It has been nearly a month since I have written and I honestly have no one to blame but myself. I have crammed my days with so much activity that I have had very little time to rest and to just enjoy my Father and what He has given me. In my quest to be a "good pastor", I have valued my ministry above my God and His expectations of me. I have always done my best to maintain and protect my Sabbath, the day when I rest and rest alone. Yet, over the past five weeks I have let life fly past me in the name of being productive. God calls me to otherwise:
"for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way:And on the seventh day God rested from all His works. Again, in that passage [He says], They will never enter My rest. Since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, again, He specifies a certain day— today —speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated: Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken later about another day. A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God's people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience." ~ Hebrews 4:4-11
My lack of rest is rooted in a lack of faith. Really...
I say in my own mind: "If I stop and rest, how can I have an effective ministry? There's so much to do." Those words reflect an ego that says apart from me God cannot accomplish His will. His body depends on me. And that is an obvious lie and an ignorant statement.
In my constant activity, all I do is flesh out a life of disobedience. I am called to rest in Him. Be refreshed in Him. God set the example for us: Do work and be productive for six days, but rest on the seventh. I need to protect that day and trust that though I may not "be productive", I am trusting my God to bless what I have done and to rest in Him and glorify Him by sitting still.
So find that in your own life. Make that day. Rest in Him.
"Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience."
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Romans 15:5-7
It seems unity within the body is a big thought that is streaming through churches all across the world in the recent weeks. I heard a number of sermons and podcasts on the push to be united as a body of Christ. You can see the reasons for such a need for unity in our world today. Friends are divisive over ideas and preferences, families are torn apart by extremely busy schedules, and even American political parties are split into smaller, ideologically rigid sub-parties. Unity isn't apart of our culture on any secular level.
And then there's the church...
The American church is no better than the culture it resides in. In my small city there are 18 Christian denominations and around 60 churches in a 20 mile radius of downtown. All of these divided on matters of theology, church autonomy or worship preference. Yet, even within these individual church is division and frustration. People who want certain styles of music...people who demand a particular standard of dress among the congregation...ministries for every age and social demographic. Unity is by all accounts dead in the American church and it is by our own doing.
I have been going through a series with my youth ministry on the "Hope We Have in God". I finished the series on the need for unity in the body of Christ and for us to be always encouraged and to push our brothers and sisters in Christ in their relationship with God. This fellowship and encouragement is crucial in our faith. It is vital to know there are others who share my struggles in the faith, those who love me, those who God is using me to mentor, etc. We all play a role in the body and that is to the glory of God. I love the truth of Romans 15:5-6:
"Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice."
God is glorified by our unity. Our pursuit of Him as we push each other along is a means by which we glorify God as a unit. Before we can become a global, united body of Christ we must become a united local church and then a united group of municipal believers. So whether you are from the UK, Canada, Australia or the States there is still the tie that binds us all...
...our faith!
Christians are bound by our relationship with the Father. So its time to live like what I was redeemed to be.
Live like His Heir. Live like children of God.
And then there's the church...
The American church is no better than the culture it resides in. In my small city there are 18 Christian denominations and around 60 churches in a 20 mile radius of downtown. All of these divided on matters of theology, church autonomy or worship preference. Yet, even within these individual church is division and frustration. People who want certain styles of music...people who demand a particular standard of dress among the congregation...ministries for every age and social demographic. Unity is by all accounts dead in the American church and it is by our own doing.
I have been going through a series with my youth ministry on the "Hope We Have in God". I finished the series on the need for unity in the body of Christ and for us to be always encouraged and to push our brothers and sisters in Christ in their relationship with God. This fellowship and encouragement is crucial in our faith. It is vital to know there are others who share my struggles in the faith, those who love me, those who God is using me to mentor, etc. We all play a role in the body and that is to the glory of God. I love the truth of Romans 15:5-6:
"Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice."
God is glorified by our unity. Our pursuit of Him as we push each other along is a means by which we glorify God as a unit. Before we can become a global, united body of Christ we must become a united local church and then a united group of municipal believers. So whether you are from the UK, Canada, Australia or the States there is still the tie that binds us all...
Unity. from arielamaro video on Vimeo.
...our faith!
Christians are bound by our relationship with the Father. So its time to live like what I was redeemed to be.
Live like His Heir. Live like children of God.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Proverbs 3:5-7
I find myself regularly looking at my faith and truly assessing how my relationship with Christ is. At times I find myself in an intimate vibrant relationship with God. At other times I am completely distant from God and incredibly weak in my faith. Then there is this strange "in between" area with regards to my walk with Christ. Its that time in our faith when we are complacent in our faith. I like to see it as "Fat and Happy Faith". It's that time in my life when things are going well enough so that I am not seeking God and I am simply happy with where my faith is. Unfortunately, this makes my faith stagnant, lukewarm and void of passion. God shook me out of one of these apathetic faith moments as I read Proverbs 3:5-7 ->
" Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil."
After reading this Scripture God made it painfully evident where my trust was. I trusted in the provision of God...I did not trust Him in so many other areas of my life such as Him being my Counselor, my Hope, my Refuge, my Identity, my Redeemer, my Daddy. I look to God to grant me things. When I was in need I was broken and desperate. When I was showered with grace I was grateful and full of praise.
But the in between was the issue in my faith. If I was not desperate and if I was not being blessed beyond measure then I was simply content to wait for the next monumental faith moment in my life. I was harming my faith by pursuing God's gifts and not only God, my Redeemer and Father. I did not think about God in all of my ways...I only gave Him some consideration. I had a tendency to pursue a relationship with His Grace and not a relationship with the One who is my Father regardless of what I feel or experience.
It is the faith of Isaiah that I desire. Isaiah was a prophet to a people who for a time were apathetic and content towards God. When God's favor towards Israel began to dwindle, the people of Israel turned their backs to God and God answered with punishment. Yet all through the book of Isaiah, the prophet remains a steadfast man of God who seeks Him and constantly praises Him in spite of what Isaiah sees and experiences. Isaiah 64:7-8 ->
" No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands."
Isaiah accepts that God can do whatever He desires because He is the one who forms us and shapes us. Even when favor dries up and I do not "experience" God in my life, He is still the One who created me, redeemed me and gave me purpose. That alone deserves my ever ready, unending trust. Even when life floats along as business as usual I should still rest in Him and call out to Him.
Job says it best when he speaks of what our pursuit of God should be:
"Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him."
Do not depend on life's circumstances to affect your faith. Trust God and rest in His character and truth.
" Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil."
