A Heart After Christ

Christian Conservative Voter Guide California

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Biblical Guy

As many of you have asked, it is finally here, the voter guide. Remember, this is NOT an endorsement from any ministry or church that I am affiliated with. Thus, not LAC, ITW, SI, DT or…, . This is purely what and who I am personally voting for, after a lot of research, from Christians who actually think and know.

I tend not to get political or even care at times, but this year is different. You must know the future of America is riding on these tickets. One of the most critical decisions that our next President will be doing is appointing two or more Supreme Court justices. Not to mention the economy and socialization of our country that will destroy it!

Remember, if in doubt, vote character, values and keep in mind faith and reason…. If you disagree, well, I do not care, as I say this in love…

Should a Christian vote for a Mormon? Well, should a follower of Christ vote for a Moron? A Christian must vote, even when there are no good candidates, just prayfully choose wisely…

Should I vote for a 3^rd party? NO! That is how we got Clinton… a 3^rd party candidate grantees the incumbent to win…

What you must do, if you are a Christian is be in prayer for the Lord to raise up good and godly leaders who will support Biblical principles. And know this, the mainstream media lies, do not trust it! For your news go to the BBC…. Also, as I always say, do not vote for dumb people! Seriously, if someone was a bonehead in office before and they are running again, it is a good chance they will be a bonehead- again…-lol

The Character of Citizenship

Gives us passages and insights for our social conscientiousness in action.

http://70030.netministry.com/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=35253&columnid=3803

Christian Conservative Voter Guide California

This is a tough year, so much confusion over the measures. I looked at the Schaeffer Institute researcher, who is nonpartisan, Family Research Council, Traditional Values Coalition,and a few other organizations I trust. Measures 31, 33, and 40 were split between researchers, so I just said no…

Here are the best picks.

PRESIDENT: Mitt Romney

UNITED STATES SENATOR: Jack Orswell (2 thumbs up from Election Forum–1 – 3 scale)

STATE SENATOR: Gilbert Gonzales (better choice than opponent)

MEMBER OF STATE ASSEMBLY: Donna Lowe

COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Alan Jackson

STATE MEASURES: 30: NO 31: NO 32: YES 33: YES 34: NO 35: YES 36: NO 37: NO 38: NO 39: NO 40: NO

COUNTY MEASURES: A: YES B: NO J: NO

Feel free to pass this information along…

You may check out www.electionforum.org

Faith and Freedom coalition

http://ffcoalition.com/sites/default/files/Presidential-Voter-guide_0.pdf

Traditional Values

https://traditionalvalues.org/content/voter_guide

More helps:

www.capitolresource.org

www.judgevoterguide.com

Let’s remember one another in prayer!

Be blessed!

Richard

Phil 1:6

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Biblical Guy

I have a new Book,

All about Small Groups! How to Start and Lead Small Groups in your Church with His Power and Purpose!

And it has a Kindle Edition!

The Small Group is the prime platform for establishing and instilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission that Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 12:29-31. The Small Group is also the vehicle with which to develop and experience authentic relationships and growing discipleship. This builds a Church of authentic community, poured out to His precepts and being in relational intimacy and fullness in Him. This is what we are called to emulate from our Lord.

This book is based on over 30 years of research and practice and with Biblical insights….

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z8F7FI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=intothywordmi-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B007Z8F7FI&adid=1YJS2RCJZCRR1QQJWN7J&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intothyword.org%2Fpages.asp%3Fpageid%3D56846

Buy now, I need the $$$, and there is not better book out there on this subject, seriously….

Posted in Discipleship | Tagged books, small groups | Leave a comment

Krejcir Résumé PDF

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Biblical Guy

Richard Krejcir resame

Here is the PDF of my ‘ministry’ résumé. Yes, I am a pastor and writer, but I am also considered an expert and speaker in Web Development, Social Media and SEO! I have been doing this since the mid 80’s, before the web when there were electronic B.B.’s and developed the very first Christian website in 1994 and has been active since… If there is a ministry or business needs an expert person to build, develop, streamline or handle its information technology or social media, I am the guy.

Richard (at) intothyword.com

www.intothyword.org

www.churchleadership.org

www.facebook.com/rkrejcir

www.linkedin.com/in/rkrejcir

Be Blessed!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged résumé | Leave a comment

California Primary Voter Guide 2012

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Biblical Guy

As many of you have asked, it is here, the voter guide from our Dear Friend. Remember, this is NOT an endorsement from LAC, ITW or me, so vote character, values and keep in mind faith and reason….

Also, do not vote for dumb people! Seriously, if someone was a bonehead in office before and they are running again, it is a good chance they will be a bonehead- again…-lol

CONSERVATIVE VOTER GUIDE:

-PRESIDENT: Mitt Romney (we are supporting Mitt Romney to make sure Obama does NOT have a second term!)

-UNITED STATE SENATOR: Elizabeth Emken

-UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Bob Duran

-STATE SENATOR: Gilbert Gonzales (not that great from a conservative standpoint, but the less of two evils)

-MEMBER OF STATE ASSEMBLY: Donna Lowe

-NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL: (A few of these judges aren’t desirable, but they are better than their liberal opponents!) -Office 3: Sean D. Coen -Office 10: Sanjay T. Kumar -Office 38: Douglas W. Weitzman -Office 65: Andrea C. Thompson -Office 78: Kenneth R. Hughey -Office 114: Berj Parseghian

COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Alan Jackson

SUPERVISOR 5TH DISTRICT: Michael D. Antonovich

STATE MEASURES: -PROP 28: NO -PROP 29: NO

COUNTY MEASURES: -H: NO -L: NO

PASADENA SCHOOL: -A: YES

Let’s remember one another in prayer!

Be blessed!

Richard

Phil 1:6

Greetings California Friends! I am leaving the country tomorrow for two weeks, so before I jet off I wanted to send these recommendations for our important upcoming primary. I received some of this information from my contact who used to work for The Capital Resource Institute, which is a conservative organization dedicated to the preservation of family values. I also researched a couple of websites which are listed below (Craig Huey’s site has info on the judges which is difficult to obtain). Feel free to pass this info along to your friends and family members. Note: some of these candidates will not appear your ballot, depending upon which district you reside. If you would like recommendations for the CA judges outside of Los Angeles County, log onto www.judgevoterguide.com. You can also review endorsements for party central committee candidates, along with other endorsements, on the California Republican Assembly website. Craig Huey’s website which specifically caters to Christian values voters, is www.electionforum.org.

Lastly, Robyn Nordell is a Christian conservative who thoroughly researches the candidates and prays over the selections before advising voters. Her website is: www.robynnordell.com. I know you’re fully aware of how much is riding on our elections this year. Please join me in prayer as we petition the Lord to raise up godly leaders who will advocate Biblical principles.

Blessings to you! XXXXXX (person’s name withheld)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged vote, VOTER GUIDE | Leave a comment

The Fruit of the Spirit, Peace

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Biblical Guy

Is the Character of Peace working in you?

Galatians 5:22-23 and Colossians 3:15-17

Sermon Church of the Foothills 020512

Colossians 3:15-17 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Galatians 5:22-23 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

(Isa. 26:3; Matthew 5:9; Luke 19:42; John 14:27;16:33; Rom. 5:1; 12:18; Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7)

Peace, is surrendering and yielding ourselves to the Lord to be in His control, for He is our ultimate peace! Allowing tranquility to be our tone and control and our composure. This will be fueled from our harmonious relationship with God to handover control of our heart, will and mind over to Him. Once we make real peace with God we will be able to make and maintain peace with others.

Illustration, A picture of a man outside of the door of a lighthouse during a raging storm! The situation is raging, the tranquility is knowing you are still safe, for a Christian our safety is in Christ when His Holy Spirit is indwelling in and through us.

