sometimes we don’t get involved in serving others because of fear.

I can’t teach a Sunday School class.
I can’t help in the nursery.
I could never be a pastor or a missionary.
I can’t sing on the worship team
Etc.

Note: God has not given us the "spirit of fear", but He has given us three things that will help us overcome fear:

GOD’S GIFTS FOR OVERCOMING OUR FEARS

1.The Gift Of POWER


Through Christ Jesus, I can do anything God wants me to do!!!

Philippians 4:13 (NIV) 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

That means anything God wants me to do, I can do it… 

A. Power to be saved.

John 1:12 (NIV) 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

B. Power To Be A Witness For Him.

Acts 1:8 (NIV) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

C. Power To Be Joyful.

Romans 15:13 (NIV) 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

D. Power To Make You A Strong Believer.

Romans 16:25 (NIV) 25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

E. Power To Endure Trials.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.


If you are trusting in, drawing from, relying on, believing in the one who has the power, He will give you the power you need!

Don’t be afraid!!! Use His power!!!

2. The Gift of LOVE

At first glance, it does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering fear…

1 John 4:18 (NIV)18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Here is how this works:

A. Love For God

The more we love God, the less fear we will have. It is a matter of trust. When we realize that God will take care of us, it relieves our fear. 

Romans 8:28 (NIV) 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Love of God relieves our fears!

B. Love For Others

The more we love others the less fear we will have. 

Love causes us to tell others about Jesus. To teach a Sunday School Class. To help others in need.

3. The Gift Of A SOUND Mind

Most of the time our harmful fears are the result of wrong thinking. But something happens when we are saved and begin to trust God. Our mind is renewed!

Romans 12:2 (NIV) 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Conquering fear is not a matter of self determination, it is a matter of dependence on the God whom we can trust and love. It is a matter of belief in His words, His promises, and His gifts to you. It is a matter of recognizing the devils pitiful attempts at crippling you with fear and God’s majestic grace in giving you POWER, LOVE and SOUND MIND.

May God give you much peace and freedom over any fear that you might be facing in your life.  May God bless you with a sound mind and that you would not worry over every little thing.  God is still in charge and “He’s got this.”  Trust Him today with all your fears and worries.

Monday, December 21, 2015

DEALING WITH JOY BUSTERS


Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” 

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”



I’ve talked to a number of people lately who seem to be losing their joy in life.  They were going fine when all of a sudden something happened to steal their joy away.

It’s interesting: We tend to equate “happiness” with joy but they are two totally different ideas because they each spring from a different source. One comes from the world around me. The other originates directly from the Spirit of the Living God.

Happiness is conditioned by and often dependent upon what is “happening” to me. If people treat me good, if things are going well in my life, then I’m happy. If my circumstances aren’t favorable, then I’m unhappy – that describes me as I was flying over the back of that dangerous dragon!



Joy, on the other hand, throbs throughout Scripture as a profound, compelling quality of life that transcends the events and disasters which may dog God’s people. Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances.

The Hebrew word means, “to leap or spin around with pleasure.” In the New Testament the word refers to “gladness, bliss and celebration.”



To have the fruit of joy ripen in our lives is to recognize the journey involved in getting there. It takes time, diligence, patience, and hard work to make a grapevine produce grapes. Fruit is not instantaneous because it has to overcome weather, bugs, weeds, poor soil and neglect.

Likewise, in our journey to joy we’re faced with the waves of apathy, the currents of pessimism, the deluge of doubt and the waterfalls of despair. There is no way we can manufacture this fruit on our own. 



If we want to see this fruit ripen in our lives, we desperately need the Holy Spirit to prune away whatever it is that hinders our joy and then empower us to make some choices that move us closer to a lifestyle of rejoicing.

We need to guard against three common Joy Busters in our lives:

Joy Busters



Before Paul wrote to the church at Galatia about the Fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5, he asked a very penetrating question in Galatians 4:15: “What has happened to all your joy…”

That question needs to be asked in the church today. What has happened to all my joy? What has happened to all your joy?

William Barclay has said that “a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with black clothes and long faces.”

