Between Forgiven and Forever

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

As a Christian it is natural to be excited about how God has forgiven you and set you free from your past. I think most Christians get excited about that.

And Christians get happy about the future God has provided for them through the grace of Jesus Christ. 

So believers have forgiveness and freedom for their past and they have forever in their future.

It seems to me that where Christians struggle the most is in the present. What is a Christian supposed to do between his spiritual "birth" and his physical death? That can be a period of fifty or sixty years. How should those years be spent?

Jesus had a definite idea about what His followers should be doing. They are to be witnesses.

What is a witness? What does a witness do?

First, a witness tells what he knows.

So, what do you think a Christian should know?  

A Christian should know God and know Him well!

A Christian should know God's Word and know it well.

If you were called to witness what you know about your faith, what would you say?

Second, a witness tells what he has seen.

A Christian should be able to tell about the changes he has seen God make in his life.

A Christian should also be about how he has seen God work in his family and in his church.

If you were called as a witness what have you seen that you could tell others about?

Third, a witness is loyal to what he knows and what he has seen.

In Greek, the word for witnesses is "martures,' from which we get the English word martyr. It means being loyal to Jesus no matter the cost and speaking up for him even when others oppose you. 

Are you able to do that? 

What is a Christian supposed to do between "forgiven" and "forever"?

You are to be a witness - His witness.

June 19, 2016

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" I Corinthians 11:1

The Apostle Paul was one of the best Christian leaders ever because he was one of the best Christ followers of all time!

There can be little debate about that!

But the encouraging news implicit in this invitation to follow Paul's example is the realization that you can follow Christ just as Paul did!

Get your mind around that for a moment!

It seems the appropriate to ask, "How should I follow?"

Here are four facts of how Paul followed Christ.

#1 - Paul looked at Jesus so he could love Him!

If you intend to follow someone you will need to focus on where he is and where he is going! You can't follow without focus!

Paul wrote later, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1

Jesus said that if a man puts his hand to the plow and looks back he is not worthy of the kingdom of God.

When you love someone you can't take your eyes off of them!

#2 - Paul looked at Jesus so he could learn of Him.

Paul's walk with Jesus began with a supernatural vision of Christ on the road to Damascus. Once he saw Jesus and learned Who Jesus is, Paul never stopped looking and Jesus and never stopped learning.

Paul was the only Apostle who did not look upon Jesus in the flesh (which was one of the criterion for being an apostle). But being a very devout student of the law, he quickly surpassed the others in his knowledge OF Jesus and ABOUT Jesus.

How do we know Paul learned about Jesus, because he wrote most of the New Testament! Most of what you know about Jesus you know because Paul learned of Him and wrote it down!

Paul couldn't learn about Jesus without looking at Jesus. Neither can you!

#3 - Paul learned of Jesus so he could live like Him.

You have heard the old saying, "You life is the only Bible some people may ever read!"

That was literally true of Paul!

As I previously mentioned, there were only a few Old Testament books available in his time and the Gospels hadn't been written yet. So, if you wanted to know what it was to be a Christian you had to study the life of a Christian! Fortunately, there was no better Christian life to look at than the life of Paul because he daily and diligently learned of Jesus!

Now you understand why Paul said, "Follow my example!"

Can you say that?

#4 - Paul lived like Jesus so he could lead like Jesus.

Leadership guru, John Maxwell says, "Leaders are readers." 

Paul was a leader not only because he was a reader but because he was a looker (focused on Jesus) and a learner, and he lived the life.

Maxwell also says, "Leadership is influence" and Paul lived to influence people for Jesus.

Every church he planted, every epistle he wrote, every sermon he preached, every Timothy he discipled and every prison guard he was chained to was profoundly influenced by Paul.

You have been and are being influenced by him even as you read this! I am being influenced by him as I write it.

The question is, will we be influenced enough to look upon Jesus, and learn of Jesus, and love Jesus so we can lead people to Jesus?

July 18, 2016

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ."  I Corinthians 11:1

If it is your responsibility to lead your family, and it is!

And if you need to be a follower in order to be a good leader, and you do.

The question becomes who are you following?

Are you following someone who will challenge you and change you and cause you to grow?

Are you following someone you would want your spouse a or kids to follow?

If you are following the One Paul followed you will be a good place! You will have a blessed present and a bright future!

Paul was one of the best leaders ever. 

He had a profound influence on the world in his day, because of his influence on the Church of Jesus Christ. 

You and I still benefit from his leadership!

FredWes benefits from his leadership.

These truths shine a light on another profound fact of leadership. When you lead you are influencing at least two generations! Perhaps more than two!

How you lead your children will influence how your children will someday lead theirs and beyond.

Jesus calls you to follow Him. 

There are many reasons why you should follow Christ and following Him so you can lead your family well is one of the best reasons!

Follow Me As I Follow Christ

"Follow my example as I found the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

In this verse Paul makes a very insightful observation about leaders. I urge you to take note of it.

All good leaders are good followers.

All good leader follow leaders greater than themselves.

Paul became one of the greatest followers Jesus Christ of all time. Because he followed so well he also lead well.

Notice that Paul didn't say, "Follow me as I implement my selfish agenda."

Paul didn't say, "Follow me while I figure out where I should go."

He didn't say, "Follow me as I exercise my autocratic will."

Paul said, "Follow me AS I FOLLOW CHRIST!"

Paul says, "Follow me BECAUSE I follow Christ!"

You may be thinking, "No offense, Brad, but this doesn't have anything to do with me because I am not a leader."

Ok, let me ask you this, "Are you a parent?"

If you are a parent who do you want to lead your kids?

