God Really does have a Purpose behind your Problems!

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

God is our refuge and strength!  

As a pastor I hear this lament all of the time, sometimes it even comes from my own lips, “Why doesn’t God help me in my troubles?” This is a legitimate question to ask. A lot of Christians tend to be afraid of asking God why, or earnestly seek to resolve their crisis. Thinking I do not have enough faith or I would not go through this. Or I do not want others to know, for they would think bad of me or that I caused it. Or we use the crisis to grab the attention ourselves.

Why, why, why we ask! Yet, it is not so much a question of how we answer the problem of suffering, the why it has happened to me.  It is not always about how we can get an answer, seeking the ‘why’ from God, the why this has happened to me. The why is not always important as Job found out. Rather it is about how we live our lives regardless of our circumstances. God understands that even though we may have buried a loved one, we cannot bury our feelings. We need time to morn and vent—and even inventing ways of coping with the loss in our lives. God records in His Word that people in biblical days were in no hurry to rush through the process of grief. But, they did eventually get on with their lives!  “a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build”, (Ecc. 3:3). The ‘why’ is not the solo quest we are to seek. ‘Why’ is not the place we are to live our lives and concentrate our devotions too.  By dwelling on the ‘Why’ will keep us away from learning, takes our eyes of Him, it even interferes in His healing grace, because we are so full of ‘whys’ there is no room for Christ!

If we are going through tough times, we need to know why, and what we should do when we are in them. If not we become confused, frustrated and disillusioned. At the same time we cannot be consumed with the why! Yet in the Psalms we see David go through so much and still trust and obey more than most of us could ever do. And he does this without the New Testament at his disposal, or the scores of resources and places to seek help that we have. Yet David does ask God the hard questions, but he did not stop there. David also knew God intimately and trusted him wholeheartedly even in times of severe trials, and even going through them again and again. Just read though the Psalms, and see David’s passion and conviction to God’s call.

We must first adjust the way we perceive life. Even as Christian sometimes we have faulty views and expectations we pick up by listening to bad teaching and bad advice and then there is the influence of our culture. First of all bad things do happen! And they happen to good people (in the way we see good, in God’s eyes of course all have sinned and there is no good, except what Christ brings us). We will go through trials, troubles, and tribulations. So what we have to do is figure out what we do when it happens.

Read Psalm 46: 1  What lesson do we learn from it, how do we grow better so we do not become bitter. We need to see His promise is:

God does not look upon trouble as we do. Where we see stress He sees opportunities. Where we see crisis, He sees growth and betterment. God’s purpose in times of crisis and trouble is to teach His children precious lessons. They are intended to educate, and build us up. And when we learn from them and ride out these storms of life, we will see the great promise fulfilled. His glorious recompense will come to us throughout eternity. We need to see the joy and opportunities through times of problems. Because we will learn that there is a sweet and wonderful joy we can have here too. We do not have to wait until Heaven. We can learn to make our life joy filled by seizing the crisis and growing from it. To become the person that we are capable of being for our benefit and His glory!

So when God tests you, or bad stuff happens, we need to see it as a time for you to learn and to trust Him by changing what is wrong with you while putting His promises in your heart and feet. And when it is over we can look back and see that our trials have been necessary. We are better, He is glorified!

I do not like going through trials, for many years I would try my hardest and get out of a trial. And then be thankful that it was over. But they kept happening and happening, so I had to rethink my strategy from my purpose to what has revealed in His Word. And that is to recognize the crisis as a challenge from God to learn valuable lessons to make me grow in maturity and strength. And then I was receiving a better blessing than I ever had before. As stated in I Chron. 4:9-10, as the ministry He entrusted me with grew and grew. I can praise His name in deep suffering and delight in the blessings. And when those storms of trials and crisis come, I’m prepared, because I now see them as opportunities to gain more strength and maturity, and even obtaining a larger measure of Divine grace. Thus our adversity can and will become our tools to grow and learn to be our best for His highest. So things that are seemingly against us, He will turn around in His time and way. We have to get out of His way and allow Christ to work. And this is how we become more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Rom 8: 37-39)

To be a content Christian and happy with life, we need to see life as a series of problem solving and learning opportunities. Because the problems we face will either overwhelm and overpower us or grow and develop us. Thus, the path of joy is determined by how we respond to them. Unfortunately, most people including Christians will fail to see God’s hand in their life. Choosing instead to focus on their problem and allowing it to take over their lives: Like a terrorist holding them at gunpoint and refusing to allow the help to rescue them.

God wants to use our problems for good, to make us better and stronger for our personal development and in turn for us to be able to help others in their lives. So the unhappy, confused and disillusioned Christian will react irrationally with their problems rather than taking the time through spiritual discipline to see the advantage they bring them. So what can we do to refocus ourselves onto the right path? 

The Coming Storms of Life
 
Unexpected crises are a part of life, they are like storms. At this moment you are in one of three storm categories; either you just came out of a one, or you are in a one right now, or you are headed into one. Such as it is with crises, they cannot be escaped, even if you hide in the storm shelter it is still there pounding away! Thus we need to learn how to prepare and ride them out. As with crises, we must learn to prepare and ride them out by learning and maturing from them.

One of the great illustrations of both crises and storms in the Bible is in Acts. Paul is headed from one prison in Jerusalem to one in Rome for an appeal to Caesar. Paul and 275 of his companions where headed straight to the biggest storm and crisis if their lives. It lasted many days, and they lost all hope, until Paul through the visit of an Angel reassured the crew. 

Read Acts 27 From this passage we get three insights on how to guide us through the storms of life:

1. Determine the reason for your storm. 

Bad weather happens for scientific reasons, they are caused by low pressure zones, evaporation cycles and jet streams all converging. Our crises in life too have a root cause. So what is the cause for yours? To make this determination you must dig below the surface of your fears and experiences. You have to uncover things you may not want to face, but have to, to be able to get through them.

For Paul he had three reasons. 1. The ship captain did not listen to Paul’s godly advice and focused on greed from the ships owner, in effect bad advice. 2. They also let the bad advice escalate to the crew and their lust for profit and speedy return to the homeport. 3.  They relied on their greed and impatience to cloud a sound logical look to their circumstance and the right decision to make. Such as the captain, owner and crew knew that storms accrue where they were headed at that time of the year. So they relied on luck and misplaced hope rooted in greed, by a vote of public opinion that led to disaster. One bad decision escalated by another and so forth.

For us we need to be aware of relying on just what we know. Because it will cause us to get impatient and then we will not listen to good advice or even seek it, thus we will make bad decisions. So when the storm clouds begin to form, it is not a time to be impatient and ignore it, hoping it will go away. It is a time to seek His face in surrendered devotion and prayer.

Use the time to seek the reason. Maybe a bad decision you made? Bad advice you received? Sin? Or perhaps you are not growing in faith and practice, and God needs your attention. Maybe you cannot find the reason, Job was never given one. So if you took a careful look inside yourself, immersed yourself in prayer and sought Godly advice, and still no reason, then don’t get hung up on seeking the reason. Maybe He does not want you to know it, or you are not ready for it. But in most cases it is there in plain sight, you just need to get the distractions of fear, your will, and expectations out of the way to see it.

2.  Determine what the result of the crisis may be. Read Psalm 76:16

The crew knew the risk of shipwreck and death, but greed clouded their sight. Paul warned them of the result, but they would not listen. So God used their bad judgment to open up further opportunities as stated in Acts 28.

What will be the consequences and possibilities for our direction and decisions? So we need to learn and grow from our crisis, to see the opportunities to enlarge our perspective, sharpen our skills, and develop our character. And we need to do this in our preparation and not wait until the end to figure things out. Because when we have the attitude of learning through it, the storms are not so tough, and we receive the blessing and maturity with less stress and struggle. Look ahead, plan accordingly through your prayer and walk with Him. 

3. Determine you response

We need to ask ourselves how do I respond to the crisis, what is the best thing I could do?  There are 3 elements that make a Godly and correct beneficial response. 

1. Deal with the problem. You cannot solve any problem by ignoring it! This is not an easy process, because it requires us to give up of ourselves and self will and put our focus on Christ. To be able to focus on Christ the lens must be moved from our will to His. Then the proper perspective will come by prayer and His Word, and listening to others and comparing what they say to the Word. Know that God will give you the strength and perseverance, because what gets us through is not our strength, but His! 

2. Confess Sin. Many times we bring these crisis onto ourselves. We do this by deliberate sin, or just making bad decisions and listening to bad advice. So we have to determine our part and correct it. Seek His forgiveness and others if necessary. We have to be big enough to allow the Holy Spirit to live in us, and we become big not by food, but by confession, admitting our mistakes and then be willing to correct them. We cannot seek to blame others or make excuses. Yes people will do stuff to you and ruin your life; there too we have to seek our part for allowing it to happen, or by looking at our motives and behavior.  Being responsible may not be the thing certain ex-presidents do, but it is what a Godly disciple of Christ does. This is the mark of a genuine leader and emotional maturity! 

3. Take God’s Promises to heart. Pick up one of those promise books at a Christian bookstore. Then go over the verses in the category that you are dealing with. Then pray through those verses.  There are over 7,000 Bible promises that come directly from our Lord and Savior! You need to see them like a credit card with no spending limit and that you do not pay back, except by your love, trust and obedience. So charge away at those verses, see His love is guiding you.  This is the way to use His building materials so your home will become storm proof. So when the crises come you will ride them out to be better, stronger and more content to be the person that Christ called you to be! 

But why must I go through this stuff, is there not an easier way? Yes, we can ignore Him and live as a heathen, undisciplined, ignorant, confused, unhappy and purposeless. Then after this very short time on earth we are in Heaven for eternity, our reward, our character, our relationships will be determined by what we have learned here in this life! 

Read James 1:2-3 During my times of adversity I have learned five ways God will use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to Examine you.  People can be like canned food without the label; if you want to know what’s inside, just open them up! Does God need to open you up? When has God tested your faith with a problem? How did you respond? What did you learn? What do you think going through problems will reveal about you? Is your will and desire ruling over you or is Christ the true Lord of your life?

2. God uses problems to Lead you in the right Direction.  Sometimes God needs to slap us in the face to wake us up. Without such wakeup calls we will blindly fall onto the wrong path that leads to greater disappointment and ruin. We will not see it coming, because our will is in the way of His. But know this, God is there leading and protecting us, even when we do not see Him! And be warned if your will is in the way of His, He will light a fire under you to get you moving. If He didn’t, it would show He does not love you! Just as a parent will discipline their child out of love. Problems will point us in a right direction if we surrender our will over to His. His love is there to motivate us and change us into the best path and plan, much better than we could ever come up with! Is God trying to get your attention?  Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways. Pr. 20: 30 

3. God uses problems to Discipline you.  Sometime the only way to learn the lessons in life and to make us better is only by suffering and failure. It is like as a child being told by it’s parents not to touch a hot stove. And we all have touched that hot stove! Thus we learned by being burned. Now know this, God is not up there getting His jollies by infecting us, not at all! He loves us so much He will resort to what He has to do, to bring us up closer to Him. Remember He sacrificed His own Son and the extreme pain Jesus went through for us. Pain is a part of life, so it is best we except and learn from it so we do not have to keep getting burned. Most people only learn the value of something, such as health, money, or relationships by losing them. It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me attention to your laws. Ps 119:71-72 

4. God uses problems to Shield you from greater harm.  Problems can be a blessing in disguise, because they can prevent us from being harmed by something more severe. Such as a car breaking down just before is reaches the railroad tracks as a train is zooming by. Car breakdowns are stressful and costly, but the train is even more so. Just as the story of Joseph, he suffered needlessly from our perspective, but God protected him and turned it into incredible good. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” Gen 50:20 (NIV)

5. God uses problems to Refine and Improve you.  Problems are the main ingredients for us to build character. The key to these building materials is that they need to be used in the right way to be able to fit and function correctly. And that right way is how we respond and learn. God is far more interested in our character than our comfort. In the grand scheme of things, the meaning of life, the reason we live the life we are given is our relationship with God, and then others around us. So the most important thing we have in those relationships is our character, the only two things we will take into eternity, is relationships and character. 

“We can rejoice when we run into problems …they help us learn to be patient and patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.” Rom. 5:3-4 (LB)

Read Gal 2:20-21; Phil 1:6; 3:10 Remember this main point: Suffering and problems are not a personal attack from our God, He may bring us through circumstances to make us better and more of use to Him. So be assured that God is at work in your life, even when you cannot see Him. We will go though trials and suffering because of the sin that has infected the world and us. We will grow best for His glory by recognizing and confessing sin. Then we can grow even more when we learn and mature from those experiences. You will have far more contentment and joy in your life when you cooperate and allow God’s love to rule in your life, and surrender your fears, desires and pain over to Him. 

Read Ecc. 8:14  So what happens if I messed up? What can I do to recover from the Adversity’s of Life? What should I do when tragedy strikes?

Our primary goal is to learn from our mistakes and experiences, so we can grow in our faith and practice for His glory. 

1. Ask God to ease your grief. This is not denying it or ignoring your crisis, you are going through it for a reason. But as David did, tell God exactly how you feel. Use this to enhance your relationship with Him. (Ps.34: 18; Ps. 62:8) 

2. Be willing to receive help from others. Don’t isolate yourself. Christianity is not a solo sport, it is a team effort filled with relationships and opportunities. Find your support in a good and solid church family. If you are in a big church get in a small group, do not be alone or anonymous! Gal. 6:2

3. Refuse to be bitter. You have a choice: become better or bitter. (Job 21: 25 Heb 12:15)  How can I avoid bitterness? Accept what cannot be changed.  (Job 11:13,16)  Focus on what you still have, not what you have lost (1 Th. 5:18)

4. Remember what is important in life. And guess what, it is not our things and stuff. It is not the career, cars, boats, toys, education, looks, power, or status. It is Relationships, not things that matter. (Luke 12:15 I Tim. 6:7)

5. Focus on Christ. – This is the secret reservoir of strength we have access to. This gives us the perseverance in tough times. (Phil. 4:13) 

How do I do this?

• Place your trust and reliance upon Christ; this is where your stability comes from.  (Isa. 26:3 Ps.112: 6.7; 125:1)
 
• Learn to Listen. To our Lord through your prayer and devotions. And to godly advice. This is where our direction comes from. (Jer. 29:11)

• Look to Christ for salvation! “God is our Redemption, so because of what He did, we can draw our strength from Him and rest in His protection. Remember He always helps in times of trouble, if you do not see it, then you are not looking. (Ps. 46:2)

Some comforting verses: Psalm 31:9; Psalm 119:50; Isaiah 41:10; Rom 8:18; 28-29; 35-37; James 1:2-3;12; John 14:1; I Pet 4:12-19 ; Rev. 21:4!  
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What is love? wedding sermon

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

 

So much poetry and beautiful prose have been written over the millennia of human experience to try to capture its purpose and meaning. All of humanity in all cultures, places and time has sought out the meaning of love. They have done this through experience, emotionalism, experimentation, seeking desires, trying to add logic and reasoning to it, and seeking a higher being to name a few. 

So what is love? Well let’s find out by seeking love through His Word. 

First Corinthians 13 states: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always  perseveres. Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:1-8 NIV) 

What Love is 

This passage is our template on how we must behave towards one another as well as those around us. We can do our best in preaching the gospel with power and conviction, and have a church filled with wonderful programs and staffed with gifted people. We can be in a magnificent cathedral reaching upwards, manifesting, and pointing to the glory of God. However, if we are doing it for ourselves, out of selfish gain and not out of real love, we accomplish nothing. We become just an annoying noise to our neighbors to whom we are called to reach. The proper use of our abilities and gifts as a Christian is always within the parameters of love, just as God Himself works through all of His characteristics in love. (I John 4: 7-12) 

What Love Means 

This passage in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 shows us the path and way of our Christian life and walk. As Christians, we are to imitate Christ, and work within His parameter, which is love. This passage is a character description of who Christ is, and this passage must be our character description of how we are to act and behave responsibly in all that we do. 

When God tells us that love is patient, He means we are to give others room to grow and time to accomplish the work that God is doing in them. When someone is abrupt with us, or when someone treats us wrongly, we are called be patient because we cannot have everything our way all the time, every time. We cannot allow ourselves to become angry when others fail to live up to the expectations that we set for them.  Because God is patient with us, and God loves us, then, we are to show patience with others. We need not become angry, but be content, for this is love. Love never gives up. 

When God tells us that love is kind, He means we are to look for the best in other people. We are to spend our energy and time encouraging and building up one other, and not tearing others down. You see, God takes the circumstances of our lives and uses them in a constructive way for personal growth and for better use toward one another. God is not treating us as an object to be manipulated or controlled because He has given us free will. We should do the same with one another. Therefore, we need to always be seeking the healing of relationships, and be cautious in our judgments toward others. Love cares more about others that it does about self. 

When God tells us that love does not envy, He means we need to be happy for who we are and what we are. When we hear that a friend receives a promotion before we do, or gets something we wanted, we are to be happy for them. If we have a sibling who excels, we should be happy with them. If our neighbor has a brand-new car, we should be happy for him, and be thankful for the old wreck that we may drive. In other words, we are to be happy for someone else who has something we don’t have, even if we don’t like it. We must not become possessive or become control freaks, especially where it concerns others and our relationships with them. Being possessive and attempting to control others will cause the destruction of a church very quickly. At the very least, this will compromise its effectiveness. Love is letting go of our desires and wills for a greater love we cannot receive on our own–grace. Love does not desire that which it does not have.  

