Being spiritually minded does not mean the same thing as being Spirit-filled. I find it hard to understand Christians who love the Lord but deny his power in them. They will deal with everything within their limited understanding and refuse to allow Yahweh to be the God of "everything is possible". People look at Jesus and say, "But that was Jesus, Son of God". They fail to understand that Jesus also set for us an example of what it is to live by the Spirit. Read this:
Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1)
Jesus was fully God and fully man, having set aside his divinity, and operated in the same manner we have been given to operate; by the Holy Spirit. Jesus did nothing in his divinity but relied on the Spirit for all things. He did not take on the enemy in his own strength but entered the desert full of the Holy Spirit. He was led by the Holy Spirit. So what makes us think we don't need the Holy Spirit and that we are wise within ourselves or that our human strength will carry the day? But it goes beyond even this.
Every day we deny the power of Jesus in us to carry out his work. We decide what we will do according to our abilities, limiting him to those abilities, not stepping out in faith because we have barely even begun to understand what faith means. We serve by what we know, not by the promises. Yet, how did Jesus minister and teach?
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. (Luke 4:14-15)
Why do we ignore the obvious? Is it simply because we are uncomfortable losing control? Is it because we are afraid to let him be Lord in case he takes us places we don't want to go, to do things we don't want to do? Do we really think he needs our wisdom, our intelligence or our talents? He does not want us to serve him in our limitations but in his possibilities.
Let's stop teaching, preaching, and serving in our own strength and start seeking his anointing through the Spirit to do his work through us. The world doesn't need to hear what we think or to see what we can do. The world needs to see Jesus in us so we need to let him take us beyond ourselves. Let us learn to walk in the Spirit for the sake of the world.
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Falling Short
Do you understand the difference between a covenant and a contract? You will be familiar with contracts if you have ever purchased software, rented an apartment, or entered into some kind of employment. A contract is pretty well one sided, listing all the protections of one party as well as the small benefit you will receive from their services. It certainly lists your obligations. On the other hand, a covenant is an agreement between two people that has nothing to do with protecting rights but a statement what each person will do for the benefit of the other. Marriage is a great example of this.
It is good to keep this in mind when reflecting on our relationship with Jesus because we are more than willing to accept what he offers but neglect our responsibilities in the covenant relationship. I talk about this a lot because we seem to think that our only responsibility is to worship. Jesus does all these wonderful things and all we have to do is sing some songs. The truth of the matter lay closer to what Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." That is our end of the covenant: Love manifested in obedience. But this is not anything new.
If we look back to Moses, we find a couple of verses, a quote from Yahweh, that was a nice summary of what he had said to Israel. We can call this the essence of the Law:
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
This is why Jesus said it was all or nothing. Read through Jesus' words again and make note of when he specifically talks about our relationship with him. You will discover how extreme it is. He told Nicodemus he would have to experience a new birth. He told the rich young man to go and sell everything he had, giving it to the poor, and then follow him. He required the twelve to give up everything. He said that we would have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. He said we would have to love him more than our mothers, fathers, and children. He said that our love would be seen in our obedience.
The popular worship we know is only a tiny thing in our part of the covenant relationship we have with Jesus. True worship happens every day in everything we do and say. Jesus gave his life in this covenant and we are expected to do the same if we enter into it. He sacrificially gave his all to us and we sacrificially give our all to him. Does it not sound like a marriage? We are the Bride of Christ.
Do you think we might be falling short in our understanding of our relationship with Jesus?
It is good to keep this in mind when reflecting on our relationship with Jesus because we are more than willing to accept what he offers but neglect our responsibilities in the covenant relationship. I talk about this a lot because we seem to think that our only responsibility is to worship. Jesus does all these wonderful things and all we have to do is sing some songs. The truth of the matter lay closer to what Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." That is our end of the covenant: Love manifested in obedience. But this is not anything new.
If we look back to Moses, we find a couple of verses, a quote from Yahweh, that was a nice summary of what he had said to Israel. We can call this the essence of the Law:
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
This is why Jesus said it was all or nothing. Read through Jesus' words again and make note of when he specifically talks about our relationship with him. You will discover how extreme it is. He told Nicodemus he would have to experience a new birth. He told the rich young man to go and sell everything he had, giving it to the poor, and then follow him. He required the twelve to give up everything. He said that we would have to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. He said we would have to love him more than our mothers, fathers, and children. He said that our love would be seen in our obedience.
The popular worship we know is only a tiny thing in our part of the covenant relationship we have with Jesus. True worship happens every day in everything we do and say. Jesus gave his life in this covenant and we are expected to do the same if we enter into it. He sacrificially gave his all to us and we sacrificially give our all to him. Does it not sound like a marriage? We are the Bride of Christ.
Do you think we might be falling short in our understanding of our relationship with Jesus?
Monday, June 23, 2014
Serving Jesus As He Wants
All Christians are in love with the idea of serving Jesus. He has done so much for us, how could we not want to do so much for him? The problem happens when he takes us at our word. It is like when someone tells me that they want to help but then they tell me what they are not willing to do. A real offer to help is to help with what I need to have done, not what they perceive I need done.
When we tell Jesus we want to serve him it is never to be according to what we are willing to do but what Jesus needs us to do. To serve is our choice but what gets assigned to us is the Lord's choice. This is what causes the conflict, when the Lord's needs do not match our expectations. That is when we begin to resist Jesus. We see an example of what we do almost daily in an incident with Peter.
Jesus was demonstrating a potent lesson in the type of leaders he had trained them to be, but Peter did not understand:
He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” (John 13:6)
Peter's idea of leadership did not match up with what Jesus was demonstrating. He had a fixed idea of what power looked like and how a king should behave, yet here was their king washing their feet?
Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.” (v. 7)
I am sure this is how Jesus responds to us most of the time. Many lessons we face cannot be understood in the moment because we have not yet gained a mature perspective. This is why we trust Jesus. We may not understand today but a day will come when we will understand the purpose. It is enough to trust that he loves us and desires the best for us. Yet, we react like Peter:
“You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said. (v. 8)
There are so many things that we refuse to do, so many directions we refuse to take, so many words we refuse to speak because we do not understand. We want to do what we are comfortable with, what we are familiar with, what we understand. But our service to Jesus has many purposes. He uses our service to bring blessings to others. He takes great joy out of fellowship with us in our service. And, he grows us, maturing us in the process of our service. For this reason he calls us to serve where we can't rely on our own strength and have to draw closer to him to receive his strength.
If your desire is to grow into the full measure of Jesus, stop resisting him. Stop saying never. Stop the wrestling. Trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with Jesus and without it we cannot serve him. So let's put away the pretty sentiment and get down to work. He has called you to something beyond your ability. Trust him and step into it. Serve him well.
When we tell Jesus we want to serve him it is never to be according to what we are willing to do but what Jesus needs us to do. To serve is our choice but what gets assigned to us is the Lord's choice. This is what causes the conflict, when the Lord's needs do not match our expectations. That is when we begin to resist Jesus. We see an example of what we do almost daily in an incident with Peter.
Jesus was demonstrating a potent lesson in the type of leaders he had trained them to be, but Peter did not understand:
He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” (John 13:6)
Peter's idea of leadership did not match up with what Jesus was demonstrating. He had a fixed idea of what power looked like and how a king should behave, yet here was their king washing their feet?
Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.” (v. 7)
I am sure this is how Jesus responds to us most of the time. Many lessons we face cannot be understood in the moment because we have not yet gained a mature perspective. This is why we trust Jesus. We may not understand today but a day will come when we will understand the purpose. It is enough to trust that he loves us and desires the best for us. Yet, we react like Peter:
“You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said. (v. 8)
There are so many things that we refuse to do, so many directions we refuse to take, so many words we refuse to speak because we do not understand. We want to do what we are comfortable with, what we are familiar with, what we understand. But our service to Jesus has many purposes. He uses our service to bring blessings to others. He takes great joy out of fellowship with us in our service. And, he grows us, maturing us in the process of our service. For this reason he calls us to serve where we can't rely on our own strength and have to draw closer to him to receive his strength.