What happens when I do not have this precious and priceless Fruit working in our daily life? It is not good! Chaos and turmoil will be our lead, these are actually the opposites of the Fruit of the Spirit, which is God’s Holy Spirit working and leading in and within and throughout our lives. This can range from seeking destruction and chaos to being a distrustful and impatient person, all of which will bring you despair, depression and heartache. As well as bring this to others around you. You will be unable to build positive relationships or handle difficult situations. You will have an “I must have control” orientated personality and be unable or unwilling to give yourself to God and others. You or me will not be happy or content, our life will suck, and as a Christian, this will be sad and pathetic.

If you are thinking, HEY, that is how my life is! I know mine can be that way at times. Do not despair! If you are a Christian, you have the ultimate help to overcome and be at peace, at least in attitude and composure.

How do you know if the Character of Peace is working in us?

Illustration:

If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you anytime, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog or Cat!-lol

Or you can look to God’s Word. Here is how you can really find out. Take a careful look at this character and fruit of Peace from God’s most precious Word by examining the passages on peace. Now ask yourself:

1. How do I exhibit Peace in my daily life?

2. What can I do to develop a more Peaceful attitude?

3. What blocks the practice of peace in my life?

4. How can I make Peace function better, stronger and faster even in times of uncertainly and stress?

Allow me to tell you more about peace. Here is a couple classic sayings on peace:

Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always.

Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God. (Sources Unknown.)

If you have your Bible open, look at Colossians 3:15-17, this would also make an easy and excellent passage to remember. We are told here what is peace and how to obtain it.

· Peace of God/Christ/bond of perfectness. This means God calls us to salvation and then binds us to Him and to one another. This refers to salvation as well as the practice of unity “among one another” as in the practice of God’s love, reconciliation, grace, and forgiveness that give us eternal rest as well as peace and security for today. This is what He did for us; as Christians, we are to show who we are in Christ—the example being how we are to others. When we practice His precepts, we are modeling Christian community and unity that shows a broken world our Lord and what He can do for them (Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 6:1)!

As, Christianity is not just the proclamation of the Gospel; it is also the example of the Gospel! Real evangelism is not on a soapbox it is lived out to others can see it.

· Dwell in you richly/rule. This means to have Christ as our “supreme umpire” to live in us. This is the picture of our abundance and unity in Christ and His promise to reside in us. The Colossians had a skewed understanding of the goodness and sufficiency of Christ. Both they and we need to know that it is Christ Himself living in us; we are motivated by Him to bear and bring Christ wherever we go. This is a powerful conviction and motivation and blessing. We are to live out our Christian walk with the responsibly of His power, conviction, clarity, and in truth, because He is not in heaven, aloof, or just watching. He is residing in us now (Psalm 119:11; Matt. 13:9; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17; 5:18-19; Phil. 2:16; Col. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:15)!

· Hearts. Means the inner will where one’s desires and conflicts reside. Peace in our hearts makes peace with others and peace in the church that influences the world. Gratitude promotes peace and secures a content heart whereas sin and turmoil become cancerous and adversely affect others around us (Psalm 32; 51).

·Members of one body. A colloquialism for the Church, a “corporate” union in Christ. It is not a building; rather, it is a “spiritual house of people” in relationship of unity, deriving life in and from Him. Being of His membership means our identity is in Him, thus we are affected personally and publicly, synergizing as a community that is formed, indwelt, and empowered by the Spirit. We are all precious, important, and have a job to do as a moving, living temple, reflecting His love and holiness. The Church is God’s dwelling place and legacy, His training and worship center where people are empowered by Him to worship Him (Ex. 19:6; 2 Sam. 7:5-7, 12-16; Matt. 16:18; Mark 12:10-11; John 2:19; Acts 2:33; Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 3:16; 15:45; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-22; Heb. 3:6; 7:26; 10:10; 1 Pet. 2: 4-10).

·Peace. This means God-given tranquility, which comes from the surrendering and yielding of ourselves to our Lord. When Christ is in control, we have peace because He is the source of ultimate peace! This is achieved when we allow tranquility from our harmonious relationship with Christ be our attitude, control, and composure. The closer we are to Christ, the closer we are to contentment and what is really important in life. Because peace allows for wisdom and peace, it promotes virtue and love and forgiveness. Peace is a Fruit of the Spirit that comes from the tree of love that is fruited with wisdom, pruned with virtue, watered with forgiveness, and produces the sweet fruits of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Isa. 26:3; Matt. 5:9; Luke 19:42; John 14:27; 16:33; Rom. 5:1; 12:18; Gal. 5:19-23; Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7).

·Thankful. This comes from our enjoyment in Christ. When we realize who and what He is, we respond. The opposite is being a complainer, grumbling as the Israelites did in the desert, which only leads to bitterness and anxiety both personally and collectively and no change in one’s situation (Phil. 4:6; Col. 1:12; 3)

·Word of Christ/Word of God. Meaning Christ’s teachings, the clarified and uncompromised true Truth of His Word now found in Scripture (At this time, it was oral and in letterform; now we have it in the Old and New Testaments.) as well as the words, character, and precepts of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How He lived and what He taught must also infuse and affect us—what He taught and modeled and how we are learning and responding to Him. We are to learn and employ what He has for us. It is not just enough to know; we must also be. Learn it, know it, be it, and do it. This is study, internalization, transformation, and application (John 14:16; 16:13; 20:31; Col.1:15-20; Eph. 5:14; Phil. 2:6-11; 1 Tim. 3:16).

·Dwell. That little allen screw with under your disturber that harmonizes your cars timing.. or Meaning what controls and rules you. Here, it means to be directed by God’s principles and Christ’s character and the Holy Spirit’s leading. Being led by the Word of God will enable us to be more filled with the Spirit of God; they go together. One cannot be effective without the other. You cannot say the Spirit fills you by being emotionally ecstatic while you ignore God’s Word. What gives you hope, reason, purpose, meaning, and motivation will be what is planted, cultivated, and growing in your mindset that influences your attitude, outlook, and actions. This will either fill your life with hope or despair, joy or discontent, gratitude or ingratitude, contentment or dissatisfaction, all dependent upon being truly “Spirit Filled.” This is not a “charismatic” thing; rather, it is a real Christian thing, being controlled and filled by Christ and not by apprehension, selfishness, turmoil, damaged past, or uncertainty (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:3; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 5:8-6:9, Col. 3:19-4:1).

·Teaching/admonish. This means to allow the Word to touch our thinking, our conduct, and us so we can touch others by our word and example. This is an imperative! We are called not to just sit in a church, but to learn all we can, to keep learning, and make sure we are teaching. We may not have to be actively teaching a class, but teaching by our lifestyle and counsel, which is more powerful than we can do with a good PowerPoint presentation. Also, the Church is called to teach and guide its flock. We are never to be rude or tactless or lazy or forsake this great, needed, and important ministry (Gal. 6:1; Col. 1:9, 28; 2:3; 4:5)!

·Psalms. Possibly referring to the “Psalter.” The reciting of the Psalms, blessings and worshipful knowledge of our Lord, were also sung with or without music in the local churches and homes. When we are filled with God’s Word, we will have gratitude that will be manifested in our nature, temperament, and attitude. We will want to sing the song that He has planted in our hearts—the songs from His Word the Bible (Luke 20:42; 24:44; Acts 1:20; 13:33; 1 Cor. 14:26).

·Hymns/songs. This means the praise and celebration of our Lord in unity with willing, loving hearts. In context, this also means that significant doctrines and truths are articulated in hymns written by authentic Christians from the beliefs in Scripture. Real worship and music are never a show; rather, they are responses of our love giving praise. We as a congregation are the performers, and Christ is the audience. Real, authentic worship is to be inspired by who Christ is and what He is doing in us. It is not about form or function or type; it is about our hearts showing our love to Him (Mark 14:26; Acts 16:25; Eph. 5:19; Heb. 2:12).

·Spiritual songs…giving thanks. Means being inspired by the Spirit for worship, thanking God and recounting the deeds of God in Scripture and in one’s life that inspires holy living. In contrast are secular, worldly songs, like bar songs and sports chants (1 Chron. 16:29; 25:1-6; 1 Cor. 14:15; Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3).