When God tells us that love does not boast, He means we are not to go around bragging about our accomplishments and abilities. We are not to go around showing off our possessions. By so doing, we are condescending to those who do not have such things. We are not to be so full of our accomplishments that we fail to see what others have accomplished. Because God loves us so much, we should have no need to impress one other. We must allow God to impress us with His greatness because He is God and we are not. We can so relax and enjoy who we are in Christ that we do not have to be in control or be the life of the party to feel secure. Love is the security we have in Christ that needs nothing else for fulfillment. Love does not strut around. 

When God tells us that love is not proud, He means we must be willing to be in relationships with all kinds of people especially those outside our perceived background and/or race. We must not let our fears hold us back from one of life’s most precious gifts–friendship. Not being proud means that when we make a mistake we can own up to it, and we can admit that we are wrong. Because God loves us, He is on our side, and wants us to grow and mature in His love. We do not have to have an inflated ego about the perceived importance of ourselves. We need to seek others first and their well-being, and not our arrogance and egocentric mentality. Love lifts up God and not us. Love does not parade itself.  

When God tells us that love is not rude, He means that we treat others with the respect and dignity that we would like in return.  Because God loves us, He sent His Son to cover us and protect us from His wrath. Therefore, when we make everyday mistakes or even the big mistakes, lightening bolts do not zap us. Because we are loved by Christ, we are not consumed by God’s wrath, as we deserve. So, in return, we should not go around with pride and commencement judging or zapping others with evil looks and condescending comments, thinking that we are “high and mighty,” and better than everyone else. Never think of yourself is as the capstone or the most important piece of the puzzle, because you are not. We should be grateful that God chooses to use us. Our goal is to work together and not be little dictators. Love cannot be in the same room with pride or apathy. Love does not force itself. 

When God tells us that love is not self-seeking, He means that we place others first and not ourselves.  That we are to be considerate, appreciative, not critical, and dignified as good manners would dictate to one another. Because God loves us so much, He did not have a self-seeking attitude. If He had, He would never have sent His Son on our behalf. Every Christian must respect the rights and dignity of other people and never force our will and thoughtless behaviors onto others.  We need to be happy when others around us experience success and growth, and never be jealous. Love is the seeking of His truth and finding a way to bring it to others. Love does not have a “me first” attitude. 

When God tells us that love is not easily angered, He means just that. We are to be very slow to get angry, and we are not to let little things cause us to “fly off the handle.” Because God loves us so much, He did not allow His anger to wipe us out of existence when we so much deserved it. Instead, He allowed His drama of redemption to unfold throughout history, climaxing with Christ. We need to try to understand other people, and place ourselves in each other’s shoes respectfully. We need to listen and not allow our hostile feelings to get the best of us. Since God is patiently working in us, we should reciprocate with the understanding of the debt we owe to God and the unfathomable love and concern He has for us. Love put us in other’s shoes. Love is not touchy and resentful and does not “fly off the handle.” 

When God tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs, He means we don’t go around with a list writing down the faults of one another.  Rather we are to look for the positive things that happen in our relationships and to affirm others. We should not go around with a negative attitude, but, rather, with one that is positive, enthusiastic and equipping to God’s people. Because God loves us so much, He does not keep a scorecard of our sins as long as we honestly repent of them. We do not need to reflect and gossip about the flaws of other people in order to elevate ourselves. God refuses to do that to us. Love lets things such as resentment and anger go, so they do not build up. Love does not keep a scorecard. 

When God tells us that love does not delight in evil, He means we should not enjoy it when bad things happen to others. We not only do not need to enjoy doing bad things to each other, but we must refuse to allow evil to happen. We should feel badly when we see others being hurt. Compassion is one of God’s great characteristics, and we should strive to our fullest to model it to one other. Because God loves us so much, He is deeply grieved when we do not follow His example and His will. We are not to put others down, in order to make us feel good about ourselves. Love is hurt even when an enemy is down. Love does not delight in evil. 

When God tells us that love rejoices in truth, He means when we see injustice corrected, and people treating others with respect, kindness, and honesty, we should feel wonderful. Because God loves us so much, we should live our life so that it reflects a God of truth and justice. Thus, we should find delight when we see justice being played out in others. As Christians, we should get excited when justice prevails, and we should be mad enough to do something when injustice occurs, and we see the rights of others being violated. We should realize how much God rejoices when we personally stand up to the pressures of life and prevail with integrity and truth. God’s Word is His love and truth. When we get into it and live it, we are showing Christ the Love He deserves. Love takes pleasure in truth. 

When God tells us that love always protects, He means we should feel protected and in return protect those around us. This does not mean we become security guards, rather it means our actions and attitudes should be such that they project protection and not destruction. Because God loves us so much, He does not forsake us even though others may do so. People will always disappoint us, and we will always be disappointing to those around us, but God will never disappoint us. Love perseveres, and is an easier route than running off and abandoning relationships to which we have a commitment. We should realize how much God is grieved when we fail to walk the life of His path and when we do not trust His protection. Love is always on the lookout for the best interests and protection of others where gossip and strife cannot function. Love has staying power. 

When God tells us that love always hopes, then we should be assured He will give us a future. We should be assured that when things are going bad they will always get better, that there is hope because our circumstances will always change. We should never lose hope.  Because God loves us so much, He always has hope for us. God is patiently working in us, and when we understand what God has truly done for us, then we should have as much hope as we could ever need. Love will see the potential in other people, what they can accomplish and become, and not hold them back out of our jealously. Love always is enduring and points to the future. 

When God tells us that love always perseveres, He means us to hang in there and keep going strong. Because God loves us so much, He will stand with us, and even carry us through our difficulties and upsets. Even when we feel we have reached rock bottom and have no hope, when we are filled with despair, God is carrying us because He loves us. This love will destroy rumors and gossip and cause us to believe the best about one another until proven otherwise by facts. Love carries us to the ultimate hope and points us to the cross and the eternity to come. What we do and learn here on earth will echo for eternity. Love refuses to quit. 

God’s love must be our model for life. It must flow into us from Christ, and in return flow out from us to those around us. God’s love is the ultimate power for the Christian. We are to be fueled and empowered by love through all situations. Christian love is the turning of our backs to self-concerns, and facing forward to our neighbors. It is the surrender of our will to His. Because, if love does not take us beyond our self-interests, then what we have is lust and not love! Then as the passage says, we are just noise that has no reason or purpose. Out of true love, God the Father gave us His Son, and the Son gave us His life in replacement for ours. The Son sent the Spirit to save us, and we should be literally overwhelmed–consumed with extreme joy and gratitude by what God has done for us. 

© 2002 R. J. Krejcir Into Thy Word Ministries

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Nicodemus?

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

INTRODUCTION

This passage contains the quintessential slogan, catchphrase or motto to what it means to be an evangelical Christian.  These precious words of Jesus in the 16th verse contain the heart of the gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” and also the controversy. This is a passage that tells us of ultimate love, yet is the focal point for contention and strife.

• Everyone should be familiar with the term “born again.” It has become very popular in American culture and is even a slang term or colloquialism to describe so many different kinds of events that have nothing to do with the way the New Testament uses it. I have seen it describe basketball or football teams, a renewal of a marriage, and revitalized in old town Pasadena a few years back.  And put down a person in the media who has made a commitment to Christ!

• This term born again is the heart of God’s love for us. Yet, in so many ways people seek to cheapen it or use it as a by word to attack someone who has the Lord as their ruler of their own heart and will. People in general do not like anything taking the place of their will, they want to rule themselves their will is their own, It belongs to no one, not even God. After all this is a part of freedom of being an American as some people would say.  Congress has in recent months used the term, being born again, to denounce some of President Bush’s appointments to the federal court because they are Christians and fear they would make decisions based on their faith and not from the court, or the sensational attacks last year from the media to bring down John Ascrfot the attorney general.

•   We cannot reach verse 16 until we overcome the barriers we place over verses 4-15!  There has to be a wakeup call, a light to be tuned on, a realization of who Christ is, this can be suddenly or it can take a lifetime.

SG 1: Groups: Read John 3:1-21 and make some observations:

Q: What are your thoughts about Nicodemus?

Q: What are the barriers that Nicodemus may have to overcome to accept who Christ is?

Discussion:

•    Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the council of seventy men who ran the religious affairs of the Jewish nation and who had religious authority over any Jew anywhere in the world.

• We need to understand the mindset of the typical Pharisee. If ever there was a group, in church history who could be called religious fanatics, it was the Pharisees. They were a very select group just a few to as many as 6,000 of them. They would take a solemn vow that they would devote every moment of there entire life to obeying the Law of God, as a way of pleasing God. That part sounds good. The Pharisees took this very, very seriously. Now, this sounds even better now. The law includes the Ten Commandments, and how we come before God in worshipping the One true God.

• They were very zealous about not having idols, honoring your father and mother, refraining from lying, adultery, and combating the 600+ other various other sins. So far so good, they seem sincere heart seeking followers of God someone to hang out with and learn from, or were they? The Pharisees were also the Telabaum of their day demanding strict adherence of the Law down to every last conceivable detail, with the exception they were not terrorists nor were violet, however they ruled with an iron glove. What had happened is in their zeal they put so many rules and regulations over the Law and how to seek God that the true law and how to reach God was coved and blinded by traditions and made up rules and regulations. So the average Jew on the street was blinded from freely worshipping and seeking their God. Instead they had hundreds of laws to follow.  These were the rules they confronted Jesus with.

• The Pharisee had the scribes transcribe their new laws called the Mishnah. The Jews still have this today and is one of their main commentaries. The other main book besides the Torah the Jews use is the Talmud, which is made up of commentaries on the Mishnah. For example in the Talmud there are 156 pages devoted just to the observing Sabbath as it applied to life! So the Jews placed traditions and rules on top of traditions and rules covering the original rule of God with their own roadblocks of reasoning and self proclaimed devotions. Many Christians do this too, we can place so much tradition we forget what it is and who it is we are to worship and do church for. We can see how serious the Pharisees were about keeping the Law. They wrote down all of the laws such as the Ten Commandments, then applied layers and layers of duties and commentaries over them, so the original meaning became lost over the centuries of doing this. Thus, when a rabbi wanted to speak on a topic or give a sermon they went to the Talmud as their first, and sometimes only prime source.

• We have a similar systems today. One of my favorites is called it case law. This is the set of court rulings over the past two hundred years that lawyers will use to argue and defend their positions in the courtroom and in arbitrations. The more case laws you can find to support and back up your position the more likely the judge will have no choice than to rule in your favor, less have their ruling overturned by a higher court. Which is a terrible thing to happen professionally as a judge. Yet in this country we have the constitution and the Bill of Rights and the various Amendments this is the definitive law of our country. Yet most law students will never actually read the original constitution or the bill of rights, they study the case laws that come from them period, and as a lawyer you cannot even bring up the constitution in most courtrooms, unless you want your case to be thrown out or be held in contempt. I’m not making this up just ask a lawyer as I did in preparing this illustration.

• This would be the same as if a pastor who went to seminary to only study the commentaries and what others have said about the Bible and never ventured for themselves into the Word of God. You might think, and rightly so, that this would be foolish, but many seminaries teach that way, the liberal ones nonetheless.

The point I’m trying to make here is each of these groups set up so many barriers and walls in front of the original source, that you couldn’t see the original source over all of those walls and barriers. This is the common practice in Law, most seminaries and even what Nicodemus the Pharisee thought and taught with.

SG 2: Small groups:

Q: The question we have to ask ourselves is what barriers do we place in the way of knowing Christ as our Lord?
• Barriers from knowing Christ?
• Barriers from growing in Christ?
• Barriers from following His will?

• We cannot make chapter 15 real and a lifestyle until we grow from 3:16!

Discussion: On the Barriers!

•    Perhaps what happens is we get ourselves so comfortable in the life of the church we forget what the church is all about. Thinking I go to church, I serve on a committee, my kids are in Sunday school, what more could there be?

•    Perhaps they were born into it, the church that is, grew up hearing all there is to know; yet it never sank in and transformed them.

•    Perhaps, they got turned off from the pious frauds they may have observed on TV or in the walk of life, psuedo Christians who talk the talk but do not walk the walk.

•    Perhaps they see the radical commitments of some of the born again Christians and think they are crazy

•    Perhaps there is a fear of commitment or a fear of conversion, they do not want to be confected of sin, they do not want the lights turned on, because they do not want to see what is hidden in the dark.
But what about us here in this room? Do we yearn for the lights to stay off, do we just acknowledged Jesus as a great teacher and founder of a religion, not wanting to be bothered with Him outside of Sunday morning? What do you think that God expects? Do we do as the Pharisees, but really dilute it down to just being a good person? I lived a good life? That all we need to do is do our best to obey the Ten Commandments, to live life as best we can, to try hard to do what the Bible says, if we read it at all, hopping this will please God and be accepted by Him? Or you are a committed Christian, but that commitment only goes so far…

Q: Maybe this is not a problem, but what perceptions and presumptions do you have that keep you from growth in sanctification?

JN 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Q: What did it take for you to realize if you did, the reality of Christ in your daily life?
Jesus is telling us that a new birth is absolutely essential to enter the kingdom of God. It literally means in the Greek: again (anothen), which has three meanings associated with it: 1. To do it a second time; 2. To begin radically and completely new, or a new beginning; and 3. It also means from above, that God must do this. Thus, we are to understand this term to mean a radical a new beginning from God. It is God who gives us this gift of love and salvation, something we cannot earn for ourselves or inherit from someone else.

And this is the contention of debate and why Nicodemus had such a hard time with it, and why so many people have a hard time with it, and why those parents I had to deal with had such a hard time with it: Why? We do not earn it! The whole Pharisee system was about earning God’s approval through works contrary to Duet 6 where we are called to love God. This is also the principle in the minds of most people, perhaps the biggest and most successful lie Satan has ever come up with!

Support throughout Scripture. Such as:

1 Pet 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. And in Romans and Colossians Paul speaks not only of being new creatures in Christ but being a new creation; of passing from death unto life to a new radical start.

Jesus sensed in Nicodemus a deep hunger and emptiness. Q: Is there a hunger in you for more out of your relationship with Christ, if so what do you need to do to get there? If not what is holding you back?

This was John Wesley’s favorite text, which he preached throughout all of England, Wales and Scotland, and then here in the US, that God used to start the great English and American rivals of the 19th century. A simple message of truth, “You must be born again.” Someone once said to him, “Why do you preach so often on ‘you must be born again’?” Wesley’s answer was, “Because — you must be born again.” That is what Jesus is saying.

But Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus and immediately jumps to gynecology. He took the word again (anothen) to mean  “a second time.” Hence his cynicism by saying: “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” How can I do that he says?”!

Q: How often do we see the simple things in life as absurd? Those parents did, the media does, and even congress does.

Mark Twain once said, “It is not what I don’t know about the Bible that troubles me, it is what I do know!” He was not doing what he knew. This is the real problem. Most people know what is right but they do not what to do what is right. The lights feel good when they are off and we can sleep through life content and comforted in our beliefs regardless of truth and conviction or faith. The reason they do not do what is right is because there is something wrong about who they are. You know, that is true of us all. It is called sin and that is our hardened will refusing to surrender over to God, we want to do and live our way with a who cares attitude, who care what anybody else thinks, including God!

I have been in pastoral ministry as a profession since 1982, and I can absurdly tell you that the one thing that keeps most people from accepting Christ as their Savior, to be born again, is that they do not want to admit their need. They do not want to admit that there is something basically wrong with them; they still cling to the idea that there is some good thing about them that God should accept, and if they do more good than bad He will have to let them into heaven. I do not think anything has been more destructive in the whole realm of theology and what is preached in a lot of our churches that we are OK as we are: No, repentance is necessary! Come one come all. But the Bible says we can’t come, He comes to us, Christ saves us, if only we acknowledge our need and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, yet so few will. Despite our best efforts we are not fulfilling God’s law. We are not able to do so. We desperately need a Savior!

So carefully conceder any barriers in your thinking that blocks you from the core truth and reality of life: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

GO OVER TRANSPARENCY
And what happened to our friend Nicodemus?

 JN 7:50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”

39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

At some point those penetrating words of got across those barrios, Jesus got through to him. Has the Word of the Lord gotten though to you?

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The Pursuit of Maturity

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

I Peter 5: 1-14       

Our focus today is verses 6 & 7 

Grape Nuts Illustration: ” What the box says it has in it, is not in the box”! 

I have seen in my life time the coming and going of many gifted people. These people were given great natural gifts by God and significant spiritual gifts. However, they never proved capable in the area of spiritual maturity and even have fallen away from the faith. They had the image of the box of grape Nuts, the image of being a committed Christian, but what was on their box did not match what was in them. They have become useless because they never learned to remove their own pride, and ambition.  They never learned to submit to someone else’s leadership and authority. 

In the life of the church we are to be submissive to those who are over us. It couldn’t be clearer, “Be subject to your elders.”I have my eye on several pastors who I know for certain will fall, because they refuse to submit to anything or anyone other than their pride.  I have seen it over and over and over. It amazes me how stupid we sheep can be! 

These people do not understand God, because they are filled with pride. They do not understand what our Lord is saying to us through Peter. They do not understand God’s care for us.          

Peter is addressing the ultimate purpose of life in this chapter. Who am I? Were am I going? And What is my purpose? If we do not answer these questions in our life, then we are driving around a strange city without a map. We are trying to find our way on blind chance without any directions.