If your desire is to grow into the full measure of Jesus, stop resisting him. Stop saying never. Stop the wrestling. Trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with Jesus and without it we cannot serve him. So let's put away the pretty sentiment and get down to work. He has called you to something beyond your ability. Trust him and step into it. Serve him well.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Thriving Not Surviving Life
Life is life. Good things happen in life as do bad things. Some days will be fantastic, ones you want to live over again. Other days will be horrible, ones you wish you had never gotten out of bed. You will go through seasons of great blessings, when everything you touch seems to blossom. You will also go through seasons of great dryness, when you seem to be surrounded by nothing but desert. These are the tides of life, the seasons, the changes. The question is always about perspective and approach
For Christians the perspective should be an easy thing; Yahweh is sovereign. We have purpose in this life, left here, not to serve ourselves and our self interest, but to serve our King. We serve him in whatever season of life we are experiencing because it is not about us or the season; it is always about obedience and service to our King. He strengthens and equips us in every season so that we can serve those who are being destroyed in their experience of life. That is what we must settle in our hearts, that Jesus is present to lend us the strength to go the distance in our service to him. I really appreciate this passage from Isaiah that reminds us who we serve:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)
Constantly reminding ourselves of the greatness of our Lord also helps us in our approach to life. If our perspective is that we are here to serve the King and he will keep us in all situations then our approach to this life should be one of great boldness and bravery in the Spirit. We should be those who fearlessly throw ourselves into any situation, never being afraid for our own well being but filled with love and concern for those perishing in the storms. We can do this because we have confidence in him who sent us and abides in us:
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. (v. 29)
That`s us at times, having exhausted our strength on the battlefield, in the storms, under weighty circumstance, doing good, we just want to lie down. But the Spirit renews us, increases us, fills us with great strength, so we can press on in our service. We all grow tired from time to time because we forget to operate in Jesus`strength not our own; we all look at the storms on occasion and lose heart, we all get overwhelmed at the thought of things, but that is the beauty of our Lord; he never leaves us there:
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (vv. 30-31)
Too often we read this from a selfish perspective, as if the Lord is renewing our strength so we can enjoy the pleasures of this world. He renews us so we can run and walk in our continued service to the King. He renews his love in us so that we can set ourselves aside and love without obstacles, without prejudice, so we can pour out our lives for others like a drink offering. His strength is like a river flowing through us, not to be dammed up and kept selfishly but to flow through us into the lives of others.
This is true for all the blessings, such as love, that they would flow through us into others. We need to see ourselves as conduits. We are not the stars, Jesus is. We are not the source of hope, Jesus is. We are not the source of healing, strength, wisdom, salvation, Jesus is. But he has chosen us to participate in the process of rescuing others. He does not want us bogged down in life, distracted or lost. He renews us every day throughout the day so we will be constantly refreshed and strengthened in all the seasons of life. So abide in him and you will discover your wings. Trust him and love with great abandon.
For Christians the perspective should be an easy thing; Yahweh is sovereign. We have purpose in this life, left here, not to serve ourselves and our self interest, but to serve our King. We serve him in whatever season of life we are experiencing because it is not about us or the season; it is always about obedience and service to our King. He strengthens and equips us in every season so that we can serve those who are being destroyed in their experience of life. That is what we must settle in our hearts, that Jesus is present to lend us the strength to go the distance in our service to him. I really appreciate this passage from Isaiah that reminds us who we serve:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)
Constantly reminding ourselves of the greatness of our Lord also helps us in our approach to life. If our perspective is that we are here to serve the King and he will keep us in all situations then our approach to this life should be one of great boldness and bravery in the Spirit. We should be those who fearlessly throw ourselves into any situation, never being afraid for our own well being but filled with love and concern for those perishing in the storms. We can do this because we have confidence in him who sent us and abides in us:
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength. (v. 29)
That`s us at times, having exhausted our strength on the battlefield, in the storms, under weighty circumstance, doing good, we just want to lie down. But the Spirit renews us, increases us, fills us with great strength, so we can press on in our service. We all grow tired from time to time because we forget to operate in Jesus`strength not our own; we all look at the storms on occasion and lose heart, we all get overwhelmed at the thought of things, but that is the beauty of our Lord; he never leaves us there:
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (vv. 30-31)
Too often we read this from a selfish perspective, as if the Lord is renewing our strength so we can enjoy the pleasures of this world. He renews us so we can run and walk in our continued service to the King. He renews his love in us so that we can set ourselves aside and love without obstacles, without prejudice, so we can pour out our lives for others like a drink offering. His strength is like a river flowing through us, not to be dammed up and kept selfishly but to flow through us into the lives of others.
This is true for all the blessings, such as love, that they would flow through us into others. We need to see ourselves as conduits. We are not the stars, Jesus is. We are not the source of hope, Jesus is. We are not the source of healing, strength, wisdom, salvation, Jesus is. But he has chosen us to participate in the process of rescuing others. He does not want us bogged down in life, distracted or lost. He renews us every day throughout the day so we will be constantly refreshed and strengthened in all the seasons of life. So abide in him and you will discover your wings. Trust him and love with great abandon.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Do I Need A 'Hook' To Get Noticed?
I get the feeling that sometimes we feel we have to reinvent the wheel; that what has been established isn't good enough and we need something new. I don't think people look around and say "What new way can I serve Jesus" but it comes off that way. Many leaders seem to look for that "hook" that will make them stand out in the crowd; that says "hey look at me, I'm different". But maybe different in the Body of Christ isn't a good thing.
In Apostle Paul's description of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12) there are no stars. In fact, Paul said that Yahweh had arranged it so everyone, regardless of gifting and responsibility, were on equal footing:
But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
What leadership has been put into place has been warned not to laud it over anyone but they are to have servant attitudes (hearts). Jesus taught that leaders in the Kingdom are servants, putting their own needs last, behind those who they are responsible for, just like Jesus. Don't be mistaken, there are leaders in the Body, but only one Head, and they are considered trainers. Ephesians 4 speaks of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers that Jesus has appointed as trainers, preparing the Body for good works.
All this to say that leaders do not have to find hooks to stand out because they don't need to stand out. We don't need to find a new way to serve because it has already been given to us. We do not need to make "pleasing Yahweh" a complicated thing. This is what he told Israel:
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Jesus summed it up in one short sentence for us:
If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15)
We don't have to reinvent the wheel. We don't have to make it some great mystery. It is not something out of our grasp. We don't need leaders putting their own twist on it. Love Yahweh with your entire being, with all your passion, intellect, time, possessions and love everyone as you want to be loved. Do what Jesus taught. Not complicated. The only thing you need to do is deny yourself (set aside your opinions, emotions, desires), take up your cross (walk in your gifting, calling and the mission given to us), and follow Jesus (do what he did through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you).
In Apostle Paul's description of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12) there are no stars. In fact, Paul said that Yahweh had arranged it so everyone, regardless of gifting and responsibility, were on equal footing:
But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:24-26)
What leadership has been put into place has been warned not to laud it over anyone but they are to have servant attitudes (hearts). Jesus taught that leaders in the Kingdom are servants, putting their own needs last, behind those who they are responsible for, just like Jesus. Don't be mistaken, there are leaders in the Body, but only one Head, and they are considered trainers. Ephesians 4 speaks of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers that Jesus has appointed as trainers, preparing the Body for good works.
All this to say that leaders do not have to find hooks to stand out because they don't need to stand out. We don't need to find a new way to serve because it has already been given to us. We do not need to make "pleasing Yahweh" a complicated thing. This is what he told Israel:
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
Jesus summed it up in one short sentence for us:
If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15)
We don't have to reinvent the wheel. We don't have to make it some great mystery. It is not something out of our grasp. We don't need leaders putting their own twist on it. Love Yahweh with your entire being, with all your passion, intellect, time, possessions and love everyone as you want to be loved. Do what Jesus taught. Not complicated. The only thing you need to do is deny yourself (set aside your opinions, emotions, desires), take up your cross (walk in your gifting, calling and the mission given to us), and follow Jesus (do what he did through the Holy Spirit who has been given to you).
Friday, October 18, 2013
The Misuse Of God's Gifts
If you are a member of the Body of Christ, you are called, equipped and anointed for the function you have been given. No one can exist in Jesus outside of the Body. Many try due to their lack of maturity. They are too busy looking at the imperfections of other people to understand the grace that has been applied to their own. They use others as an excuse to separate instead of a reason to serve. We are the Body and God has appointed us to our place in it. Verify the truth of the matter in 1 Corinthians 12.
You have been given certain gifts by the Spirit in order to function within the Body. These are not natural to us but are supernatural, given to us supernaturally. We cannot serve God in a way that pleases him in our natural, but he equips us to serve him in the supernatural. The question is, will we use these gifts to faithfully serve his will, or will we use them selfishly for our own gain? Solomon is a good illustration.
King Solomon knew enough to know he was over his head. What he had been called and anointed to do was beyond his own natural ability, and he was wise enough to realize it. So when God asked him what he could give Solomon, this young, wet behind the ears, newly appointed king asked for two things: wisdom and knowledge. But take note of why he wanted these gifts from God:
Lord God, you were always loyal to my father David, and now you have made me king of Israel. I am supposed to rule these people, but there are as many of them as there are specks of dust on the ground. So keep the promise you made to my father and make me wise. Give me the knowledge I’ll need to be the king of this great nation of yours. (2 Chronicles 1:8-10)
Solomon did not ask for his own benefit but so that he could fulfill his calling, the task for which he was anointed, which is why we receive gifts from the Spirit. God was pleased with this and because he asked with this motivation he also provided Solomon with everything else. But Solomon did not stay so pure in his motivation.