After reading this Scripture God made it painfully evident where my trust was. I trusted in the provision of God...I did not trust Him in so many other areas of my life such as Him being my Counselor, my Hope, my Refuge, my Identity, my Redeemer, my Daddy. I look to God to grant me things. When I was in need I was broken and desperate. When I was showered with grace I was grateful and full of praise.
But the in between was the issue in my faith. If I was not desperate and if I was not being blessed beyond measure then I was simply content to wait for the next monumental faith moment in my life. I was harming my faith by pursuing God's gifts and not only God, my Redeemer and Father. I did not think about God in all of my ways...I only gave Him some consideration. I had a tendency to pursue a relationship with His Grace and not a relationship with the One who is my Father regardless of what I feel or experience.
It is the faith of Isaiah that I desire. Isaiah was a prophet to a people who for a time were apathetic and content towards God. When God's favor towards Israel began to dwindle, the people of Israel turned their backs to God and God answered with punishment. Yet all through the book of Isaiah, the prophet remains a steadfast man of God who seeks Him and constantly praises Him in spite of what Isaiah sees and experiences. Isaiah 64:7-8 ->
" No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands."
Isaiah accepts that God can do whatever He desires because He is the one who forms us and shapes us. Even when favor dries up and I do not "experience" God in my life, He is still the One who created me, redeemed me and gave me purpose. That alone deserves my ever ready, unending trust. Even when life floats along as business as usual I should still rest in Him and call out to Him.
Job says it best when he speaks of what our pursuit of God should be:
"Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him."
Do not depend on life's circumstances to affect your faith. Trust God and rest in His character and truth.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
As I have been studying Scripture I have been drawn to the analogies that are constantly made between our spiritual life and a war. I've read Ephesians 6 probably 50 times and have an understanding of what the armor of God is. I've gotten to the point in my faith where I feel that I have my suit of armor on but I just sit quietly in my faith with a giant suit of armor and sword that I am putting to little use, but God's Word has the remarkable ability to send an armored soldier into battle with his orders. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
For some of us this is strong language. For quite a few of us the words war and destruction are not apart of our normal vocabulary. Yet, in this Scripture war is not an option. It is the accepted thought of spiritual life. We are being assaulted by our flesh, by this world and by Satan himself on a daily basis. The sobering thing is that many of us are content to hunker down in the safety of our spiritual armor while we watch people in our lives get slaughtered by the works of Satan. I feel that at times I can trivialize the works of Satan. I know what Scripture says in Revelation...Christ conquers...Satan is cast into the lake of fire...the end. Until that day comes, Satan is going to cause as much damage and wage war against everyone he can. His aim is not to win (he already is the loser of this great battle) but his aim is to take as many casualties and cause as much damage as he can. Jesus warned Peter about Satan's aims in Luke 22 when He tells Peter that Satan has demanded to go after Peter and to sift (or literally overthrow) him. I must be careful to see that Satan is a very skillful liar, tempter, and destroyer. He is on the prowl right now seeking some new casualty. It is not a matter if you and I desire to go to war...Satan is already at war with us whether or not we choose to fight.
God did not save me and sanctify me to be a spiritual pacifist. God desires for us to destroy the strongholds of the devil, wreck the speculations that fly against our faith and to hack down that which exists for the destruction of the Christian faith. We are consistently reminded in Scripture to resist the devil. Oppose him. Set yourself against him. Intercede for those around you when they are overcome by the strongholds of this world.
Put your armor on.
Fight
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
For some of us this is strong language. For quite a few of us the words war and destruction are not apart of our normal vocabulary. Yet, in this Scripture war is not an option. It is the accepted thought of spiritual life. We are being assaulted by our flesh, by this world and by Satan himself on a daily basis. The sobering thing is that many of us are content to hunker down in the safety of our spiritual armor while we watch people in our lives get slaughtered by the works of Satan. I feel that at times I can trivialize the works of Satan. I know what Scripture says in Revelation...Christ conquers...Satan is cast into the lake of fire...the end. Until that day comes, Satan is going to cause as much damage and wage war against everyone he can. His aim is not to win (he already is the loser of this great battle) but his aim is to take as many casualties and cause as much damage as he can. Jesus warned Peter about Satan's aims in Luke 22 when He tells Peter that Satan has demanded to go after Peter and to sift (or literally overthrow) him. I must be careful to see that Satan is a very skillful liar, tempter, and destroyer. He is on the prowl right now seeking some new casualty. It is not a matter if you and I desire to go to war...Satan is already at war with us whether or not we choose to fight.
God did not save me and sanctify me to be a spiritual pacifist. God desires for us to destroy the strongholds of the devil, wreck the speculations that fly against our faith and to hack down that which exists for the destruction of the Christian faith. We are consistently reminded in Scripture to resist the devil. Oppose him. Set yourself against him. Intercede for those around you when they are overcome by the strongholds of this world.
Put your armor on.
Fight
Monday, September 27, 2010
Philippians 3:7-8
"God alone satisfies." ~ Thomas A' Kempis
I read this seemingly shallow quote and did not give it a second thought. "Of course God satisfies", was my thought. I trust God with the salvation of my soul, of course I rest in Him for my value and encouragement. Yet, as I sat it became obvious that my total satisfaction did not come from God alone. I find satisfaction in my relationships with others. I find my value in how much I have in my bank account. My security comes from my job. My spiritually value comes from what role I play in my church. These are all honorable pursuits but the issue comes when I start to depend on them for how I view myself. All of these pursuits will eventually fail me. My friends will betray me, my bank account will one day sit at $0, I will be laid off from my job or retire and my church will one day go in direction I do not feel is healthy. So as I sit reading this quote from Kempis I see that there are many things which I seek to satisfy me when all along I should be resting in my Father for my everything.
Paul says speaks to this in Philippians 3:7-8:
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ"
Paul draws a very firm line for us to follow. I have things in my life that may be useful, but they provide me no true meaning....no true satisfaction. In fact in verse 8 the word "rubbish" literally means crap. I count the things of this world as crap in view of the surpassing greatness of Christ. I wash myself of the things of this world. I don't bury myself in the things of this world...I mean who takes a bath in crap? Its a great picture Paul draws for us here and his emphasis is this: the things of this world are undoubtedly a part of our life, but how much value do you place on them?
Is Christ the source of satisfaction for 60% of you or do you depend on Him solely to give your life value and worth?
