November 9, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

What do worship and stewardship have to do with each other? Why mention them in the same context?

I remind you that I define stewardship as "godly life management". Stewardship implies that you have a responsibility to manage your life in a way that honors God and accomplishes His will for you and through you. When you do that you add value to you life and demonstrate God's value in your life. That IS worship!

Worship isn't DOING, worship is BEING! You do worship because you are a worshipper.

I came across this excerpt from an article about worship that expresses this truth:

In his article ’Celebrating God in Authentic Worship’, pastor Glenn Wagner (Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC) points out: "I believe that one of the most evangelistic tools the church possesses, one desperately needed in today’s society, is authentic worship. People want to know, first of all, if God exists; then second, can they relate to Him? If God exists, is it really possible to connect with Him in a vibrant, dynamic way? In genuine, authentic worship, observers see real people connecting powerfully with the real God."

"The outflow of a focus on God, a submission to the real Jesus, and an emphasis on ever-deepening relationships is an energetic, joyful, Spirit-filled, congregational worship of the triune God. Genuine celebration erupts when God’s people discover who they are in Christ. And powerful prayer arises from the hearts of those who have truly entered the presence of God." PreachingNow Newsletter, June 25, 2002

Authentic worship is powerful because it involves the presence of the Lord. When you consider the power of entering the presence of God for and hour or so - what could happen if you LIVED in the presence of God?

Again, enter stewardship. Stewardship is managing your life in a way that allows you to dwell in the presence of God! God calls you to steward your life in such a way that you can be a worshipper.

How?

Desire Him. Deny yourself. Daily follow!

November 8, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Is your life "ship" shape? What is your state of being?

The first "ship" I want to examine is "worship".

What is worship and what should I "be" to enjoy it? I think Jesus gives some clues.

Let's begin with a definition of the word "worship". It has its roots in "worth". To "worship" means to acknowledge and honor the "worthiness" of God.

Therefore, to "be" a worshipper means to be a giver. What does Jesus ask you to give?

Give your best. "Deny yourself", Jesus says.

Being a worshipper requires that I give God my best energy, my best effort, and my best focus. That means I withhold it from myself and my other interests and give it all to Him! He gets my first and I keep the leftovers.

How does that work?

My first thoughts in the morning should be directed toward Him. My heart is aimed at Him. My first hour is given to Him. As a worshipped I am being brought into fellowship with Him. I am acknowledging His worth and drawing value from Him.

Worship is not something reserved for one hour on Sunday morning. Worship is something I do 24/7 365! It is a state of being. I don't "do" worship but I "be" a worshipper. I deny myself to honor Him. I offer my best to Him. I acknowledge His worthiness and draw my worth from Him. Sunday morning "worship" should be the gathering of worshippers who come together to corporately share what they have individually enjoyed all week!

Have you worshipped God today?

How will you have you acknowledged His worth? Have you attached your worth to Him?

Will you purpose to go to church next week not to worship but to go worshipping? Determine not to "do" worship but to "be" a worshipper!

November 7, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple" Luke 9:23



Have you noticed how many "ship" words there are in our Christian faith?



For example, "discipleship", "worship", "fellowship", "stewardship" or "lordship".



What is that about?

The suffix "ship" means "a state of being". So, when we use these words we are talking about being a disciple, or being a worshipper, being in fellowship, or being a steward, or being under the lordship of Christ.

Too often we think of being a Christ-follower in terms of what we have to do or not do. But Jesus gives the call to being. "whoever wants to be my disciple". If discipleship was about doing then religion would work. You and I would be able to do certain things and become a disciple. But we know that is not the case. Discipleship comes out of a relationship, not a religion. To be a disciple we must live in an intimate relationship - a state of being - and He will do through us what pleases Him. Our doing grows out of our being.

That is why I am going to devote this month to exploring this concept of "Getting Into 'Ship' Shape". I hope you will find it helpful and encouraging - and maybe a little challenging or conviction!

I will be covering these topics: "Worship Is Stewardship"; "Fellowship Is Stewardship"; and "Discipleship Is Stewardship". Hopefully I can broaden and deepen your concept of what it means TO BE a follower of Christ!

November 6, 2010

"And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:22

When Jesus foretold his future He also predicts yours. That is, if you dare to be His disciple.

What a contrast to the attitude of many Christians today. Where did we get the idea that following Jesus is guaranteed to make you healthy, wealthy and generally bullet-proof? It certainly didn't come from Jesus.

When did happiness become our goal? When did possessions become our passion? When did health become the measure of our spirituality? And what have these misdirected values done for the state of our Faith or the strength of our churches?

Being a disciple will cost you something! No, actually, being a disciple will cost you everything! Jesus gave up everything for you and me. What makes you think you can get through life easier that your Lord? How can you expect to follow Him and get a free ride? When did Jesus become your Santa instead of your Savior?

I guess you must understand the purpose of discipleship if you are going to grasp the price. God is not interested in making you happy. Happiness is SO overrated in our culture and it has infested our churches. God is committed to your holiness, although holy people do end up happier! Holiness requires some pressure and some purging to purify your heart and mind and spirit of its selfishness.

Discipleship is about a series of deaths and resurrections that lead to your ultimate eternal resurrection. Death is painful. Nothing dies easily - wrong motives don't, impure thoughts don't, sinful habits surely don't and selfish desires will battle to the end.

So, you want to be a disciple? Prepare for some pain - pain that will prepare you for Paradise!

November 5, 2010

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Luke 9:20

One of my more embarrassing moments in high school was when I let a moment of frustration cause me to forget who I was. My coach reminded me - loudly and in front of everyone.

