April 11, 2010

“THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!”

Week One – “Doubt” Genesis 3:1-6


“Do we sin because we are tempted or are we tempted because we sin?”

DOUBT THAT HELPS – John 20:24-28

A little boy that said to his dad, “dad, why is the sky blue?” I don’t know son. "dad, why is the grass green?" I don’t know son. Dad...etc. Finally the boy said, "Dad, do you mind me asking these questions?" "Why no son, if you don’t ask questions you don’t learn anything.”

Thomas was looking for truth but needed to be convinced. He didn’t doubt Jesus but He doubted the good news about Him. His hope had been shaken by the recent events and he was suffering a crisis of faith. He needed some facts to strengthen his faith. Faith is not the absence of facts. Faith is believing in God based on the facts of His Word. Faith is knowing the heart of God even when you can’t see the hand of God. That was where Thomas was at this point. And when he literally saw the hands of Jesus his doubt was erased and his faith took a quantum leap. It is not really fair that he is labeled as “Doubting Thomas” because he became “completely convinced Thomas”.

Historical accounts indicate that Thomas became an evangelist and missionary in India and was killed as a martyr. Does that sound like something a doubter would do.

For Thomas, his doubt didn’t hurt him – it helped him.

Think about how you came to faith in Christ. You probably didn’t just accept everything at face value. You had to have evidence – through the life of other believers, through knowing the Word and seeing it work changes in your life and others – through seeing Him work in the life of a local church – and through the growing awareness of Him in your personal relationship.

Being a strong Christian is not about believing easily or automatically, but it is about aiming your doubts in the direction of God and His Word and allowing Him to prove Himself to you. Being a strong believer is about anchoring your heart in His heart while you search for His hand. Honest doubt – doubt that helps never doubts the heart of God. God invites honest doubt because He knows it leads to strong faith. When you do have doubts - aim them in the direction of God. He will reveal His hand when He knows you trust His heart!

“Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving”. Frederick Buechner

As the Union Pacific Railroad was being constructed, an elaborate trestle bridge was built across a large canyon in the West. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge, where it stayed an entire day. One worker asked, "Are you trying to break this bridge?" "No," the builder replied, "I’m trying to prove that the bridge won’t break."

THOMAS’ DOUBT HELPED HIM BECAUSE:

He had right motives and attitude – he wanted to believe.
He expressed his doubt to the right people and the right place.
He gave God the last word.

DOUBT THAT HURTS – Genesis 3:1-6

“If God puts you on hold, don’t hang up.” – Jerry Falwell

“Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.” - Karl Barth

They doubted God’s Word - His Character – “Did God really say……?”

James said, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

The Devil is the author of confusion and if he can keep us from the Word or cause us to doubt the Word He will have an easier time getting us to distrust God. Someone has said, “The Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible.”

THE DEVIL WILL TRY TO GET YOU INVOLVED IN DEBATING WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DECLARED! God deserves the benefit of the doubt until you are sure!


Learn from Adam and Eve and give God the benefit of the doubt. Believe Him and trust Him until He proves untrustworthy.

They doubted God’s Way - His Caring – “God knows that when you eat it…”

Just as it is foolish to doubt God’s Word, it is foolish to doubt His love. Let me ask you, who has ever loved you like God? God had given Adam and Eve no reason to doubt that He cared for them – look at what He had done! He created them! He placed them in paradise! He made them each other! He met their every need and treated them as the guests of honor in Eden!

A second attack the Devil will use is to DISTRACT you and then stir up DISCONTENT.

The Devil is not only the author of confusion, he is also the source of discontentment. He wants to keep you distracted from the Word and focused on your lack instead of God’s love. When that happens – you are prone to yield to temptation. He may use suffering – he may use materialism – he may use conflict – he may even use success

They doubted God’s Wrath - His Consequences – “You will not surely die…”

The Devil uses DEBATE – he uses DISTRACTION – and he will use DENIAL…..


ADAM AND EVE’S Doubt Hurt Them – And Us Because:

They were in the wrong place.
They listened to the wrong person
They allowed the wrong attitude and desire.

DON’T DOUBT THIS – James 1:13-15


We don’t sin because we are tempted we are tempted because we are sinners. We are sinners because we inherited their sinful nature.

A fly was buzzing along one morning when he saw a lawn mower someone had left out in their front yard. He flew over and sat on the handle, watching the children going down the sidewalk on their way to school.