Peter is writing to a group of people who have had it tough in life. These people then had significant born again experience in the faith. They had a good vertical relationship with God and a good horizontal relationship to each other. Yet they are being harassed in life, Yet they are having a rough time in persecution. The classic question of why do bad things happen to good people. The classic question has its answer here in this passage

Peter is pleading with his people not to fall away in despair. For there is hope, the hope of Christ. As James explained in  4:6-10

I. “Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand”:  

We Reformed Christians, who base our faith in our confessions and the Word. Because they are the most logical expression of the faith; should then be humble. First because this is our call and directive. Second because God really cares for us. Because verse 6 tells us to, “Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand”.

His mighty hand is a hand of love and care as the mighty wing of the chicken gently sweeps the chicks in its safe haven, {well its mighty to the chicks}.

Our Christian faith is different than any other religion because it is the story of God seeking us, His mighty hand choosing to save us. In contrast, every other religion is about people trying to find God. How comforting that our God cares to seek us, so we do not have to seek Him, because we are unable too. We are the object of His love and compassion; as John 13:1 says, “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

One of the clearest evidences of being a mature Christian is an increased awareness and knowledge for the need to be in Christ. So that our focus is not on ourselves. When we have an increased need for others that goes beyond our self, then we are acting humble. When we have an awareness that goes beyond our self-confidence, then we are humble. When our confidence is in on our Lord; then our self-confidence becomes Christ confidence. So our confidence is humbleness rooted and dependent in Christ who is working through us.

The result is that we are not self driven but Christ driven. Thus our will be in total surrender to God’s will as the driving force for our existence

Too many people feel they are to busy for this, to busy to ponder their own reason for existence. Just ask any one, “why do you exist”, and you will be surprised about the answers. God created us for a purpose, but most people give little to no credence to it, even Christians. We can not venture into maturity unless we realize the need and the purpose of who we are. And that is submitting ourselves to Christ and each other

The Old Testament has so much to say about this rich truth. Micah 6:8 tells us, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

” What does He require? To walk humbly with Him. What does that mean? We are to walk under His mighty hand.

Humble yourselves is one of the themes as God delivers His people. He delivered them out of slavery into a new land filled with vineyards, orchards, farm lands, and buildings, every thing they needed. Imagine that all of us were in slavery, never tasted freedom, and suddenly, we are relocated to live in the city of our choosing, filled with nice homes, businesses, farms, every thing we could possible ever need, nothing we earned or even deserved!

God is the deliverer we are the receiver, thus we are to receive in humbleness.

When we are In submission to each other, we absorb the experiences of each other. In submission and humbleness we engage each others experience, we engage in each others wisdom, we engage in authority. This will result in a church that is run is in a godly order. So that those in our congregation  who are qualified to lead will do so.  So what ever our gift and skill is, we are using them to build the body of our Lord. Building each other.  So qualified leaders who themselves are growing, well then exercise their wise authority, building us all up. This is humbleness, because we all can not be leaders, we all can not have the same gifts. So if your gift is not where you would like it, be humble and rejoice in the gift God gave you, and exercise it.

God’s mighty hand means God’s covering power.  God’s controlling power, God’s sovereignty, God is in charge. The mighty hand of God is the hand of God in charge of us. The  mighty hand of God means different things at different times. It can be a shelter rather than a deliverance.. But always it is the sovereign mighty hand of God…whether for deliverance, for testing, for chastening, always God’s mighty hand.

His mighty hand is always extended to us, alway outstretched to us {Duet 26:8}. God meets our needs. Paul tells us, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” {Philp 4:13}. 

So, Peter says, “Look, you just need to humble yourself”. The mighty hand of God is there to deliver you! The mighty hand of God is there to protect you through whatever you are going through. Don’t question God, don’t argue with God, don’t debate with God.  Humble yourself under His will, under His Word, under His power.”

We can not be a caring community if we are not in submission, if we are not humble in our relationship to God and then to each other.

II.”He will lift you up in due time”:

Submission is an act of faith. We are to trust God to direct our life. Even when we are suffering we are to hang in there and trust Him. Our completeness is our dependence in our Lord.  Learning to be dependent will be the strength that builds us up and makes us strong. Embracing our Lord until He delivers us in His due time. This to is humbleness at work. 

You do not need to fight it. You do not  need to argue with it. You need to accept the mighty hand of God over you whatever your circumstance. Because you know…”He will lift you up in due time” ...that He may exalt you at the proper time.” So what’s the proper time? His time, which is not our time, His time, the perfect time for God to lift you up. He knows when it is. We only think we know, but we do not! 

If we fight God at this point, we literally destroy ourselves and the church.  When we are suffering through very difficult experiences, we are not to become discouraged, we are not to blame God; rather, we are to be humble. Yes it is hard, but remember He is in charge.

Job tells us in chapter 30,

v20  “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.

21  You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me.

22  You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm.

23  I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

24  “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress.

25  Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

26  Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.

27  The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.

28  I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

Here Job is pouring out his heart because he lost every thing, his family, his wealth, his health, every thing! 

We learn from verse 7 that it is not so much a question of how we answer the problem of suffering, the why it has happened to me. Rather it is about how we live our lives regardless of our circumstances.

God sometimes brings pressure against you to test you, to purge you, to purify you so that you become strong and are more willing and able to be used to give Him glory. God’s goal is not to personally attack and destroy you. But rather, to improve us, to make us our best for His glory. He wants to grow us like an oak, which grows strongest with hash conditions.  We are to accept it and grow from it. The other choice is to become bitter and harsh, and all we end up being is a burden to others and our self.

We are to accept His mighty hand, and we will be lifted up. We are to endure the pain and difficulties that life brings, for He will lift us up. We are to endure the trouble and trials, for He will lift us up.

Our Lord will bring us the solution to our problems, on His time schedule, for our benefit. We want it done yesterday, He may say tomorrow.

Our Lord give us the prime example of this in the garden of Gethsemane. Three times it is recorded that Christ asked that the suffering that was to come be stopped, but each time He said to the Father not my will, but yours be done! Jesus Himself demonstrated the way. Will we not follow?

We will receive no answer until we say too. Verse 6 tells us, “not my will but yours Lord be done. That is not my way but your way Lord”!

One of the reasons we suffer is because of our pride, and our impatience with God. So He allows suffering, so we might learn patience. God has to teach us patience before He can use us. 

Psalm 119:50 tells us,”My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

The opposite would to be to rely on ourselves!

Psalm 88:8‑9 tells us, “I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you”. 

So what ever the circumstances, weather feast of famine, our God is sovereign. He is in control. Our whole destiny is in His hands. What incredible comfort! What comfort that He is in control and not we with our feeble ways!

So what does this humility require?  How can I make this work?  Prayer and more prayer and the death of our pride. Do not think this will be easy. Humbleness  takes the surrender of our will and much prayer…much prayer. It takes confession of sin

Peter says you also have to have an attitude of trust. Trust in what? In His care so that you cast all your anxiety on Him because you know He cares for you. And so you’re able to say, “Lord, …it’s difficult and I can’t handle the trial, but I’m going to give you the whole deal because I know      You care for me.

God will not lift us up until we are ready for it. Our grace came after the cross. Our crown comes after the cross. Suffering comes before glory.

Verse 7 tells us how to be humble. It is the promise and privilege from obeying verses 5 and 6.

III. “Cast your anxiety on Him”:

What word did I miss? ALL! That is cast all, all your anxiety on Him!

Not some, not a little, not all but one; all! All of our cares, all that was in the past. All that will be in the future.  All of our cares are to be surrendered to our Lord.

If you are looking for a solution to your problems then search no more. If you feel life is overwhelming you, seek your comfort in Him. Because He does care for you!

Receive His care, receive His love, surrender your doubts, your frustrations, your concerns, your frailty. Trust in God’s love in all of our circumstances

There are too many Christians who flat out and deliberately refuse to surrender themselves to the Lordship of Christ.  For them Christianity is merely fire insurance from Hell.

People will always disappoint us, we will even disappoint ourselves, but Christ will not disappoint, but gives us the care, love, and His grace that we do not deserve. Submission is a risk, there is a danger to it. Because people may take advantage or lead us astray. But this can only happen if we take our eyes of our Lord.

This requires an Attitude of Trust. verse 7, “Cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you.”

            The word “casting,” it is the throwing of something on something.    For example, casting a fishing line out or placing a blanket over a horse, {Luke 19:35}. Peter says, “Just cast it out, just throw it on Him all your anxiety.” What’s the anxiety? All of the discontent, stress, fears, discouragement, despair, questioning, wondering, pain, and suffering, all that we are going through, just give it all to Him. Trust in the God who really cares about you.

           Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never allow the righteous to be shaken,” Wow how encouraging and comforting! “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” He cares for you. Jesus said in the  Sermon on the Mount, “If He takes care of the lilies of the field, will He clothe you? If He feeds the birds of the air, He will feed you?” Paul says, “My God shall  supply..some or part, NO, ALL of our need.”

Christ gives us the courage to endure suffering. {Isa 41:10} Christ gives us the strength to persevere. {Philp 4:13} Christ gives us the wisdom to understand. {James 1:5} And Christ gives us the faith to put it in perspective and to trust Him and go on. {Psalm 37:5}

A few years ago I took 36 young people on a mission trip and a study of our reformation heritage to Germany. On a break we went into a museum and saw a lot of pre-renaissance paintings. The old paintings that are mostly black and dark images of saints.

At the end of a long hall of countless paintings that seemed all the same to me, one stood out. It was a rather large painting of disjointed dark colors, with no discernable pattern. It was more of and early twentieth century painting..

In fact I found it very ugly, so I looked at it more carefully. Not because I like ugly stuff, but because all the other paintings were boring. And this large ugly one stood out. Then I noticed a bright spot in the lower right hand corner. Then I took such a close look my nose was touching the canvas. Then I stood back, and called all the students over to see it.

I asked what did they see? And the answers were the same as mine first were. Ugly, dumb, pointless, dark, scary, foreboding and fighting. I pointed to the corner and said to them look there. There responses  were, wow’s, and oh yeas, they saw as I saw. A band of angels. In the dispar of the painting was a ray of hope.

So it is in our lives. In our trials and suffering there is comfort that is found only in our Lord. God’s mercy and love. We need to see our situation with the hope of the Gospel and not with the fears of our making. We must allow Christ to work in us and not just for us. So we can do as the Psalm says, “cast your burdens upon the Lord, and he shall care for you”. {Psalm 55:22} This is our hope and comport that should bring us to humbleness, and rid ourselves of our anxiety. 

Let’s pray.

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From Tragedy to Triumph!

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

Romans 8:31-39 NIV 

RO 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

[32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

[33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

[34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

[36] As it is written: 

  “For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

RO 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

[38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

[39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

On January 6, 1941 President Roosevelt addressed congress for his State of the union address. He emphasized on the growing war in Europe, and most of what he said has been long forgotten. However at the close of his address Roosevelt said, “To a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.”

And he went on about these four freedoms of Speech, Worship, Want, and freedom from Fear. These were the ideals of America and England, what the Allies were fighting for, even though we may find them scarce today. 

Romans chapter 8 is a Christian declaration of freedom. Because of who Christ is and did, and His beneficiary, us.

This Passage has special meaning for me, because it is the passage the Lord put in my heart when I asked Mary to be my wife. {Story of our proposal} And when we came back from my proposal we went to the evening service at my church, and they sang a new song that day on this verve! I never felt more confident in who I was and who God brought into my life as my wife. 

This passage is special to our children for it was the theme of our recent VBS. 

That confidence must be rooted in who we are in Christ, and our election is something that can not be shattered, torn or muted, because Christ’s love is the binding instrument to our salvation, CHRIST is the one who holds us together for His purpose. 

This is one of the most magnificent passages in the Bible, it is telling us that that Christ’s love is inviolable and invokable. He died for us. He gave Himself for us, and even to us in the form of the Holy Sprit. So that if we are truly His child, then, nothing can take that fact away from us! If we are His then no power can on heaven or earth can prevent it or stop it.

Nothing can ever prevent or separate Christ redeeming love from bring us into relationship with Himself, so that we mature and blossom for His glory.  

          So who are we in Christ, and what does this Chapter tell us. 

  1. First  We must believe we are the person God says we are. 

Rom 8:1-13—This section starts with “no condemnation”, and the chapter ends with “more than conquers” This prepares us for the final masterpiece of verses 38 & 39. That we start out with an escape of our punishment and the wrath of judgment. Sin has been judged and condemned, thus our salvation has become our liberation. So that we are to bare His blessings, and those blessings transforms us. 

That God is the life barer, He saves us, that not only do we have our sins forgiven, but, we have been given new life, an impartation of Christ’s work given to us. As evangelicals say being born again, our new life in Christ.

So our natural sinful self becomes impregnated by the power and work of the Holy Sprit. We may not see a physical manifestation, or feel its out come, but it is there.

This is were the work of faith comes in, that our faith is not the saving construct, but the response we give to Christ’s work. Faith is our acceptance of His redemption. This is beyond our conscious will, or the knowledge of science, what is beyond us is the fact of His work. His loving care that pursues us and holds us.

His pursuit and love is never changing, never wavering, never wearied, and never out of His control. His pursuit is to transform us in the renewing of our hearts and mind and will to be turned over to His will and purpose: That we are transformed into His Image.

New life is not a new law, it is a yielding of our will and desires to His, that we are to trust and obey, because there is no other way! We are to keep ourselves centered on Him who is the life giver, and then we can be the blessing barer.

Christ is our rule, Love and Lord, for He lives, and lives in us. The Sprit lives in us, in our lives for the hopeful result of our surrendered will and the harvest of a Sprit directed life, which the fruits of the Sprit flows, and the love of His redemption, so we love His people and His call.

  1. Second  We must believe we are where God says we are.

In the next section in Rom.8:14-17—tells us that we as believers are made a son and heir-We entered The body of Christ by the new life He gave us, we are free from the law and a priceless debt has been paid that we could never have possibly paid. Our gratitude must show the debt that was paid in our behave. This is our liberty, so what is our response?   -Gal. 4:4. Eph.1:3;  Eph.1:4.

If we hold to our self will and refuse to surrender, then we are in the way of our own growth. God can not move in us when we refuse to get out of the way. It is not that He can not, but He will not. We must abandon ourselves to Him, not to our reason, but to His purpose, not to common sense, but to His redemption. Out of His redeeming work comes our gratitude, our obligation to the Sprit.

Now you know no work can ever earn our place in His presence, no good work could ever pay the price that was called and expected. But our works are a mere feeble response to His majesty and grace. We must surrender to His glory, and not to our darkness and uncertainty, throw your self away to His plan and to the leading of the Sprit.

  1. Third  We must believe in the Hope that God says we are.

Rom 8:18-25-tells us that we must believe we can do what God says we can. Hope gives us the strength to go through live with assurance and confidence in what Christ did for us. In so doing we are not to feel stressed out and frustrated with lives circumstances. The suffering we encounter and see should not get our eyes off our Lord, because the Hope we have, and the place we have in His presence to come. 

John 14:12-14; Heb. 13:8

  1. Fourth  We must believe our guidance comes from our Lord.

          Rom 8:26-30—tells us that God’s driving purpose is make us the people that we can be, so that we succeed and prosper. Our guidance is drawn from the work of the Holy Sprit, who intercedes for us as we pray, who reveals the deeper things of God, who brings the love of Christ directly to us, who desires to work through us, who gives us the strength and perseverance, the wisdom and comport, the joy through suffering so we can be our best for His glory.

So the goal of the mature Christian is to learn and persevere for God’s glory through all circumstances, no matter what the deal is or the pain, we are to overcome, as Christ overcame for us.

          We will receive people in our lives that we may not like, circumstances that make us uneasy and on edge, but we can learn and preserver to His glory.  We are to allow the Holy Sprit to intercede for us by removing our distractions and living as to the fact that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Sprit. And as with any temple we need to be cleansed to be effective, to be undefiled and in prayer.

          And the assurance that all of our circumstances is ordained by our Lord, there is no chance in life. God may bring us into circumstances we may not understand, but they will work to His glory and purpose.

Because God knows all things and all possible outcomes of trillions upon trillions of contingencies. Because God knows all things, so no chance will come in to our life that is not foreordained in His plan. We are in the hands of our Lord.

          Our faith must be in Him, and being in Christ is diametrically opposed to the natural law of our desires and sense. Faith must be a possession that we hold too, and faith is saying yes Lord you said it and I obey it! Faith is the active endeavor of putting Christ first over all else. Faith will give us the push to go against the things that hinder us from our Lord. We must not allow ourselves to be enticed and fall to our evil nature, when we are more than conquers in Christ.

          Our faith will give us the assurance that God is sovereign and in control of all things. So let us not take our circumstance for granted, but be surrendered to learn, grow, trust and preserver. Because if we do not believe it, God is still in control, but we become disjointed and disillusioned and the sufferings we encounter will inflict unreparable strain and pain. And our great comforter is there we are just ignoring Him!

  1. Fifth  We must accept the love that binds us and refuses to let go.

Rom 8:31-39 Is The Masterpiece of the entire book Romans that acts as a funnel for chapters 1 to 8, and then beckons a response as laid out in chapters 9 to 16.

The love of God is real and binding and is for us now and continual, that noting can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. And then we can ask in confidence is there any thing, any reason in our lives that can and will separate us? Is there any reason why we can not be more than conquers? I say not, because God’s Word says so! 

