January 10, 2017

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:3-8

In the first two verses of this great chapter Paul shows the Church how to have unity on the team. That is by each member consecrating his ego to God, conquering the evil within, and concentrating on God's will. A winning team is the result of each team mate overcoming their personal battles through the power of God. No team wins without unity.

Now, in these next several verses there is another step forward from unity to community. And there is a change in metaphor from God's team to God's body. The Church is the Body of Christ and each member is part of that body. As you know, the more healthy parts that a body has the healthier that body will be. So, the great apostle shows you and me how to be a healthy, helpful and happy member of the body. That is the emphasis of our thought today.

How do I become a healthy member of a strong and productive body?

Examine Your Faith - " Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

Once you consecrate your ego and get that out of the way, humility is the beneficial by-product. Humility is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less. False humility is just a pathetic form of pride. Humility is valuing who you are in Christ. Humility is the ability to objectively see yourself as God sees you. Humility is declaring, "I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength." Humility is understanding, "Christ in me, the hope of glory."

Humility is understanding that God has faith in you! Humility is understanding that God has faith FOR you! Humility is allowing His faith to operate through you! Community results from faith operating with humility in the Body.

Express Your Faithfulness - "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. "

The evidence of your humble faith is your desire to serve God. You serve God by serving in His Body. Faithfulness comes from the willingness to do your part. Faithfulness is the operation of God-given faith through your God given talent. Faithfulness is understanding that every member of the Body is important to the health of the Body. Faithfulness realizes that God has given every Body all the parts it needs to be healthy BUT every member of the Body must exercise healthy faith.

The "measure of faith" given to serve God within the Body is called a "spiritual gift". Every believer has at least one! Using that gift within the Body is the equivalent of playing your position on a sports team. Community is the result of every member using his spiritual gift.

How do I discover what my "spiritual gift" is?

Experience Fruitfulness - "If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

One of the primary responsibilities of the pastors and leaders in a local church is promote the health of that church by helping each member discover his spiritual gift and one of the main ways that happens is by experimenting by serving in a variety of positions within the church.

By experimenting with different areas of faithful service you will discover what you enjoy doing. God hasn't invested faith in you in order to make you miserable. On the contrary, God wants you to find joy in serving and also, He wants you to give joy to others in the body as you serve.

The key indicator of where you are gifted, in addition to what is fun for you is this - where are you fruitful? What gets better when you help? What grows when you get involved? What positive changes do you affect when you serve in that area? What do you do that makes the Body healthier? Spiritual gifts bear spiritual fruit, therefore, find out where the fruit is and then serve faithfully in that area!

Would you put a guy at quarterback if he can't throw a football? Would you put a player at receiver if he couldn't catch a football? Of course not! You place him in a position where he can execute and make the team successful. The same is true in the church!

Community is the result of every believer serving God and each other humbly with the spiritual gift God has invested in them! The result is a happy, healthy and helpful church that overcomes evil with the good work God accomplishes through the faithful exercise of their gifts!

Do you know your spiritual gift? 

If so, are you using it faithfully in your church? 

If not, are you serving to discover where you will be fruitful?

January 9, 2017

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:3-8

If you ever participated in any sort of organized sport you no doubt have heard a coach say, "There is no "I" in team!" From a spelling perspective that is correct but really, the writer of Romans begs to differ.

Think about it, a team consists of a group of individuals who voluntarily come together to accomplish a purpose. Let's talk about what distinguishes a team from a group, or from a crowd, or even a mob.

Unless individual people come together there can be no teams, that's just common sense. But also, if those individuals who DO come together DON'T surrender their individuality it will only be a team in name. This portion of Chapter 12 denotes a change in emphasis because in the first two verses the writer is addressing His team - the Church. He is casting the vision of what they must look like in order to be winners. But with verse three he begins to address individual believers and how they can discover their places on the team. Do you know where you fit on the team? Would you like to? I will explore that with you during the week. But for now, let's think about what distinguishes a team from other groups.

First, a team has a purpose. In yesterday's message I mentioned that the purpose of God's team is to overcome evil in the world. Jesus detailed how that should happen in His Sermon on the Mount. You should check that out! But, one of the things that separates a team from any other group is a common purpose. And, of course, you need individuals who are committed to that purpose.