Solomon allowed his eyes to turn inward. He indulged in the privilege of his position. Instead of serving God by serving God's great nation, Solomon started serving his own selfish desires. How easy it is to turn what God gives us to serve him into something for selfish gain.
As great as Solomon was he could have become more. He seeded things into his children which caused the split in the kingdom. Instead of being a united people for the glory of God, they became spoiled and selfish, requiring the great correction God visited on them. We are not too far from this ourselves, even in the early days of the Church.
When apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, guiding him in the strengthening of the Church in Ephesus, he said something that we need to take note of today:
You needed to warn them to stop wasting their time on senseless stories and endless lists of ancestors. Such things only cause arguments. They don’t help anyone to do God’s work that can only be done by faith. (1 Timothy 1:4)
We can never forget the purpose of our calling and the focus we have been given. There should never be anything that we are involved in that does not help us to do God's work. That is the entire focus of our life, to do God's work. It is not a part-time thing. It is not a weekend thing. It is something that we are occupied with every moment of our day, and it is the reason we have been equipped by the Spirit.
It is possible for us to waste the gifts of the Spirit, to use them for ourselves instead of for Jesus in the context of the Body. It is possible but it will prove to be our ruin as it ruined Solomon. We will never reach the heights that God has intended for us and we will seed things that will prove to be the undoing of other people as well. For this we will have to give an account. Don't forget the parable of the talents.
Perhaps it is time to allow the Spirit to take an inventory of where we are with the gifts we have been given, and permit him to remove what is not a help in doing God's work by faith.
You have been given certain gifts by the Spirit in order to function within the Body. These are not natural to us but are supernatural, given to us supernaturally. We cannot serve God in a way that pleases him in our natural, but he equips us to serve him in the supernatural. The question is, will we use these gifts to faithfully serve his will, or will we use them selfishly for our own gain? Solomon is a good illustration.
King Solomon knew enough to know he was over his head. What he had been called and anointed to do was beyond his own natural ability, and he was wise enough to realize it. So when God asked him what he could give Solomon, this young, wet behind the ears, newly appointed king asked for two things: wisdom and knowledge. But take note of why he wanted these gifts from God:
Lord God, you were always loyal to my father David, and now you have made me king of Israel. I am supposed to rule these people, but there are as many of them as there are specks of dust on the ground. So keep the promise you made to my father and make me wise. Give me the knowledge I’ll need to be the king of this great nation of yours. (2 Chronicles 1:8-10)
Solomon did not ask for his own benefit but so that he could fulfill his calling, the task for which he was anointed, which is why we receive gifts from the Spirit. God was pleased with this and because he asked with this motivation he also provided Solomon with everything else. But Solomon did not stay so pure in his motivation.
Solomon allowed his eyes to turn inward. He indulged in the privilege of his position. Instead of serving God by serving God's great nation, Solomon started serving his own selfish desires. How easy it is to turn what God gives us to serve him into something for selfish gain.
As great as Solomon was he could have become more. He seeded things into his children which caused the split in the kingdom. Instead of being a united people for the glory of God, they became spoiled and selfish, requiring the great correction God visited on them. We are not too far from this ourselves, even in the early days of the Church.
When apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, guiding him in the strengthening of the Church in Ephesus, he said something that we need to take note of today:
You needed to warn them to stop wasting their time on senseless stories and endless lists of ancestors. Such things only cause arguments. They don’t help anyone to do God’s work that can only be done by faith. (1 Timothy 1:4)
We can never forget the purpose of our calling and the focus we have been given. There should never be anything that we are involved in that does not help us to do God's work. That is the entire focus of our life, to do God's work. It is not a part-time thing. It is not a weekend thing. It is something that we are occupied with every moment of our day, and it is the reason we have been equipped by the Spirit.
It is possible for us to waste the gifts of the Spirit, to use them for ourselves instead of for Jesus in the context of the Body. It is possible but it will prove to be our ruin as it ruined Solomon. We will never reach the heights that God has intended for us and we will seed things that will prove to be the undoing of other people as well. For this we will have to give an account. Don't forget the parable of the talents.
Perhaps it is time to allow the Spirit to take an inventory of where we are with the gifts we have been given, and permit him to remove what is not a help in doing God's work by faith.
Monday, September 30, 2013
God Does Not Need Us To Prop Him Up
We've got to stop propping God up and let him protect his own reputation. We are doing him a great disservice by thinking we have to defend him or do anything for him unless we have been assigned the task and are relying on his strength. Is he without power or intellect? As he said to others, do we think his arm is too short?
Do you remember the account of David's first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem? There is mention in it that God's throne sat between the two angels on the cover of the Ark. This was a very important symbolic thing between God and the nation he had raised up to represent him. It was holy because it belonged to God.
In 1 Chronicles 13 we read that the oxen had stumbled so Uzzah, who was walking beside it, reached out his hand to prevent the Ark from tipping. You would think this was an act of kindness, love, dedication, a natural thing to do. But God killed Uzzah for doing this. There were two problems with Uzzah's actions.
First, he was not a Levite. God was very specific in his instructions concerning the care of the Ark. The responsibility had been given to the Levites and even they were not permitted to touch it. They were given very long poles that went through loops on the Ark. Remember this thing was extremely important and holy; it bore the name of God. (1 Chronicles 13:6) David did wrong in not asking the Lord how he wanted it done. He consulted his military leaders and all of Israel but he did not consult God.
Second, Uzzah gave a bad testimony about the greatness of God. If God could not look after the Ark, protecting it and providing for it, what did that say for God's ability to protect and care for his nation or his governance over all of creation? In that one simple act Uzzah tried to rob God of all the glory due him. God does not need defenders. He does not need anyone to look after him or protect him. He does need our sacrifices and is not dependent on our worship. He is self-sufficient. He has designed the Body of Christ and put a structure in place. He has assigned each person a place with responsibility and he has empowered each to do what needs to be done. But it is his choice. It is by his power.
Praise Jesus for this age of grace in which we live or there would be a lot more Uzzah's being buried. We are terribly guilty of robbing God of his glory. We weaken our testimony about his greatness all the time. Every time we defend him. Every time we try to argue his existence. Every time we try to be something for which we have not been called. Every time we take on a responsibility that is not ours because it doesn't appear anyone else is around to do it. This isn't our place. We must let God be God, without definition, explanation or defense. God can explain himself. God can defend himself. God will reveal himself. God can provide for himself. God raises up and tears down. We call him Lord for a reason. It is our place to testify and worship because of what he is doing. For us "doers" that is harder than it sounds.
Two chapters over in 1 Chronicles we find David's second attempt to bring in the Ark, but this time he has either read or received instructions on how to do it. This time the Levites knew that it was God who was in charge any they were simply to follow his instructions. Instead of trying to do it on their own, they understood their place, and they were grateful. They made sacrifices to God for doing it through them instead of having the attitude they were doing it for God:
God gave the Levites the strength they needed to carry the chest, and so they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. (1 Chronicles 15:26)
Maybe that is too subtle a difference to understand but it is a major difference. We do not use our strength to assist God because he is too weak to do it on his own. Instead, God gives us the strength to complete what he has given us to do. Uzzah was not the chosen instrument and his actions gave a poor testimony as to God's greatness. The Levites were the chosen instrument and God gave them the ability to do it, for which he received the glory; a proper testimony from the instruments of God.
This is why it is vital that we understand who God is, who we are in him and what responsibility has been assigned to us. We have been assigned a place in the Body to serve Jesus. It doesn't matter if we think we are capable or not. God will provide and it will only add to our testimony of his greatness. And please, let God be God. Serve according to his will and take only the actions he has instructed you today. He is holy and all who belong to him are holy.
Do you remember the account of David's first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem? There is mention in it that God's throne sat between the two angels on the cover of the Ark. This was a very important symbolic thing between God and the nation he had raised up to represent him. It was holy because it belonged to God.
In 1 Chronicles 13 we read that the oxen had stumbled so Uzzah, who was walking beside it, reached out his hand to prevent the Ark from tipping. You would think this was an act of kindness, love, dedication, a natural thing to do. But God killed Uzzah for doing this. There were two problems with Uzzah's actions.
First, he was not a Levite. God was very specific in his instructions concerning the care of the Ark. The responsibility had been given to the Levites and even they were not permitted to touch it. They were given very long poles that went through loops on the Ark. Remember this thing was extremely important and holy; it bore the name of God. (1 Chronicles 13:6) David did wrong in not asking the Lord how he wanted it done. He consulted his military leaders and all of Israel but he did not consult God.