You'd better be the one to lead your kids and you'd better make sure you are being led by Jesus as you lead your children.

Are you leading?

How well are you leading?

Are you following?

Who are you following?

How well are you following?

Can you say like Paul, "Follow me as I follow Christ?"

June 16, 2016

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

At least half a dozen times Paul makes a statement similar the one above.

So, is he a braggart or an egotist?

Neither!

It wasn't brag it was fact! He was the real deal! He was an authentic representative of what a Christ-follower should be. In fact, he was best example of the Christian faith available at that time!

If you were alive back then and looking for a mentor who else would you have picked?

Here's something to consider that may make even more plain to understand his claim. When Paul founded this church and pastored it the Gospels had not been written. You've heard that expression, "Your life might be the only Bible others will read." Well that was literally true of the Great Apostle! So when he offers himself as an example he is not being proud he is being practical!

So, more than 2,000 years later the challenge still comes to you and me, "Follow me as I follow Christ!"

Are you following?

Are you following like Paul followed?

Can you look your son in the eyes and say, "Son, follow Christ just like I follow Christ?"

Can you look your daughter in the eyes and say, "Young lady, follow Christ like I follow Christ?"

If you can, then have you said it?

If not, why not?

If you are not able to say that with integrity why not? 

What needs to change in your heart or in your habits? 

When will that happen?

Why not today?

Do What I Do

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 11:1

Perhaps you have heard this little gem of advice, "Do as I say don't do as I do."

Pardon me, but that is the most ridiculous piece of advice ever offered by a humanoid.

First, it defies human nature!

It's just a fact that people do what they see not what they hear. You do, I do, all God's people do!

Second, people despise phonies so why would someone else take advice from one who essentially admits he is a phony?

If you have heard this advice offered I am sure it rang very hollow to you. I'm sure you saw through it and totally dismissed it.

If you ever offered this advice I have to ask you, why are you content being a phony and why would you admit it?

As a father (parent) if you want your children to embrace and model the best of values then you must set the example for them. You must be the living illustration of how those values are expressed in everyday conduct and attitudes. Don't just say it, let them see it!

The Apostle Paul boldly announced, "Follow Christ like I follow Christ! I will be your example! I will show you how to do it!"

That's godly leadership! 

Paul was very unhappy about how careless and thoughtless the Corinthian Christians had become with their conduct within the church. They were desecrating the Holy Communion, among other things. So, he devotes Chapter 10 to chastising and correcting their behavior.

What if following his earnest rebuke of these people he loved he would have said, "So......do what I say not what I do?"

Real stupid, right?

Instead, he humble but boldly declared, "Do what I do!"

Real powerful, right?

So, dads, can you with integrity say that to your children? Can you challenge them to live for Jesus like you live for Jesus? Can you urge them to follow your lead?

Do as Paul does......and as he says!

June 14, 2016

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." I Corinthians 1:1

This Summer we plan to commit ourselves to examining what Jesus had in mind when He issued the invitation to "Follow me!"

In yesterday's message I dealt with Jesus' call to follow and challenged FredWes folks to dive into the Gospels this Summer and rediscover the joy of the Gospel!

I found this quote from a Pastor named Ben Wikner on the issue of answering the call of Christ. We puts it this way, "When Jesus speaks about following Him, the more common word that Jesus uses combines the prefix indicating “union” and the word meaning “path or road”, which also means “voyage or journey”. So when Jesus says, “Follow me” he is saying “join me in my path, my journey.” It’s the idea of walking with Jesus, being near to him. It’s highly relational and communicative, but with the clear understanding that Jesus is the leader; he is setting the course. So what does it mean to follow Jesus? Following Jesus is…what being a Christian is all about (1) This is the most basic command; it encompasses all the others. If we follow: we love, forgive, serve, etc. To be a Christian is to be united to Christ, to walk with Him, to imitate him. a. If you boil down Christianity to it’s essence, it’s about Jesus. If you boil down the Christian life to its essential element, it’s about following Jesus. Everything else flows out of following Jesus. Do you want to simplify your Christian life? Follow Jesus. Do you want to live in God’s will? Follow Jesus. Do you want ultimate meaning and purpose? Then follow Jesus. (2) Our tendency is to want to live according to a list or by a set of rules. We can get so caught up trying to follow Christianity (the religion) that we forget to follow Christ. And when it’s about Christianity (religion, rules, and lists) more than about Christ (relationship, communion, and discipleship) we will focus on doing and not doing things, rather than on walking with Jesus. a. For example, consider our call to holiness. Holiness is good, even necessary. However, if holiness is understood through the lens of the religion of Christianity, it inevitably becomes about doing good things and not doing bad things. It becomes a checklist of rules through which we determine if we (and others) are living holy lives. This mindset breeds self-righteousness and self-condemnation. It leads to a spirit of judgment toward others. Because of this, the call to holiness will be undermined, even rejected, giving way to license – we are free in Jesus! b. We must not reject holiness, but rather, rule-centered religion. The right way for holiness and sanctification to flourish in our life is to follow Jesus – his way, his path – in growing our relationship with him. If we get this right, the Christian life follows."

Everyone follows someone and it is vitally important WHO you follow and HOW you follow because where you will spend eternity will be determined by the path you have chosen to follow.

Another fact that makes following very important is the reality at you are being followed by someone. John Maxwell's famous definition of leadership in "LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE." If you can identify those who  you have influence over you will know who will be learning from your example and following you. Maybe it is a child or a grandchild who is looking to you for leadership. 

Here are a couple of questions for you to consider today:

1) Am I following Christ?

2) Who is following me?

3) Am I able to say to them as Paul says, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ?"