And if you are still unsure check out these passages in your outline:

  1. We were Created in righteousness so that God sees us in Christ, and not our sin nature. II Cor. 5:21; I Cor. 1:30; Eph 4:24

              B. Christ who has made us pays the way of our salvation-Col.1:12            

    C. Christ who is the author and the finisher–Heb. 12:2

     D. We are new, not made over. Totally new creations made for His purpose   II Cor. 5:17

E.  We are acceptable, because of His sacrifice and not of us and our ability. Eph. 1:6

              Just sit down and watch the news and watch the news commentators and the man off the street interviews, and  you will quickly see America Is Familiar With Tragedy. We see the evil things that seem to separate us from the love of God. The sufferings of why did this happen to my son, to my daughter, to my wife, to my husband, to me.

It is not how we answer the question of why there is suffering and evil, or why do I suffer, it is about how do I live. How can I turn this around to a blessing so I can be made into the person God wants and desires of me.

We see in recent news events:

  • Waco, Texas
  • Murrah Federal Building
  • Littleton, Colorado
  • Yosemite
  • Murder suicide in Portavill
  • Our political leaders

The real tragedy is we are no longer shocked as a nation to the numerous shootings, that seem to come as daily news assurances to a desensitized and apathetic culture, whose youth are killing off each other in epidemic portions.

But even before these recent tragedies

  • Civil War
  • The Sinking of the Titanic
  • The Hindenburg
  • Apollo 1
  • Challenger
  • Our political leaders

          How do we live with these mass tragedies, and then there are the so many individual tragedies that take place in the lives of people everyday, and these tragedies leave us in question, and filled very deep scares as well.

Satan is in the business of deceiving and fooling Christians, Destroying and distorting us from the truth and promises of Christ, and like physical destruction, this is spiritual Destruction which has a lasting effect on our lives as well.

          How many times have we looked back on tragedy in our lives and asked why, or have come across people who are consumed by a single event in their past, that this one event has defined there entire lifetime and purpose of who they are.

And if it is us, who we are, what is our defining moment. Is our response: I’m a victim, a victim of a crime, a victim of a scam, a victim of a bad business deal, a victim of abuse: A victim of some social injustice, a victim of a bad work situation, or its usually just being a victim of my own self serving nature. Or is my identity of who I am rooted in Christ.

There is perhaps no one in this house of God who is immune from some sort of suffering, some sort of mistreatment, some sort of failure that we can look to a defying moment of who we are, a failure that they have lived.

          So the how do we live? Do we allow these defying moments of evil and attack on us to consume us, so the attack keeps coming even if the war is over, or do be become the more than conquerors, do we become the people of God were there is no condemnation, that we are more than conquerors, because what Christ has done for us. Or do we remain defeated from our victimization.

Nothing will separate means nothing will separate, that means our past sufferings have been covered and muted, and given over the glory of Christ.

God may not chose to keep us away from adversity and suffering, He promises to hold us, because He is with us. He only promises Himself, and that is all we need to persevere. As psalm 91 states, “I will be with you in trouble”.

          Yes we will suffer consequences in our lives from our actions and the actions of others around us, but do we let them consume us, or do we grow from them and be transformed by them.

          God will take you through moments of tragedy, not as a personal attack, but as a learning curve so we can be used more effectively for Him, in a world corrupted and filled with suffering and sin. I cannot tell you how many times God has used me because of what I went through to help others. Tragedy can become a triumph! Christ showed us the way and gave us the new life from what seemed to be tragedy, but Christ turned into triumph.

There are people that have never risen above the harsh victimization they went through in their life, have turned their victimization into an attack on others. Sometimes Satan will use our victim mentality for his glory, because we refuse to give it to Christ’s glory. Thus Satan, has dealt them and thus they have lived a life of tragedy and defeat, that, not only has affected them, but their children and others around them.

   Some of these People you may have heard of:

Adolph Hitler,   Ted Bundy,  Jeffery Dahmer, That Yosemite handy man, and Furrow who recently fired 70 shots from an uzi automatic weapon and  wounded and killed those children at a Jewish community center.

But, then, on the other hand, we can find people that have risen above the hand they have been dealt, and have gone on to redefine history.

People like:

Anne Sullivan – Born in Feeding Hills, MA, in 1866(1936), -. She was nearly blind from childhood  fever, and educated at the Perkins Institution in Waltham, MA. Were she became a teacher and taught Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind, and managed to brake through her isolation by spelling out words on her hand. For the rest of her life she remained Keller’s companion, and enabled Helen Keller to be on her own and help create the most influential person for people with disabilities, the world has known, as an author, lecturer, and advocate.

A lesson for us on how tragedy can be turned into triumph, a lesson on how the Holy Sprit works in us and His role as our advocate.

The young son of middle class Jewish couple Hermann and Pauline. Was a child that was considered stupid and worthless and hardly spoke at all until age 3. A child whose teachers said to his parents to put him in a mental institution because he was too stupid and unteachable. His name was Albert Einstein. And we know how he turned his tragedy into triumph. 

I have been through a fair share of tragedy myself. I lost my father at a young age, suffered through severe learning disabilities and dyslexia, were my teaches told my parents that I could never go to High School, and should be institutionalized. They thought this because I had a bad speech impediment, and could not read.

I learned to over come and went to high school, College, Graduate School, and seminary. Or I could have caved into my Victimization as so many people do, but God would not let me, I guess He had better plans that I did.

I want to get across with you this morning, what separates these two kinds of people. Why some wallow in defeat, while others turn tragedy into triumph!

Genesis 50:15-19; The story of Joseph, is one of my favorites in the Old Testament. Here is a story of redemption and overcoming adversity to thrive.

Joseph chose to turn his tragedy into triumph, he chose not to extract revenge, but to show mercy, he chose to serve his lord, and not his sin nature. What do we choose to do?

So what is the difference between these people groups and the deference between Jeffery Dahmer and Anne Sullivan, are some people just born with an overcoming spirit and others are not? No, it is a choice! And it is providence.

So were does providence fit in? Augustine said of God’s providence, that we must pray as it all depends on God, and work as if it all depended on us. Spurgeon said “I never try to reconcile friends” and Calvin quotes Augustine.

 JOS 24:14

First of all, we have to realize that continuing in our current cycle of pain and perceived tragedy is a matter of choice. We do not have to stay down there, we can choose to break out of this cycle and rise above our circumstances.

Secondly, there are some things that we have to choose not to do.

  1. We need too Stop worrying, MT 6:25-27

   2. We need too Stop whining about where we are and how we got there.

   3. We need too Stop wallowing in self pity.

   4. We need too Stop blaming God

   5. We need too Stop blaming others

   6. We need too Stop blaming ourselves

   Thirdly there are some things you need to learn to do.

   1. Understand the nature of satanic attacks (Don’t take satanic attack too personal).

   2. Keep things in perspective. Don’t take satanic attacks too serious we do not have BIG DEVIL and a little God. We have a BIG God and a little kicked out of paradise and sentenced to Hell, already defeated devil.

We must not swing the other way either, We can not be so overconfident that we become cocky.

          3. In every thing, learn to praise God. 1Thes 5:18

4    Realize that God has a purpose for you, and it is much more than you realize.  Jer 1:5, 

  1. Realize that God has given you the power to prevail. 1 Cor 15:57

Our Lord has given us the ability to choose between victory and defeat. And if we continue to live a life of self-defeat, there is no one to  blame but ourselves. We have to choose to be a winner, to fail to choose to be a winner is to choose to be a loser. And a chose to reject the love and plan He has for us.

A Question, Can anything separate us, tear us apart from the love of Christ?

  1. Tribulations and sufferings – we will be stressed, tested; to preserver for His service.
  2. Distress – It may be in great physical, spiritual, emotional, or financial hardship.
  3. Persecution – we may be called upon to take a decisive stand.
  4. Famine – we may suffer loss until it seems we are starving for food
  5.  5.  Peril – great dangers may come our way in this life
  1. Sword – we may even DIE, but as Paul said this is our gain.

An Answer – Things can separate us from our perspective in loving Christ, but  there is NOTHING that can separate us from His love for US! He loves us unconditionally! This is Grace!

Through all these things listed in verse 35; the Bible says we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter – God’s children through the ages have been hated and despised by the world, by the enemies of God – but Christ’s love is greater!

Paul in Acts 20:23-24 said it best!  The worst of what he went through was nothing to him because the love of His Lord was matchless!        

Fox’s Book of Martyr’s Tells us the story’s; of Christians past who have beaten, maimed, stricken, afflicted, killed, fed to lions, burned at the stake –Yet there has always been an increase of the devotion and faithfulness of the Christians, as we see in parts of the world today.

There should be an increase of our love, our devotion, our faithfulness for our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ because of His matchless love for us! 

So what is THE MIGHTINESS OF HIS LOVE

A. The love our Savior has for me is the love that enables us to be more than a conqueror – only THROUGH Hm.

  1. His love conquered death on our behalf, Hell has no hold or reservation for us in Christ Jesus, because of Calvary.
  2. His love can and will conquer our suffering with joy.
  3. His love can and will conquer our pain.
  4. His love conquered our sin by His selfless life and will.

Love, Perhaps we use that word too loosely, we take the meaning of that word for granted, or we just never truly learn what love is. The Bible is the greatest book ever written about the subject of love, God’s love letter to us. The Bible contains the greatest love story ever told, that of a righteous God and His love for a fallen Humanity.

The whole message of Jesus Christ is centered around His love for us. All that we are, have been or ever will be as Christians will be because of the love that Jesus Christ has for each one of us. Let us not ever fail to understand this extremely important principle of the love of Christ.

Because of the MIGHTINESS of Christ’s love, We must  know that we can withstand whatever comes our way but only with the help of our Savior, and yes we can, we can withstand, we can preserver!

Do you see how there could be no greater love than that of Jesus Christ?

If we turn away from our self seeking nature and repent of our sin’s, God can, and will, turn your worst tragedy into your greatest triumph!!! STARTING TODAY!!!

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DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

Open Q: What are you like when you are sick? Attitude and behaviors to God and others? 

Review: in the last two weeks we looked at a man who desired to know the truth but he was cut off with the barrier of pride and traditions, then we saw a women who by her choices of sin and rebellion built herself a wall of shame, cut off from the living waters that renew and refresh, yet our Lord goes to these people and presents a battering ram to a seemly impenetrable barrier and leads these two to the ultimate reality and purpose in life, Himself Jesus Christ! 

Now we are at the threshold of a turn of events in the Gospel of John, after the introduction of the Word and the miracles to prove Christ’s claim, we now see what our Lord says to a man who had lost all hope, “Do you want to be healed.” A seemingly strange question, who would not want to be healed or restored? And then our Lord goes toe to toe with the religious leaders of His day who lift up their presumptions and rules as a god and oppress the people away from the truth, ultimately leading to our Lord’s persecution and cruecsafiction. 

SG 1: Groups: Read John 5:1-15 and make some observations: 

Q: What are your thoughts about the sick man?  

Q: What are the barriers that the sick man may have had to overcome to accept who Christ is?

These events take place at a pool that people flock too for healing. During our Lord’s time on earth it was overflowing with people hopping for an extra miracle because of the feast day, hoping for a healing miracle. Just as you may have seen on TV when a image of the Virgin Mary attracts swarms of devotees claiming healing and miracles. This pool of Bethesda was considered a myth by the liberal attackers of the Bible until it was discovered and excavated around 1967. The pool is located to the north part of the Temple Mount, near what was called Sheep Gate. There you are sitting in a mineral bath wondering what is that smell!

Undoubtedly healings did occur there. Just as today healings take place in these special areas where people go, believing they can be healed is a very powerful motivation and psychological event. When people believe they are going to be healed, and they are in a place where healings supposedly occur, and they do the expected thing, many of them are healed. Perhaps it is a miracle, as I believe, perhaps some fake it for attention and others only are temporally healed as their will power overtakes their symptoms for a while. Thus the pool at Bethesda had established a reputation as a place where people could be healed.

I used to think that this man laid at the pool at Bethesda for 38 years, but the Bible does not say that; it says he had been ill for 38 years. We do not know why probably because of some wasting disease — perhaps cancer, tuberculosis, or multiple sclerosis. In any event his disease made him unable to walk for 38 years, almost as long as his ancestors wondered in the desert.

So here was a great crowd of people — paralyzed, blind, lame, sick — all waiting for the water to be stirred. Out of that crowd Jesus picked one man. He did not empty the five porches, healing everybody. He did not invite them all to come down so that he might lay hands on them; He went to only one man. Perhaps he was the most needy and was the most helplessness that drew Jesus to him, after 38 years he would seem to fit the bill.

Perhaps we all can see in ourselves, in a sense of helpless, weak, crippled and lame, lying at the pool of Bethesda this morning. We all need help. We all find ourselves paralyzed at times, unable to do the thing we want or ought to do, or what we are called and made to do. Or go where the Lord has called us to go in our spiritual journey and growth. We come face to face with a barrier that lames us: thus we cannot walk very well spiritually. John goes on to say what Jesus did:

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” {John 5:6 RSV}

What a strange question to ask of a man who had been sick for 38 years! “Do you want to be healed? But Jesus never asked a foolish question. Obviously it was important for this man to answer, maybe for us too!

Do we want to be healed, do we want to grow deeper in the precepts of the Word and character of Christ. Do we want to go through the barrier that stops us dead in our tracks? Jesus asks that question just as if you are in a 12 step program, you have to admit your need and the higher power before you can go anywhere out of your drunken state!

I have even seen many people turn their backs on a way of deliverance from their suffering they knew would work because they did not want to be healed. From a spiritual encounter or a medical surgery or a therapy. They do not want to receive divine help in their problems. They do not want to be helped out of their weakness. They love their weakness, their helplessness it is their comfort and identity. Perhaps it is the attention, perhaps it is from years of discouragement and are so beaten down they do not want to look up. Perhaps it is anger or pride, in whatever case they tend to crave the attention of others through their helplessness, or hide under the bed of discouragement. Resulting in stagnation and ignoring the One who can bring them comfort. I believe we can all be there at one time or another.

This mans answer was an excuse, he seemed to want to stay as he was at the same time wanted out of his misery. You cannot help somebody who does not want to be helped. We have to realize for us to go anywhere in life as a Christian, our Lord moves among us, that He will only ask this question of those who want to be healed. He may say nothing to those who do not.

Some, perhaps, may not have yet reached the place this man had reached. They are not helpless enough yet. They are not ready to give up on human efforts to solve their problems. They are not ready to admit they cannot make it on their own. They are still determined to get into the water themselves when it is stirred. Jesus can do nothing for them.

But this man at the pool of Bethesda wants to be healed. Notice his answer:

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” {John 5:7 RSV}

In other words, “Yes, I want to be healed, but I cannot. I’ve tried, I’ve done everything I know how. I want to get into that water, I want to be healed, but I have no one to help me. I’ve given up. I have no hope.”

Perhaps there are people here this morning that feel like that. They have given up on their situation, refusing to believe there is any hope it can change. They see no way, from a human viewpoint, so they have resigned themselves to their barrier.  Maybe you have tried to stop drinking or you do not see any hope for your marriage, but feel you cannot or you can control it, maybe its pornography, or pride.  It is amazing to me how many people carelessly feel they are in control of something that really has control of them. You have heard of the person who says, “It’s easy to stop smoking. I’ve done it hundreds of times!” Or maybe you have tried to correct things and have failed. You have asked for help but nobody seems to care; and it only gets worse.

What did Jesus say to a man who had lost all hope, a man who had given up on himself? Did he say, “Oh, come on, I’ll help you get into the pool the next time the water is troubled”? No, he did not say that. He did not offer that kind of help. “Hang on Keep coming here. Perhaps some day you’ll make it in time. Some day it will all work out. Let’s get you a new mattress to lie on, put a few flowers around you and bring you two meals a day”? No, he did not.

Unlike most of Jesus’ healing he did not look to faith or the person determination, instead He asks an impossible thing; secondly, He removes all possibility of a relapse; and thirdly, He expects a continued success. All these are involved in the words,

“Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. {John 5:8b-9a RSV}

The Lord did not merely say, “Rise,” he said, “take up your pallet.” Why did he say that? I like the way G. Campbell Morgan has put it, “In order to make no provision for a relapse.” The man might have said to himself, “I’m healed, but I had better leave my bed here; I may need it tomorrow.” If he had said that he would have been back in it the next day. But he did not. Jesus said, “Take up your bed. Get rid of it; don’t leave it there.”

In those words he is saying something very important to people who need to be healed: do not make any provision to go back on what you have done. Many people fail right there. Go home and pour out the alcohol, get rid of the drugs, burn those magazines, surrender your pride! Say no to the friends who have been luring you on into evil. You will probably find that some of them will come back with you. Cut off any possibility of going back. Let somebody know the new stand you have taken so that they will help hold you accountable, this is what Jesus is saying.

The third thing: “walk.” Do not expect to be carried — walk. Many people want to be carried after they are healed. They expect everybody to gather around them and keep them going, because they got used to the attention and care they received. But if Jesus gives you the power to rise, Jesus is the One who can give you the power to continue to walk every day, to keep going. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith,” {Heb 12:2 KJV}.

John now traces the immediate reaction of others to this event:

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.'” {John 5:9b-11 RSV}

Now the man is in trouble over the Sabbath restrictions. Here John starts to trace the beginning of the movement that ended in the death of Jesus, the beginning of the official rejection of the Messiah. This was introduced by what seemed to the leaders of the Jews, and probably everybody else too, to be a perfectly proper concern. The Law of Moses did say that the Jews were to keep the Sabbath and not do any work on that day. The rabbis had carefully studied that regulation, and, figured out 39 different ways by which the Sabbath could be violated by certain types of work. And added many extra ways to follow it. Jesus violated on of the laws of the Pharacces, taking a passage out of their context, “Do not bring any burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day,” {cf, Jer 17:22}.

