January 21, 2010

"God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Exodus 3:14

I am reading in Exodus 3 today and there were several rich truths that grabbed my attention. One of those I will share this morning.

God called Moses to do a risky thing. He was to go before the Pharoah of Egypt and demand that he release all he Hebrew slaves. That could get someone killed! Moses knew that. And, by the way, Moses was a wanted fugitive in Egypt!

Can you understand why Moses was a little anxious? What God was telling Moses to do was absolutely suicidal. Even if you were another king you would not do what God wanted Moses to do! But that is the command that came from the burning bush.

This was an uncomfortable moment for Moses. The Almighty God of the Hebrews was ordering Moses to go before the most powerful man on earth and demand something that would make him very angry. Has God ever asked you to do something very uncomfortable? Not since yesterday?

So, Moses knew that in order for him to pull of this impossible thing that God was commanding he would need to have some impressive credentials. When he asked God for those credentials, God said, "Say I Am has sent you!"

Interesting! God identified Himself as, "I AM WHO I AM". The interpretation is - "I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE". In other words, "I am always Who I need to be."

Isn't that the definition of sovereignty? Sovereignty means that God is and will be exactly what He needs to be! Why? BECAUSE HE CAN!

That is good news!

Here is even better news - HE WILL ALWAYS BE WHAT YOU NEED HIM TO BE! BECAUSE HE CAN!

You cannot live the Christian life without His help - NOTHING - NOT A THING! Not one step, not one thought, nothing righteous or acceptable to God.

So, without His sovereign Presence and Power, you cannot please God.

Learn from Moses. Surrender to the I AM! Let Him be what you need to be and what He needs you to be. If you do - HE WILL BE WHAT YOU NEED HIM TO BE - so you can be what He needs you to be!

The I AM is! Will you be?

January 20, 2010

"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." Romans 15:13

This is a good morning for all who are on the conservative side of the political spectrum. (I am one of them)

The race for the vacant Senate seat in Massachusetts has gained significant national attendance because of it what it may portend about the political attitudes of Americans and because of how it might impact the President's legislative agenda. Scott Brown's election changes the dynamics of the Senate.

I was pleasantly surprised that Brown won the election and that he won it by a solid margin. It was encouraging for those of us who have reservations about where the Democrats are trying to take us. Everything I have seen and heard about this fellow seems hopeful. But as I watched his acceptance speech, I found myself listening skeptically. As much as I want to buy into this fellow and believe in him, it is increasingly difficult for me to pin my hopes on any politician.

Our President was elected on a theme of "hope and change". Who isn't looking for hope? Who would deny that some change is necessary? Obviously, our citizens are ripe for such promises.

All things being equal, I would tend to hope in a politician who agrees with my values rather than one who doesn't. But I am over investing hope in elected officials. Scott Brown and all the others are going to have to earn my trust.

So, where do we look for hope! Who do we trust?

Is that a trick question?

We hope in the Lord! First, last, today, and forever we hope in Him. The more fully we hope in Him the better! He is our Hope!

Celebrate cautiously a conservative victory. Thank God that citizens still have a voice. Be happy that our system, while badly broken, still functions. Stay informed on the issues. Pray earnestly and intelligently. Watch this Scott Brown closely. BUT HOPE IN CHRIST!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him!

January 19, 2010

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4

Once you decide that humility is important and once you commit to humbling yourself, how do you know if you have achieved it?

Humility is a bit like your shadow, others will see it when you may not.

Someone said, "Humility is a strange thing. The minute you think you've got, you've lost it!"

Another has said, "The ulitmate test of humility is when you can say grace before you eat crow."

The purpose of this post this morning is to give you some questions by which to measure your attitude:

"Am I going to be about the team or am I going to make the team about me?"

Humility puts the interests of the team and the welfare of its teammates ahead of it's own needs. Is that you?

"Am I as happy over a teammate's success as I am my own?"

A humble attitude can celebrate the success of others as it would it's own. Are you able to do that?

"How well do I receive correction or instruction from the coach?"

The saying goes, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." Anyone who cannot accept criticism, correction or instruction from the coach will not help his team. Are you willing to grow by receiving constructive criticism?

"Am I willing to to give up my rights and pick up my responsibilities?"

Humility does not demand its individual rights but is willing to serve were ever needed.

"Will I resist trying to control others and take control of my attitude?"

There is very little that you can control in life. The one thing you must control is your attitude. No one else can do it for you. You can do it for no one else. Will you take charge of your attitude?

"Do I see a team win and a personal win?"

John Maxwell once said, "Much can be accomplished when we don't worry about who gets the credit." Are you able to share the glory or allow another to receive it in order for the team to win?

Unity is a necessary attitude for a believer and a church. It allows God to move and accomplish His will. Humility is essential to preserve unity. Run your attitude past these questions and humbly see how you fare.

January 18, 2010

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

I have been talking about how to develop Christ-like attitudes. The first one I commented on was unity. Unity is crucial because it allows God's Spirit to move among His people.