I read this seemingly shallow quote and did not give it a second thought. "Of course God satisfies", was my thought. I trust God with the salvation of my soul, of course I rest in Him for my value and encouragement. Yet, as I sat it became obvious that my total satisfaction did not come from God alone. I find satisfaction in my relationships with others. I find my value in how much I have in my bank account. My security comes from my job. My spiritually value comes from what role I play in my church. These are all honorable pursuits but the issue comes when I start to depend on them for how I view myself. All of these pursuits will eventually fail me. My friends will betray me, my bank account will one day sit at $0, I will be laid off from my job or retire and my church will one day go in direction I do not feel is healthy. So as I sit reading this quote from Kempis I see that there are many things which I seek to satisfy me when all along I should be resting in my Father for my everything.
Paul says speaks to this in Philippians 3:7-8:
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ"
Paul draws a very firm line for us to follow. I have things in my life that may be useful, but they provide me no true meaning....no true satisfaction. In fact in verse 8 the word "rubbish" literally means crap. I count the things of this world as crap in view of the surpassing greatness of Christ. I wash myself of the things of this world. I don't bury myself in the things of this world...I mean who takes a bath in crap? Its a great picture Paul draws for us here and his emphasis is this: the things of this world are undoubtedly a part of our life, but how much value do you place on them?
Is Christ the source of satisfaction for 60% of you or do you depend on Him solely to give your life value and worth?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
2 Timothy 2
I find myself becoming spiritually "beaten up" from time to time. You know that feeling when you feel you have given all you can to your brothers in Christ? It's that feeling when in my difficulties I feel like my faith is needle thin. Its when worship turns to murmuring to music. Its when my prayer life revolves around my three meals a day. Its when taking my cross and following Him feels like I'm shouldering a city bus. Being spiritually "beaten up" is something that happens to a lot of us on an unfortunately regular basis. Its something I faced often in the last year, but God has led me out of that place and I fight daily to avoid going back. God used Paul's words to Timothy as my encouragement to continue in this fight.
"Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, according to my gospel. For this I suffer, to the point of being bound like a criminal; but God's message is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:
For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself." ~ 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Timothy is having a very difficult time in his ministry. Timothy is frustrated and even wonders if he is truly cut out to minister to others. Paul is writing this letter to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry and even more than that; Paul is trying to encourage Timothy in his relationship with Christ. In verse 8 Paul points to the sacrifice of Christ Timothy's greatest source of encouragement. Paul wanted Timothy to find encouragement in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and has now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. That is the Gospel, the Good News, that we we live by, teach and suffer for.
Again, in verse 9 Paul wants Timothy to be mindful of the fact that our faith is vibrant and it cannot be suppressed or chained. Timothy was undoubtedly discouraged that his mentor in the faith, Paul, was imprisoned for his faith and sentenced to death. Yet, Paul is assuring Timothy that there is nothing that Paul desired more than to share the Gospel and if found to be guilty of doing such...so be it. Nothing can chain our faith. Nothing can bind our salvation. God's Word will thrive and have power in spite of man's plans to quiet it. We should make His Word such a part of our life that we know, tangibly and completely know, of God's power and strength over our lives. This is certainly no promise of prosperity or a life free of challenge but it is a promise of resting our hope in a faithful and loving Savior. We fight and press on because there are so many who need to know of this Gospel and of this strength.
Finally, Paul closes this thought to Timothy with promises from God's Word. In verse 11 Paul is quoting Jesus in John 8 when Jesus says, "I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!" and then in verse 12 Paul quotes Jesus from Mark 13, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Our hope in Him does not fade---ever! His love is not separated from us---ever!
In the times we feel battered spiritually, know God is there for you! You may not feel love, you may not feel victorious but know your hope and salvation is unwavering in Christ. Rest and be refreshed in His Gospel! Count on Him, because He is there for you and I even when we are in chains and in our darkest place.
"Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, according to my gospel. For this I suffer, to the point of being bound like a criminal; but God's message is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy:
For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself." ~ 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Timothy is having a very difficult time in his ministry. Timothy is frustrated and even wonders if he is truly cut out to minister to others. Paul is writing this letter to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry and even more than that; Paul is trying to encourage Timothy in his relationship with Christ. In verse 8 Paul points to the sacrifice of Christ Timothy's greatest source of encouragement. Paul wanted Timothy to find encouragement in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and has now sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. That is the Gospel, the Good News, that we we live by, teach and suffer for.
Again, in verse 9 Paul wants Timothy to be mindful of the fact that our faith is vibrant and it cannot be suppressed or chained. Timothy was undoubtedly discouraged that his mentor in the faith, Paul, was imprisoned for his faith and sentenced to death. Yet, Paul is assuring Timothy that there is nothing that Paul desired more than to share the Gospel and if found to be guilty of doing such...so be it. Nothing can chain our faith. Nothing can bind our salvation. God's Word will thrive and have power in spite of man's plans to quiet it. We should make His Word such a part of our life that we know, tangibly and completely know, of God's power and strength over our lives. This is certainly no promise of prosperity or a life free of challenge but it is a promise of resting our hope in a faithful and loving Savior. We fight and press on because there are so many who need to know of this Gospel and of this strength.
Finally, Paul closes this thought to Timothy with promises from God's Word. In verse 11 Paul is quoting Jesus in John 8 when Jesus says, "I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death—ever!" and then in verse 12 Paul quotes Jesus from Mark 13, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Our hope in Him does not fade---ever! His love is not separated from us---ever!
In the times we feel battered spiritually, know God is there for you! You may not feel love, you may not feel victorious but know your hope and salvation is unwavering in Christ. Rest and be refreshed in His Gospel! Count on Him, because He is there for you and I even when we are in chains and in our darkest place.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Colossians 3:9-11
As I have said before, this blog exists to bring God glory as well as encouraging others in their fight to pursue Him. The name "Eikon" comes from the Greek word that we derive the word English "image". The reason why that word is so important to me is rooted in my testimony.
For so long I believed I was a less than perfect human being because I did not have arms. People consistently judged me on the basis of my physical appearance and usually that judgment was made apparent through people's stares, their unkind words and the jokes that followed. I placed far too much value on how those people judged me, which in turn gave me a poor view of myself and my own value. I struggled with self-doubt and I wallowed in my self-pity. My life was buried in darkness.