·Gratitude. Here, this means graciousness and tact as in acting with and in grace that brings glory to our Lord and a positive prime testimony to our community (Eph. 5:18-19).

·Whatever you do… name of the Lord. Means actions reflect faith. With our lips and lives, all we do must have as a focus the glorifying of Christ and the furthering of His Kingdom. This is also a reminder that God is Sovereign; He is our hope and reason, so we must line up our lives to Him. This is an attack on the pagan religious services that were influencing them; they emphasized ritual observances and negated personal holiness. Paul turns this phrase around to admonish the Colossians to “shape up.” All aspects of our lives must reflect His Lordship over us! (1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Thess. 5:8)!

Now let me paraphrase all this to you, what Christ is saying to us is this,

The peace of Christ is His salvation moving in and through us by the Holy Spirit that passes all understanding and is synergized by our gratitude. Thus, our salvation and our attitude of gratitude will produce the peace that supports our spiritual growth along with the church’s health, hope, and connectedness.

How to make this so? We must allow the Word of God to impact us, live in us, and referee us so we can live joyfully, worship God, and love others more effectively. Paul’s mission was to rightly instruct the Colossians, warn them about the false teachers and their distortions, as well as woo them back to the Lord—the Real Lord—not the half-baked Greek philosophical hybrid they had.

Christ is the One who has to empower us—not only to save us but also so that we can trust in Him for holy living. With the understanding of what Christ did for us, we can have the hope and confidence to trust and obey Him. These are the attributes that produce character and spiritual maturity that in turn show that we are representatives of Christ. This total life transformation will not only change us from the inside out, but also allow us to have an impact on others for the Kingdom!

Peace can be maintained for a time out of ignorance or denial, but when the realities of life come upon us, peace can be impossible unless we let His peace rein in us! When we do not let go we will blame God and lose our unity and serenity in Him. Peace is learning to let go of our will, desires and plans, as well as our hurts and fears.

Now let me make this clear, as a product of the 60’s, Peace is not the peace of the hippie movement or even between nations, although those things can be applied from it. Peace is serenity from the realization that God is in charge and we can relax because He is in control.

Peace is the recognition that our biggest problem has been solved! It is the stillness we have when our trust is upon Christ as Lord (Psalm 46:10). Peace will also enable us to yield our will over to Him. Peace enables us to be moved from the stronghold of fear and trepidations into a life of harmony (Isa. 26:3; II Tim. 1:7). When we are on the verge of giving up, or losing our hope, peace can be the anchor to keep us on His path, to see His hope, to let it give you the confidence to keep moving on His path.

How can I make this more so, having a greater peace in me? John tells us that He, Christ, must increase and we, us, me, must decrease (John 3:29-30). If we refuse this vital call, God just may allow those hardships to come our way, breaking us down so we will yield and grow as His child.

Colossians makes the definition clear: “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”, then says they are put together with, forgiveness and love, and that they operate in the parameters of peace and wisdom. Because wisdom and peace promote virtue and love and forgiveness demonstrates this virtue we all need to have (Col. 3:12-17).

So, Peace is a fruit that comes from the tree of love that Christ gives and pays for us that is fruited with wisdom, pruned with virtue, watered with forgiveness producing the sweet fruits of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”.

Do you have peace in your church? If not, remember those who seed strife and make divisions in the Church are not doing Christ’s work, but are attempting to gratify their own selves. They cause people to follow a person and not the Person of Christ! Contentious, divisive people will cause others to stumble, so they must be avoided, and disciplined, which means removing them from fellowship if they persist (Rom. 16: 17-24; 1 Cor. 5:9–13; 2 Thess. 3:6; 2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 3:10)!

Remember the Fruits of the Spirit are codependent entities, neither one can stand or work by itself as they are designed to work all together synergistically to build us up for His service.

Illustration: SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE

* A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.

* An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

* A loss of interest in judging other people.

* A loss of interest in judging self.

* A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

* A loss of interest in conflict.

* A loss of ability to worry (this is a very serious symptom).

* Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

* Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

* Frequent attacks of smiling.

* An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

* An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

— Author Unknown

Let us pray,……

For Bible Study:

Here are positive examples from Scripture (Psalm 27:1-6; Luke 1:26-38; 2:25-32; John 14:25-31; Acts 27:21-25)

Here is are negative examples from Scripture (II Sam. 15:1-13; Matt. 2:13-18; 26:69-75; 27:1-7; Luke 8:22-25)

Bible Study Questions

How would you define Peace?
What are the things that cause despair for you?
How does despair counteract Peace?
Do you cooperate with Christ as your Lord; to allow His peace to rein in you, if not what is in the way?
When have you been filled with Peace the most?
In what situation did you fail to have Peace in which you should have?
What issue is in your life that would improve with more Peace?
Think through the steps you need to take to put Peace into action in a specific instance. Such as a counteracting the attitude of despair or hopelessness, or not letting your circumstances get in the way of your peace?

Posted in Fruit of the Spirit, Sermons | Tagged 23 gentleness and self-control, bond of perfectness, character, Character of Peace, Christ dwell, Christianity, Colossians 3, example of the Gospel, Faithfulness, forbearance, Fruit, Fruit of the Spirit, Fruit of the Spirit of Peace, Galatians 5, Goodness, gratitude, inner peace, Joy, Kindness, Love, Peace, proclamation of the Gospel, surrendering, thankful | 1 Comment

The Character of Joy

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Biblical Guy

Sermon Church of the Foothills 010112

(Psalm 32:7-9; 34:1-8; Proverbs 15:13; John 15:11; 17:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thess. 5:18; 1 Peter 4:13- 19; Hebrews 10:34; 12:2; James 1:1-4)!

Happy New Year! Wow it is now 2012, the year of mystery, mystique and intrigue, if you follow the Hollywood apocalyptic movies, the often mistranslated Mayan calendar or the prophets of baloney this will be it, the end of days run to the hills in fear. Fortunately for us, if you read the Bible and have a saving faith, no problem. In fact…before I get into the topic of ‘joy,’ allow me to give you some ‘joy rising,’ that word ‘apocalyptic’ in the Greek, in the context of Scripture actuary means “discourser of events,” and that is what it literally and truly means that God and His plan is unfolding we can have joy victory, hope, grace, and that He is indeed in control when we are in Him. The foreboding definition of doom and gloom was brought to us by the false teachers of the 19^th century and Hollywood, just read Revelation and you will see, joy to Christians, God is at work and Christ will return….no need to fear… Now for more Joy…

Read Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:2-4

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Q: Is ‘Joy’ as a Character working in you?

Q: Are you a grouchy person when you get up in the morning? If so, it may be a lack of joy or at least an understanding of joy…

ILL:

The optimist sees the glass as half full. The pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The project manager sees the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. The scientist sees the glass needs more examining, as a guess based on a visual cue is inaccurate, so mark the glass at the bottom of the meniscus of the content, pour the content into a bigger glass; fill the empty glass with fresh content up to the mark; add the original content back in; if the combined content overflows the lip, the glass was more than half full; if it doesn’t reach the top, the glass was more than half empty; if it neither overflows nor fails to reach the top then it was either half-full or half-empty.

And of course, the opportunist sees the glass and just drinks its contents and walks away… Ever notice that when your cup of happiness is full, somebody always jogs your elbow?

Which one has more joy? The optimist or pessimist? Perhaps it is the opportunist. I guess an argument can be made for all…it really comes down to a matter of …perspective.

So do you have joy? First off we need to define it, as most people even Christians may not truly know what it means.

What is Joy? Most think that Joy is happiness, in actuality it is a ‘perspective.’ It is about our focus on Christ as Lord; this is a declaration,like an explorer declaring a newly discovered land for the Queen and planting the flag. In Christianity, its meaning isto declare our situation for Christ as happy and fulfilling, even when it may not be so. It is to change our mindset and focus. It is realizing the sovereignty of God and that He is indeed in control, even when life seems to be turned upside down and inside out!

