I had the privilege of attending Grace Community Church this morning and was blessed greatly by the message preached by the guest speaker Spencer DeBurgh. As Christians, especially those of us that are in environments that constantly propel and challenge our thinking theologically, it is easy to get sidetracked and focus on things that really in the grand scheme of things do not matter. Or as Christians, in the world, we can easily get distracted by the world's ways of thinking and acting and become disillusioned in our goals and aim.
DeBurgh preached from Ephesians 4:13:
12 For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Life is to be directed to an end...a goal...what is your aim in life? Have we ever seriously asked ourselves that question? As Christians we need to be confident of that aim and pursue it faithfully and fervently. It takes courage to stand apart, to set yourself aside from the world and pursue something that goes against the grain. The world will constantly try to challenge and convolute your goals and passions and trade your Godly desires for fruitless ones. So what should the Christian's aim be? CHRIST! That's it...Jesus Christ should be our aim. IN essence, we have complexified what God has simplified. Even in our theological knowledge we have come up with strategies and ways of thinking that have tried to make what is really basic, complex.
As Christians we are to attain or arrive at a destination. God is taking each one of us in Christ and aiming us towards the target...God has promised us our eternity but it takes a partnering in our daily life in which we rely on Him to live lives that are set apart and bringing glory to Him. He is working in and through us, sanctifying us, and conforming us more into the image of His Son so that we will become perfect or mature. What is that? Perfect or mature is growing up in the faith. God's goal for His kids is that we would grow up in the faith until we look like Jesus Christ. The glorified Christ is our standard.
How are we going to do this? We need more faith! We need to rely on the Body in order to be built up in the faith. And we need more knowledge. But lets remember that our goal is Christ. And in that we need to keep Him the focus. We musn't get distracted with things of this world, or things within the church or within theology or whatever it might be that will bring us away from Him, because after all He is the MAIN thing and we need to keep the MAIN thing the main thing!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A Mark of a Christian: Finding Joy No Matter What
The world is always looking at us "Christians". Do you realize that once that label is put on you every word, action, and even attitude that you reflect within every sphere of life is going to be held up against your faith. The way we live reflects who we are and the world is watching. Kind of a scary thought if you ask me. How do we, redeemed spiritually but still trapped in these earthly bodies, Christians mirror Him in every aspect of life ALL the time?
A mark that we should have that distinguishes us from the rest of the world is joy! We should be joyful always. Whether that means a smile on our face, a contented heart during trial, or a hopeful outlook on what seems like hopelessness, if the world labeled us as Christians and joyful ones at that how radical would that be. Christianity would be attractive! People would want to find out how they too can have the joy of the Lord no matter what is going on in their life.
The word "joy" is used in the Bible over 150 times. Here are just a few of those:
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 33:1 Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
The angels brought tidings of joy when that announced the birth of Christ.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
It is often easy to be joyous or to find joy when things are going good in our lives or when we are "on top" or when there aren't trials, pain, sufferings etc. But what about when we've had a bad day? Lost a loved one? Been persecuted? Been slandered? Hurt? Or whatever the case might be....we still are commanded to have joy. How can we have joy in these times? When tragedy strikes how can we be joyous...it goes against our natural tendencies, our natural innate desires and flesh...but look at these verses:
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Consider it joy when we go through trials? What?!!?! That would be the response of the world. But we are promised that these trials are refining us, making us more and more into the image of Christ and that is exciting!! We have to be tried and tested to produce the genuineness of our faith. Now this joy does not mean necessarily that there won't be hurt and there won't be tears but it means that there is something more than that...that we find joy in our future hope and hold firm to that.
We as Christians have to be holy, set apart, different...and finding joy no matter what is a great way to show the world where we find our happiness (not in things or people but in a Holy God who saved us)!
A mark that we should have that distinguishes us from the rest of the world is joy! We should be joyful always. Whether that means a smile on our face, a contented heart during trial, or a hopeful outlook on what seems like hopelessness, if the world labeled us as Christians and joyful ones at that how radical would that be. Christianity would be attractive! People would want to find out how they too can have the joy of the Lord no matter what is going on in their life.
The word "joy" is used in the Bible over 150 times. Here are just a few of those:
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 33:1 Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
The angels brought tidings of joy when that announced the birth of Christ.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
It is often easy to be joyous or to find joy when things are going good in our lives or when we are "on top" or when there aren't trials, pain, sufferings etc. But what about when we've had a bad day? Lost a loved one? Been persecuted? Been slandered? Hurt? Or whatever the case might be....we still are commanded to have joy. How can we have joy in these times? When tragedy strikes how can we be joyous...it goes against our natural tendencies, our natural innate desires and flesh...but look at these verses:
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Consider it joy when we go through trials? What?!!?! That would be the response of the world. But we are promised that these trials are refining us, making us more and more into the image of Christ and that is exciting!! We have to be tried and tested to produce the genuineness of our faith. Now this joy does not mean necessarily that there won't be hurt and there won't be tears but it means that there is something more than that...that we find joy in our future hope and hold firm to that.
