This weekend at Compass I heard a powerful message from the Word of God that really got me thinking. We as Christians are here for a purpose...God could take us up to be with Him on the moment of conversion that we might be made perfect and glorified instantaneously but He doesn't do that. Why? Yes we know the answer but it is one thing to know something and another to put it into practice. Paul said in Philippians 1:23-25, "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith..." Paul had compassion for the lost and knew that despite the hardships and the pain he endured staying here (and the fact that he would much rather be in heaven with His Creator) it was more important and beneficial for OTHERS that He continue on in his ministry. Do we have this attitude?
I think we have one of three possible problems.
1. We are scared and timid thinking we may not know what to say or how to present the Gospel etc. But this is NOT an excuse. We are commanded to be able to give a reason for the hope that we have. We need to be prepared to share the Gospel and Christ with those in this lost world.
2. We are apathetic and have no compassion towards the lost. If we really love someone we will be willing to risk relationship and all for this person and give them the truth. This is a matter of life and death.
3. We use theological truths in un-biblical ways. Yes it is God who does the calling and the saving but He uses US, these earthen vessels to carry the message to the lost of the cross.
We need to step back for a moment and evaluate ourselves and the progress we are making in advancing the kingdom of Christ. Are we taking every opportunity to bring Him glory through sharing the Gospel? Do we really love the people we rub shoulders with on a day to day, week to week, or month to month basis? Are we willing to risk it all for the Gospel of Christ? The disciples were and did. Paul was and did. Are you? Are you representing Christ? Or are you living as a silent salesman so to speak hoping that somehow the lost will come to salvation. How will the know the truth without hearing the truth?? Think about how you came to know the Lord...each of us came because we heard the truth from someone...someone loved us enough to tell us like it is...are we willing to do the same?? Be bold in God's strength and watch Him use you!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Walking WORTHY of the Calling...
I have recently been doing a lot of thinking about what it means to as Ephesians 4 says, "live a life worthy of the calling you have been called to". I have been a Christian for 7 years and what have I done for the furthering of the Kingdom of Christ and to bring glory to His name? If He were to take me home right now would I be able to stand before Him satisfied in the life I had lived for Him or would I have wished I would have done more? What does it mean to walk worthy of the calling?
So as I have been thinking about this I have realized some key things, and although this is not the kind of blog I usually write I thought I would share with each of you what's been on my heart in hopes that it may encourage you and promote prayer...
1. Missions- We have all been commanded in Matthew 28 to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout all the world. This could mean you have been called to Zimbabwe or to the neighborhood right down the street, but are we faithful to this? Are we taking every opportunity to promote the Gospel and glorify Him?
2. Giving- Is it more blessed to give than to receive? The answer is simply yes as we read in Acts 20:35, but the question than comes to, do we believe that? What does it mean to give? Do we give of not only our wealth but of our time and of our very lives?
3. Justice- In Micah 6:8 we read about a call to love justice. God loves justice...we are to as well. Do we have a heart for the poor and the oppressed? Do we show compassion to the sick and the needy? Are we willing to fight for truth in this lost world?
4. Trial/Tribulation- How do we respond in time of hardship in our lives? Are we responding with joy and with hope in the sovereign Lord or do we respond like it calls us to in James, realizing we are blessed.
5. Living Examples of Christ- Do we realize that we are living and breathing examples of Christ in this lost and fallen world? The world is watching and waiting to see if the way we interact with them, the way we respond to hardships, the way we show compassion, the way we talk, the way we live is different then the culture...is it? Do we take this serious that we are examples of Christ and we MUST be to everyone we come in contact with??
These are just some of the things that I have been wrestling with lately. I struggle to comprehend the weight of the responsibility that I've been given. Without Christ's strength daily it is impossible for me to live a life that is worthy of His calling but with Him it is possible (Philippians 4:13). I want to as Paul said, finish the race with endurance and fight the good fight. My prayer is that one day when I enter into the kingdom of heaven the Lord will look at me and I will hear the words..."Well done good and faithful servant I am well pleased!"
So as I have been thinking about this I have realized some key things, and although this is not the kind of blog I usually write I thought I would share with each of you what's been on my heart in hopes that it may encourage you and promote prayer...
1. Missions- We have all been commanded in Matthew 28 to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout all the world. This could mean you have been called to Zimbabwe or to the neighborhood right down the street, but are we faithful to this? Are we taking every opportunity to promote the Gospel and glorify Him?
2. Giving- Is it more blessed to give than to receive? The answer is simply yes as we read in Acts 20:35, but the question than comes to, do we believe that? What does it mean to give? Do we give of not only our wealth but of our time and of our very lives?