The second attitude that is important is humility. In yesterday's post I talked about what humility is. Today, I want to share some thoughts on how we get humility.

"If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud." - C.S. Lewis

"True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us." — Tryon Edwards

HUMILITY IS ABOUT REALITY

"Humility is the acceptance of the place appointed by God, whether it be in the front or in the rear."

“We get our moral bearings by looking at God. We must begin with God. We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God, and we are wrong so far and so long as we stand in any other position.” — A. W. Tozer

James Simpson was a great scientist. Someone asked him, “What is the greatest discovery you ever made?” His humble answer was, “My greatest discovery came when I learned that I was a sinner and that Jesus Christ had become my Savior!”

"The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem."

"The right manner of growth is to grow less in one’s own eyes." - Thomas Watson

Humility is the result of simply understanding who you really are. You are who God says you are. You are His child. You are a sinner by nature and He sent His Son to provide your salvation. By identifying with His atoning sacrifice you can be regenerated and redeemed.

Not only has God saved you, but He has invested gifts and talents in you so you can serve Him and build His Kingdom.

Until you understand and accept those fundamental spiritual realities, you will never have a real view of Who God is and Who you are in Him.

Jesus said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing."

Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Both of those statements reflect humility because they are based on a true understanding of who we are in Christ. This verse tells you not to look at yourself with vanity.

HUMILITY IS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP

Once you have a realistic understanding of Who God is and who you are in relationship to Him, then you must adjust your relationships accordingly. You then guide your relationships with others based on your relationship with God.

This Scripture verse instructs you to "think of others more highly than yourself". Your consideration of the needs and best interests of others should guide your thoughts and actions. That is humility.

HUMILITY IS ABOUT RIGHTS

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

What was Jesus talking about here?

He is telling us what humility looks like to Him? From Jesus' perspective is that humility means you volunteer to give up your rights and grab your responsibility.

Pride is demanding your rights while defaulting on your responsibilities. Pride is feeling entitled to what God has promised without measuring up to His conditions.

At FredWes, we require what I call the "Seven-Up Challenge" of those who would join our church – Give Up Your Rights, Pay Up Your Tithe, Pick Up Your Ministry, Show To Up , Listen Up God, Cheer Up Your Brothers & Back Up Your Leaders.

Why do we do that? Because we want to create a climate where unity and humility can flourish and the Spirit of God can flow!

Unity is essential to a church. Humility is necessary for unity to exist.

How do you get humble?

Be real about your prideful spirit. Understand He is God and you are not. Have a realistic view of who you are in Him.

Humbled yourself to God and let humility guide all your relationships with others.

Focus on your responsibilities to God and others and surrender your rights in order to serve.

Where unity and humility rule God reigns!

January 17, 2010

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

I have been dealing with the issue of attitudes during this month. Today I touched on the attitude of humility. Here are a few of the thoughts I shared:

WHAT IS HUMILITY?

During the days when Mohammed Ali was a great boxer, he would go around in his arrogance and say that, "He was the greatest." Humility was never his strong suit. One day, back in his prime, he was on an airplane and the plane was ready to take off and the flight attendant had repeatedly told him to put on his seat belt. He finally told her, "I'm superman and superman don't need no seatbelt." The flight attendant didn't hesitate a minute but shot back with, "Superman don't need no airplane either, now buckle up."

He buckled up!

That’s not humility – that’s pride. "Pride, the idolatrous worship of self, is the national religion of hell."

Here's the deal with humility, either you humble yourself or you will be humbled. Neither is particularly easy, but humbling yourself is preferable and more honorable.

Humility, Rick Warren reminds us, is “not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is not thinking of yourself at all.” – J. Elton Trueblood

The story is told of two goats that met each other on a narrow ledge just wide enough for one goat to pass. The two goats faced each other and wondered, What shall we do? They could not back up that would be too dangerous. They could not go around because the ledge was too narrow. Now, if the goats had no more sense than humans they would have began butting each other until one fell over the ledge. However, goats have a lot of sense, more than some people. What they did: one goat laid down and let the other walk over him.

That is an example of humility – NOT THAT YOU LET PEOPLE WALK ALL OVER YOU - BUT THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO LAY DOWN WHEN NECESSARY TO SERVE OTHERS.

Shane Claiborne, who spent a summer in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote about her experience there. She said, “People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery — like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget — her feet. Her feet were deformed. Each morning in Mass, I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. But I wasn’t going to ask, of course. ‘Hey Mother, what’s wrong with your feet?’ One day a sister said to us, ‘Have you noticed her feet?’ We nodded, curious. She said: ‘Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.’ Years of loving her neighbor as herself deformed her feet.” Humility means that our focus is away from ourselves and not on ourselves.

Humility is taking the focus of life away from ourselves and onto God and others.

A FORMULA FOR HUMILITY - H2 O - Think twice about Him – Think once about others – Then think about you! - THAT’S humility!