Let’s look at three common joy stealers that often give us long faces.



1. Unsatisfied expectations. 

Do you ever feel like you’re just going through some joyless routines in life? If the truth were known some of us are discontent with the way our lives are progressing. It could be that your expectations for your marriage have not been met.

Or, maybe your kids aren’t living like they should. Perhaps you don’t have everything you want – a bigger house, a nicer car, and a better job.

I’m convinced that a spirit of discontentment can rob many of us of joy.

Listen to how Paul discovered the secret of being content with what God had given him inPhilippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”



I find it interesting to note that Paul calls contentment a “secret.” There’s a mystery about it.


He also had to “learn” how to live with unsatisfied expectations. Likewise, we must learn to live with plenty or with little. Contentment doesn’t come when we have everything we want but when we want everything we have.



2. Unresolved conflict. 

Our joy evaporates when we allow conflict between ourselves and another person to go on. When someone’s offense against us occupies our mental and emotional attention, we have little left over for the Lord. Anger clouds the eyes of our heart and obscures our view of God, draining away our joy.



Hebrews 12:14-15 challenges us to not allow relational ruptures to fester because bitterness can set in: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”



Philippians 2:2 - “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”



3. Unconfessed sin. 

This third joy buster is perhaps responsible for chasing more joy out of lives than any other. Guilt can gut your joy faster than anything I know. Sin can send joy far away. 

David understood this very well when he attempted to ignore the promptings of the Spirit.

Take a look at Psalm 32:1-5: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”



I love how this Psalm ends. After David owns his sin, his joy returns. Notice verse 11: “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Did you catch that? He was not able to rejoice and experience the joy of the Lord until he confessed his sins!

That’s very similar to what David wrote in Psalm 51:7-8: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”



• Do you have some unsatisfied expectations that have led to a spirit of discontment? If so, determine to do whatever it takes to learn the secret of wanting everything you have and not necessarily having everything you want. When you do, you’ll begin to experience joy in even the small things of life. Confess your discontentment to Him right now.



• Are you involved in some conflict with someone? If so, confess it to God and make plans to meet with that person face-to-face so that you can be reconciled and get back on your journey to joy.



• Is God’s hand heavy upon you right now because of some sin that you’ve not confessed and repented of? Don’t keep silent any longer – it will only chew up your joy. Acknowledge your transgression and taste the joy that was once yours. Then you’ll be truly glad and rejoice in the Lord again.

I have some great news this morning. Lost joy can be restored.

As a result of some discontment, some conflict, and some open sin, David had tubed out spiritually. His joy was a long-lost memory. And yet, he boldly prays in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…” God honored his prayer, and He will honor yours. 



Wednesday, December 16, 2015

WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING TODAY?


Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” I Corinthians‬ ‭11:1‬ 

Mickey Mantle, an almost mythical baseball star who feared he had failed to fulfill career expectations because of alcohol abuse eventually died of cancer at the age of 63. The former New York Yankees center fielder and a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame said at a news conference that he had squandered a gifted life and warned admirers he was no role model. “God gave me the ability to play baseball. God gave me everything,” he said. “For the kids out there, don’t be like me.”

We are people that like to have an example to follow. For so many people in the world today, they find their examples on the television screens and in many other places. Sadly, most of these examples are not good examples for people to follow and do not show how to live a Christ like life. 

It is a sad thing to hear a kid today tell you their examples and role models, because the example often stinks. I believe that we desperately need Godly examples for people to be able to follow. We need people who can show people what it means to live a Christian life and how Christ changes your life. 

The Bible is full of examples of how to live our lives. We have examples for almost every different type of situation that we can be faced with. 

We have an example of Abraham and his unwavering faith. We have an example from Job for how to be faithful through trials that come in our lives, and of course our perfect example is Jesus Christ. 

Years ago a saying became popular, and that was “What would Jesus do?” The idea for that saying came from a verse in I Peter, which said, “to this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example so you can follow in his steps.” 

Christ is the perfect example to follow because he lived a perfect life. 

Another great example that we read about in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. He showed a great example to all those he was around, in fact he was able to instruct the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ. 