I was playing baseball for the Warsaw Community High School Tigers. WCHS is a well regarded high school in Indiana for its excellence in academics and in athletics. When you make one of their teams they rightly expect you to represent that level of excellence.

On this day I was having a good game at the plate. I was seeing the ball well and hitting it. But when I came to bat this time I got fooled on a pitch and tried to hold up on my swing. Instead of checking my swing I hit the ball, resulting in a weak little dribbler to the second basement who scooped it up and threw me out at first. Upset at myself I slammed my batting helmet into the ground as I ran across the base. It landed loudly and bounced high and looked bad. I looked bad. I made the team look bad.

My coach just happened to be coaching first base and when I turned around to grab my helmet and retreat to the dugout he was waiting for me and he was not happy. Getting up into my face he earnestly informed my what I already knew - I had embarrassed myself and the team. Warsaw Tigers don't behave that way. He was right. I was humiliated.

Sometimes some clarification is necessary. When we forget who we are we forget how we should be.

Studying this portion of Scripture I noticed that before Jesus issued His call to discipleship He first asked for some clarification, "Who do you say I am?"

Appropriate, eh?

How can you answer the call to discipleship if you are not completely clear on Who He is? Why would you want to commit your life and surrender yourself to Someone you are not clear about?

In this portion of Scripture Jesus not only gives clarification to Who He is but He gives clarification to who you and I should be and in so doing, He clarifys discipleship. Jesus tells us that being a disciple has two components:

SAY IT - disciples declare and confess that Jesus is the Son of the God - the Messiah - the Savior - the Lamb of God - the Lord of all!

SHOW IT - disciples demonstrate the Lordship of Christ by how they live. Disciples daily deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him every day in every way!

Disciples are clear about Who He is and they are clear on who they need to be. The know Him and they show Him. As a result, all who watch theit lives become clear about Who Jesus is!

Are you clear about your calling? Are you making Him clear by how you live? Are there things you need to clear up?

November 4, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves...." Luke 9:23

When I was I college I learned to juggle. Despite the fact that I was carrying a full load of courses and playing soccer in the Fall, basketball in the Winter and baseball in the Spring - I still had a little free time around the dorm where I learned to master this feat of dexterity.

The trick in juggling is how to handle three balls with just the two hands God gave you. Obviously the math in not in the favor of the juggler. He is required to keep one ball in the air at all times and for brief moments, two balls are in motion. Needless to say some coordination and concentration is required. Once I juggled a bowl ball, a golf ball and a softball. You can't be dropping bowling balls!

What does this have to do with discipleship?

I'm glad you asked! In discipleship, like juggling, you must decide which balls to hold and which to toss. You can't hold on to everything!

Jesus said that if you desire to be a disciple you must deny yourself. The word for "deny" means to "give up" or "disown". A Christ-follower must decide what to hold onto and what to let go of. Discipline has become an undesirable word in a culture that teaches "you can have it all". The American version of the "Golden Rule" is "whoever has the most gold gets to make the rules". That is not the way of His disciples. Disciple and discipline obviously come from the same root word and they refer to the necessity of saying "no" to one thing in order to say "yes" to a better thing. Discipleship is knowing how to juggle the priorities of living as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Disciples say "no" to the "crass" things of life and "yes" to the Cross things! Disciples don't just wear crosses - they carry them. Disciples not only carry crosses they nail things to the them. Disciples put some things to death in order for other things to live. Disciples aren't afraid of pain or sacrifice. Disciples know the difference between the acceptable and the excellent. Disciples are quick to give up good things to grab ahold of the better thing.

Are you a disciple of Jesus?

How is your juggling?

November 3, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple......" Luke 9:23

Perhaps it makes sense to define terms before we go much further in our devotional thoughts. Quite simple, "What is a disciple?' or "What does a disciple look like?" or "What does it mean to be a disciple?"

I am sure Jesus had a specific idea in mind when He called them to follow Him. I am sure the men he called were clear on what they were signing up for.

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus? Are you clear on what it means to be a disciple? Don't you think that would be an important thing to know? Shouldn't you be clear on the concept?

Let me see if I can clarify it for you:

Being a disciple involves relationship - a disciple is a lover.

If being a disciple means anything it means being in a relationship with the one you choose to follow. You do tend to follow what you love and you grow in love as you follow.

To be in relationship with Jesus, or anyone for that matter, you must have constant communication with Him. For a disciple that means prayer. Recall that Jesus didn't teach His twelve disciples to preach but He did teach them to pray.

To be in relationship you must also be committed. Commitment requires obedience. You cannot be a disciple if you are not committed to completely obeying Jesus.

Being a disciple involves recognition - a disciple is a learner.

A disciple must learn and adapt to the beliefs of the one he is following. So, a disciple of Jesus must be a learner of Jesus' teachings and truths. And a disciple doesn't learn just to acquire knowledge and information, he learns for life-change.

Being a disciple involves reproduction - a disciple is a leader.

Thirdly, a disciple that loves his master and learns from his master will eventually live like his master. As he lives like his master he will look like his master. When you live like a leader and look like a leader, others will begin to follow you. A disciple not only conforms to the life-style of his master but he will influence others to live like Jesus.

So, what is a disciple of Jesus? One who loves Jesus and learns from Jesus until he looks and lives like Jesus. A disciple follows until he leads.

Let me ask you, do you love Jesus? How well are you obeying Him? How much are you committed to Him? Are you in regular communication with Him?

Are you learning from Jesus? Are you reading His Word and meditating on it? Is your thinking guided by His truths?

Are you leading others to Jesus? Are others following Him because of you?

If you consider youself a disciple and if you call yourself by that name - love Him, learn of Him, and lead others to Him.