But the real motive of their hearts is instantly revealed when the man says to them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk.'” Their reaction, which you would think would be, “What? Somebody healed you? Who is the man who healed you?” was instead, “Who is the guy who told you to disobey one of our regulations?” This reveals them for the religious bigots they are, intent on the letter of the Law, but totally unconcerned about the mercy of God.

The man is in trouble. The Law said that anyone caught bearing a burden on the Sabbath was to be stoned. This punishment was not often carried out, but still the man is in real trouble. Yet he seems to hold no gratitude or loyalty to the One who healed him. Notice that the minute this man gets in trouble, Jesus is there. Verse 13:

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” {John 5:13-14 RSV}

The man had gone to the temple because the Law required that one who had been healed had to make a thanksgiving offering. Jesus knew where to find him.

Notice what Jesus said to him; He did not say to the man, “Sin no more. If you do you will lose your healing.” No, he said, “See, you are made whole.” Jesus never says, “Sin no more,” unless he first says, “You are made whole.” He calls the man’s attention to the fact that not only had he been physically healed, he had been spiritually healed. His sins had been forgiven; he had been washed, he had been cleansed; he was a new man — physically, and spiritually a gift of wholeness from God, without any merit or earning on his part.

We do not know what kind of sin this man had been committing. Perhaps it was a bitter spirit toward somebody. That will sap all the energy and vitality of life and turn one into an invalid. I have seen that happen. Perhaps it was a shameful habit he continually indulged in; an injury he had done to someone and he had refused to correct it. Our Lord reminds him that God is concerned about areas like that.

John gives a final word about this incident in Verses 15-17:

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. [He had to explain who it was had healed him, and he told them.] And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the sabbath. {John 5:15-16 RSV}

From here on this was their justification for their persecution of Jesus — they could hide behind what looked like a violation of the Law. They had heaped all these regulations on the Sabbath law, but Jesus ignored them frequently because the regulations were “the tradition of men,” {Mark 7:8}. Now they had an excuse that made their persecution of him look valid.

What Jesus said is true for us today: God is working in this new twenty-first century. He is working in international events; He is working in the pressures and problems that come to each one of us; He is working in the very circumstance in which you find yourself today. What you need to know is, where is God moving in your life, and then work with Him. Allow Him to carry you over that barrier and be his instrument t yourself and others. Then allow it to endure to be in line with what God does. Only God’s work will last.

In some area of your life, do you want to be healed? If you say, “Yes,” He will say, “Then stand up, take up your bed, and walk.” Perhaps a miracle will occur, perhaps it is your attitude that needs to change, in any account out plight is temporary in the scope of eternity, focus on Him, overcome those barriers!

SG 2: Small groups:

 Q: The question we have to ask ourselves is what barriers do we place in the way of knowing Christ as our Lord?

 Barriers from knowing Christ?

Barriers from growing in Christ?

Barriers from following His will? 

Discussion: On the Barriers!  

Q: Maybe this is not a problem, but what perceptions and presumptions do you have that keep you from growth in sanctification?

Q: what did it take for you to realize if you did, the reality of Christ in your daily liffe?

 Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we have sensed this morning that we are here, like a great multitude lying by the pool of Bethesda, waiting to be healed; trying various ways and means, hoping somebody will help. We have not yet listened to that wonderful voice that says to us in the inner heart, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” Grant that we will do so from this moment. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen. Ray C. Stedman 83 John 5:1-17 

If you have any Bible other than the King James Version you will notice that Verse 4 is missing. Many versions include the verse in a footnote which explains why these people were there. They believed in a rather superstitious way that from time to time when the water was troubled — when it would rise rapidly and then sink again — that this was caused by an angel who visited the pool, and the first man who got into it when it was so troubled would be healed. This is akin to what is found in many parts of the world today. Lourdes, in southern France, has a spa which many believe has healing capacities. The shrine of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, has thousands of crutches stacked along its walls where people have been healed in this special place where they thought they could receive a blessing from God.

Additional Discussion:

  • Perhaps what happens is we get ourselves so comfortable in the life of the church we forget what the church is all about. Thinking I go to church, I serve on a committee, my kids are in Sunday school, what more could there be?
  • Perhaps they were born into it, the church that is, grew up hearing all there is to know; yet it never sank in and transformed them.
  • Perhaps, they got turned off from the pious frauds they may have observed on TV or in the walk of life, psuedo Christians who talk the talk but do not walk the walk.
  • Perhaps they see the radical commitments of some of the born again Christians and think they are crazy
  • Perhaps there is a fear of commitment or a fear of conversion, they do not want to be confected of sin, they do not want the lights turned on, because they do not want to see what is hidden in the dark.

The point I’m trying to make here is we all set up so many barriers and walls in front of the our growth in Christ is cause us to hold back or stagnate from receiving and living the best He has for us.

“the sixth hour” By Jewish reckoning that would be noon. But according to Roman time, which John uses throughout his gospel (19:14), it was six o’clock in the evening, the same time as we use today. So it was no surprise that Jesus was weary. He had been walking in the hot sun all day. He was thirsty, so he sat beside the well to rest while the disciples went into the city to find something to eat. Thus we have here a very beautiful picture of our Lord’s humanity.

God really does have a purpose for our problems discussion:

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Funereal Sermon

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

 

We are here to celebrate the life of ___ Mother, Wife, Grandmother friend and Child of God __. You are here in this place you are evidence of __Cristina’s _ life and impact how she has touched you. Her legacy resounds in and through you, her impact remains. Now she is in the eternity of heaven’s peace of God’s resounding impact of love, hope, grace and rest. 

1 Peter 5: 10-14 a passage of Hope 

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (Now we are shown some personal greetings that show ones impact) With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Hebrews 4:11 tels us to Make every effort to strive to enter to be diligent for God’s rest.

___ Cristina_ lived to be enthusiastic and diligent for her family and toward the end of her life her faith too! She realized life and faith is not about earning one’s salvation by works; rather it is the call to receive our salvation by faith in Christ and thus receive His rest for a content life now and our eternal rewards and rest to come, that she now has now received. Something we all can have and partake in these wonders now and for eternity to come. As you represent __ Cristina’s __ legacy resounding, now __ Cristina_ is resounding in the eternity of heaven.

This is all about Hope!

Now that __ Cristina _ has physically left us, hope remains. Hope is essential! Do you have hope? Do you know what hope really is?

Hope is our forward outlook to be in Christ forever. This hope is what produces Joy for our life here and now too. Heb. 11:1, “the substance of things hoped for”.  Christ is that substance! Christ is Whom ­­­___Cristina’s___ has embraced and Who has embraced her forevermore.

Hope is our future in Christ in glory, in Heaven, that __ Cristina _ is in now! When we keep focused on our circumstances, we will see little to no hope. We can only attain it by being in Christ, with our eyes focused upon Him. Christ is to be our anchor, our hope. Hope calls us to patience and confidence for adversity even to endure suffering, as well as those great joyful times we have heard explained that continues to echo, as Christ continues in His love for us (Rom. 5:1-5; 8: 18; 25). Hope must be our focus to our life, and what we are to share to others (I John 3:3; 4:18)! Hope is our effect of obedience and trust in our Lord (Heb. 6:18.) If you have no hope, then you have no real vision or real purpose, when we can have meaning with our trust in the One who Loves us, Jesus Christ loves you as _ Cristina _ exemplified.  

Hope is a call to continue in our life to respect _ Cristina’s _ legacy as well to be a person of prayer and faithfulness. In that way, we can continue to be better used by our Lord. We are to remain firm in our stand of faith even when life is joyful or falling apart around us, we can see hope now for us who remain. The call Christ gives us is to be encouraged and to stand firm. When we persevere in our faith, we allow God to use us even more where we are. Then, we learn and we grow further in Him, which helps us grow and be used more in the life of others as _ Cristina __ has sown us.

This is circular. The more we endure, the more we grow. Then, the more we are used, the more we go through and so forth. Hope empowers the spiral of our faith-building that draws us higher in God. When we are growing, we are ministering, too. As our faith grows, we are more likely to hear God’s plan for us, see the needs of others, and find opportunities to be a better person and a life more triumphant and victorious. A life that is happy and content, at peace with a real effectual purpose. This is a life that awaits you, if you do not have now, as it was a life that _ Cristina _ had. When we grow, then we inspire, and encourage others faster and better we leave a lasting impact and a joyful happy legacy that inspires others!

_ Cristina __ lived a life that pointed to a Living hope. Hope is one of the main, running themes of 1 Peter and the rest of the Bible and a great life too. It does not indicate wishing or just thinking positively; rather, it refers to the trust, confidence and conviction we have that our living God who keeps His promises and secures us in Him. It is the assurance—and fact—that when one accepts Christ as Savior as _ Cristina _did, we know that Christ has redeemed us, He will bless us, and He will care for us onward to and through eternity (1 Peter 1:1-13, 21; 3:15).

So what do we do in this Hope? To be joyful, thankful, and glad! As in be joyful, thankful, and glad for the legacy _ Cristina _ has left us all. And then live a life that is worthy that honors her, to honor and enjoy our inherence in Christ and love that we have received from here and from God, so it overflows to others around us. Then, we can grow and endure through all things! Why? Because, we will face trials and distress, disappointments, unhappiness as they are a part of this world and life. There is no escape from them. We can either learn to grow or withdraw and stagnate! Hope is our key to navigate this happy life and harsh life at times for the better, so we can leave a legacy one day too, one that even resounds into eternity.  

We are to love God as _ Cristina _ had shown us, even though we cannot see Him or touch Him. This may go against some of our common sense, but the reality of God’s grace and impact can sometimes be hidden by our desires, circumstances, and feelings. This is the test of faith and trust, if we see no hope, we then must look to our Lord; and ask Him for it, then the hope is given and can tangible, felt and be seen. The reward of our faith far outweighs any endurance or struggle we face. The joy we have is real and significant, this is what _ Cristina __ has lived and what she has now (John 20:29).

We can Depend on God’s Grace!

Have you considered how kind God is with us even when we are in the depths of loss, stress and despair or how many of us feel being here at a funeral of a precious loved one? Do you know that God’s hand is guiding you know, and how He will restore you for your benefit and His glory? This passage in 1 Peter as what  _ Cristina’s__ life was all about, the great hope we have because Christ our Lord is our Great Hope!

There is no escape from death, suffering or living in a fallen world, we will, at times, experience loss, pain and despair. The incredible news is that Christ still cares and even carries us through it. Jesus will lift us up out of whatever we are in now or will ever face! And in the meantime, He will give us the strength to endure and even to learn and grow from it. This process will make us better and more mature so we will be a better help to others and more insightful and character-driven ever than before. Our foundation is secure and our standing is firm when we are in Him; we can withstand anything this world throws at us when we are in Christ!

Peter’s main mission was to be an encourager to the people who were in distress just as _ Cristina _ has done in many of you here. How sweet words of encouragement are to those struggling in life or who are in anguish, and how much more impacting those words are when we know that the person saying them is real and sincere!

Peter also offers the assurance that the Gospel is real and is relevant. It is for us now, no matter who we are, where we are, what we have done, or what we will face, Jesus Christ loves us and has a plan for us. God is not far off, unapproachable, detached, or antagonistic or petty. He is here; He is with us now in your loss. His love is real and He is totally concerned for you. We are a people who are not alone or distanced from God or from others. You are in a family and a community of love; we are together. The only time we are not is when we cut ourselves off from others; however, we can never cut ourselves off from God’s love!

Jesus is our Promise, Strength, and Validation! God called us to eternal glory; we are to humble ourselves, whatever comes into our lives—loss, strife, adversity, goodness, or riches. We are to accept God’s hand. The God of all grace means that God is a God who blesses us. Thus, we can have firm faith and confidence in Him for whatever we face. He is the ultimate Hope will come again, in His time, and He will lift us out of our situation (Isa. 44:6; Jonah 4:2; John 14:27; 20:19; Rom. 5:1-2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2)!

God has a plan and purpose for us all that means you too (Rom. 8:1, 28-30; 2 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 2:10)! Consequently, we have an ultimate Hope beyond the hope we can see and feel! The only barrier to this hope is our discouragement, our feelings that result from a lack of faith and spiritual maturity; this impacts all that we are and do in life!

We are In Christ those who have received Him. He has freed us from sin into a great life now, how He suffered for us, and our union in Him, as He dwells in us and represents us before the Father. All that we are, have, or could have comes from Christ. This translates into how we are to treat others as _ Cristina _has treated you. Christ is represented by His representatives and _ Cristina _ was a precious one (Rom. 6:3-11; 8:9-11, 17; 1 Cor. 6:15-17; 2 Cor. 1:5; 13:3-6; Gal. 3:26-29; 5:24; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24; 3:3-4, 11-15)!

To God be the glory and to nothing else!

It may not seem that we are in the loop with God’s plans and purpose at times, but we can take comfort in that He is indeed in control. He only desires that we exercise simple faith and trust in Him. We can praise Him for His glory, even when we are sad. The key is to keep our focus on who Christ is. His love and care for us for you.

_ Cristina_ lived a life realizing her dependence upon God. We are still to be proactive, but dependent on God who removes our frustration, prevents disillusionment, and keeps us centered on what is important in life, which is Christ. We can depend on God’s grace because God will provide a way out–in His time (Job 1-2 ; Psalm 31:9, 15; 62; 103; 119:50; Isa. 26:3; 41:10; Jer. 27:11; Luke 10:20; Rom 8:28-29; 35-37; 12; John 14:1; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 1:6; James 1:2-3; 1 Pet 4:12-19; Rev. 21:4)!

_ Cristina_ lived a life as a Christian rooted in the call to be solid in the foundation of our Lord! If we desire to be close to Christ, walking in the Spirit, spiritually mature and effective, and to be all that God wants us to be, then we will build our lives on what our Lord has done just as _ Cristina _did. This means being right with Christ and right in our being. It is good to have correct thinking in who God is, be in personal study of His Word, prayer, and devotions, and know His principles. So to be more in life, better in life living in and with Hope.

We have true grace in Christ; this leads us to trust God in all things! A great life as _ Cristina _ lived is about who we are in Christ, what He has done, and our response to Him that is rooted not just in our actions but also in the core of self–who we are. Because our core values come from our inner most thoughts and desires, they are a result of what God has planted in us and how we cultivated it, then how we see ourselves, our world, and most importantly, our God. This translates into how others see us!

One of the clearest evidences of being a mature person and a Christian is an increased awareness and knowledge for the need to be in Christ so that our focus is no longer on just ourselves. This is the essence of what was shared to us by these testimonials of _ Cristina’s _ life. When we have an increased awareness of others that goes beyond self, then we have real love, we are humble and we have a life of impact that we are celebrating today.  

When our confidence is in our Lord, then our self-confidence becomes Christ-confidence. So, our confidence is humbleness, rooted and dependent on Christ who is working through us. The result is that we are not self-driven, but Christ-driven. Thus, we will be in total surrender to God’s will as the driving force for our existence.

Spiritual maturity is essential!

We who are followers of Christ are not perfect. It is a question of spirituality that we are to submit as we are called because Christ did. Without a life approach of submission to Him, we will reveal that our foundation for life is not spiritual maturity; hence we and our family will be hindered in growth. We cannot be a caring community if we are not submissive and humble in our relationship to God and then to one another this is the legacy of _ Cristina’s _life we mourn of her loss and celebrate her life and how she has touched to you (Eph. 5:21; 1 Thess. 5:12)!

w/c 2376

 Benediction

 Saturday – Prayer Service 2) 4/12/08 Saturday 9 AM – 9 PM @ Memory Chapel

April 12, 2008

 Praise Songs (2)  Lot and Dan                                                              6 minutes

 Opening Prayer – Lot i                                                                           2 minutes

 Grandchildren to stand up and gather around

 Aljon hosts Q&A

Why do we call her ?

Question: What is your most cherished moment with ?

Question: What do you remember most about ?

Message of Hope From Pastor Richard Krejcir                                                20 minutes

 Closing Song – Homesick                                                                                3 minutes

 Closing Prayer                                                                                                 2 minutes

Extra

 God sometimes brings pressure against us to test us, to purge us, to purify us so that we become stronger and are more willing and able to be used to give Him glory. God’s goal is not to personally attack and destroy us; rather, He seeks to improve us and to make us our best for His glory. He wants to grow us like an oak, which grows its strongest under harsh conditions. We are to accept and grow from our experiences. The other choice is to become bitter and harsh, ending up as a burden to others and to ourselves. Our Lord will bring us the solution to our problems on His time schedule and for our benefit. We want it done yesterday; He may say tomorrow

Our Lord gave us the prime example of this in the Garden of Gethsemane. Three times, as it is recorded, Christ asked that the suffering that was to come be stopped; but each time He said to the Father, not my will, but yours be done! Jesus demonstrated the way. Will we not follow (Psalm 88:8-9; 119:50; Matt. 26:36-46)? These things do not come to you by chance; they come by knowing and following Christ (Proverbs 12:4; 28:20; 31:10)!

Remember that people will always disappoint us; we will even disappoint ourselves as well as others. Christ will never disappoint us; He gives us the care, love, and His grace that we do not deserve. Submission is a risk; there is a danger to it because people may take advantage of or lead us astray. However, this can only happen if we take our eyes off our Lord (Psalm 37:5; 55:22; Isa 41:10; John 14:1; Rom 8:28-29; 35-37; James 1:1-5; 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-19).