3. Justice- In Micah 6:8 we read about a call to love justice. God loves justice...we are to as well. Do we have a heart for the poor and the oppressed? Do we show compassion to the sick and the needy? Are we willing to fight for truth in this lost world?
4. Trial/Tribulation- How do we respond in time of hardship in our lives? Are we responding with joy and with hope in the sovereign Lord or do we respond like it calls us to in James, realizing we are blessed.
5. Living Examples of Christ- Do we realize that we are living and breathing examples of Christ in this lost and fallen world? The world is watching and waiting to see if the way we interact with them, the way we respond to hardships, the way we show compassion, the way we talk, the way we live is different then the culture...is it? Do we take this serious that we are examples of Christ and we MUST be to everyone we come in contact with??
These are just some of the things that I have been wrestling with lately. I struggle to comprehend the weight of the responsibility that I've been given. Without Christ's strength daily it is impossible for me to live a life that is worthy of His calling but with Him it is possible (Philippians 4:13). I want to as Paul said, finish the race with endurance and fight the good fight. My prayer is that one day when I enter into the kingdom of heaven the Lord will look at me and I will hear the words..."Well done good and faithful servant I am well pleased!"
Monday, January 28, 2008
Do You Have High Standards?
This weekend at true north we addressed a serious issue of how we live our Christian faith out in our daily lives. How we think and act in ALL we do...
Philippians 4:8-9 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. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
To think literally means to calculate or to put through an equation. That means in everything we do we should be looking at the Lord's standards and putting it through the wringer so to speak to see if it is edifying and beneficial.
1. Have HIGH standards about what you think about (v 8)
-True: correspond with reality/fact
-Noble: respectable, others see or find quality in it
-Right: according to God's standard is it appropriate or righteous?
-Pure: clean, not immoral
-Lovely: pleasing, nice, not dark
-Admirable: or good reputation, something you wouldn't mind others knowing or seeing you doing or thinking about
-Excellent/Praiseworthy:Quality, of some value, not worthless
2. Live up to your Christian Examples (v 9)
-Who is it in your life that you look up to and are trying to be like?
-These Christian examples should be in your lives regularly and you should seek to study their lives and imitate them. Like Paul and Timothy.
-In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
3. Don't Fall Into Worldly Influences (v 4:18-19)
-The world will take you down!
-Don't fall into temptation
-Guard yourself from yourself!
What are these worldly influences?
-Don't be conformed to the evil patterns of thinking- Romans 12:2
-Don't be corrupted by bad company- 1 Corinthians 15:33
We as Christians need to be DIFFERENT then the world. Our standards need to be the LORD and not our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord or even worse the world!! Do we live differently? How high are our standards. Let us put everything we do whether it be the movies and TV shows we watch or the music we listen through through God's filter and glorify Him in everything.
Philippians 4:8-9 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. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
To think literally means to calculate or to put through an equation. That means in everything we do we should be looking at the Lord's standards and putting it through the wringer so to speak to see if it is edifying and beneficial.
1. Have HIGH standards about what you think about (v 8)
-True: correspond with reality/fact
-Noble: respectable, others see or find quality in it
-Right: according to God's standard is it appropriate or righteous?
-Pure: clean, not immoral
-Lovely: pleasing, nice, not dark
-Admirable: or good reputation, something you wouldn't mind others knowing or seeing you doing or thinking about
-Excellent/Praiseworthy:Quality, of some value, not worthless
2. Live up to your Christian Examples (v 9)
-Who is it in your life that you look up to and are trying to be like?
-These Christian examples should be in your lives regularly and you should seek to study their lives and imitate them. Like Paul and Timothy.
-In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
3. Don't Fall Into Worldly Influences (v 4:18-19)
-The world will take you down!
-Don't fall into temptation
-Guard yourself from yourself!
What are these worldly influences?
-Don't be conformed to the evil patterns of thinking- Romans 12:2
-Don't be corrupted by bad company- 1 Corinthians 15:33
We as Christians need to be DIFFERENT then the world. Our standards need to be the LORD and not our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord or even worse the world!! Do we live differently? How high are our standards. Let us put everything we do whether it be the movies and TV shows we watch or the music we listen through through God's filter and glorify Him in everything.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Are You ALL In It?
In the United States especially the Gospel, the TRUE Biblical Gospel has been terribly watered down. Although I do not believe you can lose your salvation I know there are many in the "church" who claim to be true disciples of the Lord but who are unfortunately not. In Matthew 13 (1-23) Jesus preaches an extremely vital parable explaining exactly this, verses 18-23
"18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
There are what seems to be four types of people, three who are not genuinely saved and then one (with three manifestations) who are. Pastor Mike at Compass Bible Church today explained in detail each of these in a way that hopefully helps all of us search our hearts and evaluate where we stand.