Paul set out and strived to be a good example. I believe that many of the character problems that we hear about in churches and many of the stories of unfaithfulness have something to do with them not having a spiritual example that they could follow. We are expected not only to be an example to the world of a Godly person, but also to the church. 

Just getting out of the driveway is a major feat during a bad snow or ice storms. I heard a story of a man who used his seven-year-old son’s baseball bat to smash the slick coat of ice on his driveway. He got cold and went inside for a cup of coffee before attempting to clear the car. Several minutes later, his son, who had been outside with him, came in. 

Dad,” he said, “I got the ice off the car.”

“How did you do that?” his father asked.

Same way you did,” the boy shrugged, “with the baseball bat.”

We must set a good example for people to follow, so they can see Christ living in us. People should see an example from us as Christians that we are different from the world. 

We think differently, we talk differently, we act differently, and we view others differently. We show through our examples what it means to be a Christian. 

Our lives are an example that people will follow, both to non-Christians and to Christians. I hope today you want to be a good example.

We too can take the example of Paul and of others and learn from his example and apply things to our lives. 

Paul was a person who had real struggles and real difficulties in life. He wasn’t given a special gift by God to be a better Christian. 

He was simply a real person living out the best he could what he believed. He showed a great example not just in what he said, but also in how he lived his life. 

We too should be an example in how we live because someone is following you just like you have followed someone else.  

Ask yourself today if anyone is following you and looking up to you.  Are you an example that is worthiness of being followed?  Are you proud of the way you live your life and the example you are setting? 

Someone once said that today is the first day of the rest of your life.  If you need to make changes - don't wait for tomorrow.  Start today and see what results will follow.




Tuesday, December 15, 2015

AN ABUNDANCE OF HOPE


Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If you’ve ever experienced a season of darkness in your life - this scripture should give you great hope. About 10 years ago I went through a terrible season of darkness and despair.  I had lost my hope and couldn’t see God’s plan for my life.  It was a lonely journey that I wouldn’t wish on my enemies.  I prayed this scripture over and over “that God would fill me with joy and peace and that I would about in hope.”

Well, God did give me hope and brought me through that season. I look back now and realize that I NEEDED to go through this time in order to connect and help others going through their own place of darkness.

Christmas will be here in a few weeks.  It is a great season of hope.  It is about a Savior coming to a lost world and bringing us hope in our darkness.  We were lost and now we are found (by the grace of God).  It should be a season of hope but it is often a season of despair and drugery.

Notice this verse says, “Now may the God of Hope fill you…”

God is, by nature, FULL OF HOPE. He is a HOPEFUL God. He is the God of HOPE. When everything is going against you - God steps in and speaks over your life and your situations! By NATURE He is Hopeful. He steps into our lives and gives us hope also.

If you’ve lost sight of hope in your lives - GO TO GOD TODAY.  Ask Him to fill you with His hope.

The original Greek text here says it this way..., "Now may the God of THE Hope fill you with all joy." He is the THE God who is all powerful and mighty who intervenes into your life with great blessings and answers to could come by no other way.

He is truly "THE GOD OF HOPE".

Note the next phrase with me: "...fill you with ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING."

I’m a candidate!  I want in!  I want to be filled with HIS joy and HIS peace.

You can have that also!!!

Romans 12:12 says we live "rejoicing IN HOPE".

Jesus words are clear that "Indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you . . ." (Luke 17:21). 

And in Romans 14:17 it says: ". . . for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT". 

These are the things that are to characteristics our lives - NOT misery and discontent! (It’s not "spiritual" to be miserable!)

Speaking of this great Hope we have as Christians, in 1 Peter 1:8-9 we read: "Though now you do not see (Jesus) (with your physical eyes), yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls."

Notice the last phrase… "... that you may ABOUND in hope"

This word "abound" is the Greek word "perisseuo", which means "to super abound, to have in excess". God wants us to SUPER ABOUND in Hope. He wants this Hope that we have to be filling us up to overflowing so that it pours out of our lives to affect others. THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN JESUS SHOULD BE CONTAGIOUS!