God pushed back all that doubt and darkness when I was 15 years old. He used a youth pastor who spoke very briefly about how God showed His love for me by sending His Son to this earth to live a sinless life and die......for ME. This was a message I had heard probably 50 times in my young life, but that was the first time that had truly listened. I was honestly shocked by the love of Christ. I went home from that lesson and I wanted to know more about His love. I went home and went racing through my Bible, wanting to know more. I did not know where to start reading so I went to the middle of the Bible...to Psalms. After about 20 minutes of reading I came to Psalm 139. In it the psalmist says:
"13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." ~ Psalms 139:13-16 (NASB)
After reading this it all clicked. I wasn't some horrible armless mistake. I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I wasn't full of flaws. I was skillfully wrought. Seeing myself in view of my Father altered everything about my life. My value and identity came from the One who made me. It was through making Christ the Lord of my life that I found my hope in Him who knit me together. It was because of His love, His sacrifice and the fact He desired to use me and my human imperfection for His glory is something that set my heart on giving Him my all. I think Paul speaks for my heart when He says in Colossians 3:
"since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. ~ Col 3:9-10 (NASB)
My old self with its man-seeking, pity filled, self seeking ways are pushed aside. The man who pursues God, rejoices in grace and seeks to kill the flesh is now my life. To know I was made in His image is something that carries amazing responsibility. I am a representative of the Creator of the universe and I am the breathing, living, speaking image of Him. It is my responsibility to fight the old man and build up the new man. All for His image. All for His glory. That is why we are all here.
For so long I believed I was a less than perfect human being because I did not have arms. People consistently judged me on the basis of my physical appearance and usually that judgment was made apparent through people's stares, their unkind words and the jokes that followed. I placed far too much value on how those people judged me, which in turn gave me a poor view of myself and my own value. I struggled with self-doubt and I wallowed in my self-pity. My life was buried in darkness.
God pushed back all that doubt and darkness when I was 15 years old. He used a youth pastor who spoke very briefly about how God showed His love for me by sending His Son to this earth to live a sinless life and die......for ME. This was a message I had heard probably 50 times in my young life, but that was the first time that had truly listened. I was honestly shocked by the love of Christ. I went home from that lesson and I wanted to know more about His love. I went home and went racing through my Bible, wanting to know more. I did not know where to start reading so I went to the middle of the Bible...to Psalms. After about 20 minutes of reading I came to Psalm 139. In it the psalmist says:
"13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." ~ Psalms 139:13-16 (NASB)
After reading this it all clicked. I wasn't some horrible armless mistake. I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I wasn't full of flaws. I was skillfully wrought. Seeing myself in view of my Father altered everything about my life. My value and identity came from the One who made me. It was through making Christ the Lord of my life that I found my hope in Him who knit me together. It was because of His love, His sacrifice and the fact He desired to use me and my human imperfection for His glory is something that set my heart on giving Him my all. I think Paul speaks for my heart when He says in Colossians 3:
"since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. ~ Col 3:9-10 (NASB)
My old self with its man-seeking, pity filled, self seeking ways are pushed aside. The man who pursues God, rejoices in grace and seeks to kill the flesh is now my life. To know I was made in His image is something that carries amazing responsibility. I am a representative of the Creator of the universe and I am the breathing, living, speaking image of Him. It is my responsibility to fight the old man and build up the new man. All for His image. All for His glory. That is why we are all here.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Acts 17
I've recently been studying the life of Paul and the many ways that God used Paul to share the Gospel. The one thing that struck me about Paul as a man and as one who preached about Christ was his pure boldness. Paul faced very few circumstances where fear or doubt took hold of him. He was incredibly passionate about his Savior and it was his desire that others could also come to that same passionate relationship. A neat example of this is in Acts 17:
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? "For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." ~ Acts 17:16-20
The striking thing with Paul is that he is equally as bold and passionate in the presence of God-fearing Gentiles as he was in the presence of polytheistic Stoic philosophers. Paul's passion for Christ was at equal intensity in a church or in the marketplace of ideas at the Areopagus.
After reading this I found myself convicted about my own boldness of faith. As a pastor I find myself comfortable sharing God's Word within the walls of my church, on a mission trip or at a Christian function. Yet, in my modern day Areopagus, whether that be playing in my adult soccer league or a conversation with a lady a Jiffy Lube while I wait for an oil change, I show very little boldness of faith. I don't desire the potential weird looks or difficult questions of the faith. My faith becomes silenced by doubt and fear. My boldness goes only as far as my comfort level does. That silence is brought about by my desire to be valued and appreciated by man as well as being valued by my Father.
What do I gain by my silence and being meek? Very little.
What does a person gain by hearing the Gospel? Everything.
Jesus speaks to this silence in Matthew 5: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
If as a Christian, I attempt to obscure the faith I have in Christ, I have stopped being what I was made to be in the first place. As Christ said "why would you light a candle and then cover it"? Christ is saying "why would you make me the Master, Owner and Possessor of your life and not live that out before men?" God has granted me an opportunity to shine His glory before man. I need to find my marketplace...my Areopagus and boldly live and proclaim that which God has done.
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? "For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." ~ Acts 17:16-20
The striking thing with Paul is that he is equally as bold and passionate in the presence of God-fearing Gentiles as he was in the presence of polytheistic Stoic philosophers. Paul's passion for Christ was at equal intensity in a church or in the marketplace of ideas at the Areopagus.
After reading this I found myself convicted about my own boldness of faith. As a pastor I find myself comfortable sharing God's Word within the walls of my church, on a mission trip or at a Christian function. Yet, in my modern day Areopagus, whether that be playing in my adult soccer league or a conversation with a lady a Jiffy Lube while I wait for an oil change, I show very little boldness of faith. I don't desire the potential weird looks or difficult questions of the faith. My faith becomes silenced by doubt and fear. My boldness goes only as far as my comfort level does. That silence is brought about by my desire to be valued and appreciated by man as well as being valued by my Father.
What do I gain by my silence and being meek? Very little.
What does a person gain by hearing the Gospel? Everything.
Jesus speaks to this silence in Matthew 5: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
If as a Christian, I attempt to obscure the faith I have in Christ, I have stopped being what I was made to be in the first place. As Christ said "why would you light a candle and then cover it"? Christ is saying "why would you make me the Master, Owner and Possessor of your life and not live that out before men?" God has granted me an opportunity to shine His glory before man. I need to find my marketplace...my Areopagus and boldly live and proclaim that which God has done.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
1 Corinthians 13:1
I apologize for being gone from the blogosphere for so long! In the past 14 months God has allowed me to literally travel the continent sharing the Gospel and what God has done in my life. Unfortunately, that meant that for the past 7 months I woke in a new town every weekend. So obviously being able to share my thoughts and studies via blog was not a high priority. God changed all of that almost a month ago as I was called to be a Youth Pastor at a church in eastern North Carolina! I finally have time to sit, collect my thoughts and be able to share with you what God is teaching me. I hope I can have some dialogue with you in the coming weeks. Please feel free to post comments, prayer request and even talk about what God is doing in your life. I know that this is obviously a poor reflection of true community within the body of Christ, but I feel that is a great thing to encourage a brother and sister in Christ wherever possible. I am humbled that anyone would read my words and find them even remotely useful. So thank you for taking time from your day to read my thoughts
So into the good stuff.....