One little boy tripped on a crack and fell, spilling his lunch on the sidewalk. He picked himself up, put his lunch back in the bag and went on. But he missed a piece of bologna. The fly had not eaten that morning and he sure was hungry. So he flew down and started eating the bologna. In fact he ate so much that he could not fly, so he waddled across the sidewalk, across the lawn, up the wheel of the lawn mower, up the handle, and sat there resting and watching the children.


There was still some bologna lying there on the sidewalk. He was really stuffed, but that baloney sure did look good.


Finally temptation got the best of him and he jumped off the handle of the lawn mower to fly over to the baloney. But alas he was too full to fly and he went splat!! killing him instantly.
The moral: Don’t fly off the handle when you are full of baloney.

There’s a dark side to us, that’s as reckless as the fly. It does not matter what the costs are, you just got to have it. Humanity is like that, so full of baloney, they can’t see it and they fly off the handle, thinking they can handle it all, and be satisfied only to end up splat.

Here's some of the baloney we struggle with.

In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from:

1. Materialism 6. Pride
2. Gluttony 7. Self-Centeredness
3. Lying /Sexual Lust (Tie) 8. Laziness
4. Envy 9. Anger/Bitterness(Tie)
5.Gluttony

Survey respondents noted that temptations seemed more potent when they neglected their time with God and when tired physically. We are also vulnerable during these time. We can become self-confident, instead of God confident. We should be aware that we are also vulnerable to overconfidence when we experience a spiritual victory.



Temptation is being confronted with the choice between obeying God’s will or seeking my will.

Back to James 1:13-15

THE SEVEN STEPS OF TEMPTATION: (We Can Trace This With Adam)

Tempted – The thought of evil NOT A SIN YET!!! – The Serpent met them at the tree. They really shouldn’t have been there.
Drawn away – strong imagination – “Did God really say?”
Lust – self-gratification and desire – “You will be like God…”
Entice – weakening of the will - “When the woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye….”
Lust conceived – yielding to that desire / carrying out the thought. – “She took some and ate it”
Sin – committing the act missing the mark God has for us to make. – “She also gave some to her husband and he ate it”
Death – the result of the sin (Spiritually separated from God). – (Vv. 7-8)

I think that pretty well answers the question – “Do we sin because we are tempted or are we tempted because we sin?”

So, if you know that you actually have a sin problem rather than a temptation problem will that affect how you approach the problem?



HOW?


WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY DOUBTS?


Search the Word
Take to the right place (like Thomas)
Share them with the right people (like Thomas)
Trust God’s heart until you discern His hand

WHAT WILL I DO ABOUT MY SIN?

April 10, 2010

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

The old saying goes, "It's not what you know but who you know."

We wish that wasn't true but in most cases it is. It does pay to have friends in high places.

However, in this instance it makes an incredible difference and the Apostle Paul is reminding his brothers and sisters of the Ephesus Church. They had become weary in their well doing and concerned over the suffering of their beloved Paul.

In this portion of his letter he encourages them by reminding them that they have a Friend Who is well-positioned to help them through their struggles. Verse 20 summarizes his message to them. It may strengthen you to be reminded as well why it matters when you pray:

"Now to Him......"

The reason prayer matters, the reason it comforts us, and the reason we can find strength from it is that we pray to HIM - God! And the Bible makes it clear that each time we pray the Holy Spirit interprets our prayers and Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceeding for us! Every prayer involves all three members of the Trinity! God gets fully engaged in our prayers!

"Now to Him Who is able....."

Not everyone who cares about me and who would like to help me is able to do it. There are people I care deeply about whom I would love to be able to help but can't. BUT GOD IS ABLE! Never lose sight of that important truth - GOD IS ABLE!

Are you discouraged today? GOD IS ABLE! Are you overwhelmed by suffering? GOD IS ABLE!Are you fearful and anxious? GOD IS ABLE! So, remember! You are never helpless when you call on Him because HE IS ABLE!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine....."

So, how able is He? He is more able than we are even able to imagine! His ablility transcends our imagination! Don't worry if you don't have an answer to a situation! He does! Don't try to aniticipate God or out think Him or understand Him - you are not able! Just understand that HE IS ABLE! He will solve situations for which you have no answers and do it in a way you would never have thought of!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"

What is that power that is at work in us? Faith! A what does faith unleash in us? Love! And how does that help? Faith believes in a God Who is bigger than life and greater than circumstances and love connects us with Him!