Second, Uzzah gave a bad testimony about the greatness of God. If God could not look after the Ark, protecting it and providing for it, what did that say for God's ability to protect and care for his nation or his governance over all of creation? In that one simple act Uzzah tried to rob God of all the glory due him. God does not need defenders. He does not need anyone to look after him or protect him. He does need our sacrifices and is not dependent on our worship. He is self-sufficient. He has designed the Body of Christ and put a structure in place. He has assigned each person a place with responsibility and he has empowered each to do what needs to be done. But it is his choice. It is by his power.
Praise Jesus for this age of grace in which we live or there would be a lot more Uzzah's being buried. We are terribly guilty of robbing God of his glory. We weaken our testimony about his greatness all the time. Every time we defend him. Every time we try to argue his existence. Every time we try to be something for which we have not been called. Every time we take on a responsibility that is not ours because it doesn't appear anyone else is around to do it. This isn't our place. We must let God be God, without definition, explanation or defense. God can explain himself. God can defend himself. God will reveal himself. God can provide for himself. God raises up and tears down. We call him Lord for a reason. It is our place to testify and worship because of what he is doing. For us "doers" that is harder than it sounds.
Two chapters over in 1 Chronicles we find David's second attempt to bring in the Ark, but this time he has either read or received instructions on how to do it. This time the Levites knew that it was God who was in charge any they were simply to follow his instructions. Instead of trying to do it on their own, they understood their place, and they were grateful. They made sacrifices to God for doing it through them instead of having the attitude they were doing it for God:
God gave the Levites the strength they needed to carry the chest, and so they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. (1 Chronicles 15:26)
Maybe that is too subtle a difference to understand but it is a major difference. We do not use our strength to assist God because he is too weak to do it on his own. Instead, God gives us the strength to complete what he has given us to do. Uzzah was not the chosen instrument and his actions gave a poor testimony as to God's greatness. The Levites were the chosen instrument and God gave them the ability to do it, for which he received the glory; a proper testimony from the instruments of God.
This is why it is vital that we understand who God is, who we are in him and what responsibility has been assigned to us. We have been assigned a place in the Body to serve Jesus. It doesn't matter if we think we are capable or not. God will provide and it will only add to our testimony of his greatness. And please, let God be God. Serve according to his will and take only the actions he has instructed you today. He is holy and all who belong to him are holy.
Friday, May 10, 2013
A Crown To Cast Down At Jesus' Feet
It is a shame that most people do not know much about their own faith, beliefs and practices. It is a shame that they stick to the highlights, the cheat notes version of the Bible. They know key passages but they don't know the wonderful depth. It is usually these people who treat God like a genie in a bottle, believing he is just here to support us in our living. Precious few Christians understand that Jesus has given us a task and we are to be found faithful in it.
It is not a game we are playing. There is a goal and we are moving toward it. Along the way we have battles, victories, learning opportunities, spiritual growth, but it is all in a forward motion. Our task as we move along is to present Jesus to as many people as we can, and for those who accept him, we are to teach them, helping them to be disciples of Jesus. We don't need to attend formal classes and get our degree in theology. We need only be part of the Church, study the Word and walk in the Spirit.
Most people do not even understand that there is a reward for our faithfulness. The reward is not salvation. If it was then salvation would not be by faith and grace but by works. Salvation is the work of God that is given to us freely in a divine act of grace. However, salvation is not the end of it. After salvation we become members of the body with the task of making disciples and when we walk in this faithfulness we will receive a crown:
I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. 8 So a crown will be given to me for pleasing the Lord. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Not a crown because I accepted Jesus but a crown because I pleased him. Other passages talk about the jewels that will be placed in the crown, and yet another passage speaks about how each of us will cast our crowns at Jesus' feet. I don't know about you but I want something of value to cast at his feet. I don't want to be the one walking around without a crown, demonstrating that I accepted Jesus but was not faithful in my task. And I don't want to have a jewel-less crown. When I cast it at Jesus`feet I want it to have value; not for prestige but because Jesus deserves my very best to be placed at his feet.
That means in this world nothing can touch my faith. It means in this place I will pay whatever price I must pay to remain determined to go all the way in my race. Not only must I finish this race but I must fight with style, doing all things well, to the best of the ability of the Spirit in me. No short cuts. No cheating. No quick fixes. I want to say with my last breath and say it in truth, "I have been faithful".
If you say "I don't need a crown, I only want Jesus", I applaud your love for Jesus and mourn your ignorance. The crown is a fact. It is how Jesus will set apart those who truly understood that love meant obedience. I will gladly receive the crown, not because I want a crown, but because it will please the Lord to reward his faithful servants. And those who understood what Paul meant by running the race will certainly be counted in the faithful.
We have a purpose. We are moving toward a goal. We have tasks to complete. Jesus told us to be faithful to these tasks. He told us if we really love him we will obey what he has commanded. Will you have a crown to cast at his feet?
It is not a game we are playing. There is a goal and we are moving toward it. Along the way we have battles, victories, learning opportunities, spiritual growth, but it is all in a forward motion. Our task as we move along is to present Jesus to as many people as we can, and for those who accept him, we are to teach them, helping them to be disciples of Jesus. We don't need to attend formal classes and get our degree in theology. We need only be part of the Church, study the Word and walk in the Spirit.
Most people do not even understand that there is a reward for our faithfulness. The reward is not salvation. If it was then salvation would not be by faith and grace but by works. Salvation is the work of God that is given to us freely in a divine act of grace. However, salvation is not the end of it. After salvation we become members of the body with the task of making disciples and when we walk in this faithfulness we will receive a crown:
I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. 8 So a crown will be given to me for pleasing the Lord. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Not a crown because I accepted Jesus but a crown because I pleased him. Other passages talk about the jewels that will be placed in the crown, and yet another passage speaks about how each of us will cast our crowns at Jesus' feet. I don't know about you but I want something of value to cast at his feet. I don't want to be the one walking around without a crown, demonstrating that I accepted Jesus but was not faithful in my task. And I don't want to have a jewel-less crown. When I cast it at Jesus`feet I want it to have value; not for prestige but because Jesus deserves my very best to be placed at his feet.
That means in this world nothing can touch my faith. It means in this place I will pay whatever price I must pay to remain determined to go all the way in my race. Not only must I finish this race but I must fight with style, doing all things well, to the best of the ability of the Spirit in me. No short cuts. No cheating. No quick fixes. I want to say with my last breath and say it in truth, "I have been faithful".
If you say "I don't need a crown, I only want Jesus", I applaud your love for Jesus and mourn your ignorance. The crown is a fact. It is how Jesus will set apart those who truly understood that love meant obedience. I will gladly receive the crown, not because I want a crown, but because it will please the Lord to reward his faithful servants. And those who understood what Paul meant by running the race will certainly be counted in the faithful.
We have a purpose. We are moving toward a goal. We have tasks to complete. Jesus told us to be faithful to these tasks. He told us if we really love him we will obey what he has commanded. Will you have a crown to cast at his feet?
Monday, May 6, 2013
How Do You Measure Up?
I have heard people say that they wish they could have served with apostle Paul. They wish that they could have had the opportunity to be with him, to learn from him, to see him in action. No doubt that he was an incredible man who God gave a great vision for the Church and trusted him with the gospel of grace. But I don't think many of us would have been comfortable around him. I don't think many of us would have been comfortable around many of the great men and women of the faith; not with what passes as Christianity these days.
Paul worked tirelessly in faithful obedience to Jesus, to complete the task he was given. He was a man driven by love, dedicated to the only one who mattered to him. For Paul it was all about Jesus. He was not divided in heart and mind. He was not overburdened by the cares of this world. He wasn't trying to save for retirement. He wasn't trying to make the Church relevant to society. Paul's only concern was presenting Jesus to a world that needed to know him.
People like this are hard to be around. The expect much of themselves and anyone who is associated with the mission. If you were going to be on Paul's team you were going to have to take Jesus and your calling very seriously. He would expect you to adhere to Jesus' words when he told us that to follow him was all or nothing. I don't think many of us would have lasted with Paul because we just don't understand this singleness of purpose. We have too many desires and concerns in this world. We are divided in heart and mind.
If you were told that your life would end tomorrow could you say along with Paul:
Now the time has come for me to die. My life is like a drink offering being poured out on the altar. I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
Can you describe your life as a drink offering, being poured out in an act of sacrificial love? Have you set aside all concern and all desire for yourself and dedicated every day to the will of the Father? Is the salvation of others always on your mind so you are always looking for opportunities? Or are you hoping simply to arrive on that Day with your salvation in tact? Are you only concerned with your own condition and lot in life?
Are you fighting well? Do you stand in the face of evil and proclaim Jesus? Do you pray for the lost? Do you fight for your friends, family and neighbours? Do you proclaim the gospel and teach people about the love of Jesus, taking every opportunity to share your testimony? Does this describe you?
Are you faithful? Are you obedient in love to what Jesus has commanded? Are you following his example? Is he what you measure your life against? Are you still running the race that has been set before you; the path that Jesus put you on? Are you faithfully following his direction for you, no matter the cost or difficulty? Are you going all the way with Jesus, no matter what?