Don't wait to be humbled - or humiliated, humble yourself before God and honor your brothers and sisters. Start today!

January 16, 2010

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:1-8

Pat Robertson's statement regarding Haiti being a cursed nation may have been ill-timed and misapplied toward a natural disaster, but it is not entirely wrong. While I doubt that the devasting earthquake was a judgment for their spiritual darkness, I do believe that much of their extreme poverty and vulnerability is do the spiritual and political oppression they suffer.

Their government has been controlled by Godless despots for several generations who have oppressed the people while empowering and enriching themselves. This greed and tyranny has improverished their people and stripped them of individual opportunity. Any government that uses its power against its people will eventually crush the spirit of its people. That is Haiti.

Most of the organizations that exist in Haiti to assist the Haitian people are American faith-based organizations. They are there to bring the hope of the Gospel and to meed the physical and spiritual needs of the people to relieve their suffering, heal their diseases, provide food and clothing to improve their quality of life. It is was Christ commissioned His Church to do. The People of God are there to do what the Haitian government will not or cannot do.

As you watch the world mobilize to respond to the overwhelming suffering wrought by this devastating natural disaster, notice which nation takes the lead and contributes the bulk of the money, supplies, expertise and manpower to the helpless Haitians. It will be us - Americans! That is how it should be since they are our neighbors and since we are so blessed.

But what is it that has given us such superior resources to allow us to meet their needs without disturbing our own? Why are we so blessed and why are they so destitute? Two words: Faith and Freedom. Our desire to help and our ability to help are both results of those two powerful and fundamental principles that empower our people.

Most of the schools, hospital, clinics, orphanages, and churches that currently exist in Haiti and provide the limited measure of hope enjoyed by Haitians exist as extensions of American faith and freedom. We are still executing the mission that Jesus gave these twelve when He sent them out.

As you pray for the Haitians. As you give generously. As you watch the hurt, hunger and hopelessness met and ministered to by American doctors, nurses, first-responders, soldiers, relief workers, and missionaries, thank God for our faith and our freedom. Think how much worse the death, disease and destitution would be if America did not have the will or the wealth to respond. And pray for America - that our time honored blessings of faith and freedom will not be lost. Both are under assault even as I write these words.

Whether Pat Robertson's claim that Haiti has been cursed because of a deal with the devil is open for debate. But it should serve as a cautionary wake up call to America that finds itself at a moral and political crossroads. Will we cling to our faith and freedom or will we make a deal with the devil?

By the way, regardless of what you think of Robertson's statement, he has put his money where is mouth is. His Operation Blessing has sent over $4 billions to needy people worldwide. If you choose to criticize him do it on your knees with your wallet open.

January 15, 2010

"The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10

The journey of life is marked by milestones and landmarks. I went speeding past one today as I marked my 60th birthday. That blur in my rearview mirror must be my life!

God has been incredibly good to me! As I look back I and review my life I see His footprints and fingerprints all over the place! I have been blessed beyond belief. And the good news is - I still am!

First, He blessed me with a godly mother. More than any single human being, she has shaped my life. She is one of my heroes. I have am thankful for the family I have. My sisters, brothers, my great children and grandchildren. As well as a large number of nieces and nephews.

Second, I was blessed to be born in a great nation. A land of freedom and opportunity and peace and goodness. It is humbling and gratifying to be an American.

Third, He put people in my path who drew me to Jesus and significantly shaped my faith journey. I am eternally grateful to Him and to them - too numerous to name.

Fourth, He placed a calling on my life and invested gifts in me. He has allowed me the privilege of preaching and teaching His Word and serving His church. I hope to leave a legacy of faith that others will want to follow.

Fifth, He miraculously provided me with a life-partner who has made me significantly better as a person and as a minister. And we aren't through yet!

Sixth, He has blessed me with incredible health, strength and energy that has allowed me to serve him well for a long time. I don't know how long I will enjoy this level of health, but either way I will use whatever strength I have to serve Him. In addition, my wife, my kids and grandkids have also enjoyed great health.

And, He has enriched my life with a host of friends whom I treasure more as the years pass. As I look over my Facebook page I have been flooded with greetings from friends I have known over the years. Some of the friends I grew up with and have known for over 50 years have checked in. Friends that I made in college have checked in. People I have been privilege to serve as pastor from the various churches I pastored, many of them have checked in. Lots of my new friends from FredWes, this amazing church I am serving now, have taken the time to send greetings.

Hitting 60 is sort of a sobering time! According to the Scriptures I am in the home stretch of my race. The Word says that 70 or 80 years is about what we can expect. Only God knows what that number is, and I am fine with that because He has been so faithful with the days He has given me so far! I have always been motivated by the attitude that my best days are still five years ahead! I see no reason to change that!

Pray for me that I will run well on this last leg of the race and run through the tape! Thanks for sharing my journey with me and making it memorable! As gratifying as it is to look back - the best is yet to come!