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB)
I love 1 Corinthians 13 as a whole chapter. The interesting thing is so many of us equate this chapter (the "Love Chapter") with dealing with romantic love, marriage and its ideal components. Paul is using this chapter to hold the church accountable to what ideal love is inside the body of Christ.
Paul starts this discussion on love by pointing to the fact that spiritual gifts in the absence of love are meaningless. This is verse is directed to those of us who communicate to our brothers and sisters in Christ in any spoken means. The word tongues literally means any form of speech. is used a descriptive word used in the New Testament for a number or manners of speech from prophecy to foreign languages, but the core of Paul's message is our call to love. Paul shows that even those who are eloquent and wise in speech are making worthless unorganized noise in the absence of love. It is God's desire that we carefully craft our love for others than carefully crafting our speech.
Paul echoes this sentiment again in 1 Timothy 1:5-6, " But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion". The goal of Paul's ministry and the Gospel as a whole is to have people who have a heart filled with the Holy Spirit and not just a mouth filled with the right words. As I pursue my Father the right words will come out of my mouth. My heart is the very core of me. If I do not love those I speak with, I am only offering hollow words. Jesus proclaimed in John 13 that the love for my brothers in Christ will speak to my identity in Christ. Love for one another is shown in humble acts and a life lived in sacrifice. It is when I have understood what it is to truly love as a brother in Christ, then I have learned to truly communicate.
So let your love speak for you, not your mouth.
So into the good stuff.....
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB)
I love 1 Corinthians 13 as a whole chapter. The interesting thing is so many of us equate this chapter (the "Love Chapter") with dealing with romantic love, marriage and its ideal components. Paul is using this chapter to hold the church accountable to what ideal love is inside the body of Christ.
Paul starts this discussion on love by pointing to the fact that spiritual gifts in the absence of love are meaningless. This is verse is directed to those of us who communicate to our brothers and sisters in Christ in any spoken means. The word tongues
Paul echoes this sentiment again in 1 Timothy 1:5-6, " But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion". The goal of Paul's ministry and the Gospel as a whole is to have people who have a heart filled with the Holy Spirit and not just a mouth filled with the right words. As I pursue my Father the right words will come out of my mouth. My heart is the very core of me. If I do not love those I speak with, I am only offering hollow words. Jesus proclaimed in John 13 that the love for my brothers in Christ will speak to my identity in Christ. Love for one another is shown in humble acts and a life lived in sacrifice. It is when I have understood what it is to truly love as a brother in Christ, then I have learned to truly communicate.
So let your love speak for you, not your mouth.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Isaiah 59
One of the crucial aspects of the book of Isaiah is Israel's sin, idolatry and their complete disregard for who God is. They ran from God to other things that seemed to be of redeeming value. Yet, after a time Israel began to realize that their choices had put God at arm's length. They did not explicitly renounce who God was, they just valued everything else above Him. The sad reality is that the U.S. has adopted this same mindset. Where we were once a nation that sought to glorify God above all else, we have become a nation that seeks to glorify self above all else. We have belittled God and His Power in our own mind and we have an over-exaggerated view of ourselves. Our endeavors center around MY stuff, MY bank account, MY image, MY happiness, and MY job. We our so centered on MY needs and wants and look past HIS commandments and calling. I have separated myself from God by my own choice. God has not abandoned this nation...we have abandoned Him. Look in Isaiah's day and God's response to their behavior:
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short
That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NASB)
God is the perfect display of righteousness and justice and because of that He can have no place with sin. God's Word attest to this in 1 John 1:5-10:
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
1 John 1:5-6 (NASB)
To live my life in pursuit of all things but God is to literally exist without truly living. I was made in His image...in order to glorify Him. I am living a lie to say I do not need God as a part of my life. I exist because of Him! Yet, that disregard for God comes so natural to me. I savor God's grace when I am in the midst of my deepest need and as the status of my life improves, my recognition of God's grace fades. I push Him to the side and let my relationship with God gather dust as I invest my time and interest in other things. For their sin, God allowed Israel to be taken into captivity and it was then, when God's grace was needed, they realized how far they had strayed from their Father:
Therefore justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not overtake us;
We hope for light, but behold, darkness,
For brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope along the wall like blind men,
We grope like those who have no eyes;
We stumble at midday as in the twilight,
Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men. All of us growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We hope for justice, but there is none,
For salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And we know our iniquities: Transgressing and denying the LORD,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words. Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
Isaiah 59:9-14 (NASB)
It is a rather startling transition from idolatry to repentance and mourning. The people were broken when every distraction and material good was ripped away from them and it was then when they realized how far they had strayed from God. It is amazing how God can convict us and change us when our lives are not jammed packed with bloated schedules and constant need for human interaction. We need to take an honest look at our own lives and see where we ignore Him, or even where we even completely close Him out from our lives. Take a second....seriously....take a second now...
What am I doing to glorify God with my daily life?
Do not let sin be the separation that keeps you from doing what you were made to do. God wants us to draw to Him and sometimes that means we have to remove some things from our lives in order to seek after Him.
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short
That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NASB)
God is the perfect display of righteousness and justice and because of that He can have no place with sin. God's Word attest to this in 1 John 1:5-10:
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
1 John 1:5-6 (NASB)
To live my life in pursuit of all things but God is to literally exist without truly living. I was made in His image...in order to glorify Him. I am living a lie to say I do not need God as a part of my life. I exist because of Him! Yet, that disregard for God comes so natural to me. I savor God's grace when I am in the midst of my deepest need and as the status of my life improves, my recognition of God's grace fades. I push Him to the side and let my relationship with God gather dust as I invest my time and interest in other things. For their sin, God allowed Israel to be taken into captivity and it was then, when God's grace was needed, they realized how far they had strayed from their Father:
Therefore justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not overtake us;
We hope for light, but behold, darkness,
For brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope along the wall like blind men,
We grope like those who have no eyes;
We stumble at midday as in the twilight,
Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men. All of us growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We hope for justice, but there is none,
For salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And we know our iniquities: Transgressing and denying the LORD,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words. Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
Isaiah 59:9-14 (NASB)
It is a rather startling transition from idolatry to repentance and mourning. The people were broken when every distraction and material good was ripped away from them and it was then when they realized how far they had strayed from God. It is amazing how God can convict us and change us when our lives are not jammed packed with bloated schedules and constant need for human interaction. We need to take an honest look at our own lives and see where we ignore Him, or even where we even completely close Him out from our lives. Take a second....seriously....take a second now...