Rejoice means that we can rejoice in Jesus’ sacrifice and death, be glad for the joy of our salvation, and express gratitude for whom and what He is and has done. And the Disciple’s joy did erupt for the risen Lord. Jesus doesn’t just replace our sorrow with joy; He transforms it. The world’s joy is very temporary while ours is forever (Psalm 16:11; 80:1-7, 17-19; 118:24; Isa. 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:23-30; 2:2)!

What Joy does? Joy will allow us to enjoy our relationship with Christ, His creation, others, and our circumstances with an expression of delight and real, authentic happiness from and with harmony with God and others, Regardless of our circumstances.

Joy helps us understand God’s perspective and gives us the confidence and patience to endure, to go and grow through anything. Joy is not happiness, because we may not be content and pleased with it; rather, joy is hope. It is our real hope. It is not a meager wish; rather, it is the unshakable confidence of our future in Christ. Our pleasure comes from knowing He is in charge and caring for us, He is still working in us and our situation even when we can’t make sense of it.

How is Joy applied? We are called to ‘Consider,’ this means to Count it joy, knowing that the glass is not even half full, it is empty and still declare our situation as happy and fulfilling. Thus, Joy helps us change our mindset and focus from what we see to Christ, so we are not consumed with anger or bitterness or other unhelpful and destructive emotions that lead to destructive actions and broken relationships. Joy help keep our focus on God’s love, care and sovereignty and realize that He is in control, His Hand is upon us, upon you, so we can just Him, we can allow His Fruit and plan to unfold, even when life seems to be too tough, or even worthless or that I am useless. Because you indeed have Hope!

So do you have Joy? Here is how you can find out. Take a careful look at this character and fruit of joy from God’s Word and perspective the ask yourself:

1. How do I exhibit joy in my daily life?

2. What can I do to develop a more joyful attitude?

3. What blocks joy from working and being exhibited in me?

4. How can I make joy function better, stronger and faster even in times of uncertainly and stress?

A key trick, well not a trick so to speak but a mindset, is to realize that Joy is the byproduct of our trust and obedience in Christ that comes from our growing effectual faith.

What happens when I refuse to take joy as my character and mindset? Well this is not good….we will have… Besides anger and bitterness, which are not as fun as one may think, we will also be hanging out with Distress, Sorrow, Despair and Regret, by the wayare the opposites of Joy and God’s call and plan!

Despair limits us like a ball and chain from growth and the enjoyment of life because we become too consumed with our circumstances. Not counting it joy means we engage Regret, and then we will have lost control of our attitude and response. Consumed with hurt so all we can do is hurt others. Distress cuts us off from relationships, learning, experiences and God. Not adding joy in our life leads to a life well wasted, a life of depression that cuts us off from seeing hope and purpose and what life and eternity are all about!

C.S. Lewis has this insight, Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Joy in the O.T., was an expression of excitement that was experienced with personal triumph, or celebrating a good harvest or military victory. Often feasting, the offering of sacrifices or blessings and dancing were tied with joy (Deut 12:12; 1 Sam 18:6; Ps 31:7; 96: 11; Isa. 56:7; 60:15; 61:3 ff; Joel 1:16;). In the NT, Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, Fruit of the Spirit means the Holy Spirit’s work in and through us. It is associated with receiving or the telling of God’s redemptive love. It also is associated with the enjoyment of life such as eating, drinking, feasting and even suffering (Matt 5:11-12; Luke 12:19; Acts 7:41; Gal 5:22; 1 Peter 1:6).

Joy helps us see that life and purpose is all about who God is, and not who I am (Psalm 15; 101; 2 Thess. 1:12; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1). Joy is indispensable for sharing love, it is being confident in our faith. It is not just what you know; it is Who you know. He is Christ. Your love of Jesus is the picture other people need to see so they can better see Him (Joshua 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 1:24)!

When we know we have the Good News, we will know Jesus, not just as a Savior, but as LORD (Luke 6:46)! He is to be all things to us. Is He Lord of your life, too? Joy helps us understand God’s perspective and gives us the confidence and patience to endure anything! This realization impacts and fuels us to endure the toughness of life and to proclaim Jesus to others. Because we are confident in His power and impact, we will live in Him and show Christ to others. I know that in my life, my effectiveness is directly correlated to my walk and my prayer life. How much I trust and obey becomes the power that helps me get through life when it seems dark and foreboding, and Joy will be our prime help too.

We need to realize that we have no control over what happens to us at times, whether it be trials, suffering, setbacks, injury, sickness, or death of a loved one. We only have control of our attitude and response. We are called to choose to declare our situation joy!

We cannot change our circumstances; however, we can accept them by learning and growing from them (Isa. 26:3). It does no good to complain, to fret, or to be angry or bitter, as these things do neither others nor us any good. When has bitterness ever really helped out in that situation? When has depression gave you the gumption to learn from it and move on. When has complaining motivated positively? All that complaining just escalates the situation and blinds us to our ability to be better and not bitter!

Real, authentic, Christian maturity will grow as a result of our problems. They will strengthen us and make us better, stronger, and able to get over things faster and get on with our lives. Then, we will be able to be of better use to God and to others.

Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:

Not in Unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”

Not in Pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”

Not in Money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Not in Position and Fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”

Not in Military Glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”

Where then is real joy found? — the answer is simple, in Christ alone.

(The Bible Friend, Turning Point, May, 1993.)

Joy recognizes that Christ will lift us up in His time; it sees the hope to come because He is the Hope, and takes delight in the moment even in times of harshness. It must be declared and seen even when it is not visible. The joy we are to have is His. It must carry us through all of our experiences and situations. It must rule our character and response, it must set the tone of how we engage and respond to others, whether it is prosperity or adversity, whether we are in the oval office or living in the streets.

Joy is not happiness, because we may not be content and pleased with it; rather, joy is hope; it is our hope. It is not a meager wish, rather the unshakable confidence in our future in Christ.

Our pleasure comes from knowing Christ is LORD and is in charge and caring for us (Psalm 34:1-8; 1 Thess. 5:18)! So we can look at whatever situation we face and say this is good, this will better me, or this will help me. I may not understand it, but I can trust God; He is there and He will carry me through it!

Believe me I know this is a though task, I have not been immune to harsh troubles and setbacks, I know them intimately, but I know more my LORD!I hope you do too, if not seek someone out sooner than later, this church is here for you!

We are called to declare our situation, whatever it may be, as joy! Because, it is not a question of if we have problems but when, as we all will face them. We will face problems; they are inevitable, unavoidable, and unpredictable, and no one is immune! How we deal with them is what echoes into eternity, how we handle lives harshness is crucial for our contentment and faith and our modeling of Christ to others. There is no escape living in our corporeal bodies and in a sinful world (Gal. 3:26; Col. 3:1-4)!

For us to survive suffering and grow in maturity, we must have a real, authentic faith. Our eyes must be on Christ as well as our trust and faith. God must have us in Him, all of us—every aspect (Phil. 3)! Why do we need to allow ourselves to surrender to Him? We cannot deal with them effectively without Christ as Lord! He gives us the attitude of joy and the ability to persevere! This attitude of joy is also a key attribute for an athlete in order to excel on the field as well as for a Christian to grow in the Lord. What will you do? Surrender to Him or live unto yourself (Job 14:1; Psalm 34:14; John 3:30; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; Gal. 2:20-21; 1 Peter 4:12)?

The key is for us to look to Christ, not to our situation, and declare our circumstances as joy. We are to be content and satisfied, to face them, and then learn and grow from them. This does not mean to give up and do nothing; it means to refocus our energies into productivity and faith—not questions and bitterness.

It is to have our convictions and fulfillment in Christ, not circumstances. So, when something very difficult comes upon us, we will have the great comfort that God is in control and will not allow us to carry more than we can tolerate. Our joy and purpose in life is Christ, and our relationship in Him! Will you allow yourself to become less, and Him to become more (John 3:30)? If not, what is in the way?

Joy helps us understand God’s perspective and gives us the confidence and patience to endure anything!

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was a popular English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix… my wife correctly describes as ‘jazzy.’