You know the Early Church evidenced this abundance of Hope. Whenever they would greet another believer they would say "MARANATHA" - "the Lord is coming!". They expected Him daily; they lived in that hope.

I pray that you would ABOUND in hope today.  That, God would fill you with expectancy of great things to come.

Lastly, notice what is said at the end of this verse…"...by THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."

We receive this hope, and we live in this hope, we keep this hope alive, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  There is no other way!

The word for power here is "DUNAMIS".  This means “miraculous power.” Our hope releases God’s miraculous power in our lives.  I need this to carry me through life’s difficulties and problems and dark days. As His Holy Spirit is released in me - God brings great POWER in our lives.

We NEED this abundant hope to carry us through thick and thin times in life.

In Galatians 5:5 it says: "For we THROUGH THE SPIRIT eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith".

As Christians, we should be the MOST hope filled people in the world.  We should be filled with joy that pours out to those around us.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬




Monday, December 14, 2015

FIVE WAYS TO WORSHIP GOD


“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Worship is really a BIG thing for me.  I love to worship through song and through prayer and throughout my day by day life.  I am constantly sending thanks to the Lord for all that He has done and continues to do in my life.

Romans 12:1 is kind of a pathway for all of us to use in regards to our worship.  It tells us the most effective way to “connect with God.”

Let’s explore this together:

1. Allow your behaviors to flow from your beliefs.

What do you believe?  Do you know?

The word “therefore” is meaningful. Whenever it is used in scripture we must ask - “Why is it there for?” Based on all that has been taught previously we will now precede in a manner that coincides with our beliefs.

The Book Of Romans is one of the best “doctrinal” books to teach us about the principles and foundations of “faith in God.”  But as you come to chapter 12 of Romans, Paul helps us make a transition from doctrine to duty, from creed to conduct, from principles to practice, concerning what we believe.

As one pastor put it, “the truth we believe must at some point embrace us.”  Have you heard people say that it doesn’t really matter what you believe?  Well, it does matter because what we believe ultimately determines how we behave.

Theology is never meant to be cold and lifeless. It must always have a practical application. It’s as if he’s saying, “Based on everything that I’ve just said, this is what you now need to put into practice.” Incidentally, the first two letters of “doctrine” form the word “do.”

We must allow our worship behaviors to flow out of our beliefs.

2. Answer God’s urgent appeal. 

Based on all that God has done, Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren,” 

This means “to call to one’s side” in order to persuade someone to do something. I like how the Amplified Bible renders this: “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you…” 

Even though Paul could have used a command here, he instead makes an appeal from love, not law. He does a similar thing in Ephesians 4:1: “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” 

Notice that he refers to them as “brothers,” indicating his affection for them as members of God’s family. This is a term of warmth that literally means from “one womb.” 

He’s begging brothers and sisters, not unbelievers, to do something that has not yet been done – it’s a decision that disciples need to make. And yet, it seems as if Paul is leaving it up to each of us individually. 

3. Be motivated by God’s mercy. 

Paul makes this plea “by the mercies of God” The original word used here for “mercy” is actually plural and refers to God’s multitude of mercies. 

Listen to 2 Corinthians 1:3 in the King James Version: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.” 

Pastor Mark Batterson says that the prerequisite to worship is mercy: “And the prerequisite to mercy is doing something wrong. So if you’ve done something wrong you qualify for mercy. And if you qualify for mercy you qualify for worship…don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God.”

God is not merciful just once but again and again. He is consistently and constantly full of mercy. 

John Calvin once said that “we will never worship with a sincere heart or serve God with unbridled zeal until we properly understand how much we are indebted to God’s mercy. God has demonstrated so much mercy to us that we can’t help but respond by fully surrendering our lives to Him. In Isaac Watt’s amazing hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” we read these words: “Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all.” 

Louie Giglio offers this helpful definition: “Worship is our response to what we value most.” If we value God’s mercy we’ll be motivated to give Him our very lives. He then writes: “So how do you know where and what you worship? It’s easy. You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money and your loyalty. At the end of the trail you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what’s of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship” (“The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life,” page 13).