We as Christians have to be holy, set apart, different...and finding joy no matter what is a great way to show the world where we find our happiness (not in things or people but in a Holy God who saved us)!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Think Differently (Philippians 4:8)
Philippians 4:8 says " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
What does that even mean? What does it mean to think on these types of things and more importantly as Christians are we being obedient to this exhortation from Paul? The more I studied the idea that Paul was talking about in this specific passage and the more that I myself evaluated the way in which I live this out, the more convicted I became. The whole idea is that what goes in our minds is what is going to come out in the way we live.
Paul lists the following things that we should be meditating/thinking on...things that are:
-true
-noble
-right
-pure
-lovely
-admirable (above reproach)
-excellent
-praiseworthy
Much of the sanctification and walk of the Christian is determined by the mind, the internal rather than the external. Romans 12:2 talks about the "renewing" of our minds and 2 Corinthians 10:5 talks of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This is a difficult thing. It is easy for us to get caught up in the things of this world and to begin to think like the world, but as Christians we must think differently. We must think on things that are edifying to all and glorifying to the Lord, we must think on things that are not going to take our minds into temptation and stumbling, we must think on things that are TRUE and that is on things of the Lord.
The more we think about this the more we realize how easy it is to fail. What if we measured or held up every thought to this verse and standard? Can you imagine how radically our thought life would change and then in turn how much the way we lived would change too?? We as Christians need to begin to think differently then this world as we are transformed more into the image of Christ...and here in Philippians 4:8 we have a great list to keep us accountable.
What does that even mean? What does it mean to think on these types of things and more importantly as Christians are we being obedient to this exhortation from Paul? The more I studied the idea that Paul was talking about in this specific passage and the more that I myself evaluated the way in which I live this out, the more convicted I became. The whole idea is that what goes in our minds is what is going to come out in the way we live.
Paul lists the following things that we should be meditating/thinking on...things that are:
-true
-noble
-right
-pure
-lovely
-admirable (above reproach)
-excellent
-praiseworthy
Much of the sanctification and walk of the Christian is determined by the mind, the internal rather than the external. Romans 12:2 talks about the "renewing" of our minds and 2 Corinthians 10:5 talks of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This is a difficult thing. It is easy for us to get caught up in the things of this world and to begin to think like the world, but as Christians we must think differently. We must think on things that are edifying to all and glorifying to the Lord, we must think on things that are not going to take our minds into temptation and stumbling, we must think on things that are TRUE and that is on things of the Lord.
The more we think about this the more we realize how easy it is to fail. What if we measured or held up every thought to this verse and standard? Can you imagine how radically our thought life would change and then in turn how much the way we lived would change too?? We as Christians need to begin to think differently then this world as we are transformed more into the image of Christ...and here in Philippians 4:8 we have a great list to keep us accountable.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Don't Worry About Tomorrow
Today in the high school ministry at Compass Bible Church, Ben Blakey gave a message on Worry in the Christian life. God never ceases to amaze me how faithful He is to sharpen and convict each week with His Word exactly where it needs to be done. Worrying is something that I struggle with on a daily basis when it comes to the future and big decisions especially. Although I have always looked at it as a sin and something that I shouldn't do, I never realized the utter depravity of it.
God knows about your needs! He doesn't want us to worry, panic, or doubt about the future and he does not give us an anxious spirit. Look at what God's Word has to say about it in Matthew 6:25-34
"25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
1. DO NOT FREAK OUT ABOUT THE FUTURE
-Do not worry about your life tomorrow
-If He takes care of the sparrows won't He take care of you? You are much more important to Him than the sparrows.
-Worrying is a waste of time, it never helps us out but rather digs us deeper into despair and discontentment in our situation
-What worries you? College, Job, Marriage, etc. WHY ARE YOU WORRYING? God has it under control.
When You Worry You Are...
A. Thinking like the world (pagans)
B. Acting Like We Don't Trust God
-We say things and say we believe these certain things and then worry, we act like we don't even believe it!
-Worry is a SIN, it is a big deal
-Numbers 13:31- Israelites who had just been taken out of Egypt are worrying again...this is exactly what we do. We see what God has done and then we forget and don't trust that He is ALWAYS Faithful.
2. PURSUE GOD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
-This is a radical new way to live through Christ's power
When I Seek God First
A. Setting yourself on spiritual things
-Salvation-kingdom of God (our we saved and want to see more coming to Christ?)
-Look forward to Christ's reign and rule here
-His priorities are now ours
- Pursue Righteousness
-Pursue personal holiness, sanctification until perfection in eternity
-Luke 10:28-42- Martha's worry and Mary's worship
B. Relying on God Everyday for Everything
-We have a confidence that God's going to take care of us
-In order to have this we need to know the Word- God's promises
Romans 8:28, Romans 8:32
In Conclusion, Matthew 6:34- Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself! Take care of what God has entrusted to and given to you today and don't worry about tomorrow! Replace your worry with a confidence in God...it is possible through HIS strength.