What am I doing to glorify God with my daily life?
Do not let sin be the separation that keeps you from doing what you were made to do. God wants us to draw to Him and sometimes that means we have to remove some things from our lives in order to seek after Him.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Isaiah 46:3-4
God has been taking me through the book of Isaiah recently and it certainly has been a great time to sit in the Old Testament and absorb God's Word to Israel. The whole book of Isaiah is very cyclical and constantly features the themes of God's complete righteousness, Israel's disregard of God, Israel's punishment for that sin, and their eventual salvation (from captivity and the eventual salvation through Christ) via the work of God. God has encouraged me from this book of His Word in so many ways. He has reminded me of my own sin and disobedience and yet, He has shown me His steady hand throughout my life and that His grace has spanned the entire course of my life. In my being created without arms, in my salvation, in the union with my perfect helpmate and wife Heather, in the cancer diagnosis of my own father, and everywhere in between is God with His perfect grace and justice.
God led me to two verses in Isaiah that began this whole journey through the life of this prophet and those verses are what I want to look at closely:
3 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb; 4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NASB)
One of the things I love about the entire book of Isaiah is how deeply personal it is. God is speaking directly to His people; displaying a deeply intimate knowledge of who they are. Even here in Isaiah 46:3-4 God is speaking directly to His people. In these two verses He uses the pronoun “I” or “Me” seven times, which is a specific reference to Himself. Then the pronoun “you” or “your” is used seven times, which refer to His people. These verses are a specially crafted Word from God to His people of Israel. Yet, though directed at Israel, a Gentile like myself on this side of the cross can read these specific promises and see the character of the Father in whom our faith is placed.
This character of God is one that is unrelenting and constant. He is unchanging and ever present and He wants us to be assured of that. He has borne us and brought us from the womb and He will carry us as our old, graying bodies begin to fail us. All the while He remains in a supernatural steadfastness. In Malachi God says in 3:6 that, “"For I , the LORD, do not change”. His character and His promises do not crumble and do not alter. So much in my life in the past 10 months have changed completely, but my Abba Father remains my Abba Father. He remains, vigilant at my side and that is the amazing part of this verse. He is active in my life.
Every verb in these verses are done on His account and enacted by His strength. These are not passive, mundane things that He is doing. They are life altering actions like being “borne”, “carried”, “delivered”. My strength fails because of my body, or my circumstances, or my lack of faith and yet He remains to bear me in my brokenness and my failings. His permanent sustaining grace is so evident that Isaiah is surprised when people do not recognize it.
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)
His Grace is there. His Hope is there. His Strength is there. I might not see it or feel it, but it is enveloping me and carrying me along in my life. My circumstances might be crushing in on me and pushing me into some desolate place. Yet, I am called to wait for Him even after I am weary and tired and have bloody knees because of my constant stumbling. Yet, I just have to wait...to rest in His arms and a promise deferred waits...
My Hope and my Salvation
God led me to two verses in Isaiah that began this whole journey through the life of this prophet and those verses are what I want to look at closely:
3 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb; 4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:3-4 (NASB)
One of the things I love about the entire book of Isaiah is how deeply personal it is. God is speaking directly to His people; displaying a deeply intimate knowledge of who they are. Even here in Isaiah 46:3-4 God is speaking directly to His people. In these two verses He uses the pronoun “I” or “Me” seven times, which is a specific reference to Himself. Then the pronoun “you” or “your” is used seven times, which refer to His people. These verses are a specially crafted Word from God to His people of Israel. Yet, though directed at Israel, a Gentile like myself on this side of the cross can read these specific promises and see the character of the Father in whom our faith is placed.
This character of God is one that is unrelenting and constant. He is unchanging and ever present and He wants us to be assured of that. He has borne us and brought us from the womb and He will carry us as our old, graying bodies begin to fail us. All the while He remains in a supernatural steadfastness. In Malachi God says in 3:6 that, “"For I , the LORD, do not change”. His character and His promises do not crumble and do not alter. So much in my life in the past 10 months have changed completely, but my Abba Father remains my Abba Father. He remains, vigilant at my side and that is the amazing part of this verse. He is active in my life.
Every verb in these verses are done on His account and enacted by His strength. These are not passive, mundane things that He is doing. They are life altering actions like being “borne”, “carried”, “delivered”. My strength fails because of my body, or my circumstances, or my lack of faith and yet He remains to bear me in my brokenness and my failings. His permanent sustaining grace is so evident that Isaiah is surprised when people do not recognize it.
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)
His Grace is there. His Hope is there. His Strength is there. I might not see it or feel it, but it is enveloping me and carrying me along in my life. My circumstances might be crushing in on me and pushing me into some desolate place. Yet, I am called to wait for Him even after I am weary and tired and have bloody knees because of my constant stumbling. Yet, I just have to wait...to rest in His arms and a promise deferred waits...
My Hope and my Salvation
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
1 Corinthians 12:21-22
"So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" nor again the head to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, all the more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:21-22
It is amazing to think that the believer OUGHT to have a lack of strength to be necessary in the body of Christ. This is not a singular teaching within Scripture, but on that is revealed many times. The second letter to the Corinthian church closes out by showing that the life and demonstration of kenosis by Jesus shows the necessity of weakness and humility for the power of God to be made manifest in the lives of those who seek Him. Two verses in particular stand out with relation to the need for weakness in the body of Christ.
First, 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." These are the words of Jesus to Paul and they remind him that weakness is an opportune time for God's grace to be made apparent in Paul's life. At times we do not recognize the sweeping effects of grace in our own life until a portion of that grace is removed (if for just a brief period of time). To understand God's total grace, we have to desperate and helpless from time to time. Job, Abram, Moses, Paul and Peter all understood to be at a loss of some sort of control or comfort and had to depend on God's grace even if circumstances were not ideal. God uses the human need for contrast to show us our need for him. Man recognizes certain traits not in a manner of definition but in a manner of difference. We do not understand dark without light. Cold without hot. Joy without sorrow. God uses weakness so that man can ascertain the beauty and strength of His Grace.
Secondly, 2 Corinthians 13:3b-4 - "He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God's power." In an age of self dependence it seems self defeating to claim that depending on someone else is an example of strength. Jesus came to earth to do the will of His Father and not His own. Christ is the example to us that we cannot do much in our own strength but that God's power (the power to resurrect, to turn water to wine, to multiply the gift of fish and bread) trumps a self-reliant spirit.
Submitting my life to serve God and glorify Him is difficult and counter intuitive. But the fruits of His strength in our life are breathtaking...