Winehouse’s battles with substance abuse were the subject of much media attention. In various interviews, she admitted to having problems with self-harm, depression and eating disorders, she had it all literally, fame, wealth, talent, all that the world could ever offer, yet she was, sadly so, sad, not joyful about her circumstances and the result ended her promising life way too early.

Perhaps we can be remember that the world does not supply what we need, so we need to refocus on Christ. Remember to place Joy in all aspects of our life and expectations. If you are having problems take a serious look at despair and where it will get you, because there can be no delight without joy! You can have no true confidence without joy. What we suffer through, what we go through, what we give up is in no comparison to what we gain! Christianity and suffering is the ultimate in delayed gratification!

Have a most blessed New Year and remember Christ’s hand is upon you, receive Him, live for Him and be grateful so joy and the rest of the Fruits flow into you and through you and out of you….

Let us pray…

The End…

Here are positive examples from Scripture (Ex.14: 1-21; 1 Sam. 1:19; 2:10; Luke 10:17-21; 15:22-32; Acts 16:19-34)
Here is are negative examples from Scripture (Ruth 1:19-21; Job 3:1-19; John 11:17-44)

Posted in Fruit of the Spirit, Sermons | Tagged apocalyptic, Character of Joy, Christ as Lord, Consider it pure joy, Count it joy, declare, discourser of events, Faithfulness, Fruit of the Spirit, gentleness and self-control, God’s plan, Goodness, grace, hope, in control, intrigue, Joy, Kindness, Love, maturity, Mayan, mystery, mystique, opportunist, optimist, Patience, Peace, perspective, pessimist, pure joy, trust, victory | Leave a comment

The Meaning of Advent

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Biblical Guy

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

“Advent” simply means coming as in Christ is coming, and for us now He has arrived.

This is referring to His birth in history and in humanity. It meant the welcoming or the arrival of a special king and for us; it is our King of kings. This is what the Old Testament prophecies foretold concerning Jesus’ Incarnation, the Word made flesh for our hope and Atonement that brought us our deliverance. Advent represents our expectation, anticipation, and preparation for who Christ is and what He has done for us. He arrived into the world as a human being, being fully God and fully man. He came to identify as one of us, as the Son of Man, as a baby born in a manger. He came for us, He came for you and He comes into our lives and into our hearts. He is coming again in great power and glory to bring His Kingdom into fruition.

The Advent Wreath

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:12-13).

Traditionally, during the Christmas season we have an “Advent Wreath” in our Churches, and this is remarkably celebrated in all Denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic, liturgical, Mainline and Evangelical. The Advent Wreath is a venerable tradition that cuts across denominational and theological boundaries. It dates to the beginning of the 19^th century inEurope. This Advent Wreath is arranged with 4 or 5 Advent candles, 3 or 4 of which are in a circle, along with one in the center, all on a base of evergreens each has a powerful message for us about our Lord. This has prevailing imagery we should not take for granted or consider just another holiday decoration.

The Wreath: The wreath itself means “victory” as Christ’s victory over sin so He can save us. The Advent Wreath has 4 or 5 candles that are arranged in a circle symbolizing Christ’s eternity, as a circle has no beginning and has no end, it is a symbol for God, Who is eternal and thus without beginning or end. The evergreens mean He is “ever with us,” they are usually pine branches or holly that are used as a base that represents anticipation, newness, renewal and His everlastingness. The red berries of the holly represent the shedding of Christ’s blood.
The Candles: The Advent candles mean the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. This refers to the significance that Christ is the Light of the world. When they are lit, the illumination is to symbolize the Christ of eternity and His coming as the “Light of the World” and our worship and honor of His most precious gift of His Grace and mercy. These candles also have a color theme too, purple, blue, pink or rose and while. The first two or three are purple meaning royalty and this is also the color of suffering and the darkness of sin, connecting Jesus’ birth and crucifixion and His triumph over sin. Blue means sky and life, pink means joy, and white means purity.

Each candle has a special meaning:

The first candle (purple) “CANDLE OF HOPE” means His promise and hope. We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises He made to us. Our hope comes from God. (Romans 15:12-13)
The second candle (purple) “CANDLE OF PREPARATION” means His light and preparation. Preparation means to ‘get ready’. “Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!” (Luke 3:4-6) (Some traditions combine the first two)
The third candle (pink or rose) “CANDLE OF JOY” means the angels sang a message of JOY! (Luke 2:7-15)
The fourth candle (purple or blue) “CANDLE OF LOVE” symbolizes Christ love. God sent His only Son to earth to save us, because He loves us! (John 3:16-17) (some traditions omit this one)
The fifth candle (white) “CHRIST CANDLE” symbolizes the incarnation, the heart and reason of the season, God giving light to the world. Its location is in the center as Christ’s light is central and radiant. This reminds us that Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! (in wreaths that have 4 candles, it is in the circle among the rest of the candles)
Each candle is lighted during the worship services each week in progression until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day when the last candle is lit. (some denominations and traditions have different color schemes and some only four candles) Each week the new unlit candle for that week is lighted, and then the previous candles are re-lighted. A family is sent up to do the lighting as a passage is read, a carol sang and or a prayer said. The four weeks are a period of waiting also signifying the four centuries of waiting between the last prophet Malachi and the birth of Jesus. All five candles should continue to be lighted in worship services through Epiphany on January 6 (epiphany means “to show,” is the climax of the Christmas Season and the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” It is observed to denote the coming of the wise men bringing gifts and their worship to Christ).

Advent Verses

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– (Isaiah 11:2)

Typical Liturgical Lectionary Verses (Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Episcopal and many Evangelical Churches too):

Week 1: Isaiah 11:1-10 and/or Isaiah 7:10-14; 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5 and/or Jeremiah 33:14-16;

Week 2: Psalm 25:1-10 and/or Psalm 27:1-7,18-19 and/or Micah 5:2 and/or Matthew 2:1-12

Week 3: I Thessalonians 3:9-13 and/or Romans 15:4-13 and/or Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

Week 4: Matthew 3:1-12 and/or Luke 21:25-36 and/or Luke 2:8-20;

Also:

The Annunciations of Jesus (Luke1:26-38 and Matthew1:18-25) and Mary’s visit toElizabeth(Luke1:39-56) can be read every Advent Sunday and then the following passages just prior to the Advent wreath lighting ceremony:

First Advent Sunday: Annunciation to Zachariah: Luke 1:5-25.

Second Sunday of Advent: Annunciation to Mary: Luke 1:26-38.

Third Sunday of Advent: Mary’s visit toElizabeth; The Birth of John the Baptist: Luke 1:39-66.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Zachariah’s prophecy: Luke 1:67-80.

Christmas Day: The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 2:1-20.

Typical Evangelical Verses:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

Additional Scripture verses to be personally read during Advent:

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY: Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2
MONDAY: Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-33
TUESDAY: Luke 2:1-5
WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:6-7
THURSDAY: Luke 2:8-9
FRIDAY: Luke 2:10-12
SATURDAY: Luke 2:13-14

THREE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY: Luke 2:15-16
MONDAY: Luke 2:17-18
TUESDAY: Luke 2:19
WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:20
THURSDAY: Luke 2:21
FRIDAY: Matthew 2:1-2
SATURDAY: Matthew 2:3-6

TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

SUNDAY: Matthew 2:7-8
MONDAY: Matthew 2:9
TUESDAY: Matthew 2:10-11
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 2:12-15
THURSDAY: Galatians 4:4-5
FRIDAY: Ephesians 2:8-9
SATURDAY: 1 John 4:7-16

ONE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS (You may or may not have a full week before Christmas Day.)

SUNDAY: Ephesians 2:12-22
MONDAY: John 7:37-38, and 14:6
TUESDAY: Matthew 28:19-20
WEDNESDAY: John 8:12
THURSDAY: John 9:4-5 and Matthew 5:14-16
FRIDAY: Psalm 98:1-6
SATURDAY: John 1:1-3, 14 and Romans 6:23

CHRISTMAS DAY

Psalm 100, Revelation 3:20-21

His birth was for his death; his death was for our birth! (John1:29 and John 3:1-8)

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Show me your paths and teach me to follow;
guide me by your truth and instruct me. (Psalm 25)

“Make sure you are bringing the Bible into your Church this Christmas Season!”