God knows about your needs! He doesn't want us to worry, panic, or doubt about the future and he does not give us an anxious spirit. Look at what God's Word has to say about it in Matthew 6:25-34
"25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
1. DO NOT FREAK OUT ABOUT THE FUTURE
-Do not worry about your life tomorrow
-If He takes care of the sparrows won't He take care of you? You are much more important to Him than the sparrows.
-Worrying is a waste of time, it never helps us out but rather digs us deeper into despair and discontentment in our situation
-What worries you? College, Job, Marriage, etc. WHY ARE YOU WORRYING? God has it under control.
When You Worry You Are...
A. Thinking like the world (pagans)
B. Acting Like We Don't Trust God
-We say things and say we believe these certain things and then worry, we act like we don't even believe it!
-Worry is a SIN, it is a big deal
-Numbers 13:31- Israelites who had just been taken out of Egypt are worrying again...this is exactly what we do. We see what God has done and then we forget and don't trust that He is ALWAYS Faithful.
2. PURSUE GOD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
-This is a radical new way to live through Christ's power
When I Seek God First
A. Setting yourself on spiritual things
-Salvation-kingdom of God (our we saved and want to see more coming to Christ?)
-Look forward to Christ's reign and rule here
-His priorities are now ours
- Pursue Righteousness
-Pursue personal holiness, sanctification until perfection in eternity
-Luke 10:28-42- Martha's worry and Mary's worship
B. Relying on God Everyday for Everything
-We have a confidence that God's going to take care of us
-In order to have this we need to know the Word- God's promises
Romans 8:28, Romans 8:32
In Conclusion, Matthew 6:34- Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself! Take care of what God has entrusted to and given to you today and don't worry about tomorrow! Replace your worry with a confidence in God...it is possible through HIS strength.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Living ABOVE Reproach
Recently I have been wrestling with this idea of living above reproach. My reason being that the name Christian is always associated with Jesus Christ and therefore the image we give off to the world and even to fellow Christians (the weaker brother) is going to be the image of Christ we give off. Do we bring Him glory and honor or shame and hypocrisy? Paul speaks of this in a few of his epistles, one being Colossians in which we read in 1:22, "yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--". In the Greek the word above reproach is defined as "that cannot be called into to account, unreproveable, unaccused, blameless". Going along with this whole idea is the command we read in 1 Peter, "Be holy for I am holy". How is this possible I ask myself often. How can I, a sinner who has been redeemed by a Savior yet still lives in a fleshly body, who constantly wages war within her members be living in a manner that could be called "worthy" to a Holy God. Paul seemed to struggle with this same idea. In Romans he talks about the inward struggle he himself faced even while writing the book of Romans. That his desire was to do things that pleased the Lord, yet the very things that he so often did were the exact opposite.
As Christians we have no excuse for a life filled with sin and transgression. We are being renewed (Colossians 3)and we now have the power through Christ's victory (Romans) to overcome sin's reign on us! Yet this idea seems so off par with our modern idealization of what Christianity is. We have this notion that all we should be doing as good as we can...but Christ deserves a life of excellence! We are to be striving with our whole hearts and with all our strength to please Him in EVERY area of our life in EVERYTHING we do and in EVERYTHING we say. The result of this will not only be sanctification and a deeper more meaningful relationship with God but it will be evidenced in our daily lives...we will stand out!
As I continue to question this whole idea of being above reproach...not questioning whether it is right or wrong but how I can tangibly live a life that reflects this I am reminded of Isaiah 53 and Christ's work on the cross. What He did for me cannot be taken lightly but rather should be valued, cherished and treasured with my whole heart and life. My motivation to please Him should come not only from the power of the indwelling Spirit but through the gratitude for the love and mercy I have received in Him who saves!
Isaiah 53:3-12
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression [a] and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken. [b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes [c] his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life [d] and be satisfied [e] ;
by his knowledge [f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
What a God we serve! May we be living above reproach through His strength that those around us would not be able to ascribe anything but glory to the name of Christ!!
As Christians we have no excuse for a life filled with sin and transgression. We are being renewed (Colossians 3)and we now have the power through Christ's victory (Romans) to overcome sin's reign on us! Yet this idea seems so off par with our modern idealization of what Christianity is. We have this notion that all we should be doing as good as we can...but Christ deserves a life of excellence! We are to be striving with our whole hearts and with all our strength to please Him in EVERY area of our life in EVERYTHING we do and in EVERYTHING we say. The result of this will not only be sanctification and a deeper more meaningful relationship with God but it will be evidenced in our daily lives...we will stand out!
As I continue to question this whole idea of being above reproach...not questioning whether it is right or wrong but how I can tangibly live a life that reflects this I am reminded of Isaiah 53 and Christ's work on the cross. What He did for me cannot be taken lightly but rather should be valued, cherished and treasured with my whole heart and life. My motivation to please Him should come not only from the power of the indwelling Spirit but through the gratitude for the love and mercy I have received in Him who saves!
Isaiah 53:3-12
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression [a] and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken. [b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes [c] his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life [d] and be satisfied [e] ;
by his knowledge [f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
What a God we serve! May we be living above reproach through His strength that those around us would not be able to ascribe anything but glory to the name of Christ!!
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