It is amazing to think that the believer OUGHT to have a lack of strength to be necessary in the body of Christ. This is not a singular teaching within Scripture, but on that is revealed many times. The second letter to the Corinthian church closes out by showing that the life and demonstration of kenosis by Jesus shows the necessity of weakness and humility for the power of God to be made manifest in the lives of those who seek Him. Two verses in particular stand out with relation to the need for weakness in the body of Christ.
First, 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." These are the words of Jesus to Paul and they remind him that weakness is an opportune time for God's grace to be made apparent in Paul's life. At times we do not recognize the sweeping effects of grace in our own life until a portion of that grace is removed (if for just a brief period of time). To understand God's total grace, we have to desperate and helpless from time to time. Job, Abram, Moses, Paul and Peter all understood to be at a loss of some sort of control or comfort and had to depend on God's grace even if circumstances were not ideal. God uses the human need for contrast to show us our need for him. Man recognizes certain traits not in a manner of definition but in a manner of difference. We do not understand dark without light. Cold without hot. Joy without sorrow. God uses weakness so that man can ascertain the beauty and strength of His Grace.
Secondly, 2 Corinthians 13:3b-4 - "He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God's power." In an age of self dependence it seems self defeating to claim that depending on someone else is an example of strength. Jesus came to earth to do the will of His Father and not His own. Christ is the example to us that we cannot do much in our own strength but that God's power (the power to resurrect, to turn water to wine, to multiply the gift of fish and bread) trumps a self-reliant spirit.
Submitting my life to serve God and glorify Him is difficult and counter intuitive. But the fruits of His strength in our life are breathtaking...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Ephesians 6:19-20
"and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." ~ Ephesians 6:19-20
God has truly blessed me over the last two months by allowing me to speak at a number of churches and youth groups. It is always difficult for me to speak at a church that I am not familiar with. So many times I wrestle with, "What does God want me to say?" It is very easy for me to tell a number of stories and share encouraging moments from my life with a little bit of God's Word sprinkled in. At the beginning of August I read those two verses from Ephesians 6 and I came away very challenged by Paul's words.
Here's a man who is in prison and is facing many difficulties. He could likewise take the route that I have been tempted to do. Take the easy route...use existential stories to encourage...offer little challenge to the audience. Yet, Paul asked the Ephesians for both the ability to speak God's Word and the boldness to proclaim it without fear, doubt, or partiality. Martin Luther speaks in a similar tone:
"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ however boldly I may be professing Christ."
I came away very challenged to be a teacher who is biblical grounded, at times encouraging, but one who is not afraid to challenge myself and others with the Bible. The boldness that Paul prays for is the same I find myself constantly praying for. Being passive in teaching God's Word can come in a number of avenues. Fear of "going too deep", fear of being boring, or even the fear of preaching something that convicts not only the audience but the speaker. To teach from conviction is not hypocrisy but reality. Peter taught of faith and his faith wavered in the garden. Paul teaches of unity in the body but argued with Barnabas, could not reconcile, and the two went their separate ways. These teachings are not nullified because of such, but something that is better understood after the fact because of the conviction of one's shortcomings through the Holy Spirit.
Its interesting to note so many youth groups and churches pride themselves on being Biblically based. Even my seminary's core verse is 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". Its a remarkable verse that the modern youth group can leave two gaping holes in. We like to teach and train in righteousness. Yet we doubt, waver on, and even ignore Scripture that is critical or that corrects specific issues and sins within the body of Christ. We do not truly believe in the profitability of Scripture unless we use it for all these things: teaching, training, critical analysis, and correcting lacking traits. My prayer is that I and other teachers and ministers boldly (yet humbly) teach God's Word in spite of our fears of reprisal or inadequacy. The Gospel is an offense. Why should we expect otherwise?
God has truly blessed me over the last two months by allowing me to speak at a number of churches and youth groups. It is always difficult for me to speak at a church that I am not familiar with. So many times I wrestle with, "What does God want me to say?" It is very easy for me to tell a number of stories and share encouraging moments from my life with a little bit of God's Word sprinkled in. At the beginning of August I read those two verses from Ephesians 6 and I came away very challenged by Paul's words.
Here's a man who is in prison and is facing many difficulties. He could likewise take the route that I have been tempted to do. Take the easy route...use existential stories to encourage...offer little challenge to the audience. Yet, Paul asked the Ephesians for both the ability to speak God's Word and the boldness to proclaim it without fear, doubt, or partiality. Martin Luther speaks in a similar tone:
"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ however boldly I may be professing Christ."
I came away very challenged to be a teacher who is biblical grounded, at times encouraging, but one who is not afraid to challenge myself and others with the Bible. The boldness that Paul prays for is the same I find myself constantly praying for. Being passive in teaching God's Word can come in a number of avenues. Fear of "going too deep", fear of being boring, or even the fear of preaching something that convicts not only the audience but the speaker. To teach from conviction is not hypocrisy but reality. Peter taught of faith and his faith wavered in the garden. Paul teaches of unity in the body but argued with Barnabas, could not reconcile, and the two went their separate ways. These teachings are not nullified because of such, but something that is better understood after the fact because of the conviction of one's shortcomings through the Holy Spirit.
Its interesting to note so many youth groups and churches pride themselves on being Biblically based. Even my seminary's core verse is 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". Its a remarkable verse that the modern youth group can leave two gaping holes in. We like to teach and train in righteousness. Yet we doubt, waver on, and even ignore Scripture that is critical or that corrects specific issues and sins within the body of Christ. We do not truly believe in the profitability of Scripture unless we use it for all these things: teaching, training, critical analysis, and correcting lacking traits. My prayer is that I and other teachers and ministers boldly (yet humbly) teach God's Word in spite of our fears of reprisal or inadequacy. The Gospel is an offense. Why should we expect otherwise?
Friday, October 2, 2009
1 Corinthians 12:7-8
"A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit" ~ 1 Corinthians 12:7-8
Paul follows his discussion on the variations of gifts and ministries within the body of Christ, to a discussion on the certain manifestations of the Spirit and what sort of fruit is produced by the Spirit in the life of the believer.
Verse 7 is an encouraging verse which reminds the believer that the Spirit is active and working in the life of the believer. The Spirit works in the sanctification of the believer, the equipping of the believer, and intercession are all works of the Spirit that are of benefit to the believer and to the body of Christ as a whole. The word "manifestation" is a continual verb, meaning that the Spirit is at constant and lasting work in my life. It is humbling knowing that this is a gracious gift of the Spirit...I have done nothing to attain such a gift. Yet not only my good is produced by His gifting but also "for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). God grants us these gifts as an encouragement and sign of His working but also to tend to His other sheep. This mutual blessing shapes the body of Christ and makes it stronger.