What does it mean to you that God has a plan and purpose for you?

Have you considered how kind God is with you even when you are in the depths of stress and despair? He will restore you for your benefit and His glory. Do you believe this? How so? Why not?

How is knowing that Christ is not just your Lord but also your Great Hope give you the strength to endure the rough times of life?

How is knowing that Christ will restore you for your benefit and His glory give you encouragement? Now add to this that He still cares and that He will lift you up, giving you further support and assurance in your daily life? What will this mean to you?

7. What does it mean to you that Christ is your foundation, hope, and conviction? Do you believe that you can withstand anything this world throws at you when you are in Him? How so? Why not?

8. What does hope mean to you? What are the barriers to hope? How do discouragement or feelings impact your hope?

9. How can you take comfort in that He is indeed in control? How does this help you with submission and humbleness? What about preventing disillusionment? How does this translate into how you are to treat others?

10. Real spiritual maturity is being submissive–the essential foundation for a healthy growing church. Why? What can you do to model this in your church? How can your church be more centered upon Christ as Lord rather than on trends or personal ideas?

11. Why should we not go about ministry or our lives alone? How does collaboration with others help us produce better modeling of His character?

12. What needs to take place in your life for you to be more insightful, spiritually and socially mature, and character-driven? What is in the way? What are you going to do about it?

He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. Psalm 66:9-10

© 2000, 2005, 2008, 2010 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D. Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

 EXTRA

This part of Hebrews gives us three rests. One is to rest in His victory as in take care of ourselves and honor God and His creation. Then, we are to rest our faith in Christ, to trust in Him, and to be content and joyful and not burdened or stressed. Unless your life is in dire peril or your family is in danger or you have nothing to eat or your life’s work and possessions are gone, you do not have problems—you have inconveniences. So look to Him and not to circumstances and temporary situations; by doing so, when something really important or dire does come, we are prepared to deal with it with active faith and perseverance. And then our eyes can be on the third rest. As we live a triumphal life in Him, we will see and hear Him say, well done my faithful servant and rest in Him for eternity (Matt. 25:23 Hebrews 4:1-11)! 

This also means we do not make the effort of our salvation, we cannot work for it; He works and we rest in His work for our salvation. This means God delivers us from sin and thus we can trust in Him. We trust in Christ, not in our works, to earn salvation or to please Him. God is pleased by our faith and obedience, but this does not earn us salvation or rest. Rather, our obedience is from our thankfulness for Who He is and we live because what He has done. Then He delivers us to eternity where there is no toil of labor, weeping, or suffering in our final rest in Him (Rev. 14:13). 

The point being, we must heed God’s call, His plan, purpose, and principles all associated as His rest. Why? We belong to God and our call is to trust in Him, not in traditions and what has come before. We are to seek Him and what is to come in life and in ministry, and in His second coming. This world is a mere shadow to things to come; we are bound for Heaven where glory awaits us. So how do we live now? With our eyes upon Christ! We must live lives as we have declared who Christ is, by faith and lived out by deed. We are to think about Jesus, and ponder His precepts and call so He is our life and our all-in-all (James 1:12-18; Rev. 2:10). 

Principal passages on Hope: Luke 12:15-21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; I Cor. 4:8-13; II Cor. 4:7-18; 5:6-8; Rom. 15:13; Phil. 1:21-24; I Tim. 1:1; II Tim. 4:7-8; Heb. 6:18-19; 1 Pet 1:1-2.

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How to have a Quiet Time

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

Developing your Walk with God 

A disciple is willing to grow in Christ!

Open Q: What does it mean to be a mature Christian? What are you willing to do about it? 

READ 2 Peter 1:5-7 

  1. I.             Introduction:  

John Bunyan said: “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to his Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God.”

Being a disciple encompasses more than just asking Christ in, and goes far beyond baptism. Our conversion, our acceptance of Christ as Savior, our election, is only the beginning, the entrance into the faith and Christian life. Accepting Christ is not the only act of being a Christian! It would be like joining a club, but never venturing into the club. Yes you may be saved, and then you are perhaps baptized as and public initiation or dedication. Acceptance by what Christ has done is to be the door through which we go into our walk of faith, as is our profession or testimony of our faith publicly. It does not stop there! It starts there!

We here are fortunate to be a part of LAC a church that is concerned with discipleship and missions. But have you wondered what does the average church or Christian do about discipleship? In most churches, people are encouraged to accept Christ or make a profession of faith or baptized. Then, they are congratulated, put on the membership role, and then quickly forgotten. Sadly, the Church as become warehouses holding Christians as a testimony to numbers and perceived success, as a whole has forsaken discipleship for cheep programs with no teaching or meaning, and has left its members to figure out these spiritual growth things on their own. In doing so, it causes many to give up on Christianity, while others become confused, calloused, or complacent, or they are swept away by false doctrines and cults because they do not know the difference…

<BREAK INTO 4 GROUPS>

Assign one Q to each group: ask each other, “Where am I?” in these thoughts:

1.   When we live just for and to ourselves, we miss opportunities, learning experiences, and growth, and we exchange an eternity of rewards for a limited time of fun. Q: How have you seen this in your life?

2.   Jesus lived and died on our behalf, for He willingly gave up His life by paying the penalty for our sins. He allows us not only to escape the fires of hell, but also to give us eternal life. Q: What has been your response? 

 3.   Being a true disciple means having a willingness to trust Him completely in all aspects of our lives from the highest highs to the lowest lows. It means we are not only willing to trust Him to provide for our salvation, but we trust Him for the future. We are to trust Him even when we do not know, like, or understand, when or where He is leading is unpopular!  Q: What is in the way from this happening fully in my life?

 4.   Being a true disciple allows us to put our hand to the plow and not look back. As we grow in Christ, we become increasingly unsatisfied with anything less than His call and character. Q: Has this become a reality in your walk with Christ?

 God does not ask us to seek converts, He simply asks us to do Discipleship. Discipleship is modeling and teaching Christians the precepts of the Bible—mainly prayer, doctrine, Christian living, all leading to the main thing: worship. Yes, we are still to evangelize, but that is not our main mission and call! When we evangelize, we must realize that it is the role of the Holy Spirit to bring people into an intimate relationship with God. This is an act of divine intervention and grace. He uses us as the tools, but He is the means! We are to care, and share with others His love and character. We obey and reach, but we cannot lead people anywhere. He is the One who leads! 

This leads us to our role, which is to model to the convert Christ-like character, encouraging others to surrender themselves to Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20-21). However, this is only the beginning! Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Surrender is the process in which we grow toward Him and His will and away from our Will. Surrender is making Christ Lord of all of our life. We have to get rid of our perceptions, reckless ideas, faulty thinking, and other such things that are barriers to our growth, so we can make room for Him. Jesus authors our faith, and teaches us how to run the race according to God’s will, His glory, His worship, and His purpose. Thus, we gain a deeper intimacy with our Lord as our Commander and Friend, as our God and our King and the provider of Grace, as our Love, and our reason for being. In His purposes, we find real contentment, joy, and fulfillment. 

II.           GETTING STARTED: How to Build a devotional time!

Humbleness is characterized by the willingness to grow in Christ, and receive learning and experience growth. One of the best ways to do this is personal devotion time and being a part of a small group. Peter tells us we ought to be humble toward one other so that we can know the grace of God and not be in opposition to God. Then secondly, he says, we had better be humble, not only toward one another, but toward God. This is so straightforward.  This is so essential to be a blessed Christian and church, to be a growing Christian and church, not in numbers, but in what is most important discipleship!

How can I do this?

A. GOAL: See were you are at Spiritually and determine where you need to go. Then make a goal, and understand your GOAL. Your goal is to become complete, that is fullness in Christ, (Col. 1: 28), or to say it another way, to become a mature Christian, i.e. a person whose attitudes and actions are like Christ’s. (Eph. 4: 13)

B. PROCESS: Understand the PROCESS is the main growth builder. An essential step toward reaching your goal is to spend personal, daily time with God. Thus, the journey is as important if not more than the destination, because in our walk we are learning and growing! If we just showed up to the goal without the struggles of getting there we would not have built any depth, strength or maturity! Make sure your goals are a match to God’s! We must never allow our presumptions and pride to cloud His way!

C. PLAN: PLAN ahead, this does not automatically happen. Sit down on Sunday and decide exactly what paragraphs or chapters you will be studying during each of the next seven days. Doing this will eliminate the problem of spending half your devotion time trying to decide what you will study that day. You can use a Bible reading chart, quality devotional books, a pre written guide, but try not to just dive in. Because you will get much more out of your experience by having a plan.

D. CONTENT: Put VARIETY and CONSISTENCY in what you study. One month you might study an Epistle. Then you might spend a month or two in a narrative passage such as I Samuel. Then you might go back to the N. T. to study a doctrinal passage such as Romans. Then maybe switch again to a Minor prophet such as Joel. Try to go through the entire Bible In your devotional study in a year or two at most. Do not stay in just one section, such as the Epistles. Do not use the same plan year after year, break it up, and try new ones. Do the same with your devotional books, mix them up. If you have a good one such as My Utmost for His Highest, stick with it for the entire year and then go to another one and then go back to Chambers in the following year. HiiiiiiBecause when we are too consistent it may turn into rhetoric and then you will have time in your habit and not with Christ!

E: FOCUS: So set aside time each day and go for it with passion and vigor. Let Christ transform you through His Word. ATTITUDE: Start with the proper attitude! You are going before a Holy GOD!!! Usually it’s good to spend most of your devotional times closely examining a few verses, not rushing trough a lot of passages. Some find it best to take notes and write down questions and ask a mentor. Also you can set aside one day a week to switch from taking detailed notes on a few verses to reading a chapter or two from a different passage without taking any notes. Whatever way you choose to go, stay focused and do not bite off more than you can chew!

F: MATERIALS: Buy a good Bible in an easy to read translation such as the NLT so you can easily understand what you are reading. For serious study use the NIV or NASB or NKJV. The best devotional books are “My Utmost for His Highest” by Chambers and “Evening by Evening” by Spurgeon. You can also get a notebook to write down what you learn and any questions you may have that can be used exclusively for things to do with your relationship to God and to other believers.

G. PLACE OR LOCATION: Select a quiet place where you can study free from distractions. Remove all distractions, Such as close the drapes, shut the door, clear all busy work from your desk, take the phone off the hook, and lock the cat in the bathroom, whatever it takes. Be serious about meeting God.

H. TIME: Select a time. Usually the early morning is best, because outside distractions are least during this time. If you are not a morning person, do it when you are at most alert, you are to give God your best! Set aside “x” number of minutes to study, and “y” number of minutes to pray. Be flexible to the Spirit’s leading within this framework! If you have a short attention span as I do, then break it up throughout the day. Perhaps read in the morning from the OT, a passage from the NT at lunch and read a devotion and intercessory prayer before bed.

From the character of Christ will come the conduct of Christ, if we chose to follow Him. Then, those values of our daily walk, which drive our behaviors, will, in turn, influence others and build our character. You cannot lead where you have not been, or where you do not know the direction to go. This is why discipleship is so essential to the aspect of being a Christian. We are called, not to just visualize discipleship, but to do it; not to just talk about it, but to do it. One cannot just think about dinner and satisfy their hunger; the ingredients need to be gathered, the meal has to be prepared, then it is eaten! The Christian who wants to become more deep and mature and the effective church will take Scripture and the call of our Lord seriously, and then implement it into functioning to apply it into their lives!

V. APPLICATIONS

A. You’ll never come to experience the full value of an devotion time until you discipline yourself to apply what you’ve learned. Study with the determination that God will give you an application.

B. Make your applications measurable. Think through the when, where, what, why, and how, such as, “I will begin showing more love to my neighbor by asking if there is anything I can pick up for them from the store when I go shopping next.”

C. At times you will see 4 or 5 specific ways the passage you studied can be applied. It is better to select one way you want to apply the Word that day and do it than to select three ways and fail. Work first on the area where you need most help.

D. Make most of your applications short-range, such as things you will do within the next 24 hours or within the next three days. Periodically God will give you an application that you’ll need to work on for a longer period of time. When that happens, rejoice; but at the same time, continue to work on fresh, short-range applications. Let God do a new work in you each day, and be thankful.

Conclusion:

There are many ways we can do devotions and study the Bible effectively. There is no “best” way, only that we do it! Many Christians feel all they have to do for their spiritual growth is sit in a pew, turn on the television or radio, or naturally receive their knowledge for being a Christian; but this is not how to transform our lives. We must read and get into the Word of God ourselves: Through prayer, hard work, discipline, concentration, application, and even more prayer!

Take this to heart: Jesus never asked anyone to do anything without enabling them with the power to do it. Let this be you encouraging motive!

Remember, Christ loves you and wants the best for you. His way is the best way, and we need to have Him and the perspective of eternity in mind, not our limited feelings and desires!

Some passages to consider on discipleship and mentoring which are not options, but a command: Proverbs 18:24; Matthew 7:18-24; 10:1-42; 19:28-30; 28:16-20; Mark 1:1-5; 1:35 – 2:12.Luke 9:23-25; 48; Luke 14:26-27; John. 8:31; 12:20-26; John 14; 15; 1 John: 5:3; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 3:5-11; 12; Galatians 6:1-10; 2 Timothy 2:7; 1 Peter 3:15.                            www.intothyword.org

Additional thoughts or a part II:

IF TIME, or for handout:

II. HELPFUL HINTS

A. Desire versus will. Often you will not desire to spend time studying the Word. At these times, remind yourself of your goal; then will (determine) to do what you know is best rather than what you feel.

B. Realize that you cannot force God to bless you. Approach your altar realizing and confessing that even in this area you are totally dependent on Him (Ps. 127) for His blessings.

C. Keep a mental dialogue going between you and God as you study; e.g. “Lord, I don’t understand this,” or, “Lord, I praise you because. . .,” or “Lord, how can I apply this?”

D. If you feel your devotional time lacks life (is dry, boring), share that fact with the Lord (Ps. 62) and with a friend, asking him or her to pray for you.

E. Discipline yourself to do much writing. Doing So will deepen your understanding of the passage as well as bring organization to your thoughts.

F. Use a Bible Dictionary. It will help you understand many words like grace, forbearance, humility, and propitiation.

G. Buy a good Bible commentary such as “Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary” and a good study Bible is “The Reformation Study Bible.” Do not become depending on commentaries for your personal nourishment; just use it to clarify hazy points and make sure you understand correctly.

III. PROCESS – USING YOUR STUDY TIME TO THE MAXIMUM

A. Praise the Lord for who He is – pray, sing, write, etc.

B. Confess known sin.

C. Select a process you will use to study the passage, See book, “Into Thy Word”.

1 . Pray.

2. Preview – read the entire passage rapidly.

3. Read the entire passage slowly.

4. Observe

  • What does the text say? Copy verbatim the words of the text. Biblical Principles are here.
  • What does the text mean? Write any and every thought the Lord gives you on the meaning or implications of the text. Ask who, what, why, where, when, how, of the text. Biblical Implications are here.
  1. Apply these principles and implications to your life.
  • Summarize the passage with a brief phrase.
  1. Pray in Gratitude, or confession, or praise, or supplication.
  2. Tell at least one friend what you learned from the Word.

IV. VARIETY – Try using different methods of study. Remember – you are working on developing a relationship.

Make the process enjoyable. Suggestions:

A. Take the first five minutes of your devotional time to read a Psalm. Whenever the Psalmist states who God is as a person or what God does as God, pause and praise God for that fact.

B. Take a day or two each month to study in a different environment, e.g. study in a local library, or in a park, by a lake.

C. Do a character study, e.g., .’What do I learn about David in I and II Samuel?” or, “What did Jesus do to demonstrate compassion for people?” or, “How did Paul speak of other people?”

D. Do a topical study, e.g., .’What does the Scripture teach about dating? About possessions? About leadership?”

E. Do an attitude study, e.g., “What was Jesus’ attitude toward the Pharisees? Toward interruptions?”

“For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

PRELUDE INTO GOD’S TREASURE CHEST:

ATTITUDE: Start with the proper attitude! You are going before a Holy

God, so adjust yourself with these attitudes:

REVERENCE: (Hab 2:20, Psalm 89:7) Prepare your heart and mind, you are not going to a football game! Be quiet; clear your distracting thoughts and desires away!

YOUR WILL: (John 7:17f) We must be willing to not only read but to obey God’s decrees! It is not about you, it is about God! Make it your choice!

ANTICIPATION: (Psalm 63:1) We must come before God with eagerness and expectancy. This is not a chore; it is fellowship with the creator of the universe, what better time could there be!

BE ALERT: (Prv 1:7; 3:5-6) Find a time where you are most alert and awake!

BE IN LOVE: (Job 23:12; Jeremiah. 15:16) Fall in love with His Word! Have the appetite, as it was better than your favorite meal! Do not let it be just a duty! The love will increase as we increase in our effort and study!

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

A very important point: For this to work, you must have a relationship with Christ, with your trust in His grace. Without it you are programming a computer without any knowledge of its language or design. You may attempt it, but all you will get is “foolishness;” as Scripture tells us, the knowledge will be hidden from you.

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.” (I Cor. 14-15)

In God’s eyes it is far more important why we do something than that we do something, even good. (I Sam 16:7, II Chron 25:2) Thus we do not want to do the right thing with the wrong attitude and motives.