Posted in Bible, His Word, Sermons | Tagged Advent, Advent Bible Verses, Advent Wreath, anticipation, Atonement, birth, candle, Christ, Christmas, coming, deliverance, eternity, Evangelical, expectation, family, hope, Incarnation, Isaiah, Jesus, Joy, Lectionary, Liturgical, Love, meaning, preparation, steadfastness, tradition, Verses, victory, worship | Leave a comment

Love is a Spiritual Fruit

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Biblical Guy

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus! Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus’ followers! The Question for us all is, how is love displayed in you? How can it be more so?

God, through His Word, is pronouncing to us that the effects and results of love will live far beyond the moments of our life. When we pass on into eternity, and our frail, mortal bodies are laid into the grave to rot, what we have done on this earth, and who we were, will still echo to all those whom we have touched. Such deeds of love will never rot. When real, authentic love is in our lives, it is endowed with an eternal quality, because God is empowering that love.

So, we need to take this seriously, and with confidence, to allow love to 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. Character, and the love that infuses it, will be the only thing we produce that we will take with us into Heaven, the only thing that matters. Love has power that transcends human logic and emotions. So, while we remain here on this earth, let us perform our life with love! Allow your relationships to be built on love instead of the pride and spite we so often dish out.

If you are thinking, wait, I might get hurt. or, I have been rejected after I spent so much of my time and energies on so-and-so. Well, take to heart this valuable point; you did not waste your time. Giving love and time to others even when we do not get anything back or even if we get hate thrown back at us, is never a waste of time. Emulating and fostering real love is never a waste, because we followed Him!

Love is not about our circumstances; it is about Christ working in us. Remember, God has born your hurt, too!

Love is a spiritual fruit that is built from real, godly character and commitment. It is the fiber of our moral center that stretches throughout our being, embracing and holding together our relationships when it is sealed as a choice and commitment, not just a feeling. Love will synergistically combine with the other characters of our Lord that flow from the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit will promote our ability to relate and grow in all of our relationships, to better others as well as ourselves.

Most people assume that love is the most important thing in a marriage, or the most important reason to get married! You will frequently hear people on TV, in the movies, out in the streets of life and even in the church saying, I do not need to work on love and relationships, it will just happen. And, if not, it was not meant to be, and I can get out of it if it does not work out. How sad that philosophy is! But, when you carefully examine love as seen in the Bible and not as seen on TV, you will find that love is a choice.

Love is a choice to have it and work on it. Love is a choice over our desires and over and against any feeling or aspiration of what we may want it to be or mean.

Love is a choice that also happens in a seemingly magical and metaphysical way, as poets have tried to explain it throughout the millennia. But, is that it? As we discovered in the last chapter, the Bible tells us that love is more than a feeling; it has segments and characters to it. Love is also a choice, a decision that must be perused and worked on. In our human mind, we may see it as magical, as if it “just happened,” but, without pursuing its true meaning and character, it will dispel and waste away. So, when we do receive that spark of love that we cannot explain, in order to keep that magic, that romance, that spark going, we are required to do something about it. If we do not work on it, the spark that was once there will vanish as quickly and as suddenly as it came. It will fade into the night, leaving us in the darkness of the jungle of relationships, lost and confused. We keep that flame from blowing out by our understanding and modeling of the character of love. So, as it becomes contagious and spreads, it flames and excites, burns and grows, so the winds of the ups and downs of a relationship will not blow it out!

We do not necessarily fall in love as the love songs and movies proclaim, because, you may well fall out of it, faster than you fell in it! If you never choose to make it a commitment, with love, you will never have it, or, if you do, you will not keep it! Love is a verb; it requires action that is implied for being a verb, action to do something with it. What are you doing with it? Are the precepts of 1 Corinthians 13 being put into action with your friends, family, acquaintances, and your spouse? If not, what is in the way of that verb action?

If you ask most couples who are thinking about marriage, or who are already engaged, why they are getting married, they usually will say: “Why, we’re in love.” It has been through studying the Word, plus, over twenty years of pastoral counseling experience, that has prompted me to question the validity of this motive. Yes, love is essential and powerful! However, if that is all you have, you will end up with nothing! The number one mistake people make when they date is to look just for love. The number one mistake married couples make is thinking that their love is all they need. This puts their brains “on hold” from everything else. Yes, love is putting the precepts of 1 Corinthians 13 into action, but most people, including Christians, do not even know what real love is! So, the precepts they are using in the place of love, thinking it is love, are fuzzies at best or just a feeling or desire that mimics love. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love alone. A marriage cannot last on love alone. This may sound like crazy talk, but think it through. Have you ever seen a relationship work with just love? No, not for movie or TV stars who have everything going for them, not for the singers who sing about it, and not even for the Beatles! Because, they do not know what love is, so they cannot really put it into practice.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Have you ever known someone to get married to a person they did not love (other than Anna Nichole Smith, the model born in1967 who marred the billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, born 1904; married June 27, 1994; he was many decades her senior and he died a few months after the wedding, or Britney Spears’ two day marriage)? Most, if not all, people who get married, do it for love; yet, according to most statistical evidence, fifty percent will divorce in less than five years. So, what happened to the love? If love is all we need, should it not have worked out? Why did it not work? Because, there never was real love, they misunderstood what love is, they had nothing but love, or they had some real love, but did not work on it, so it dissipated. Perhaps, they let that spark of love flame out in neglect, so that there was a huge vacuum in their relationship! Love should not be the horse in front of the cart. Love alone cannot influence a relationship. Love needs to be a result, not a cause, for getting married. Love is the result of a good marriage, not the fuel to make it. Love is an attitude that is followed by action; when this does not happen, love will sit and go nowhere.

Just think this through: how much would your marriage, your family relationships, friends, or people at school or at the office improve if you were practicing these love truths—even if they were not!

The world says that love must flow two ways, but God says otherwise. Yes, it is better when both parties in a relationship are practicing the elements of 1 Corinthians 13, but we are called to love even when others do not!

We are to be fueled and empowered by love through all situations. And the incredible news from His Word is that love is already deep within us. All we have to do is learn to let it come up to the surface as a fountain of living water (John 7:38) so it infuses us and touches others. God does not just command us to love; He has fashioned us to Love! We already can do it, we already have it at our disposal and He keeps giving love to us abundantly. He designed us to commune and to communicate, so when we fail at it, we fail because we are not working on or in it.

Christian love is the turning of our backs to self-concerns, and facing forward to our relationships with family, friends, and 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 as a 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. Then, that can turn and spill onto others around us. If not, then read Romans 1:21!

They key to all of this? Be willing to apply love and respect the other person and stay committed to these precepts!

Ephesians 5:33 states, However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. God’s Word gives us the plan; we have to be willing (the hard part) and capable (what we already have at our means) to carry it out. Love and respect traverses genders and crosses lives and must cross yours by His Cross to others too!

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

We can either say God your will be done or He will say I will let your will be done and then we live with the consequences! Real, spiritual improvement comes from surrendering our will—not opposing or imposing upon His will.

Posted in Discipleship, Fruit of the Spirit, Sermons | Tagged Agape, assurance, atoning, authenticity, character, Christian life, complete, dedication, demonstrate, Discipleship, exhibit Christ, Faith, friends, God is Love, God so loved, God's love, gratitude, Greatest, growing in Christ, Jesus, knows God, Love, love comes, love is, love one another, loved God, mark, maturity, obedience, obey, one another, sacrifice, self giving, spiritual formation, spiritual growth | Leave a comment

God’s love must be our model for life!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Biblical Guy

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:7-12

The Greatest of these is love! 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus! Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus’ followers! The Question for us all is, how is love displayed in you? How can it be more so?