SEED 1 (v 19)- The Pew Warmers?
Their Spiritual Response to God's Word and the Gospel: "I don't get it!" Although it may logically make sense, there is no lasting effect that transforms their weekly lives. This seed is so dangerous because most of these people are faithful church attenders and even involved in ministry. But look at Christ's stern warning in Matthew 7: 21-23 "21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" This is not what you want to hear when you stand before the King of the universe. These people are spiritually blind. 2 Corinthians 4 explains this blinding. Satan even deceives many into believing that they are saved, what a scary strategy he uses. If the Holy Spirit begins working on the hearts of these they need to pray for light, for God to renew them and to be made alive in Christ!
SEED 2 (v20-21) The Temperamental Learners?
These are those who filter in and out of the church. While involved in the church they seem to be genuinely on fire and passionate about the truths of God but they soon leave. Their response to the life of a disciple could be summed up in "I'm in this as long as it makes me happy or feel good". For these, once it gets tough being a follower of Christ they are out! 1 John 2 verse 19 says "hey went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." Obviously these people did not embrace the word fully. Because they are in it for the wrong reasons, only wanting the blessings of the Christian life their attitude could look like a "Christ is the means to an end". Some passages that describe this are John 6:26, Romans 16:18, and Philippians 3:18. These people need to look and count the cost of discipleship and then take up their cross and follow Christ!
SEED 3 (v 22) The Chronically Conflicted?
These are the bitter people within the church who look at God's truth and say "Yeah but...what about...?". They look at the here and now and not what God has promised for the future. They have a foot in both worlds. They can't fully put behind them the concerns of the world but want a taste of the truth as well. They are idolaters. Christ is an addition to their life and not a replacement as He must be! These people need to look at the reality and serve ONE master! Joshua reminds us to choose today whom you will serve!
SEED 4 (v 23) The All in Appliers?
In Matthew 12 we read of the follower of Christ as the one who is willing to do the will of God. These are TRUE disciples. They have counted the cost and taken up their cross. They are here to do HIS will no matter what! They will give up anything and everything for Christ. Look at Paul's example in Acts 20:22-24 and Acts 21:12-14, "12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." Jesus Christ is their LORD! He gives the commands, He rules. There are three types however described in the passage, there is the one who bears 30x, 60x, and 100x. If this is you? How much fruit do you bear? One day we will be rewarded for the life we lived for the glory and honor of Christ. Bear more fruit! Be productive and fruitful for Christ.
Reading this passage in Matthew allows us as believers to refocus our minds on our goal and keep focused on the prize! Are we all in it?
"18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
There are what seems to be four types of people, three who are not genuinely saved and then one (with three manifestations) who are. Pastor Mike at Compass Bible Church today explained in detail each of these in a way that hopefully helps all of us search our hearts and evaluate where we stand.
SEED 1 (v 19)- The Pew Warmers?
Their Spiritual Response to God's Word and the Gospel: "I don't get it!" Although it may logically make sense, there is no lasting effect that transforms their weekly lives. This seed is so dangerous because most of these people are faithful church attenders and even involved in ministry. But look at Christ's stern warning in Matthew 7: 21-23 "21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" This is not what you want to hear when you stand before the King of the universe. These people are spiritually blind. 2 Corinthians 4 explains this blinding. Satan even deceives many into believing that they are saved, what a scary strategy he uses. If the Holy Spirit begins working on the hearts of these they need to pray for light, for God to renew them and to be made alive in Christ!
SEED 2 (v20-21) The Temperamental Learners?
These are those who filter in and out of the church. While involved in the church they seem to be genuinely on fire and passionate about the truths of God but they soon leave. Their response to the life of a disciple could be summed up in "I'm in this as long as it makes me happy or feel good". For these, once it gets tough being a follower of Christ they are out! 1 John 2 verse 19 says "hey went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." Obviously these people did not embrace the word fully. Because they are in it for the wrong reasons, only wanting the blessings of the Christian life their attitude could look like a "Christ is the means to an end". Some passages that describe this are John 6:26, Romans 16:18, and Philippians 3:18. These people need to look and count the cost of discipleship and then take up their cross and follow Christ!
SEED 3 (v 22) The Chronically Conflicted?
These are the bitter people within the church who look at God's truth and say "Yeah but...what about...?". They look at the here and now and not what God has promised for the future. They have a foot in both worlds. They can't fully put behind them the concerns of the world but want a taste of the truth as well. They are idolaters. Christ is an addition to their life and not a replacement as He must be! These people need to look at the reality and serve ONE master! Joshua reminds us to choose today whom you will serve!
SEED 4 (v 23) The All in Appliers?