I don't think many of us would be comfortable in the presence of the great warriors who have gone before us, but that really shouldn't be our concern. Our real concern should be: Will we be comfortable in the presence of Jesus on the day we are called home, or will we stand in shame for a life wasted and an opportunity lost?
Paul worked tirelessly in faithful obedience to Jesus, to complete the task he was given. He was a man driven by love, dedicated to the only one who mattered to him. For Paul it was all about Jesus. He was not divided in heart and mind. He was not overburdened by the cares of this world. He wasn't trying to save for retirement. He wasn't trying to make the Church relevant to society. Paul's only concern was presenting Jesus to a world that needed to know him.
People like this are hard to be around. The expect much of themselves and anyone who is associated with the mission. If you were going to be on Paul's team you were going to have to take Jesus and your calling very seriously. He would expect you to adhere to Jesus' words when he told us that to follow him was all or nothing. I don't think many of us would have lasted with Paul because we just don't understand this singleness of purpose. We have too many desires and concerns in this world. We are divided in heart and mind.
If you were told that your life would end tomorrow could you say along with Paul:
Now the time has come for me to die. My life is like a drink offering being poured out on the altar. I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful. (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
Can you describe your life as a drink offering, being poured out in an act of sacrificial love? Have you set aside all concern and all desire for yourself and dedicated every day to the will of the Father? Is the salvation of others always on your mind so you are always looking for opportunities? Or are you hoping simply to arrive on that Day with your salvation in tact? Are you only concerned with your own condition and lot in life?
Are you fighting well? Do you stand in the face of evil and proclaim Jesus? Do you pray for the lost? Do you fight for your friends, family and neighbours? Do you proclaim the gospel and teach people about the love of Jesus, taking every opportunity to share your testimony? Does this describe you?
Are you faithful? Are you obedient in love to what Jesus has commanded? Are you following his example? Is he what you measure your life against? Are you still running the race that has been set before you; the path that Jesus put you on? Are you faithfully following his direction for you, no matter the cost or difficulty? Are you going all the way with Jesus, no matter what?
I don't think many of us would be comfortable in the presence of the great warriors who have gone before us, but that really shouldn't be our concern. Our real concern should be: Will we be comfortable in the presence of Jesus on the day we are called home, or will we stand in shame for a life wasted and an opportunity lost?
Monday, April 1, 2013
Healing, Restoration and Duty
Do you ever get overwhelmed to the point you just have to get away? It could be physical exhaustion but often times it is when we are mentally or emotionally exhausted. Many people turn to something so familiar that they don't have to think about it. Perhaps they clean the house or do some yard work. For me it was always yard work. There was something about getting outside and getting my hands dirty. My reaction to overwhelming mental or emotional fatigue was always a physical response, to get my body busy and tired. This is what I imagine Peter was doing when he decided to go fishing.
Poor Peter.
What a roller coaster ride he had been on. One minute he was on top of the world, by Jesus' side, pledging to stand with him no matter what comes their way. Then he was thrown into complete confusion. When the hour had come he was there as he said he would be, to defend the Master. But Jesus didn't want to be defended. Jesus told him to stop, to put the sword away. He was totally confused. What was he suppose to do? He didn't know, so he ran as fast as he could, like the others.
It was in that confusion, not knowing what was happening and what he was suppose to do, that he did the unthinkable. He actually denied knowing Jesus. He turned his back on him instead of standing with him. He made a fool of them all by demonstrating a lack of love and loyalty to Jesus. What despair overwhelmed him. What bitterness gripped his heart. The tears would not stop flowing from his remorse.
Then the news came that he was dead. The Romans had crucified him. The news was like a knife piercing his heart. Somehow he managed to find the others. Somehow they managed to hide away. But they were so afraid. Would they be next? Would a fist come pounding on the door? The fear and despair, confusion and lostness was blinding to heart, mind and spirit.
And then he was there.
Standing right there in front of them, as if nothing had happened. He was different but yet the same. There was no doubt it was him. Peter's head would have been dizzy with confusion. Jesus was alive but not like before. He was more than before. But Peter was still overwhelmed by shame. How could he face Jesus after what he had done?
So what did Peter do to handle all this confusion of emotions? He returned to what was familiar to him which gives us an interesting situation. Peter needed to be restored. He needed forgiveness. So what better opportunity to give Peter what was needed then to do it in the same place where it all began: in a fishing boat, upon the water.
When Jesus called Peter to join him, he had convinced Peter to go back out and try fishing again, after an unsuccessful night of fishing. He told Peter to fish on the other side of the boat. Peter did and caught a huge catch. Then Jesus told him to follow him and he would make him a fisher of men.
Now here they were in a similar situation. Peter did not recognize Jesus and either did the other disciples but they listened when this stranger told them to try the other side. They did and it was a huge catch. It was as these events repeated themselves that Peter recognized Jesus and it was there on that beach that he was restored.
Jesus gave Peter one opportunity to declare his love for every time Peter had denied that love. Along with the restoration Jesus charged Peter with the responsibility to teach what he had been taught. It is one of the most moving parts of the Resurrection event. It speaks to our own need for restoration. It gives us hope that when we are overwhelmed and try to run away that our God will meet us in that place and call us to him. But there is a point to note here.
It is great that our Lord Jesus loves us and meets us in our needs. It is great that he comforts us, strengthens us and sets us back on our feet. It is fantastic that he forgives us when we turn our back on him instead of running to him. It is wonderful that he understands what happens to us when we get overwhelmed. But he does more than this. He also reminds us of our responsibilities, our duties, our calling.
There is more to it than Jesus helping us cope with life and the challenges we face. There is more to it than God wanting us to have joy. God wants us healthy and well spiritually so we can get back to work. We are workers and we are not of much use if we are sitting on the sidelines licking our wounds. Jesus restored Peter because there needed to be repair in that relationship but also so that Peter could take up his responsibility.
Perhaps you have been wounded and Jesus has been there to help you back on your feet but did you understand all of the restoration? Did you hear his call to return to your duties? Did you hear him charge you again with your responsibilities? So you messed up, that doesn't mean you are let off the hook. God's grace is wonderful and with forgiveness comes full restoration. So stop with the fishing already and get back to what God has given you to do.
** read about Peter's restoration in John 21
Poor Peter.
What a roller coaster ride he had been on. One minute he was on top of the world, by Jesus' side, pledging to stand with him no matter what comes their way. Then he was thrown into complete confusion. When the hour had come he was there as he said he would be, to defend the Master. But Jesus didn't want to be defended. Jesus told him to stop, to put the sword away. He was totally confused. What was he suppose to do? He didn't know, so he ran as fast as he could, like the others.
It was in that confusion, not knowing what was happening and what he was suppose to do, that he did the unthinkable. He actually denied knowing Jesus. He turned his back on him instead of standing with him. He made a fool of them all by demonstrating a lack of love and loyalty to Jesus. What despair overwhelmed him. What bitterness gripped his heart. The tears would not stop flowing from his remorse.
Then the news came that he was dead. The Romans had crucified him. The news was like a knife piercing his heart. Somehow he managed to find the others. Somehow they managed to hide away. But they were so afraid. Would they be next? Would a fist come pounding on the door? The fear and despair, confusion and lostness was blinding to heart, mind and spirit.
And then he was there.
Standing right there in front of them, as if nothing had happened. He was different but yet the same. There was no doubt it was him. Peter's head would have been dizzy with confusion. Jesus was alive but not like before. He was more than before. But Peter was still overwhelmed by shame. How could he face Jesus after what he had done?
So what did Peter do to handle all this confusion of emotions? He returned to what was familiar to him which gives us an interesting situation. Peter needed to be restored. He needed forgiveness. So what better opportunity to give Peter what was needed then to do it in the same place where it all began: in a fishing boat, upon the water.
When Jesus called Peter to join him, he had convinced Peter to go back out and try fishing again, after an unsuccessful night of fishing. He told Peter to fish on the other side of the boat. Peter did and caught a huge catch. Then Jesus told him to follow him and he would make him a fisher of men.
Now here they were in a similar situation. Peter did not recognize Jesus and either did the other disciples but they listened when this stranger told them to try the other side. They did and it was a huge catch. It was as these events repeated themselves that Peter recognized Jesus and it was there on that beach that he was restored.
Jesus gave Peter one opportunity to declare his love for every time Peter had denied that love. Along with the restoration Jesus charged Peter with the responsibility to teach what he had been taught. It is one of the most moving parts of the Resurrection event. It speaks to our own need for restoration. It gives us hope that when we are overwhelmed and try to run away that our God will meet us in that place and call us to him. But there is a point to note here.