4. Offer your body on God’s altar. 

We are urged, in view of the many mercies of God “to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.” 

This word “offer” is a technical term that was used to describe the bringing and presenting of an animal for sacrifice on an altar. It means “to present once and for all” by placing oneself at the disposal of another and has the idea of relinquishing one’s grip. 

In the Old Testament a live animal was brought to the priest and the owner would lay hands on the beast to symbolically say, “This animal takes my place.” The animal was then killed and the blood was sprinkled upon the altar.

This idea of a “living sacrifice” must have been a novel idea to the Jews of that day because they were used to offering dead sacrifices. Once a sacrifice is offered to God, you can’t take it back. When we are called to present our “bodies” to the Lord, we are exhorted to offer our total being to Him, not just bits and pieces. 

1 Corinthians 6:20: “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” God does not just want to be a “part” of our lives; He wants us to be completely committed to Him. 

Romans 6:13 tells us to offer every part of our bodies to Him as instruments of righteousness. God is looking for bodies of believers who will be sold out to Him. 

You’ve no doubt heard the story of the pig and the chicken walking down the road together when they come upon a sign advertising a breakfast to benefit the poor. The chicken said to the pig: “We should donate to that worthy cause. How about if I give an egg and you provide the ham?” To which the pig replied, “Not so fast. For you that would be a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment.” Too many of us have made some contributions but we resist total commitment.

5. Live a lifestyle of “service worship.” 

We’re so accustomed to equating worship with what happens in the church on Sunday mornings. 

When we come to church we call it a  “worship service” when this phrase is never even used in the Bible. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to “go to worship.” 

Actually, for many of us we equate “worship” with the singing we do together for 20 minutes each week. 

If we just have 75 minutes together on Sundays, we should make it the best it can be, right? 

James MacDonald, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago (www.walkintheword.com). He shared four principles that I found to be very helpful.

* Prepare yourself. 

Get yourself ready Saturday night. Confess any sins. Read your Bible before you arrive. Come with a holy expectation.

* Be punctual

I know this is not easy but there are places around the world where the doors are locked if you are not on time.

* Work on your posture. 

Don’t slump down and settle in for a long-winter’s nap. Don’t write notes to each other and don’t check out if you don’t like a song or the sermon. We are not customers or consumers, we are participants. God is the audience.

* Ignite some passion. 

Come ready to fully participate, knowing that God is seeking worshippers who have their hearts and their heads engaged.

Friends, we can’t just be spectators here. Someone described a football game as twenty-two men on the field badly in need of rest being watched by seventy-two thousand spectators badly in need of exercise. 

Christianity is not a spectator sport and worship is never meant to be something we just watch, applauding when we like it or booing in our hearts when we don’t.

I turn to Giglio again: “Most of my life, I thought that you went to church to worship. But now I see that the better approach is to go worshipping to church” (page 115). While our time together on Sundays is extremely important, I want to suggest that God is less concerned with how this service goes and more concerned with how our service of worship goes outside these walls."

This then is our “spiritual act of worship.” The phrase “spiritual act of worship” or “service of worship” was familiar to those who understood the Old Testament sacrificial system. 

The word “service” refers to any ministry that priests and Levites did. Check this out. As believer-priests, when we offer our bodies we are involved in the sacred service of worship. 

Harold Best, who teaches at Wheaton College, points out that this word was originally a secular term signifying work to be done or a service to be performed by a carpenter or other tradesperson. 

We must therefore be at “work” worshipping while we walk with Christ in our homes, in our jobs and wherever else.

That, my friends, is something to think about.


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

HOW TO EXIT THIS WORLD IN STYLE


But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am challenged by this verse this morning as it puts everything in perspective about “Ending Well” in regards to life.  Paul states that he wants to finish strong - doing the work that God assigned to him.

I think we are all subject to get distracted in life and forgetting about what is the “main thing” we have been called to do in life.

There was an elderly man at home, upstairs, dying in bed. He smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies baking. He wanted one last cookie before he died. He stumbled down the stairs and crawled into the kitchen where his wife was busy baking cookies.