April 9, 2010

"I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:13-20

It is hard to find a richer portion of Scripture in all the Bible than these verses we are examining today. The Great Apostle talks about the relationship between God's love and your life, God's strength and your suffering, and your prayers and His power.

My biggest struggle is knowing where to begin.

Let me approach it from these three perspectives: the reason for prayer, the resource of prayer, and the reassurance from prayer.

First, Paul touches on the reason for prayer - suffering. Paul was concerned that the Ephesian Christians would be worn down by their concern for him and the suffering he was experiencing. It is hard to watch people we care about suffer and not be able to do anything about it. In those days, Christians everywhere were either suffering or living under the threat of suffering. So, it was not that they didn't have their own problems. But he was their spiritual father and mentor and he was stuck in a filthy Roman prison shackled to Roman guards.

Suffering wears you out. Prayer strengthens you. So a primary reason for prayer is to find strength in suffering through prayer.

Second, Paul reminds us that prayer is a resource. It is a resource because it connects us with our Source and our source is God! It is a resource because it is a relationship with the God of the universe. The relationship is love! God's love IS our resource! It strengthens us. It sustains us because it is a wide, deep, high, and long love! His love enstablishes us on a firm foundation. When we receive the love of God we receive His strength to endure suffering.

Third, Paul boldly proclaims his belief that prayer reassures us God is always doing more than we know in ways that we can't imagine. We can believe in God's love and we can receive it, but even then we cannot conceive all that He is doing while you praying. So, here is the reassurance - if you are praying He is working! And if He is working He is doing "exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think!"

Life is hard. Suffering is overwhelming. Life and suffering get bigger than we are. But when they seem bigger than us - pray! Because prayer assures us that God is bigger than life and he is doing bigger things than we can know, prayer strengthens us!

Are you facing big struggles? Do you need a big God?

I have some big news for you! If suffering is your reason to prayer, prayer is a resource that connects you in relationship to a God Who makes "all things work together for good"!

If you are praying - He is working!

April 8, 2010

"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

What would you do if you knew you would get away with it? The lure of sin without consequences has always been nearly irresistible since the time of Adam. It is an illusion but a powerful one!

On the other hand, how would it affect your behavior if you remembered that you won't get a way with anything?

The reason I mention this is because the first round of the Masters is being played today and though it is always a major world-class sporting event, but it is bigger that ever with the return of Tiger Woods to competitive golf.

Along with the attention to his exceptional skills as a golfer, there have been unceasing references to his scandalous sexual escapades over the past several years. His once impeccable image has been tarnished forever. Whether he ever becomes more renown for his golf or for his misbehavior remains to be seen.

Much of what has been revealed about his indescretions is very unseemly. I wish I didn't know all that I know about his licensious behavior and I don't care to know any more. But there are a couple of things I find worthy of mention in regard to all the reaction to Tiger's return and about his absence.

I find it refreshing to know that character still counts. Many of us thought that he was a person of great personal discipline and high integrity. We were so wrong. It turns out that he was seriously deficient in both character and integrity.

When it was splashed scandously throughout the media his sponsors began to disassociate themselves from him. They didn't want his disgraceful behavior reflect badly on their products.

Character still counts!

The second reassuring part of this is that morality still matters.

I didn't hear anyone say, "Wow! Being a serial adulterer is a really good thing!"

Everyone everywhere universally condemned his disgusting immorality and how it harmed his reputation, hurt his wife, and jeopardized his future.

In a world were immorality is often admired and moral standards are ridiculed, I found it encouraging to know that morality matters.

The world will be watching to see if he regains the mastery of his golf game. They will continue to watch to see if he can master his behavior.

April 7, 2010

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." Ephesians 3:16-17

This incredible prayer becomes even more impressive when you realize that the man who is praying to encourage the Ephesian Christians was imprisoned and chained to a guard. The very one who should have been seeking encouragement was sending this prayer to encourage them. As we saw yesterday, he was concerned that they would become discouraged because of his suffering. We conceded that suffering does get discouraging and prayer is supposed to be a resource for encouragement.

How is it that we discover prayer works?

By being prayed for and having that prayer answered.

Likewise, we discover God's glorious riches by declaring our poverty and we discover His strength by confessing our weakness. And we get both of those by receiving Christ.

How can you have His strength without having Him? You can't! He IS your strength! Until you have Him you are weak. No matter how strong you think you are you are weak until you receive Him.

And how do you receive Him?

By faith.

What does it mean to receive Him by faith?

It means you confess your sinfulness, your renounce your independence and rely totally upon His righteousness and grace for your spiritual well-being.