It is great that our Lord Jesus loves us and meets us in our needs. It is great that he comforts us, strengthens us and sets us back on our feet. It is fantastic that he forgives us when we turn our back on him instead of running to him. It is wonderful that he understands what happens to us when we get overwhelmed. But he does more than this. He also reminds us of our responsibilities, our duties, our calling.
There is more to it than Jesus helping us cope with life and the challenges we face. There is more to it than God wanting us to have joy. God wants us healthy and well spiritually so we can get back to work. We are workers and we are not of much use if we are sitting on the sidelines licking our wounds. Jesus restored Peter because there needed to be repair in that relationship but also so that Peter could take up his responsibility.
Perhaps you have been wounded and Jesus has been there to help you back on your feet but did you understand all of the restoration? Did you hear his call to return to your duties? Did you hear him charge you again with your responsibilities? So you messed up, that doesn't mean you are let off the hook. God's grace is wonderful and with forgiveness comes full restoration. So stop with the fishing already and get back to what God has given you to do.
** read about Peter's restoration in John 21
Monday, March 4, 2013
Let's Get Serious
Enough playing around. Let's get serious. We are not here for a long time and there is a lot to do. Perhaps not in the same sense that some would value work but it is work nonetheless. Our work is to tell as many people about Jesus as we can and to teach those who decide to become followers of Jesus. It is not a joyless work but one that gives us the sense of completion as we work in the Spirit in the will of God. But just because it is a labour of love does not mean it is not the most serious labour there is on the planet because it is a labour that has an eternal outcome.
Now we are not rogue agents. We don't get to do whatever we feel like. We get to do according to the direction of the Spirit. We are not the General calling the shots but the soldiers who carry out the orders. There are rules and principles at play in this fight for the souls of this world and we need to learn them if we are to be effective warriors in service to the King. The mighty warrior Paul wrote to his fellow warrior and friend Timothy:
Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5)
Do you know, understand, live by and operate in the rules of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? All citizens, especially all warriors, must know and live by the rules of the Kingdom. The first rule is a simple one: love God with your entire being, so much so that nothing else even comes as a remote second. It is not a whimsical love, up one day and down another, but it is a love so strong that it dictates obedience to our flesh. It is a love that gives birth to obedience, faithfulness and a desire for God's righteousness. It is a love that spurns sin and pledges allegiance, not matter the cost, to the King of kings.
This love is such that rules like "love your neighbour", forgiveness, mercy, compassion, become our nature. These are not things we must think about but what we are. Just as the knights of old lived by the code of chivalry, we modern day knights live by the code of God's righteousness. But there is more to the principles of the Kingdom than just these; there are actual spiritual laws that are in place.
There are simple things to understand but we fail to operate in. There is the law of authority.The authority of Jesus Christ lives in you. When you speak to the things you are coming against you do it in Jesus'authority. Demons must flee from you, they have no choice because of the authority of Jesus. Disease must obey. Spiritual principles must come into play. You are an incredible spiritual powerhouse, a mighty warrior in service to the King, in the authority of the King. And as such a warrior you have the responsibility to fight against the dark realm according to the rules; you have the responsibility to defend the weak according to the governing spiritual principles.
Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord and the victory is ours but we have been left here to fight in service to the King. We are not here to be pampered but to seek the things of the Kingdom. We are doers of the Word. We are agents, warriors, knights, soldiers and we are here to fight. We fight on our knees. We fight with the equipment we have been given. We fight in the full authority of Jesus Christ. We are not weak. We are not defeated. We are not sick. We are not complainers. We are not fearful. We are not doubters. We are not worriers. We are not gossips. We are not destroyers of people. We are not haters. We are not list keepers.
We are warriors!
We are warrior servants, and Jesus is our King. Now walk as Jesus has called you to walk. Walk like Jesus did when he walked in the fullness of the Spirit in obedience to his Father. We are to walk in the fullness of the Spirit, in obedience to our King.
Now we are not rogue agents. We don't get to do whatever we feel like. We get to do according to the direction of the Spirit. We are not the General calling the shots but the soldiers who carry out the orders. There are rules and principles at play in this fight for the souls of this world and we need to learn them if we are to be effective warriors in service to the King. The mighty warrior Paul wrote to his fellow warrior and friend Timothy:
Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. (2 Timothy 2:5)
Do you know, understand, live by and operate in the rules of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? All citizens, especially all warriors, must know and live by the rules of the Kingdom. The first rule is a simple one: love God with your entire being, so much so that nothing else even comes as a remote second. It is not a whimsical love, up one day and down another, but it is a love so strong that it dictates obedience to our flesh. It is a love that gives birth to obedience, faithfulness and a desire for God's righteousness. It is a love that spurns sin and pledges allegiance, not matter the cost, to the King of kings.
This love is such that rules like "love your neighbour", forgiveness, mercy, compassion, become our nature. These are not things we must think about but what we are. Just as the knights of old lived by the code of chivalry, we modern day knights live by the code of God's righteousness. But there is more to the principles of the Kingdom than just these; there are actual spiritual laws that are in place.
There are simple things to understand but we fail to operate in. There is the law of authority.The authority of Jesus Christ lives in you. When you speak to the things you are coming against you do it in Jesus'authority. Demons must flee from you, they have no choice because of the authority of Jesus. Disease must obey. Spiritual principles must come into play. You are an incredible spiritual powerhouse, a mighty warrior in service to the King, in the authority of the King. And as such a warrior you have the responsibility to fight against the dark realm according to the rules; you have the responsibility to defend the weak according to the governing spiritual principles.
Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord and the victory is ours but we have been left here to fight in service to the King. We are not here to be pampered but to seek the things of the Kingdom. We are doers of the Word. We are agents, warriors, knights, soldiers and we are here to fight. We fight on our knees. We fight with the equipment we have been given. We fight in the full authority of Jesus Christ. We are not weak. We are not defeated. We are not sick. We are not complainers. We are not fearful. We are not doubters. We are not worriers. We are not gossips. We are not destroyers of people. We are not haters. We are not list keepers.
We are warriors!
We are warrior servants, and Jesus is our King. Now walk as Jesus has called you to walk. Walk like Jesus did when he walked in the fullness of the Spirit in obedience to his Father. We are to walk in the fullness of the Spirit, in obedience to our King.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
No Timidity In Jesus
There are some things we have to get right if we are ever going to live up to our potential in Jesus. Too often we rob ourselves of the joy of serving with all our heart because we get the foundation of our understanding wrong. The one thing I keep going on about is the fact that our service to our King does not depend on our abilities It does not depend on our desires, likes, wants, fears or our lack of anything. There are only two things that we need to bring to the table: faithfulness and obedience.
When you come to Jesus you come stripped of everything. You come empty handed. You have nothing to offer and what you think you had is taken from you. The whole reason we needed Jesus to die for us is because we had nothing to offer our God. So God did it all. It is no different in our service. God does not need anything we can do for him. What he is looking for is empty vessels that he can pour himself into.
Let's get this right: God does not need your opinion or your ideas. A private does not express his opinions to a general; he obeys what he is told. God loves us as his children, but as servants he is only looking for obedience. This is vital to understand so that when God speaks and gives us direction we are not like Moses, giving our excuses. If God said it don't philosophy over it; just do it.
This is the idea of what Paul was writing to Timothy. He just told him to fan into flame the gift that was given to him when Paul laid hands on him. In other words, God had equipped Timothy with his own power so Timothy could be obedient in the tasks he was given. Timothy did not have the ability but God did through him. So now Paul encourages him to not allow anything to prevent him from being obedient and faithful:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
If you are serving God in your strength and ability, stop it! You are serving God with your limitations and he can't use what you are offering. It will be of no eternal value. He wants us to serve him with his limitlessness.
We have no excuse for hanging back; no excuse for disobedience. We can't say it isn't our personality. We can't say it is out of our comfort zone. We can't say we are afraid of failure. We can't say that we are too timid. If we do then we better wake up to the fact that we are trying to serve him in a manner that does not honour him. We do not have a spirit of timidity but of boldness in Jesus Christ.
By the Spirit we have been given to serve him we are filled with his power. Do you understand that? Not our ability and power but God's infinite power to overcome all things, to do all things, to be all things. We cannot serve him in our limited love but we have been given his love through the Spirit to serve him in the attitude of love. If we do not feel the love and compassion of God for all people, how can we serve him in this world?
By this same Spirit we have been given self-discipline. It means there are no excuses. When we are tired we lean on Jesus and we serve in his energy. When we feel lazy we put that lazy spirit under our feet and serve him in his strength. If we lack self-disciple in anything in our life it is because our life does not belong to Jesus. Are you understanding the point here?