With his last remaining strength he crawled to the table and was just barely able to lift his withered arm to the cookie sheet. As he grasped a warm, moist chocolate chip cookie, his favorite kind, his wife suddenly whacked his hand with a spatula.

Gasping for breath, he asked her, "Why did you do that?" "Those are for the funeral."

As you read these words in Acts 20, it sounds like Paul didn’t expect to be around much longer. He was thinking about possibly exiting this world. (As you read the rest of Acts you will discover that this was the case - his time on earth was coming to an end). When you leave this world, how would you like to leave?

A few days before his death, Dr. F. B. Meyer wrote a very dear friend these words: "I have just heard, to my great surprise, that I have but a few days to live. It may be that before this reaches you, I shall have entered the palace. Don’t trouble to write. We shall meet in the morning." 

Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, in the closing months of his life said to a friend, "I am so weak. I can’t read my Bible. I can’t even pray. I can only lie still in God’s arms like a little child and trust." 

Leaving this world is not particularly a nice thought, is it? How would you want to leave this world if you had a choice? You would probably want your family with you, to love you, and comfort you as best they could.

I once had a elderly lady make an appointment with me.  When she came in she basically said, “I know my time on earth is soon to be over and I want to take care of all my affairs before I do.”  She then proceeded to give me a bunch of envelopes to be passed out to friends and family of her last wishes and thoughts.  She died that week in her sleep.

HOW WOULD YOU WANT TO LEAVE THIS WORLD? 

Let’s think about how Paul was going to leave this world and how this applies to our exiting this world.

1. He Wanted To Exit While Serving The Lord

“I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul served the Lord with great humility and tears. Life is tough and living the Christian life can be tough but it pays eternal dividends. We should always serve the Lord in humility because He is the one who gives the ability to serve. He alone deserves the glory for the good we do. 

General William Booth, the founder of the salvation Army, had lost his eyesight. His son Bramwell had to tell his father there would be no recovery. "Do you mean that I am blind?" the General asked. "Yes, this is apparently so," his son replied. The father continued,"I shall never see your face again?" "No, probably not in this world." "Bramwell," said General Booth, "I have done what I could for God and for His people with my eyes. Now I will do what I can for God without my eyes."

That’s the humble attitude of a true servant of the Lord. I will do whatever I can do with whatever I have or don’t have.

Some Christian people think they can’t serve because they can’t teach a SS class or play the piano or sing a solo. But that’s not true. There are many ways to serve the Lord and we all need to find out how we can serve!

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, once appeared on the cover of their annual report dressed in a knee-length work apron, holding a mop and a plastic bucket. Here’s how he described that picture: “I got my M.B.A. long before my G.E.D. At Wendy’s M.B.A. does not mean Master of Business Administration. It means Mop Bucket Attitude.”

If Dave Thomas had a servant attitude for Wendy’s then what attitude should we have for the Lord’s church? 

The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin became worm-eaten and useless. 

Use it or lose it. Serve or decay. It’s your choice.

Every Christian should serve in some form or another. Have you thought about how you can serve the Lord? And can you think of a better way to leave this world than by serving the Lord in some form?

How do you want to leave this word? Sitting in front of the TV or serving someone? Jesus came to serve!

2. He Wanted To Exit While Preaching Strongly

I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:20-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

John Wesley used to ask his young men whom he had sent out to preach on probation two questions: "Has any one been converted?" and "Did any one get mad?" If the answer was "No," he told them he did not think the Lord had called them to preach the Gospel, and sent them home.

Apparently, Wesley thought that when the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, they are either converted or else they don’t like it, and they get mad. 

John Wesley preached his last sermon of Feb 17, 1791, in Lambeth on the text "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa 55:6). 

The following day he was very sick and was put to bed at his home. During the days of his illness, he often repeated the words from one of his brother’s hymns: I the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me! His last words were, "The best of all is, God is with us!" He died March 2, 1791. AND THAT’S HOW JOHN WESLEY LEFT THIS WORLD.

Just because we age it doesn’t mean we should give up or give in or quit serving and stop preaching.