In Matthew 12 we read of the follower of Christ as the one who is willing to do the will of God. These are TRUE disciples. They have counted the cost and taken up their cross. They are here to do HIS will no matter what! They will give up anything and everything for Christ. Look at Paul's example in Acts 20:22-24 and Acts 21:12-14, "12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." Jesus Christ is their LORD! He gives the commands, He rules. There are three types however described in the passage, there is the one who bears 30x, 60x, and 100x. If this is you? How much fruit do you bear? One day we will be rewarded for the life we lived for the glory and honor of Christ. Bear more fruit! Be productive and fruitful for Christ.
Reading this passage in Matthew allows us as believers to refocus our minds on our goal and keep focused on the prize! Are we all in it?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Counting the Cost
Today as I was reading in Matthew I was reminded of what we have been called to as disciples in Christ Jesus. So often in our modern minds I think even we as Christians forget the high price yet the great reward that comes with following the King of the Universe. Here in Matthew we read the following:
Matthew 16:24-28 "24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
There are countless churches preaching a Gospel of comfort and wealth and countless Christians who think that their prosperity or blessings are a result of a life lacking sin. Many believe that in their own strength they have come to where they stand today and pride is rampant. Look at verse 24, Christ plainly states that if you want to follow Him...be His disciple, you must "DENY YOURSELF". I looked up the word deny and found this definition "to restrain from gratification or desires". Do we do that as believers? Are we more concerned about pleasing the Lord than gratifying our flesh? This is an active decision that we have to make on a daily basis. In our own strength it is impossible, our fleshly desires so often win. Yes we will have blessings from the Lord in this life and we must give Him the glory for those, but we must remember that the Christian life is not a life of worldly gain but of self denial.
Jesus goes on in verses 25-26 to remind us that although this life denying our flesh may be a difficult one as we go against the grain it will be one of eternal blessings. Those living in the world live to gain as much as they can now because this is the closest to heaven so to speak they will ever get. For the Christian this is the closest to hell we will ever get. Praise God for that! We must lose our lives in a figurative sense, lose our fleshly old selves in order that we might be new creations in Christ, renewed by eternal hope.
Jesus ends this passage with a great promise for the disciple. He reminds us of the fact that He will return soon and will reward us for the good works that He planned for us to do that we accomplished through His strength. We will one day get to stand before the King of the universe and may we hear well done good and faithful servant.
There is a cost in following Christ...we will have to give things up that we "want", we will have to go against the grain of society and culture, we will have to deny ourselves on a daily basis, we may be persecuted emotionally and or physically, we will go through trials and tribulations but it is nothing in comparison to what we have gained in Christ! Think of the eternal glory that awaits! What an amazing gift we have been given, something we do not deserve at all but that Christ has graciously provided a way for us to gain. May we live lives that count the cost and think oh how it is well-worth it and then move forward in bringing Him glory day by day.
Matthew 16:24-28 "24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
There are countless churches preaching a Gospel of comfort and wealth and countless Christians who think that their prosperity or blessings are a result of a life lacking sin. Many believe that in their own strength they have come to where they stand today and pride is rampant. Look at verse 24, Christ plainly states that if you want to follow Him...be His disciple, you must "DENY YOURSELF". I looked up the word deny and found this definition "to restrain from gratification or desires". Do we do that as believers? Are we more concerned about pleasing the Lord than gratifying our flesh? This is an active decision that we have to make on a daily basis. In our own strength it is impossible, our fleshly desires so often win. Yes we will have blessings from the Lord in this life and we must give Him the glory for those, but we must remember that the Christian life is not a life of worldly gain but of self denial.
Jesus goes on in verses 25-26 to remind us that although this life denying our flesh may be a difficult one as we go against the grain it will be one of eternal blessings. Those living in the world live to gain as much as they can now because this is the closest to heaven so to speak they will ever get. For the Christian this is the closest to hell we will ever get. Praise God for that! We must lose our lives in a figurative sense, lose our fleshly old selves in order that we might be new creations in Christ, renewed by eternal hope.
Jesus ends this passage with a great promise for the disciple. He reminds us of the fact that He will return soon and will reward us for the good works that He planned for us to do that we accomplished through His strength. We will one day get to stand before the King of the universe and may we hear well done good and faithful servant.
There is a cost in following Christ...we will have to give things up that we "want", we will have to go against the grain of society and culture, we will have to deny ourselves on a daily basis, we may be persecuted emotionally and or physically, we will go through trials and tribulations but it is nothing in comparison to what we have gained in Christ! Think of the eternal glory that awaits! What an amazing gift we have been given, something we do not deserve at all but that Christ has graciously provided a way for us to gain. May we live lives that count the cost and think oh how it is well-worth it and then move forward in bringing Him glory day by day.
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