My fear for Christians is that we do not understand this foundation matter. We are disciples of Jesus Christ. We have died to ourselves and our lives are now empty of ourselves and the only reason we have for living is Jesus. He is not interested in our opinions; we is looking for our faithfulness and obedience. It doesn't matter if you think it is a bad idea; if the Spirit told you to do it then do it and let God work it out. I realize this is hard, especially when we are young, middle aged or old. Get the point? It is always hard to remain submitted to Jesus, but we must if we are going to live up to our potential in him. Trust. Obey. Allow the Spirit to work through you. No excuses.
When you come to Jesus you come stripped of everything. You come empty handed. You have nothing to offer and what you think you had is taken from you. The whole reason we needed Jesus to die for us is because we had nothing to offer our God. So God did it all. It is no different in our service. God does not need anything we can do for him. What he is looking for is empty vessels that he can pour himself into.
Let's get this right: God does not need your opinion or your ideas. A private does not express his opinions to a general; he obeys what he is told. God loves us as his children, but as servants he is only looking for obedience. This is vital to understand so that when God speaks and gives us direction we are not like Moses, giving our excuses. If God said it don't philosophy over it; just do it.
This is the idea of what Paul was writing to Timothy. He just told him to fan into flame the gift that was given to him when Paul laid hands on him. In other words, God had equipped Timothy with his own power so Timothy could be obedient in the tasks he was given. Timothy did not have the ability but God did through him. So now Paul encourages him to not allow anything to prevent him from being obedient and faithful:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
If you are serving God in your strength and ability, stop it! You are serving God with your limitations and he can't use what you are offering. It will be of no eternal value. He wants us to serve him with his limitlessness.
We have no excuse for hanging back; no excuse for disobedience. We can't say it isn't our personality. We can't say it is out of our comfort zone. We can't say we are afraid of failure. We can't say that we are too timid. If we do then we better wake up to the fact that we are trying to serve him in a manner that does not honour him. We do not have a spirit of timidity but of boldness in Jesus Christ.
By the Spirit we have been given to serve him we are filled with his power. Do you understand that? Not our ability and power but God's infinite power to overcome all things, to do all things, to be all things. We cannot serve him in our limited love but we have been given his love through the Spirit to serve him in the attitude of love. If we do not feel the love and compassion of God for all people, how can we serve him in this world?
By this same Spirit we have been given self-discipline. It means there are no excuses. When we are tired we lean on Jesus and we serve in his energy. When we feel lazy we put that lazy spirit under our feet and serve him in his strength. If we lack self-disciple in anything in our life it is because our life does not belong to Jesus. Are you understanding the point here?
My fear for Christians is that we do not understand this foundation matter. We are disciples of Jesus Christ. We have died to ourselves and our lives are now empty of ourselves and the only reason we have for living is Jesus. He is not interested in our opinions; we is looking for our faithfulness and obedience. It doesn't matter if you think it is a bad idea; if the Spirit told you to do it then do it and let God work it out. I realize this is hard, especially when we are young, middle aged or old. Get the point? It is always hard to remain submitted to Jesus, but we must if we are going to live up to our potential in him. Trust. Obey. Allow the Spirit to work through you. No excuses.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Is He Really Our Everything?
I apologize for being so late on the blog this morning. I have taken on responsibility with my son at his Snack Shack and it is taking a little bit on my part to adjust. I also see that I was in error with what I wrote yesterday. I had said that we would start with Ephesian today but I failed to note that we went through Ephesians just two books ago. So today we will start right in on 2 Timothy, Paul's last letter, written at the same time as Ephesians.
Paul was writing to his friend, who was once like a son to him. When they first met, Paul had invited Timothy to join him and Silas as they were heading out on Paul's second trip. At that time, Timothy was not being invited as a fellow worker but more as a personal assistant. To put it frankly, Timothy was being invited to prepare meals and do the laundry. However, on their journey. Paul discipled Timothy, teaching and training him so that Timothy would come into his calling. But,as Paul wrote this letter, Timothy was no longer this young man.
Timothy was now a full partner in ministry, having responsibility to oversee the work of the Church in the area of Ephesus. Timothy would have been a well respected leader, closely tied to Paul's significant work in the Asia-Minor area.
It was also a very trying time for Paul. He had been imprisoned in Rome for a number of years. Although it was a house arrest and he could have visitors, it was far from the freedom Paul had enjoyed before. It was from this imprisonment that Paul would receive news and would send out letters to correct and encourage the Church. He had several men who he trusted and sent out with his letters and to minister to specific areas of the Church.
Paul seems to have had some insight as to what was going to happen to him in the next little while and he was trying to get everything in order before his departure. His letter to the Ephesians was like a departing parent to a child and his letter to Timothy had that same sense. Along with this, Paul was aware that many leaders were distancing themselves from him and even the gospel of grace was under fire. Could you imagine working so hard for the Kingdom only to see everything coming undone with no ability to stop it, knowing time was running out? But Paul knew that God measures success in a different manner.
Knowing all this, how Paul begins his letter to his close friend, takes on a special significance:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:1)
Paul was not just any man or any leader, he was an apostle of Jesus. Not representing just anyone but representing the instrument of all creation, the Son of God. Paul walked in humility in this role but he also operated in the authority that was given to him. It is as if he was stating, "I still know who I belong to".
We also see here that Paul was assured that his calling and purpose was by the will of God, not Paul's choice. There is something assuring in this fact. Do you understand that when you speak, it is in Jesus' authority. When you act, it is in Jesus' authority. When you stand against the storm it is in Jesus' authority. It is sad that more of us do not understand our reality and often allow things in life to become more and Jesus' authority to become less.
Paul also recognized that there are greater things for us than what this life has to offer. Paul made it clear that Jesus was his promise for everything. If he lost his home it was nothing to him compared to knowing Jesus. If he lost his life in service to Jesus, it was nothing to him because to die is gain in Jesus. The only thing that really mattered to Paul was the responsibility that Jesus had given to him, and we will see more of that as we get into this letter.
Paul was as human as you and me, changed by the same blood of Jesus, having received a calling just as we have. Perhaps our labour is a bit different but the source remains the same. I wonder if we have the same insight for our calling. I wonder if we could lose everything and still press on with our call. I wonder.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Passion For The Name
Why are we so passive in our service to Jesus? In fact, could we even say that we are serving him? We have this ongoing identity crisis in the Church. Perhaps not identity, we know who we are, we just don't know what that means. We seem to think that we are here to worship. We think as long as we are worshipping everything is going to be okay. Although worship is part of who we are and is our great desire, it is not why we were left here. If God just wanted us for worship he would have brought us home where we could do it better. No, we worship but we worship while we serve because we have been left here to serve. But we are pretty lousy servants.
Is there a fire burning in your belly? Are you willing to give everything up to complete the task that has been given to you? Does it occupy your thoughts and direct your actions? For most I would say not. Jesus is something we do on the side, an addendum to our life, more like a good luck charm or an insurance policy. We have our own agenda and purpose and just want to thank God whenever he blesses us in it. But that is not how it is suppose to be. That is a religious notion and one that offends our God who told us that he must be central to our being.
Some do not want to consider our service to be a struggle. They do not want to think it would take much effort. They do not want to think that we have to make any kind of investment in God's mission. But it is a struggle, it does cost everything, it takes a great deal of investment of time, energy and effort. Apostle Paul called it a struggle:
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. (Colossians 2:1)
No one can deny his passion in his service, or the sacrifices and cost he paid to complete his race. He faced death all day long, spent countless days in jail, was a hated and wanted man, survived several ship wrecks, sacrificed food and sleep. Paul did whatever he had to do to fulfil his service to Jesus. He was not earning anything from God because he knew it was already his, done by Jesus. But Paul served out of a great sense of debt to Jesus for the extravagant love that had been poured out on him.
I think many of us are appreciative but few of us feel any great debt to Jesus. It almost comes across like God owes us something instead of the other way around. Jesus said that a sign of our love for him is our obedience to him. We serve out of love and obedience that comes from that love. When we serve out of love and not obligation we serve with our entire being, holding nothing back. We make the most of ever opportunity.
Is there a fire in your belly for Jesus? Does he have all your passion? Do you have in mind to serve in the same attitude that Paul served, nothing held back, no matter the cost? Are you willing to become hated for doing the right thing. Are you willing to worship in the actions of your hands instead of just the words of your mouth? We know what God was willing to do to save this world, now what are we willing to do to bring that message to those who are lost in the dark?
We need to find our passion again. We need a deep renewal of our relationship with Jesus. We need a refreshing, a reminder of his great love and his call to action. We need to wake up to his call to service.
Is there a fire burning in your belly? Are you willing to give everything up to complete the task that has been given to you? Does it occupy your thoughts and direct your actions? For most I would say not. Jesus is something we do on the side, an addendum to our life, more like a good luck charm or an insurance policy. We have our own agenda and purpose and just want to thank God whenever he blesses us in it. But that is not how it is suppose to be. That is a religious notion and one that offends our God who told us that he must be central to our being.