Verse 8 begins to talk about the different manifestations of the Spirit. This verse has a pair of somewhat similar gifts: wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom is referring to the one who has great insight into matters of theological doctrine. This would certainly the man who delves into the depths of Scripture and discern its meaning. Such a manifestation would be made up of the equipping to do such and a passion to pursue the depths of Scripture. The manifestation of knowledge is referring to an undestanding of life and how to apply God's Word to it. Where wisdom would be shown in Peter's Pentecost sermon or Paul on Mars Hill, knowledge is seen in action as Jesus and the disciples minister to the people or the setting up of the deacon ministry in Acts.
We often think of the gifting of the Spirit as an actual action that we can complete. Yet, in this verse we are reminded that those who seek to immerse themself and others in Scripture are men and women who the Spirit has set aside for such things.
to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit" ~ 1 Corinthians 12:7-8
Paul follows his discussion on the variations of gifts and ministries within the body of Christ, to a discussion on the certain manifestations of the Spirit and what sort of fruit is produced by the Spirit in the life of the believer.
Verse 7 is an encouraging verse which reminds the believer that the Spirit is active and working in the life of the believer. The Spirit works in the sanctification of the believer, the equipping of the believer, and intercession are all works of the Spirit that are of benefit to the believer and to the body of Christ as a whole. The word "manifestation" is a continual verb, meaning that the Spirit is at constant and lasting work in my life. It is humbling knowing that this is a gracious gift of the Spirit...I have done nothing to attain such a gift. Yet not only my good is produced by His gifting but also "for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). God grants us these gifts as an encouragement and sign of His working but also to tend to His other sheep. This mutual blessing shapes the body of Christ and makes it stronger.
Verse 8 begins to talk about the different manifestations of the Spirit. This verse has a pair of somewhat similar gifts: wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom is referring to the one who has great insight into matters of theological doctrine. This would certainly the man who delves into the depths of Scripture and discern its meaning. Such a manifestation would be made up of the equipping to do such and a passion to pursue the depths of Scripture. The manifestation of knowledge is referring to an undestanding of life and how to apply God's Word to it. Where wisdom would be shown in Peter's Pentecost sermon or Paul on Mars Hill, knowledge is seen in action as Jesus and the disciples minister to the people or the setting up of the deacon ministry in Acts.
We often think of the gifting of the Spirit as an actual action that we can complete. Yet, in this verse we are reminded that those who seek to immerse themself and others in Scripture are men and women who the Spirit has set aside for such things.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
" Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
In an age of specialized ministry, Paul provides a reminder to the Corinthian church that though there may be different gifts of the spirit, they are all given by the grace of God. The body of Christ is one that is tremendously diverse and blessed. Each gifting, each ministry is something that God has ordained and is active in working in for His glory. Yet in our day, do we see the Spirit active in ministries that we do not belong to? Though I am deeply involved in youth ministry, can I see that Christ is also the Lord over a Senior adult ministry? Do I see that within my body (His Church) of believers that God is active in sanctifying those who He has called and are pursuing Him?
Unity within the body extends past my perception of what "body" should mean (my desired worship preference, my preferred means of service ministry, age range) and to those who are rooted in Christ in many different statuses of life. God does great works in those who seek Him and love Him.
Ephesians 4:4-7 ~ "There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift."
Think of the body of believers that you belong to. It may be a church, a small Bible study, a campus ministry, a group of friends. It is amazing to see that within each there are distinct and separate giftings, but God uses each gifting for His benefit....and mine. God uses these different people who are all under the same calling and who were saved and blessed through Christ's sacrifice and the santifying work of the Spirit. This distinct gifting by the grace of God benefits me in that though I may not be burdened to being the Gospel to children, to foreign countries, or to the modern workplace other people have been given the burden and opportunity to do so. God allows us to come into intimate contact with those who have pursued Him decades before we were born and who He has more than adequately equipped to disciple us. He places us in the midst of those who have an earnest passion for things that we have no desire to learn or do. Yet, we avoid these people, when we should not.
So the question come to the forefront, "How do I support the other portions of the body of Christ?" I should seek to support the work of Christ in any means (whether money, time, effort, prayer) that I have at my disposal. I have not been called to be specialized and quarantined to my comfortable preferences. I have been called to go to all the people and nations, identifying them with the Father, and teaching them His Word. Do not shrink back, do not become timid...you have been gifted...you have been blessed....you have been given a spirit of power, love and discipline.
Romans 15:5-6 ~ "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
In an age of specialized ministry, Paul provides a reminder to the Corinthian church that though there may be different gifts of the spirit, they are all given by the grace of God. The body of Christ is one that is tremendously diverse and blessed. Each gifting, each ministry is something that God has ordained and is active in working in for His glory. Yet in our day, do we see the Spirit active in ministries that we do not belong to? Though I am deeply involved in youth ministry, can I see that Christ is also the Lord over a Senior adult ministry? Do I see that within my body (His Church) of believers that God is active in sanctifying those who He has called and are pursuing Him?
Unity within the body extends past my perception of what "body" should mean (my desired worship preference, my preferred means of service ministry, age range) and to those who are rooted in Christ in many different statuses of life. God does great works in those who seek Him and love Him.
Ephesians 4:4-7 ~ "There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift."
Think of the body of believers that you belong to. It may be a church, a small Bible study, a campus ministry, a group of friends. It is amazing to see that within each there are distinct and separate giftings, but God uses each gifting for His benefit....and mine. God uses these different people who are all under the same calling and who were saved and blessed through Christ's sacrifice and the santifying work of the Spirit. This distinct gifting by the grace of God benefits me in that though I may not be burdened to being the Gospel to children, to foreign countries, or to the modern workplace other people have been given the burden and opportunity to do so. God allows us to come into intimate contact with those who have pursued Him decades before we were born and who He has more than adequately equipped to disciple us. He places us in the midst of those who have an earnest passion for things that we have no desire to learn or do. Yet, we avoid these people, when we should not.
So the question come to the forefront, "How do I support the other portions of the body of Christ?" I should seek to support the work of Christ in any means (whether money, time, effort, prayer) that I have at my disposal. I have not been called to be specialized and quarantined to my comfortable preferences. I have been called to go to all the people and nations, identifying them with the Father, and teaching them His Word. Do not shrink back, do not become timid...you have been gifted...you have been blessed....you have been given a spirit of power, love and discipline.
Romans 15:5-6 ~ "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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