Discussion  

  1. How can you develop a good attitude, and why would that be important in life as well as Bible study?  
  2. Why is reverence so important, what does it mean to you?  
  3. Why should we be alert?  
  4. Have you ever set aside time to do devotions and read the Bible by yourself on your own accord?  
  5. If so, how did it go? How long did you last? 
  6. If you stopped, why and what would be the essential ingredient (s) to keep plugging away at it?  
  7. How powerful is God’s Word in your life?

See scriptures I Sam 16:7 & II Chron 25:2: Why is it more important to have a why to do good stuff instead of “just do it?”

Application:

Negative attitudes will tie us up from experiencing life, joy, fulfillment, peace, love and happiness! Negative attitudes will also get in the way of refusing to give our will up for our Lord and savior. Go through the next week being fully aware of your attitudes, keep a journal of them, that is keep track of your negative attitudes and positive attitudes. Then notice your feelings and responses in those situations.

For Handout?  

The Preparation for Prayer 

1. Desire – Want to seek Him out.

  • Ps. 27:8 for a personal relationship with God. The first thing you need to do is you have to want to pray!

2. Decision – Give prayer your priority time.

  • Daniel did. Daniel 6:1-3) 10
  • Jesus did. Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; 22:39-46. Make an appointment with God.

3. Determination – Make a commitment and keep it.

  • Learning to pray is like learning a new language. It takes time effort and use.
  • We are all beginners with prayer.

4. Expectation– God will be there to receive you. Luke 11:13; Heb. 4:16.

  • He is gracious, good, eager response.
  • Come to enjoy Him, to be with Him, and He with you.
  • Use of meditation, hymnal, devotional guides, etc.

5. Have a place for prayer.

  • Jesus did. Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; 22:39

6. Listen for God’s Word to you. Matt. 4:4; John 15:7; II Tim, 3:16-17.

6. Pray specifically, Mark 10:50-52; Phil. 4:6.

  • Faith sized requests
  • Be definite – “give me this mountain” Josh, 14:12.

7. Pray persistently. Luke 11:5-10~ 18:1-8; Matt. 26:36-46

8. Pray freely and fully. Pour out your heart. Matt. 26:36-46; 27:45-46

9. When difficult or unreal pray audibly or you can write out the prayer

10. Pray confidently with thanksgiving. Phil, 4:6-7; I Thess, 5:16-18,

Ask yourself, “Am I willing to pay the cost?” Luke 9:23; Luke 14:25-35 

  • Jesus invites you to discipleship. But, He lets you know up front that it is a commitment that will cost you something. It is not going to be easy. You cannot just say you love the Lord. You must show it with your heart and it must  transcend to your hands and feet. Then you will be Jesus’ disciple!
  • Discipleship is costly because Jesus must have priority over your will, ideas, plans, and presumptions

© 2002 R.J. Krejcir Into Thy Word

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The First Mission

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

The First Mission             

Read Matthew 10: 1-15 

            Have you ever gone on a great adventure, such as traveling to a strange place, a missions trip, camping in the wilderness, or a big hike, something you would not normally do? If so, what did it take to motivate you? Now think about this, what would motivate you to do this for the Lord?

Jesus called His twelve Disciples to venture out and put into practice all that He had taught them. This was their first great mission, and the testing ground for learning, growth, and the practicing of their faith. Jesus was calling His followers and the twelve close Disciples to be “clued in” to the Kingdom and given the responsibility to proclaim His truth to the world (Matthew 10; 28:18-20). He chose fishermen who He made into fishers of men (Matt. 4:19; Luke 5:1-11), and a tax collector who He commissioned to collect souls for the Lord. Jesus went after the regular “Joe” on the street, from fishermen to warmongers and Zealots, even to the one who would eventually betray Him–Judas. Consider this: the most hated person in Jewish society, a tax collector who worked for the invading, occupying, hostile oppressors, the Romans, was called out and sent to proclaim His Word!  

They were going from the classroom to the field, taking a chance by being without the usual necessities one would normally take on such a journey. Jesus gave them the empowerment, along with some peculiar instructions from our point of view, such as to stay away from certain people groups, to shake the dust off their feet if the people did not listen, and not to pay for anything. All were contrary to what is normally done during a journey and sojourn.

We cannot forget the importance of preparation. The Apostles did not just go and do; they were carefully trained, discipled, and then sent out! These were the men chosen to go and harvest, whom He sends out in the following passages. Jesus perhaps took as much as a year and a half to gather His Disciples. Then, these Disciples were with Him for two and one-half to three and one-half years of close, personal, one-on-one as well as group discipleship, with the Lord of the universe. This was the most incredible opportunity ever given to a man.  

They were sent out as commissioned representatives of Christ, just as their title, Apostle, means. They had to learn first-hand what it meant to be an Apostle, and what it meant to follow Christ. However, the way they learned to follow Him did not mean just picking up and following. They had to put into practice what they had learned, and then do it. Follow? Yes. But, also do as He instructed.

This passage also gives us the blueprint for missions and evangelism. This mission was in preparation for “The Great Commission” to come, in which His apostles were called to make disciples of all the peoples of the world.

The pattern was to present Christ to their own people (Matt. 10:5-15), then to others, and, finally, to the entire world, including rulers and kings (Matt. 10:18; 28:18-20). 

Jesus calls them to Go first to the lost sheep of Israel: The term, Lost sheep of Israel: Most people naturally think this refers to the lost ten tribes that seemed to disappear after the captivity. But, this was a common OT theme, and referred to people as dumb sheep that go astray very easily, as a lot of real sheep and people do (Isa. 53:6; Jer. 50:6; Ezek. 34:5). Moreover, this actually means the people who have lost their way, as in sheep that are lost from their master. God is their Master, and they have strayed from Him. Jesus comes, as the Good Shepherd, to rescue His lost sheep.

This meant the message of God’s redemption was to go first to Israel. Israel’s responsibility then was to proclaim it to the Gentiles, which they did not do very well (Gen. 12:1-3; Amos 3:2). Jesus is not discounting the Gentiles, as He already responds to them (Matt. 8:10). Rather, He means that the “heirs to the Kingdom” are to be first. Later, in this passage, Jesus calls His disciples–and us–to reach the Gentiles.

As you go: Jesus asks them and us to model what He had done Himself, and was instructing them to do. This mission was practical to tactical, it was hands-on learning, seeing it done, being told all the “ins and outs,” and then being commissioned to do it on their own. This mission was in the parameters of what the Master had instructed. It was not, “See if it works, and let me know.” Rather, it was putting faith to practice, regardless of response, or how one was treated. Our reverence is to be to God, regardless of what others think of us (Phil. 2:12).

We, as Christians, are responsible to proclaim Christ as Lord with whatever means are at our disposal, using our gifts and abilities. But, we are not responsible for how or why people respond to us. It is not our responsibility that they convert, believe, or act in a certain way. We are only responsible for acting in His character and proclaiming His name (Gal. 1:10). Many times, when Christians see that people do not respond as expected, they quit almost as soon as they start. Too many give up too soon, thinking no one is listening or even cares. Truly, most will not listen or care, but that is not our problem. We must break away from the feelings of personal rejection. This will be difficult, but we must do so in order to be effective for the Kingdom.

What we do At Into Thy Word

Into Thy Word Ministries is a small Missions organization with a call upon our hearts to bring discipleship materials to pastors and everyone who needs them here and overseas for free. And we need your help!

First a reminder of what I do and who we are: Into Thy Word Ministries vision is to provide Christians with the most effective tools and the most effectual means to better understand and apply God’s Word to their lives. Our call is a dedication to teaching people all over the world how to study the Bible in a simple, clear, and concise way! We do this through seminars, missionary efforts of training pastors overseas, church leadership consulting, curriculum development, and our interactive website resources!

Into Thy Word (ITW) was founded in 1988 at Richard’s home church in Pasadena California under Pastor Paul Cedar who is the founder and Director of “Mission America.” ITW was an outgrowth from his seminar on “How to do Inductive Bible Study.” He then was “coerced” by Pastor Paul to step out of his comfort zone to take it overseas to Russia. Since then, he have been writing books, articles, and the rest of us developing the curriculum which have been translated into various languages. There are over 2,500+ ITW associates who personally distribute our Discipleship Tools and Curriculums in over 80 countries through CDs, booklets, and electronically. In 2000 Richard was further challenged by Pastor Paul and Billy Graham to take this ministry fulltime, thus, started ITW’s passionate efforts of training pastors and missionaries fulltime overseas targeting Russia, China, India, and N. Korea! We incorporated (pending 501-3c) as a ministry, with the launch from our interactive website, again at the personal request of Billy Graham. We now do over 70% of our mission and outreach through the Web. Our website is in the top 10 of all Christian websites, we have received numerous awards, we get between 5000 and 8000+ hits a day, and we have over 700 articles of sold Biblical curriculums designed to help people grow in Him! (But we are not a “web ministry;” we are a missions organization, a part of Mission America and we work with the USCWM!)

We believe that the lack of Bible study and Bible knowledge is one of the root causes of the problems that most Christians face, because without this knowledge, they are unable to make healthy and wise decisions. It is also one of the root problems that our churches face. Our churches are riddled with conflict and strife when we are called to be a light in darkness, salt to a flavorless world, and a haven of rest. Yet, we choose to ignore our call and place our focus upon our selfish needs and quests, when it needs to be upon the foot of the cross, Who Christ is, and what He did for us as revealed in His Word.

Because of the aforementioned reasons, we have remained committed to Christ and His call to ‘Into Thy Word Ministries’. We at ‘Into Thy Word’ are committed to teaching people how to find the time for Him, how to be His disciples and how to understand His Word. In so doing, we believe that the church will flourish in power and commitment for our Lord’s glory! Then, we can be the light in darkness and the flavor and rest in the harshness of life. We can be the people of God, so we can do the work of God!

What He Calls us all to Do 

            The word, Apostle (Apostolos), means emissary, or sent ones, as in Jesus’ commissioned representatives (Matt. 10:40; 15:24; Mark 6:7-13; 30; 9:37; Luke 9:1-6; 48; John 4:34; 5:24, 30, 36-38; 6:38; 1Cor. 1:1; Heb. 3:1). We may not be apostles today, but we are called to be sent. It may not be to Outer Mongolia or some other distant land you have never heard off, but Jesus does call you. The question we have to determine is what and where. It can be here at home partnering with someone already in the field, or maybe He wants you to go. But take comfort, Jesus never, ever will call you where you do not have the desire and the tools to go. But also take heed to make sure you are not fighting Him.

Consider who you are, what you do and what you can offer to the Kingdom. Perhaps you are thinking I can not do missions, it is too scary, but Jesus says you can. Keep in mind that these men that He first called were from very diverse backgrounds. Now you may think I can not do missions, I did not go to seminary, but most of these first Apostles were educated, and some were not that educated. Now you thinking, what I do and what I have leaned could never have an impact? But again consider these first Apostles who Jesus directly called firsthand and personally. There were fishermen, businessmen, a tax collector, and, even possible political revolutionaries, all called to proclaim the Mission– that Christ is Lord! All witnessed firsthand what we hold dear in our hearts and lives only by faith and their testimony.

They were not perfect, and even were in conflict with one another on occasions. However, they did not just think about it, or daydream what could be, or what if. They learned and took their faith to the streets and to their deaths in power and conviction, a model we can do, too.  

The Disciples to be “clued in” to the Kingdom and given the responsibility to proclaim His truth to the world, the question is are we clued in too? Do we know His call and if so have we responded to Him? What is in the way? Can it really be that important?

            What can you do to better prepare for the mission and call Christ gave you? If you are not sure of your call, please seek out our Spiritual Gifts and talk to you pastor. 

This passage has some valuable insights for us today. God will not call us where He will not equip us. Therefore, we can go without fear. If He provides, we are doing right. If not, we need to inquire as to why. This passage also prepares us to not to be in shock when strangers and even family friends no longer accept us, because of Christ. We must be prepared as Jesus prepared His Disciples. We are to go first to the people we know. Then, as we get better, we go to others; and finally to those with whom we may be uncomfortable (Matt. 16:15). If they show no interest, we are to leave them alone while we keep them in prayer for a better time, and for the Spirit to open their hearts. We are not to be nuisances or obtuse to others–even those who are “unworthy.”

        Following Jesus means we do not just ask the question of what would Jesus do, but what He will have me do. We know this by following His character and teachings to all parts of our life even when it is inconvenient, or has considerable expense, or goes against our family and society.

In Closing

If you feel that you could be a part of this plan, any gift that you give would be extremely appreciated. If you feel led to support us, you may give “online” or conventionally by mailing it to the address below. Please make checks out to: Into Thy Word. A one time gift or an ongoing monthly commitment of your choice is greatly needed. Your financial gift will be the tool that God uses to keep this vital ministry going all over the world, but it is your ongoing prayers that will give me the strength, protection, and encouragement I need to be an impact.                                  

By the way, all donations to ITW are tax deductible! In the spirit of our Lord’s love, I thank you for your help. Many people will have a chance to experience the greater love of Jesus because of your support. Please feel free to call or e-mail me anytime for more information or to share your thoughts and prayers. You may also see “About” on our Website for more information, our statement of faith, and how you can better understand His Wor

THANK-YOU for your support!  

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24

Dark blue did not do…. Black part took about 40 min with some add ins and I told the youth how called and special they are….

Extra:

If time:

If you were to go on a short-term missions trip, what fears would you have?

The instructions were that they were to travel light, and be totally committed to the mission, as Elijah and John the Baptist had been.

a.      Preach, heal, cleanse, and raise: The Disciples were empowered by Christ to perform miracles, as we read in chapters eight through nine.

b.      Freely give: The Disciples were empowered to freely give the message of the Gospel without any compensation. To peddle the Gospel, as to charge money for people to hear it, is a grave insult to God. God will sustain those in His service.

c.      Having one cloak meant to not show off wealth or to put off the peasants to whom they were preaching. Also, they were to trust in God to provide, and not to take comfort in personal possessions. If we become tied down with possessions and worldly concerns, we will miss His call for our participation in His mission. Wealth is not wrong in and of itself; when it distracts you from His call, it becomes a hindrance, and sometimes, even evil.

d.      Money belt refers to a fold in the garment used as a pocket or pouch to hold stuff. It can also refer to a measuring container to measure what you have (Luke 6:38).

e.      Bag for your journey did not refer to luggage, rather, a means to beg for money. The Essenes did similar mission campaigns, and went city to city to visit fellow Essenes. So, they did not need to take any provisions, as they provided for one another. God is our provider. We have to realize that when we walk in Him and follow His mission, we need not fear or worry.

4.      Inquire who is worthy: Hospitality was a cultural mandate throughout the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean peoples. However, it was not always practiced (2 Kings 4:8-11).

a.      Shake off the dust was a symbol of contempt and piety. A righteous Jew would not allow himself to be contaminated by pagan dust and dirt. Jesus uses this phrase to demonstrate that one should treat unresponsive and unsupportive people as pagans, and as unworthy (Matt. 7:6; Acts 13:42-46).

b.      This is an indication that the Gospel is real, and if you do not receive it you will be shaken off in contempt and judgment (Acts 13:51).

c.      Sodom was the symbol of the most horrifying judgment ever seen in response to the sins of man having gone way out of control. Sodom rejected God’s messengers, and this was far less than rejecting Christ and His followers (Gen. 19).

Storms Cannot Buffet those in Christ

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26

This passage in Matthew is about relying on God’s power to conquer our fears. To move on in our journey of life, we have to realize He is there and He will empower us. We can sojourn in Him! The Disciples believed and saw some incredible events. But, somehow, what they had observed and participated in firsthand did not create in them an ability to fully trust.

We will see this theme tested within ourselves when the storms of life buffet against us, too. This includes the tempests of frustration, the chaos of stress, the gossip from toxic people, the daily grind of life, wrong choices, people conflict, and, of course, sin. How we deal with this is paramount to our ability to trust God. And, our trust in Christ is paramount for us as we develop healthy relationships. If we prepare to trust in Christ, we will be taken safely across the stormy seas we find ourselves in. If we do not, we may sink. 

Yet, we will fight this notion of trust. We will think, hey, I do not need anybody—not even God; I can do this on my own. I held to this mantra for years. I did not have the power to overcome my loneliness, even as no human has control over the elements of matter in the universe, or even one another. We cannot say to the storm be gone and have it be gone. We also cannot say, be gone all you dysfunctional and bad people, because we may shoo ourselves away, too. We may think we are able to do things because we can, through technology, manipulate our environment and control people. Who knows; we may even one day be able to control the weather. But, ultimately, only God has real and total control, whether it is weather or people. In this passage, Jesus is defiantly demonstrating His Godhood by taking control of creation. We have to learn that He is indeed in control, and we can and must allow Him control over us.

In verse 23 Matthew tells us, the disciples followed Him.  It is one thing to believe in something, and quite another to trust, and even more to obey an idea, plan, or cause. To follow Christ requires all three. We have to follow, we have to trust, and we have to obey. Each one follows the other and each one requires the other. We have to understand, put it into practice, and then trust in Him so we can continue. We need to receive His free gift of grace, for which we do nothing to obtain; at the same time, faith is required in order to receive it.

To help our faith and relationship with Christ and others to grow, and for Him to work in our lives, especially to touch others, we also have to be willing to trust and obey Christ as Lord over all things—including our lives and relationships. We see a common theme in the Gospels—that hearing the Word is not enough; we have to obey it. Mark records Jesus saying, let us cross to the other side (Mark 4:35-41). We have to allow Jesus to take us places in our faith we can never go or experience on our own. He helps make risk and trust happen, and this will help unlock the prison of seclusion in which we place ourselves.

