May 13, 2016

The Apostle Paul was locked up in a prison and the Philippian Church was struggling due to self-serving and self-seeking people.

Since Paul was unable to preach or teach many of the preacher "wanna be" types were taking the occasion to promote themselves and attempting to out-preach each other.

Concerned by the rising tensions in that church he wrote this letter to address the issues truthfully and directly. Essentially, he called on them to become "I Am 3rd" people like him and like Jesus.

Essentially, Paul reminds these believers of the power of an "I Am 3rd" fellowship. They have had a good thing going in the Philippian church if they were to lapse into selfishness it would destroy their fellowship. He writes:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion.”  Philippians 2:1

Normally the word “if” conveys doubt. But here Paul is using a Greek grammatical form that actually expresses certainty. He’s really saying, “If such-and-such is true – and I know that it is.” A better translation than "if" would be “since.” 

Since you have encouragement in your relationship with Christ AND since you have the benefit of His comfort through His love and His Spirit And you enjoy His tender compassion you should be an "I Am 3rd" person!

Every Christian has received these blessings and every fellowship should be united around these blessings!

II Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."     

So, if God has given us everything we need why are we why have we lost our culture?

Could it have anything to do with the fact we have made our church fellowship too much about us and not enough about Him?

Here's a couple of hints:

Jesus was an "I Am 3rd" person and He STILL impacts culture more than anyone who ever lived! He changed the world every time and every place that His followers were willing to be "I Am 3rd" people.

Paul was an "I Am 3rd" person and He changed the world with his preaching, his teaching, his writing his holy life and his missionary/church-planting journeys.

The "I Am 3rd" life works every time it is tried. Give it a try in your family first and then in the fellowship of your church!

May 12, 2016

"Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11

The "I am 3rd" lifestyle means that you put God first in your time commitments, in your caring for others and with your cash. These truths are illustrated powerfully by the parable of the Good Samaritan.

If you want to obey the Great Commandment and live it out the "I am 3rd" lifestyle is how you are to live.

That matters!

It also matters because that is the lifestyle Jesus lived when He came to redeem the world. The man Who did more than anyone else to change the world lived the "I am 3rd" lifestyle.

Would you like to change your corner of the world? Then who better to imitate than Jesus!

Paul says, "Think of yourself the way Jesus did!"

How was that?

Jesus thought third!

Thinking third means:

• Not clinging to privilege
• Not clinging to position
• Not clinging to power
• Not choosing pride

Are you thinking third?

As a believer you are called to think like Jesus. Why not compare His mindset and attitude with His?

How do you handle privilege?

Do you covet a position?

How do you deal with power?

Are you clinging to pride?

"I am 3rd" Person

"If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Philippians 2:1-4 (The Message)

Paul was an "I am 3rd" person. 

He wasn't always that way having been educated and groomed for success as an "I am first" person. You don't get more "I am first" than killing people who present a challenge to your faith.

So what happened to change him from an aggressive "I am first" person to one of the greatest "I am 3rd" people who ever lived? He met Jesus up close and personal on the road to Damascus. As a result he submitted to God, surrendered to God's Spirit and began serving God's people.

I dare say you never would have heard of Paul's greatness if he had not become an "I am 3rd" person. He became great by dedicating the rest of his life to making other Christ-followers great. That becomes obvious in his letter to the members of the Church in Philippi.

Writing from jail, Paul gives some specific practical advice on how to be an "I am 3rd" person. He shares six things they SHOULD do as an "I am 3rd" person and three things "I am 3rd" people don't do.

"I am 3rd" People:

• "Agree with each other." Literally, "have the same mind" or "think the same way". How do you do that? By coming into agreement around God's Word and thinking like Jesus thinks.
• "Love each other." Jesus said, "Love others as you love yourself." So loving others means giving them something you wish you had or meeting a need for them that is going unmet in your life.
• "Be deep-spirited friends." Connect with other believers at a deep spiritual level. Love deeply and allow others to love you.
• "Put yourself aside." Bypass your own desires and needs in favor of the needs of others.
• "Help others get ahead". Become a cheerleader, a promoter and a fan of others. Use whatever influence or power you might have to advance their status and standing.
• "Forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand." Another way to put this is remember to be third as you help others be first.

"I am 3rd" people don't:

• "Don't push their way to the top." - "I am 3rd" people are not self-seeking or self-centered. They rise as a result of lifting others to the top.
• "Don't sweet talk your way to the top." - "I am 3rd" people don't use flattery or compliments to gain an advantage in their organization.
• "Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage." "I am 3rd" people don't use others they use whatever influence or advantage they may have to give the advantage to others.

"I am 3rd" people live a counter-intuitive lifestyle! They do for others exactly what they want or need others to do for them! They obey the First Commandment admonition to "do unto others as you would want the to do for you!"

You should know by now if you are an "I am 3rd" person or not by what you are doing and by what you are NOT doing!!

What will you do now?

May 10, 2016

"Then he said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’ “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any." Luke 15:11-16

When Jesus wanted to illustrate the Great Commandment He told a story about a good Samaritan so you can always have a vivid picture of what it looks like to be an "I am 3rd" person.

This Samaritan thought 3rd at every point in this parable, he thought third in his time commitment, he thought third in his compassion for the injured man and he thought third with his cash when he paid the cost of medical care for the man who was mugged.

It was for the purpose of illustrating how God loves you He told another well-beloved story known as the Prodigal Son. In this moving parable you see the "I am 3rd" love of the father (who represents God).

I'm sure you are familiar with this parable but you may not realize the word "prodigal" means "extravagant". So this is a story of extravagant love. Who in the story demonstrated an extravagant love? The only thing extravagant about the wandering son was his foolishness.