The love that Christ has for us is demonstrated by His ultimate sacrifice. All He asks of us is to receive Him and His love so we can play it forward to others, to show His love by our display of love so we succeed at His will. His love is what causes us to know Him and His love working in and out of us causes us to make Him known to others even more so. We were sinners; now because of His love we are His people united to Him, reconciled to God, and filled with the Spirit. Now, this love becomes the process of ours and others continued blessings. All it takes is our dedication to Christ, so we can respond by faith, worship, and spiritual formation to carry on His love. This is what the Christian life is all about—growing in Christ. It is the our life-long process of discipleship and spiritual growth that builds our faith and knowledge in Him so we can take a hold of His love and produces even more of it back to Him and onto others. This helps us with our assurance, maturity, character, and spiritual formation. We become changed because we have received Christ and we can keep loving. If not, there is something fundamentally wrong in our Christian operating system, because love helps us sees more hope and reassurance of faith (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 5; Heb. 10: 26-39; 12:14; 2 Pet. 1: 5-11).

“Love one another.” This means sacrificial, unselfish, determined love; the change is from “neighbor” to “one another” to make sure the theme is community. Love confirms the genuineness of Jesus and us as followers! This is also a template on the importance and value of friendships (Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Rom. 12:10; 13:8; 14:13; 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 3:22; 4:8; 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1: 5)!

“Love is/Charity”. The Greek word is Agape, which means “self giving” and “sacrificial,” that is more concerned with others than self. It was used in Classic Greek literature to refer to someone who was generously favored by a god. It conveys the idea of a person giving all his or her love, or favor, to someone else rather than to self. It is a love that is not earned; in contrast, it is relational and given freely. It also refers to parents giving all of their love to their child. In the New Testament, agape love was used to make a similar point, as God gives to each of us all of His love. It is a love that is bestowed without expectations of a response from the other. Agape love is also the most common word used both as a noun and a verb in the New Testament. The greatest example of agape love is what our Lord Jesus Christ did when He died for our sins. Consequently, God’s agape love gave us His forbearance and rescue from the punishment that we deserved. Rather than receiving what we should have, we received His favor without earning it. The word Charity, used in the KJV and other translations, is a poor word rendering and does not reflect the sacrificial nature of the Greek word (Deut. 6:5; Joshua 24:14 -15; Isa. 44:9-20; Mark 12:28-31; John 3:16; 21:16; Matt. 22:34-40; John 3:16; 13:1, 34-35; 14:1; 15:9; Rom. 1:31; 5:8-10; 8; 12:10; 13:11-14; 1 Cor. 7:32-35; 13; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5 Gal. 5:5; Eph. 2:4-7; Phil. 2:2; Col. 1:1-6; 3:5, 12-14; , 12-14; 1 Thess. 1:3; 2:8; 3:6; 12; 4:9-10; 5:8-13; 2 Tim. 3:3; Heb. 10:24; 1 John 4:7-12).

When we love one another, we prove and exhibit Christ! We become His display case, His product demonstrators.

This is our “mark,” the prime characteristic that makes us friendly and connectable to others, and how we are to be known-by what Christ does with us and calls us to. We are to love one another-period! No strings attached! This is the mold for the form that we use to display God’s love to the world (John 13:34-35; 15:13-17; Gal. 5:22; 1 John 2:10; 3:14-16)!

A love that is great means that we have a love from God that in turn must be our pattern and plan for all we are and do.

If love is to be great in us, as it is by what Christ has given us, it must take us beyond our self-interests. If not, all that remained in us would be lust or envy and not real love! Then, as the passage starts off with, all we are would be just an annoying noise that had no reason or purpose. Love is the greatest because out of true love, God the Father gave us His Son, and the Son gave us His life as a replacement for ours. The Son sent the Spirit to us, and we should be literally overwhelmed and consumed with extreme joy and gratitude by what God has done for us. Then in turn, we can pass this love on to others.

Love also comes about by our trust in Christ that should show up as gratitude and a life well lived out. We can easily do this when we see what He has for us and then we can trust in what lies ahead for us. And of course, what awaits us in the eternity of Heaven is more than a carrot on a stick. We need to realize that what we have is incredible and what we will have is absolutely beyond words! Astonishing! This helps us see that hope fuels our joy because of what He has done and what He has for us to come.

God is kind to us and Love fuels our assurance that He will continue to be so; then, we can be kind to others.

When God is patient with us, then we are patient with others and so forth. It is really simple; the perplexing problem is why are we not doing a better job at this in our homes and churches as well as our schools and workplaces and the place where we are in life? We have to be Christ’s faithful servants in order to help further the Kingdom and glorify Christ our Lord! Because His great love is in us, we see His wonders at work; then, we can display His love through our lives. Love is the call He has given to us! Further, we are not alone in this; we have His Holy Spirit to enable and empower us! So, what is stopping us?

The proof of Love is not what we say about it; it is how we live it out, with faith, love, and because we are all linked and interconnected.

Living obedience and gratitude must pour from the true believer for love to be displayed so to outlive and out love the world to show the world the sacrificial love of our Lord. Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus! Love confirms the authenticity of Jesus’ followers (Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; John 13:31-35; 15:12-13, 17; 1 Cor. 13:3; Rom. 12:10; 13:8; 14:13; 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thess. 1:3; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 3:22; 4:8; 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1: 5)!

When love is practiced, our relationships are certain to succeed. When we practice love, we are both trusting and obeying our Lord, doing His prime will.

We can take to heart that the love we give will never be defeated, no matter how poorly people treat us in return, or, only appear to be playing their part. When we give love and it is not returned, the hurt and rejection we receive is not in vain. We may feel hurt, confused, and not understand what has happened or why we did not succeed. But, in God’s eyes, we did succeed. Our time of giving love did not go to waste! We all, at some time, will experience love for someone who does not return it to us; perhaps you were even the one who did not return it to someone else. There are a multitude of reasons for that. Maybe the love was not meant to be; perhaps he/she was the wrong person for you. Maybe you got your signals crossed, or maybe you were too afraid to take the chance. Maybe the fear of being rejected consumed you, so, you are alone now. Your hurt has become your identity, while love and relationships go unmet and undone. If this is your life, remember: Love is never offered in vain. Your hurt has not been borne alone!

If you love the Lord, then you will trust and obey Him, because real love is evidenced by gratitude and obedience, and because there is no other way!

You will follow His precepts and commands with full faith and due diligence. This is a necessity for life because the world does not know God or His ways and He must be displayed in you for others to see as He was presented by Christ for all to see. People will not even look for real truth or the real God, so they must see Him and His love in you.

1. Why is real, authentic Love the greatest thing we could ever have or do? Why is this important? What have you done with this truth?

2. How does understanding love help you deal with personal relationship problems?

3. How and why does Love confirm the authenticity of Jesus? How and why does Love confirm the authenticity of Jesus’ followers? How is this displayed in you? How can it be more so?

4. Take a look at each of the aspects of Love in this 1 Corinthians 13 passage; now, replace the word “love” with “Jesus!” For example…Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind…; what does this do for you? How does this give you a glimpse into His character? How does this motivate you to be His vibrant display?

Posted in Discipleship, Fruit of the Spirit, Sermons | Tagged authentic Christianity, authenticity of Jesus, Christian faith, Christian life, Church Growth, committing to Christ, Discipleship, Faith, Follower, Fruit of the Spirit, God's love, growth in Christ, Love, love one another, successful church, ultimate sacrifice | Leave a comment

What gets in the way of our Growth in Christ?

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Biblical Guy

What gets in the way of a successful church that glorifies our LORD?

The problem, as I have been hinting at for most of my thirty years in ministry, is weak faith and prideful Christians—shallowness, selfishness, and haughtiness are the biggest obstacles to the Church and to the Kingdom because they distract the people we are called to reach and called to care for! Our pride will stagnate the Church, suffocate its growth, and destroy, inside and out. Too many of us are so wrapped up in our own needs, hurts, desires, and wants that we fail to see our Lord or respond to His call. We hide in our pride or become lazy and feeble. Our churches, instead of stables of majestic stallions, are empty stables with dried excrement and old hay; the horses are starved and loose, the saddles are hard and cracked. We have to get our acts together, clean up our messes, and fix our stable; we must repair, oil, and mount our saddles, caring for our horses of faith by feeding and crafting our relationship to Christ.