3. He Wanted To Exit While Be Compelled By God’s Spirit

““And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭20:22-24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was compelled by God’s Spirit. What a way to live and to die! Paul was compelled, perhaps meaning He was filled and moved by God’s Spirit. What dominates and controls your life? What moves you in life? 

At a busy dental office one patient was always late. The receptionist called to confirm an appointment, and he said, "I’ll be about 15 minutes late. That won’t be a problem, will it?" The receptionist said, "No. We just won’t have time to give you an anesthetic." He arrived early.

Motivation makes a difference in life. That patient was moved by the fact that he didn’t want to experience pain if he could avoid it. WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

What moves you in life? What cranks you up and turns you on? What fires you up for the day? What keeps you going?

It’s like the bumper sticker: "I owe, I owe, so it’s off to work I go." Debt is a pretty good motivation for working.

What motivates you in life? Money? Raising your children? That’s a good Christian motivation. That is, raising your children to become decent, hard-working people and most of all, to become Christian people. THAT SHOULD BE A BIG MOTIVATION IN LIFE!

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;”
‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Acts 20:22 says that Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit. What about us? Or are we even aware that God’s Spirit lives within us and is at work in us?

Who’s in control of your life? Who moves you to do good, to serve? Or are you motivated at all? If you are not motivated to serve in some form then you perhaps you need to question your faith! 

If you are not sensitive to God’s Spirit, to His leading in your life, then something is wrong! If you are not have a “compelling from God” you might possibly be completely out of God’s will in your life.

I want to live this life in such a way that I am serving and preaching and listening to the Holy Spirit’s wooing in my heart.  When my time is up and want to say that exited with great class and style and that I was filled with God’s Holy Spirit in my life.  

How about you?








Monday, December 7, 2015

HOW TO BE A HAPPY SATISFIED CHRISTIAN


For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬ ESV)


I was talking to someone the other day who admitted that they were mad at God because God wasn't doing something their way.  They had taken four gift test analysis and they all came out with the same result - exacty what this person didn't want to be.  


I think we can all relate.  There is a Jonah in all of us that wants to go one way when God wants us to go another.


This reminds me of a story that I heard a long time ago of a saleman in ancient times who always came out of his house each morning and lifted some grass to see which way the wind would blow it.  When he saw which way the wind was blowing he then took off in that direction to take care of his business.  


One day he came out and lifted the grass once, then twice and finally a third time.  One of his neighbors asked him why he didn't follow the wind and his response was this, "The wind is going one direction and I want to go another."


The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬ ESV)


Man plans and designs his paths but ultimately we will be most happy and fulfilled when we follow God's plans for our lives.


I know personally that I have struggled in this area over things that God wanted me to do or places that God wanted me to go and even people God wanted me to talk to.


We often look at this verse and think that God is referring to something big and grandeur like moving to another country to be a missionary or to be a pastor.  Those are wonderful callings and have great reward but I think that the context of these verse speak about the little day by day obedience issues that develop the character of God within us.


Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ESV)


People often ask me about how to know God's will for their lives.  They are sincere and truly want to know the answer but I often feel that they are like the salesman lifting the grass a bunch of times because they don't like the answer they are getting.


A very religious man was once caught in rising floodwaters. He climbed onto the roof of his house and trusted God to rescue him. A neighbour came by in a canoe and said, “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll paddle to safety.

“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”

A short time later the police came by in a boat. “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll take you to safety.”

“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”

A little time later a rescue services helicopter hovered overhead, let down a rope ladder and said. “The waters will soon be above your house. Climb the ladder and we’ll fly you to safety.”

“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”

All this time the floodwaters continued to rise, until soon they reached above the roof and the religious man drowned. When he arrived at heaven he demanded an audience with God. Ushered into God’s throne room he said, “Lord, why am I here in heaven? I prayed for you to save me, I trusted you to save me from that flood.”

“Yes you did my child” replied the Lord. “And I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. But you never got in.”


May I encourage you today to follow earnestly the path that God has set before you that you might be everything God wants you to be.


One of my most favorite sayings is by John Piper - "God is most glorified when in us we we are most satisfied with Him."

Let that sink into your spirit today as you seek to follow Him fully in every aspect of your life.