Without warning, a furious storm came… as without warning, we, too, will face all kinds of troubles and opportunities. They always seem to come out of the blue without any advice, notice, or clue. The Sea of Galilee, where this passage takes place, is 13 miles long and eight miles wide, and is located in a basin 700 feet below sea level, making it one of the lowest points on earth. Mountains surround it, and at its southern end is a deep, cliff-lined valley.

Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes, and collides with the hot, humid air of Galilee lying over the lake. Thus, the size and shape of this area creates a vortex effect with weather patterns, so that sudden, violent storms come up without warning. A person in a boat would not see them coming until it was too late, because they are hidden behind the mountains. We usually do not see all the convergences to what lies ahead for us in life; we do not see the mountains and the climate conditions. Even if we do, we will still go through the storm. But, we can see our Lord leading us though it safely!

Most first century fisherman stayed close to the shore at Capernaum. This was where it was safe, even though most of the fish were out further. For them, it was, perhaps, a good method for remaining safe. A small fishing boat and a typical fisherman who only stayed close to shore would be unprepared for such a storm. It would easily capsize the small boat, killing all aboard. This explains the fear the disciples had. But, in our faith and relationships, playing it safe will only leave us at the shallow end. If we just focus on our fear, we will not take the risks. You will not be able to develop the depth unless you go into the depth, deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7). We have to be willing to take the risk and go out, even though the storms are lurking. The disciples showed some faith by being willing to go across the sea to the other side at Jesus’ request.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. Luke 8:22

Let Jesus take you to the other side! Or else, you will stay close to the shore of your comfort in the Christian life, and never take risks or exercise real, impacting faith. To pursue the Christian life and make an impact, we may be required to venture where we may not want to go. But, we only do this by His leading, and only move by His empowerment. We merely trust and obey. This is also the pattern for life. We do not see what is ahead. We do not see how our choices, sin, and events may collide, causing sudden and violent storms of stress, chaos, strife, pain, and suffering. If real faith is shown when the storms come, what would your faith show now? Storms are a part of our lives in a fallen world. At any one moment, you are in a storm, you just got out of a storm, or you are headed into a storm. So, are you prepared?

Realize that relationships take risks. People will hurt us. However, we can move on and grow deeper with one another when He is there, guiding. We can do this because our faith is in Christ, not our situation or in people. The key is to let Jesus take you to the other side. If not, you will remain in the shallow end of life and forsake your maturity and spiritual growth; this will cause isolation and loneliness that will only build into bitterness and lament.

Jesus was sleeping. This gives us a picture of Jesus’ humanity, as He must have been so totally exhausted from all of the crowds converging at Him, He fell asleep. Sometimes, we feel Jesus is asleep as life overwhelms us. But, rest assured; He is still there, caring for and carrying us. Even if He is asleep (He is not), and our troubles keep multiplying (and they will at times), we are still safe when we remain in the boat—in Him! Jesus was relaxed during the storm, a picture of faith for us to emulate. We can rest under His cover, and still be tranquil, composed and free from stress.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

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To Serve God’s Purpose

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Biblical Guy

MARK 12:28-31                                                                     

In our generation through loving relationships with God, His church, and His world.  (Acts 13:36a; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 2:52)f the greatest theologians of our century, Frances Shafer said “So, Then how do we live” In other words how do we express what Christ has done for us in 1999!!!  How do we take the theme of our Heidelberg Catechism of GUILT GRACE AND GRATITUDE and truly apply it in our lives, so we live out our faith, and not just say it. How then shall we look to the new millennium?                     

Mark 12:30 states 

Introduction: 

This great commandment of our Lord is the basic law of all of creation, before the 10 Commandments, before he said we are not to steal, or murder, or covet, before we were created, before the angels, before all that has been or ever will be, before all existence came this precursor of,… “We have only one Lord and God, thus we must love Him with all of our hear, soul, mind, and strength. 

This was the law for Adam before Eve, it was the law for the Angels, it was biding for them as it is still binding for us here today. All of the law, all that we could strive to be is delivered from this great command. Even the second great commandment is dependent on the first. 

This command bears not only great responsibility, but is comprehensive that all we do, think, say, and even pray is formed from our obeying or disobeying of this command. Even the quality of life we have is mostly from the choices we make, is from how we keep this command. How we treat our family, our friends, our selves and our God will be dependent on how we keep this command. 

This is not the law of the road from the CHP traffic manual, if we break it, we may get pulled over and pay a fine, and receive the gift of increased insurance or even the loss of our car. This is not even a civil law that if we committed murder we could spend the rest of our lives in jail or even loose our life. 

No, this is the law of our Lord God creator and king of the universe. This is not an infraction but a gross offence of the most grievance and sinister kind. Thus when we break His law it is not a meer fine, it is the invoking of His mighty wrath. This is the law that states we are sinners before a holy and righteous God in need of a Savior. 

This is a call of love, a duty to be fulfilled. But if you view this law as a meer duty, then you will find no love in it, thus you have broken it. And so many of us do break it.

Some people break it out of straight willful disobedience, saying there is no God. Which is basically saying I wish there was no God, so I do not have to be accountable to anyone, so I can do as I please, do as I want. It can be the Atheist who spits in the face of God, or it could be….us who say one thing and do another. 

Some people are just indifferent to God, as I would say most in our post modern culture. This is one of the biggest problems in our culture and in our church. People do not care what is right and wrong, replacing God with relativism, saying, “well everyone else is doing it this way”. So many activities and plans fill the schedules, so much that God is not even considered, So much that even committed Christians push God out of their daily itineraries, because there is to much important stuff that can not be missed. This the Christian has taken the role of the atheists with their neglect of there Lord and God, and replaced HIM WITH A BUSY SCHEDULE, or a heart that is indifferent and cold. 

1)         In OUR Heart and Soul

Love is not meer admiration or affection or even respect, love is total surrendered devotion and a choice we make! We are not loving little kittens, we are loving the Lord and creator of the universe with the devotion and surrendered wills that He demands and deserves.

So with our heart, …we are not to just admire and be devoted to our confessions and creeds. Memorizing pages of scripture,, and church order without a passion and convection to our Lord who first loved us. If all we do is Know about God, then we will accomplish nothing. Our faith will be dead and lifeless, like the dead cat our young people found on their scavenger hunt, a couple weeks ago. It was laying out in the elements for a few weeks, mostly decomposed will no hint of a meow for weeks, so will our life in Christ be without the effort of devotion and love, without the determination and perseverance of what he did for us.

We can not, we must not be pretenders to the faith, filling our self with all the knowledge of the faith and having no love. Without the love we cannot be stirred by the Sprit, we can not be fully be used, we can not even be certain we are His child unless love is manifested first to our Lord and then to each other. Going to church twice on Sunday, having family devotions, being in bible study and formal prayer can all be accomplished without love, but what good will it be.

So are you Enjoying God?    Spending quality quiet time in Prayer &            devotions¼Partaking in the JOY of our relationship with Him!!! 

If prayer is a chore and there is no delight in it, then look to the level of love you have for your Lord

When we honor God with our lips it must be preceded from the love in our hearts for Him. To enjoy His presence and to worship Him not only in church but in our daily lives we are to…….love, which is a choice and determination we make, that He made first. 

1)         Living in expectation of Christ’s Second Coming? Do you know Jesus can come back next Tuesday or next year or in the next thousand years! The point is we are to live our lives in the devotion He may come back tomorrow, Yet plan ahead as if he’s coming back in a thousand years!!

II.         In our Soul

We are to love our Lord with all of our lives, that is with all we have. Are we ready to give up our belongings even our lives as the martyrs do. If there is no willingness, then there is something holding you back in your relationship and love with Christ. We are to love Him with all of our heart and soul, soul is all that we are and all that we have. The core of our being of who we are. 

Christ gave His live for us, that is He lived a perfect sinless life on our behave, then gave it to us as a present of grace to which we did not deserve. So then what is our response with our life, are we to hoard it for our own glory so we can accomplish nothing, or do we give it to our Lord for His glory to accomplish something great for His purpose. We may not even get a hint of martyrdom or suffering in our life time as so many people in Christ through time and different lands, but are we willing..

2)         In OUR Mind

Is our intellect in line with God, is it being offered in love and devotion, or is it idle or   

Completing the theologies of the existence of God, but with no real drive of love. To know him intellectually without love is to be a athyisest, or more correctly an agnostic,  who believes in God, and even studies God, but with no devotion or passion, or Willingness to surrender themselves to Him.

So are you Knowing God better?    Spending time in His Word, well are you willing to read it through in 2000, it only takes 10 to 15 min a day to read the entire Bible in one year! And let the experience and knowledge of who God is, transforming us, and challenging us powerfully and fully!!!

Disciplined in the depth of study in the Bible?   Are you attending regular bible    study, were you can learn and have others hold you accountable, if not 2000 is a good year to start. If you do not have time, then its time to reevaluate your priorities. Because what is more important then gaining knowledge of our Lord, and communing with Him!

The thought and comprehension of God should bring joy to our lives and a heart and sole filled with passion and desire to know more about our Lord. So all of our passions and convictions are layed at our Lord’s feet.

Growth in Christian mind through tapes, books, seminar, courses?    There are many avenues to grow as a Christian. One way that I have found vary helpful in my personal growth is attending conferences, that specialize in teaching and challenging. There are also good radio teachers as well as books and tapes. Warning, be discerning on whom you read and listen too. Always compare what you here to the Scriptures. There are many false teachers out there that want your money and to tickle and trick your ears to a path away form God! If in doubt come and see pastor Dieleman or myself.

Making decisions in light of eternal values?    Are we asking our selves what would Jesus do? We know what would Jesus do by knowing His character, and we know His character by knowing His Word!

Reading and taking courses for broader understanding of the world?    You mind does not retire, no matter how old or young you are. It has been my observation that when people retire and continue on with no hobbies or interests or challenges—they waist away and become depressed. Most Social Scientists  will agree that when your mind becomes idle, we lose the will to live. Do not be robed of your contribution to the kingdom of Christ. At my last Church in So. Ca there was a lady named Hilda who taught a regular Bible study every Sunday afternoon. She was a missionary in Africa and Alaska, and now she is enjoying her retirement, Yet she still is active in her church. It was ironic that at this church, us staff had a hard time requiting people for teaching and even deacons, as a matter of fact, most of the committees were under staff by ½! The main objection was, “ IM retired and I just can not do this any more. Most of these people were in their 60’s, Hilda the ex missionary who taught a weekly bible study, the only one available to adults, turned 100 last july!!! So are you too old-God does not think so!

Keeping up with current thoughts & trends by going to “listening posts” of our society? (e.g. lectures, films, plays, political events)    There are other activities we can engage our mind into current issues. Try reading magazines attending lectures, getting involved in city Government. Basically do not be idle, God can and will use us powerfully if we let him, but he can’t use us much if we are stuck on a couch. Remember we can always do better to give the Lord Glory!

1)         In OUR Strength

How do you spend your day? Does your schedule reflect that Christ is Lord over you, or does your schedule reflect atheneum, that we are lord and master of our exsistance? When we are loving God with all of our strength, we are throwing the force of our heart, soul and mind and body to worship and give God the glory.

That our schedules and business reflects a soul bought and paid for by His shed blood. That re are revering and respecting God’s role as sovereign over the universe and over us. That we do not hold back anything.

Are you taking care of yourself’s?

How bout Rest?    Well do you? Are you taking care of yourselves? Remember this essential truth, as a Christian we are the temple of the Holy Sprit! As stated in John 14:17. Just as you have taken great care in adding on and then remodeling the church, to make it better and more useful, do you do this with yourselves? If we do not take proper care of our bodies, how can God use us for His Glory? Yes He may be able to use us for a while of limited purposes, but how much more can we be of use for him if we just put a little more effort in the care of His temple!

Diet?    Are you eating right? Most people have not a clue of what is healthy and what is not. Basically eat fresh vegetables and fruit. Whole grains and stay away from processed food. And drink 8- 10 glasses of fresh filtered water, and you will do fine! Maybe consider vitamin supplements.

Exercise?    Physiologists tell us that if we do not exercise regularly are bodies will deteriorate and break down, not vary well for a temple of the holy sprit!

Personal grooming and wardrobe? . I do not know anybody with this problem in this congregation, sol we may not think this is important in our contemporary California society.  But consider the fact we are ambassadors of Christ on this world, So should not act and we dress like it?

Recreation/Relaxation?    Do you enjoy life? We should! God placed us here for His Glory and purpose, so enjoy the ride of life, have fun, and be happy even in the mist of trouble and suffering. Do not let the trivialities and perceived urgencies to stress you out. Christ is in you, what possibly else can you need or want?

Manual skills developing?    Again do not be idle!

1)         Heart soul, Mind and Strength translates into our Work:

Remember God chose us, He has claim over us, so what do we do with this essential fact of our confession from the truth of scripture?

Remember He is Lord! He is God! We are to love Him because for who he is! We are to love him for what he did for us! God is eternal always existed, never changing, always loving, always holy, all powerful and all knowing. This is the why of this great commandment, this is why we exist, and what God’s will is! God is good, loving king, gracious, and He made us, he sustains us by the air we breath and food we eat, by the plant pn which we stand, all there is, all we do is from Him and is to be for Him.

1)         Handling money in terms of Biblical priorities?    Are we being a wise steward of the blessings the Lord has given us? If you think God has not blessed you, think agin. He has given you life and a life style that is in the upper 3% of the world, that is if you are lower middle class! There are always things to be thankful for, So we should show it. How we use the money God gives us shows our true character!

2)         Handling time in terms of Biblical priorities?    Being a wise steward does not mean just finances, it means all we have Time, treasures and Talent! The way we use time shows the priorities we have. We need to ask are our priorities centered upon the Lords

3)         Choosing a career in terms of Biblical priorities?    If you are in the processes of trying to find out what Gods Will is for your life. Then consider what Gods word says, God is more concerned with our Obedience than our carrier. God is more concerned with our relationship to him than any thing we do. The will of God has more to do with controlling our hearts than what we do with our lives! Yes a career is important and we should strive to do our beast with the spiritual gifts and talents we have to further his Glory! But let us never forget what is truly important!

4)         Carrying out work in terms of Biblical priorities?    Everything we do is under the topic of work, weather a housewife or placing control rods in a Nuceuler reactor or milking a cow or discing a field, or preaching a sermon, what we do is a mirror to the image of God to those around us! So consider this, are we mirroring Christ’s Image well, are we nice to the shoe clerk as we are nice to our friends! 

5)         Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength translates into In OUR Relationships:

We have a god who formed us in His hand and in His will, a God of relationships, a God of love. Our dependence is utterly complete in Him, thus our relationships and direction in life must reflect this truth. Sense God is feeding us, are we bitting his hand, or our we being nourished and reciplacatiing the Love he has for us.

1)         Good manners/etiquette?  (Take a course, read a book!)    How we act toward others shows people around us what Christ is like! If you have one of those fish symbols on you car, and drive around cutting people off like a crazy person; then, people see Christians as jerks! This is not the best way to glorify Christ!

2)         Conversational skills?    What does come out of our mouths! What comes out is telling others our character. The book of James has a lot to say to us on this subject! Do we treat others with dignity and respect! Do we listen to others!

3)         Taking initiative to develop relationships?    It has been said people do not care what we have to say until they know how much we care! If no one will talk to you, then take the initiative, take a risk and let others into your circle! 

4)         Understanding how to “be in the world” but not “of the world?”    The bible calls us to be salt and light, that is we are to be involved in the world, while not letting the infection of sin to penetrate our selves. We are to act and respond, to be involved in life. We are called to love and take care of others . Such as to care for the Gay person while not condoning the Sin!

 5)         Getting to know people generationally older and generationally younger?    We should spend more time with others of different ages. One of the things I like being a part of Trinity is that I talk to so many people of different live stages. When I was on staff at a large Mega Church I rarely spoke to others out side my age level ministry. So with our call we can disciple people younger than us and be discipled by those older, sharing experience with love and caring!

 6)         Exercising hospitality?    This goes beyond inviting people over, it is about how we treat other

Conclusion

True obedience is impossible to this Law. No man or women in all of creation could do it, thus our need for a savior. We are fallen and imperfect, and the realization of our need, and the expectance of His grace will transform us to be able to follow this Law of love with love of following it. So we will love following the love and being devoted in love because of His love.

We are not saved by our love and devotion, or by our works, we are saved by what Christ did for us. However there is a response to His Love, because of our sinful rebellious state. A response of thanks, a response of gratitude, a response of Love.

So how much do you love God? Were is your devotion and passion in life fixed? Is the love for God overflowing onto your family, friends, neighbors, and self? With all of our heart, soul, mind, and sprit! That is we are to throw our whole selves into it, all of our being of who we are into the love of God. Not just a part of us, not a section no matter how big or small, all of us, no less than all!  Spurgeon said that, “our heart is to have its whole being absorbed into God, so that God is the hearty object of its pursuit and its most mighty love.” To God only, to God be the glory.

SO Do you enjoy being in your relationship with God, well we should. You see the reason we were put on this world is to experience relationships. Our relationship with God through what Christ has done for us is our first priority. The second priority is to experience relationships with others, and the third is relationships to those around us! With God, His Church and the world! Let us look to Christ, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” Well-rounded development is being a person of Intellect, social and Spiritual, a holistic person! With our Sprit, Mind, Body, Work and Relationships! This is how we can give God the glory in our lives, in the new millennium!

 

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