But therein lies the power of this parable. The extravagant "I am 3rd" love God has for you is in spite of your extravagant foolishness!

I can't speak for you, but when I read this story my lack of "I am 3rd" love gets exposed because I tend to think the father got it wrong by giving his son the inheritance he demanded. The son was clearly in an extreme "I am first" mode or maybe even an "I am only" mode and was on a self-destructive path. Why would the father fuel the foolishness of his son by financing his fantasy with the family fortune?

Only as you consider this story from an "I am 3rd" perspective do you begin to understand the extravagance of the father's love. His "I am 3rd" love had the courage to allow the foolish son to imprison himself with his selfish "I am first" love. He understand that only a steady diet of self-centered slop would cultivate an appetite for the "I am 3rd" love he offered.

Such is the power of "I am 3rd" love. The wise loving father knew that!

You and I need to learn the power and depth of "I am 3rd" love and often it takes some time in the pig-pen to figure it out. Ultimately it was the longing for the "I am 3rd" love of the father that brought the son home.

Regardless of where you find yourself this morning will you surrender to His "I am 3rd" love?

The Pursuit Of God

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:4-6

A good friend once challenged me with this question, 

"If you don't feel close to God, who moved?"

His point was well taken. The truth is I can be as close to God as I want to be. So can you! He longs for intimate fellowship with us.

So, what is it that keeps you from enjoying that close fellowship with God?

Sometimes it is other people.

Here are several examples:

You can allow another person to get between you and God. 

If you are in a relationship with a nonbeliever that can draw you away from God.

If you over-invest in a relationship where you spend all your time and energy focused on a person that can distract you from God.

You might get wrapped up in your children, running to their activities and events. Before you know it your week-ends are all spent traveling and you neglect the fellowship of your church. Soon you become a stranger with God.

Sometimes it can be other pursuits.

Here are some examples:

You might get preoccupied with a hobby and spend all of your spare time involved in it.

You might get caught up in a sports activity and focus your time and energy bowling or golfing or fishing and not have time for God.

You might get involved in outdoor recreation and spend all your week-ends boating or camping or riding a motorcycle or RV.

After several weeks or months of devoting yourself to these pursuits you suddenly find your heart cold toward God.

Always it is your pride.

All of these things we have mentioned are good and wholesome in themselves. But when you place more importance on them than you do on your relationship with God, they get between you and Him. But when that happens the problem is not them - it is you! You have placed your pleasure, your needs, your enjoyment ahead of God. That is the essence of pride.

James reminds you that God is a jealous God. He demands to be first in your life. If you are going to choose Him and decide to serve Him, He must hold first place in your affections, your thoughts, and your time. He will not occupy second place to your pride, your pursuits or other people.

These verses pronounce some harsh judgments on those whose pride comes between them and God. He calls them "adulterers". Do you want to be an adulterer?

He says God opposes the proud. Do you want to be in opposition to God?

If you are not as close to God as you once where or as close as you want to be - who moved?

Have you allowed something or someone to come between you and God?

If so, how do you think that is going to work out for you?

What are you going to do about it?

May 8, 2016

I found this thought today and wanted to share Mother's Day "by the Book".

What does the Bible say about moms? Here are some Bible quotes you can use for inspirational greeting cards, personal devotions, or preparing a Bible study/sermon about Mother’s Day. Each of these scriptures about mothers are quoted from the ESV translation.

Motherhood Before the Fall

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.". (Genesis 2:24-25 ESV)

Sons Should Follow their Mother’s Teaching

"My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you." (Proverbs 6:20-22 ESV)

Mother’s Must Correct their Children

"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." (Proverbs 29:15 ESV)

Children Must Honor their Mother (and Father)

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:2-4 ESV)

Timothy’s Mother as Faith Example

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."  (2 Timothy 1:5 ESV)

Jesus Provided for His Mother Before He Died

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (John 19:26-27 ESV)

Warning to Provide for Your Aged Mother

"Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:3-7; 1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)

Women Who Believer are Like Mothers to Jesus

"While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50 ESV)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

May 7, 2016

”All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

Here's what we have been learning about mothers on a mission:

1) ON A MISSION MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN KNOW THE SAVIOR. 
2) THEY MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN KNOW THE SCRIPTURES. 
3) AND, THEY MAKE SURE THEIR CHILDREN KNOW HOW TO SERVE

When you raise your children to know the Savior. And when you bring up your children grounded in the Scriptures. It is just a natural expression of that training to Serve the Lord by serving others.

Mothers With A Mission Teach Their Children:

BEING SAVED IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU!

BEING STEEPED IN SCRIPTURE IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU!

THEY ARE SAVED TO SERVE! 

THEY LEARN SCRIPTURE IN ORDER TO SERVE MORE EFFECTIVELY!

If you don’t train your children to serve they will never experience the joy of being used by God!

If you don’t train your children to serve they will never know the thrill of being a world-changer.

Lois and Eunice trained Timothy to serve. He served the Apostle Paul well and traveled with him as he visited the churches and established new ones. Later Timothy served the Church as a pastor.

Timothy served a world-changer when he served Paul. And later he became a world-changer.

You know you are a mother on a mission when you commit to teaching your children about the Savior looking for the chance to lead them to salvation.

You know you are a mother on a mission when you actively engage in teaching your children to know and love and live the Scriptures.

You know you are a mother on a mission when you raise your children to serve the Lord by serving others.

Our world today needs Mothers on a mission!

Will you make motherhood your mission?

Will you mold your children with the proper priorities?

Will you be a modern day Eunice? So you can raise modern day world-changers like Timothy?

Grandmothers will you be a modern day Lois so you can raise some champions for Christ?