Some do not want to consider our service to be a struggle. They do not want to think it would take much effort. They do not want to think that we have to make any kind of investment in God's mission. But it is a struggle, it does cost everything, it takes a great deal of investment of time, energy and effort. Apostle Paul called it a struggle:
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. (Colossians 2:1)
No one can deny his passion in his service, or the sacrifices and cost he paid to complete his race. He faced death all day long, spent countless days in jail, was a hated and wanted man, survived several ship wrecks, sacrificed food and sleep. Paul did whatever he had to do to fulfil his service to Jesus. He was not earning anything from God because he knew it was already his, done by Jesus. But Paul served out of a great sense of debt to Jesus for the extravagant love that had been poured out on him.
I think many of us are appreciative but few of us feel any great debt to Jesus. It almost comes across like God owes us something instead of the other way around. Jesus said that a sign of our love for him is our obedience to him. We serve out of love and obedience that comes from that love. When we serve out of love and not obligation we serve with our entire being, holding nothing back. We make the most of ever opportunity.
Is there a fire in your belly for Jesus? Does he have all your passion? Do you have in mind to serve in the same attitude that Paul served, nothing held back, no matter the cost? Are you willing to become hated for doing the right thing. Are you willing to worship in the actions of your hands instead of just the words of your mouth? We know what God was willing to do to save this world, now what are we willing to do to bring that message to those who are lost in the dark?
We need to find our passion again. We need a deep renewal of our relationship with Jesus. We need a refreshing, a reminder of his great love and his call to action. We need to wake up to his call to service.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
What Are We Without The Spirit Of God?
As I read through the books of the prophets I am continually amazed at how much of what they saw had to do with the end times. So many prophecies deal with Jesus and even the Church. Then there are the prophecies that speak directly to the end of the ages. It is hard to understand how anyone who takes the time to study the Scriptures could turn around and say there is no God. What also concerns me are those parts of the Church that continue to deny the work of the Holy Spirit. Listen to God through the prophet Joel:
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)
We hear the words of Jesus:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
We have the arrival of the Holy Spirit:
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:3-4)
The fact is that we cannot be the children of God without the Holy Spirit. We cannot serve Jesus without the Spirit. We have no connection, no power, nothing without the Spirit. The Spirit is the only means we have to be in Jesus and for Jesus to be in us:
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. (Romans 8:5-7)
Scripture is even stronger than this, telling us that if we are without the Spirit we are without Jesus:
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
I realize that this is a lot of scripture for a blog but there is a ton more concerning the Spirit because our life here depends on him. We need a good understanding of life in the Spirit if we want to be saved and serve Jesus in this place. The only way we can have victory over our flesh is to surrender control to the Spirit.
Why then is there such skepticism at the manifestations of the Spirit? If we are possessed by the Spirit, control by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, should we not expect supernatural things to be occurring? Remember that Jesus set for us an example of life in the Spirit. Consider the manifestations of the Spirit through him and he turned around and said we would do greater things.
If you walk up to a person on your city streets and tell them that Jesus loves them they will probably swear at you. If you walk up to that same person and speak a word of knowledge you will have their full attention. We cannot serve the Lord in our flesh. We have to put our flesh under submission to the Spirit and then do what the Spirit tells us to do. We have to release the power of God in ourselves so that we will be effective workers in the Kingdom.
What is impossible for man is possible for God and he works those possibilities through you because of the Holy Spirit in you. We have to discover the Spirit of God, realize his role and allow him to function through us. People are screaming at us to show them our God and all the time he is right here waiting to glorify himself to the nations through us. He has poured out his Spirit on his children but his children sit in denial while the world goes to hell. Come on people, the Father is calling his children back to him so we will be obedient in all things through the Spirit who possesses us.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." (Joel 2:28-29)
We hear the words of Jesus:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
We have the arrival of the Holy Spirit:
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:3-4)
The fact is that we cannot be the children of God without the Holy Spirit. We cannot serve Jesus without the Spirit. We have no connection, no power, nothing without the Spirit. The Spirit is the only means we have to be in Jesus and for Jesus to be in us:
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. (Romans 8:5-7)
Scripture is even stronger than this, telling us that if we are without the Spirit we are without Jesus:
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
I realize that this is a lot of scripture for a blog but there is a ton more concerning the Spirit because our life here depends on him. We need a good understanding of life in the Spirit if we want to be saved and serve Jesus in this place. The only way we can have victory over our flesh is to surrender control to the Spirit.
Why then is there such skepticism at the manifestations of the Spirit? If we are possessed by the Spirit, control by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, should we not expect supernatural things to be occurring? Remember that Jesus set for us an example of life in the Spirit. Consider the manifestations of the Spirit through him and he turned around and said we would do greater things.
If you walk up to a person on your city streets and tell them that Jesus loves them they will probably swear at you. If you walk up to that same person and speak a word of knowledge you will have their full attention. We cannot serve the Lord in our flesh. We have to put our flesh under submission to the Spirit and then do what the Spirit tells us to do. We have to release the power of God in ourselves so that we will be effective workers in the Kingdom.
What is impossible for man is possible for God and he works those possibilities through you because of the Holy Spirit in you. We have to discover the Spirit of God, realize his role and allow him to function through us. People are screaming at us to show them our God and all the time he is right here waiting to glorify himself to the nations through us. He has poured out his Spirit on his children but his children sit in denial while the world goes to hell. Come on people, the Father is calling his children back to him so we will be obedient in all things through the Spirit who possesses us.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Remember What Jesus Did For You
Imagine where you would be right now without Jesus. Sometimes we forget what we were before he saved us. Sometimes we forget what transformation we have been going through. Sometimes we forget how we used to think and act. Sometimes we forget just how wretched we were before encountering the Son of God who called us to himself, to be transformed from what we were, to become what we are, the children of God. We also forget the trust he has shown us by calling us into the mission of redeeming lost souls. When we remember all that we can say with apostle Paul:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. (1 Timothy 1:12)
Paul served with all his heart because he never forgot what Jesus did for him. He never forgot what he was before he met Jesus:
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. (v. 13)
This blasphemer, persecutor and violent man deserved death but he did not receive it. Instead Jesus revealed himself to Paul and called him into his service. He extended great grace to him and that grace turned Paul from a persecutor to the great champion of the Body of Christ. The Spirit poured incredible revelation through Paul so that we today could have better understanding of many spiritual matters. From a man who hated Christ to a man who has been used by Christ for nearly two thousand years. Paul's appreciation of what Jesus did for him are expressed in simple, humble words:
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (v. 14)
In the same way Jesus called Paul he has called you. You don't think he wants to use you in your service to him? You think you are unworthy? Yes, you are unworthy, but he has declared you to be worthy. He took a murderer and turned him into a great lover, so imagine what he can do with you if you trust him with your heart, mind and soul. Imagine what he can do with a life that presents itself like putty in his hands. Imagine what his will is for you if you would only remain sensitive to his Holy Spirit.
There are many things you and I should have in common but one in particular should stand out for us: a grateful heart. Each of us should be shouting out praises as they rise up from the overflow of our gratefulness. Every morning should start off with "Thank you Jesus". Throughout our day we should be lifting our eyes up and thanking Jesus. In the sunshine and the rain it should be "Thank you Jesus". In winter and summer, spring and fall - "Thank you Jesus". Remember what you have been saved from. Remember his grace. Remember and serve him well today, with all your strength, from a thankful heart.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. (1 Timothy 1:12)
Paul served with all his heart because he never forgot what Jesus did for him. He never forgot what he was before he met Jesus:
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. (v. 13)
This blasphemer, persecutor and violent man deserved death but he did not receive it. Instead Jesus revealed himself to Paul and called him into his service. He extended great grace to him and that grace turned Paul from a persecutor to the great champion of the Body of Christ. The Spirit poured incredible revelation through Paul so that we today could have better understanding of many spiritual matters. From a man who hated Christ to a man who has been used by Christ for nearly two thousand years. Paul's appreciation of what Jesus did for him are expressed in simple, humble words:
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (v. 14)
In the same way Jesus called Paul he has called you. You don't think he wants to use you in your service to him? You think you are unworthy? Yes, you are unworthy, but he has declared you to be worthy. He took a murderer and turned him into a great lover, so imagine what he can do with you if you trust him with your heart, mind and soul. Imagine what he can do with a life that presents itself like putty in his hands. Imagine what his will is for you if you would only remain sensitive to his Holy Spirit.
There are many things you and I should have in common but one in particular should stand out for us: a grateful heart. Each of us should be shouting out praises as they rise up from the overflow of our gratefulness. Every morning should start off with "Thank you Jesus". Throughout our day we should be lifting our eyes up and thanking Jesus. In the sunshine and the rain it should be "Thank you Jesus". In winter and summer, spring and fall - "Thank you Jesus". Remember what you have been saved from. Remember his grace. Remember and serve him well today, with all your strength, from a thankful heart.
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