We need a call out for the radical, cross-cultural steps of trusting and committing to Christ; we must follow through with our Christian faith.

This call to radical discipleship is not simply a matter of overcoming liberal politics or the growing hostility many of us face in our secular community. We do need to do that; more so, we must overcome our own church culture filled with empty trends and prideful leaders, puffed up with empty platitudes and nonsense. We must surrender our will and plans to His Lordship; we must be radical for Christ. We need to give up ourselves, our desires, look away from trends; instead, we must seek to learn and grow in Him, to be the people He called us to be. Only then will we see our society change for the better. It is a matter of serving selflessly and not wondering what the church will give you. It is a matter of being a giver, not a taker; it is a matter of setting aside complaints and boldly go forth to do as Jesus Christ has gifted and called to do.

We can stop our own dysfunction and turn ourselves and our churches around!

All Jesus asks of us is to receive Him and His love so that we can pay it forward to others, to show His love by our displays of love so we might do His will. Jesus’ love is the sap that flows; it is what causes us to know Him and to have His love working in and out of us. It causes us to make Him known to others even more diligently. We were sinners; now, because of His love, we are His people–united in Him, reconciled to God, and filled with the Spirit. This love becomes the process of continued blessings for us and for others. All it takes is our dedication to Christ, so that we might respond by faith, worship, and spiritual formation to carry on His love. Growing in Christ is what the Christian life is all about. It is the life-long process of discipleship and spiritual growth that builds our faith and knowledge in Him, so that we can take hold of His love and produce more, giving it back to Him and unto others. This helps us with our assurance, maturity, character, and spiritual formation.

We become changed, because we have received Christ; we can keep on loving. If this is not so, there is something fundamentally wrong in our Christian operating system; love helps us to have more hope and reassurance of faith.

Why is this radical? Because few do it, and more fight against it, even those who say they are His (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 5; Heb. 10: 26-39; 12:14; 2 Pet. 1: 5-11).

Because God is our dwelling place, we are dependent on Him for both life and salvation; to think otherwise is foolish. This is a prime fulfillment of a promise of God from the Old Testament, and it refers to those who are already saved. This is a call to synergy to stand for and abide, to be unwavering and sure of the supremacy of Christ that gives and builds our lives and intimacy in Him. The purpose is that we have a binding and effectual relationship with Christ that transcends our comprehension; we have a relationship with God that we do not deserve by means we cannot fully understand. What we have in Christ; He gives totally to us (Ex. 25:8; 29:45; Lev. 26:11-12; Ezek. 37:27-28; 43:9; Psalm 96:10; Isa. 42:9; 48:6; 51:15-16; 65:17-25; 66:22; John 2:21; 6:54-56; 8:31; 14:1-23; 15:1-8; Rom. 8:24-25; 1 Cor. 2:9; 4:5; 15:35-57; Gal. 2:20-21; Eph. 1:3-14; Col. 1:23; 3:18-4-1; Heb. 2:7; 3:6-19; 1 John 2:19-24; Rev. 7:9; 21:1-8; 22:3-5, 12).

Take the Initiative in your Growth in Christ!

Keep in mind this very important point in all that you are and do: Christ takes the initiative in your relationship. He comes to us by first loving us; then, we are free to exercise our free will and are enabled to know and receive Him. If He did not choose us, we would not have the desire, will, or ability to receive Him; this is by His work on the cross. In Jesus’ time, a committed learner would seek out a rabbi to teach him; here, Jesus picks us to learn and, then teach.

Did you know that as growing and mature Christians, we belong exclusively to Christ (Eph. 1:4-11; John 2:23; 14:13)?

God is sovereign but does not violate our right of decision; He first enables us for salvation–something we can’t do by ourselves. In the Hebrews context, joy and servant mean to change our mindsets and focus from self to Christ, realizing the sovereignty of God and that He is in control, even when life may say otherwise! At some point in our spiritual development, we have to comprehend the magnitude of who Christ is and who we are in and to Him.

We have to reach a point and say, I, body and soul, completely and totally belong to Christ as His pupil and His property! He is my LORD and Master, and there is no better place for me to be!

How do I make this work? Go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. “Go” is an aspect of our “Great Commission”; “fruit” is what characterizes our Christian service and points others to Christ. When we indentify ourselves in Christ, we will obey, and we will be effective in loving and strengthening each other for His service–something so few of us actually do! A proper witness to Christ will be identified by the distinction between good and false teaching and/or good versus bad love, Fruit, character, and/or a good or a failing church (Psalm 66:18; Matt. 22:1-14; 25:1-13; 28:19; Acts 1:8; Rom. 1:13; Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 4:15-16; 1 John 4:1-6; Rev. 1: 2; 2:20; 6:9; 22:9).

What does real Christian growth that grows a church look like?

What this Hebrews chapter 11 tells us–over and over–by one simple phrase is this: by faith! Christian living is about our lives being centered in Christ and trusting Him for our provision and purpose, yet not waiting around, doing nothing. The radical discipleship aspect is for us to mount up and to do it, taking His call and precepts and following, embracing, and exercising them unto ourselves, to others around us, and most of all, back to God so He is glorified. It is being trusting and obeying, so that we are faithful, fruitful, and impacting–being real and authentic with our faith. This should not be difficult or unusual.

Real discipleship is what makes real church growth; it is just the exercise of our faith without concern to circumstances. Real faith calls us to action, not to complacency or foolishness.

Real, effectual faith is our conviction of trust and confidence that we do not merely believe ( for even the demons do that), but that we have assurance beyond doubt. It is the object of our faith that is paramount, and that is Jesus Christ. He is the substance that gives us hope. We do not have blind faith because what we seek and place first is evidenced and supported. As Christians, we do not have fables and myths; we have reality. The evidence is the reality of history, archeology, and personal, life-changing testimonies of countless people, as evidenced in this passage, throughout history, and today; we can be centered in Jesus Christ. Even science points to a Creator who is perfect in character, possessing the fullness all the Omni attributes–Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence… We can; yes, we can live our lives by faith!

Yes, we can! In addition, God is not only righteousness—He is personal and involved in our lives, and He calls us to be righteous in our thinking and living so we can take His lead and live a life that is all about trusting and obeying God. This does not mean perfection; it means we strive to do our best for His glory. Yes, we can; with our eyes and ears, we can see and feel His presence just as we can see what the wind does even when we do not see the wind itself. God leaves a visible wake that ripples through all times and peoples, which we can ride on by faith for our betterment and His glory. What He has for us is better than what we think we want (Psalm 119:142119:151; John 6:64 ; 7:5; Rom. 1:16-17; 5:1-11; 8; 10: 14-17; Gal. 3:1-14; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:5 ; 2:18; James 2:14-26; 2 Pet. 1:16; Jude 3).

A real Christian, by definition, is a follower; a Disciple is learner of Christ. If we truly love, obey, follow, and learn from our Lord and Savior, we are not radical; we are simply doing as we are called and empowered to do.

Yes, we live in a world that hates and fights against us. As Christians, we are living behind enemy lines in where we live and work, but it should not be so in our own faith community. However, to make matters worse, the Church has become hostile, for the most part, to real effectual faith, and the practice of love and fruit is rare; to be a real Christian is to be radical, and to make other real Christians, we must embrace radical discipleship! Change your mindsets and actions as to how you will follow, with confidence, to comply with Christ, so that the change is transmitted to your church and to your neighbors and world. Be the change; be the example of extreme, radical discipleship to yourself, to your church, and to your community–all to glorify our Lord!

With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, 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. Micah 6:6-10

Posted in Church Growth, Discipleship | Tagged Christian faith, Christian life, Church Growth, committing to Christ, cross-cultural, Discipleship, dwelling place, Faith, Follower, growth in Christ, haughtiness, prideful Christians, radical discipleship, receive Him, reconciled to God, selfishness, shallowness, successful church, weak faith | Leave a comment

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