That is what the Apostle Paul did and it radically transformed his life! His radically transformed life changed the world. It has altered my world. But it only happened because I was honest about my own weakness and spiritual poverty.

It is precisely what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God."

Here is the kernel of truth that you can wrap your heart and mind around - you get as much of God as you desire!

Pain and poverty are terrible things. I have been to the inner city of Chicago and Los Angeles and been overwhelmed by the unimaginable pain and poverty there. I have been to the cities and villages of Africa and seen the devastation of poverty there. When you look into the eyes of helpless, hopeless people you never get over it. But there is something about pain and poverty that clarifies the value of faith. The powerless quickly recognize their need for His power.

Paul's prayer for his beloved brothers and sisters in Ephesus was that they would realize just how spiritually weak and powerless they are so they would receive the rich and powerful measure of God's Spirit. He realized it through his suffering and prayed that they would, too.

How much of God do you desire? It depends on how much spiritual weakness and poverty you are willing to confess. How much of your impotence are you willing to exchange for His power? That is the only way you will receive it and receiving it is the only way you will know it.

April 6, 2010

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:12-15

Have you ever made this statement, "All I can do is pray"?

Me, too.

Very dumb!

Think about what you are saying when you mindlessly utter that sentence.

First, you are implying that prayer isn't that powerful of a tool. Secondly, you are saying that praying is a bail out when you don't know what else to do.

Neither one of those are even remotely true - not even close!

Paul is concerned that the Ephesian believers are becoming discouraged over his prolonged imprisonment and suffering. And let's be honest, suffering does get discouraging. One of the ways it gets discouraging is because you continue to pray and continue to suffer. Therefore, since your prayer doesn't relieve your suffering you conclude in your suffering that prayer is not effective.

If that was true then, think how much more it is true in this instant everything microwave world?

Here's what Paul knew that he wanted the Ephesians to know and we need to grasp - prayer is a powerful weapon against discouragement.

Why?

For one reason, discouragement can cause us to think that prayer doesn't work and cause us to give up prayer. That is self-defeating because faith surrenders to frustration.

Also, when we continue to pray despite the lack of visible results, we hold onto faith and keep God involved in our circumstances. That's powerful. Our faith sustains our hope.

Thirdly, continuing to pray in the midst of discouraging circumstances shows an understanding of what pray is and what prayer does. Prayer is communicating with God knowing that His spiritual forces and resources are at work in our behalf.

That is where the hope comes from! It comes from knowing that God is at work even when we can't see God at work!

Here is the bottom line - you either believe in prayer or you don't. If you only believe in prayer when you see visible results, you really don't believe in prayer. You are hoping in results not in prayer. If you really believe in prayer you will continue to pray despite the lack of visible results. You continue to pray because your relationship with God is so important you must be in constant communication with Him.

Prayer must be a first response not a last resort because prayer is about relationship NOT about results!

April 5, 2010

"But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16

For 40 days you have been committed to integrating your faith fully into your marriage relationship. That is something every believer pledged to do when they took their wedding vows. Being a believer is not something you do it is what you are and what you are becoming. The promise you made to your partner is the same promise you made to your God. As you live out the one you live out both. As you fail in one you fail in both.

If you grasp this truth and forge it into your spirit your "Love Dare" will not end but will become a way of life. You will see a steady growth in your spirituality as you see your marriage deepen. That reality is one of the things that has excited me about this study.

The key is commitment. While there is something in our human nature that resists and recoils against commitment, it is absolutely necessary for growth and health.

Ruth totally committed herself in this statement and it gives us a good look at this commitment piece. You can learn from her. I hope you will.

Simply stated commitment is eliminating all other options. Essentially, what Ruth said is, "I will choose this one option and nothing else. I will have no 'plan B'".

When you choose to follow God, that is your commitment. You are agreeing to follow only one God and honor Him supremely. You will have no spiritual "plan B".

When you give yourself to a partner in marriage you are saying that you will devote yourself fully to them emotionally, physically, spiritually and romantically. You will have no "plan B".

Going forward, continue what you have been learning and practicing about commitment. Remain fully committed to God and fully devote to your partner. Eliminate any alternate plans and throw your heart and your mind completely into the relationship. You will find an amazing joy and satisfaction in both!

Make the "Love Dare" your new way of living and thinking. Because the truth is that "Love Dare" and "Christian Commitment" are one in the same!

Commit to a future of being fully engaged in loving God and loving your spouse. I dare you!