Second, a team has plan. A purpose is no good without a plan to implement it. These verses begin to lay out the plan for accomplishing God's purpose. That plan involves individuals taking responsibility to overcome the evil in their own life so they can defeat evil in their own team. The plan also involves individuals subordinating themselves to team unity. It also requires the team members to discover their place on the team and play that position.

Third, a team has positions. You don't have to know much about sports or teams to know that not every player plays the same position. There is only one quarterback on a football team and one pitcher on a baseball team. And when the quarterback or the pitcher throws the ball their has to be someone in position to catch the ball. On an effective team the players know and accept their position. Do you know your position on your team?

Fourth, a team has principles. A mob has mayhem. A crowd has strangers. A team has members who have volunteered for a position and are committed to execute the game plan for their position AND all the players submit to a set of principles that guide that team. Their principles tell the members what is expected of them in their personal lives, at their position, to the coaches, to the other players, to their practices and during the games. Also included in the principles is the accountability and consequences for violating the principles. Do you know the principles for your team?

The fifth and final characteristic of a team that I will mention is practice. A team has practice times when they come together to strengthen the team by working on their plan, strengthening their positions and building team unity. For the church, those practices could be Sunday worship, small group sessions, discipleship groups, ministry teams, outreaches, or training seminars. Practice is essential to the development of an effective team! Does your team practice? Do you go to practice?

So, these are some of the important marks of a successful team. By no means are these all the characteristics of a team, but these are significant ones. These certainly ought to help define a local church and the individuals who are members of that team.

Please allow me to close with this thought regarding the church as a team. I believe that healthy local churches are the only hope for our world. A healthy local church is one that understands and incorporated these team characteristics. And, these vitally important teams upon which the hope of the world rests, are manned by individual volunteers!

Will you volunteer to change your world? 

Will you gladly and humbly accept the responsibility of bringing the hope of holiness to a dying world? 

Will you submit to the purpose, participate in the plan, find your position, show up from practice and play according to the principles?

January 8, 2017

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Fitting into God's purpose has great significance for time and eternity!

Step one is to consecrate your ego to God. Let Him become your source of significance. Allow His Word to define your reality and His will to decide your priorities.

The next step after you consecrate the ego is to conquer the evil.

How can you overcome the evil around you if you have not conquered the evil within you? And how can you conquer the evil within you if you yourself are evil? And how can you fit into God's purpose if you are evil? Those are pertinent questions that demand answers.

Romans 12:2 gives the answer - "offer your body as a living sacrifice".

So, how do we truly present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice? In a nutshell, we must die to our prior selves. This concept is wonderfully presented in this anonymous poem…

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ; That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;

That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;

That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;

That is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;

That is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;

That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;

That is dying to self.

When you give God your ego and you lay your evil nature on the altar before God, He will know you mean business and will do some serious business in your soul. He can cleanse the self-centeredness and the evil desires out of your heart. When you offer your will to Him and promise to do as He wills things will change for the better! God, through the blood of Jesus and by the fullness of the Spirit will cleanse you from sin!

Have you died to self? 

Are you a living sacrifice? 

What are you waiting for?

 Why not today?

January 7, 2017

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his , pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

It is one thing to find God's purpose and another thing to fit into it. How does that happen?

Paul addresses that question in these two verses.

The first thing to do is consecrate your ego.

What does it mean to consecrate?

"Consecrate" means to "set apart" unto God. Only God can make it sacred but only you can set it aside for Him to do so.

In this sense we are referring to ego as your sense of self-awareness, self-identity, self-worth that allows you to distinguish yourself as separate individual. In short, you could say your ego arises from an understanding of who you are. It is the essential you.

Your ego is largely formed by what the significant people in your life say about you. Since those people have either a positive or a negative bias, and since your ego is part of your fallen nature, it is not a reliable source for identifying the realities in you and around you. If you are guided by your ego you will be guided by an unrealistic view of yourself, your world, and God.

That is why Paul, the writer of Romans, strongly urges you to "set apart" your ego to God, Who is His ultimate wisdom, absolute knowledge, and unconditional love is fully aware of who you are and completely willing to accept you. In the context of His unconditional love through His Holy Spirit and through His Word, He will reveal to you who you are as He gently shapes your ego into His image.

If you want to discover your purpose you must first understand who you are as a person. You will not fully appreciate how much God will change you unless your first understand where you were when He started!

Consecrate your ego to God today. Trust it to the Truly Significant Person in your life!

Love Is The Deal!

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

In one of my recent posts I mentioned that the final verse of this twelfth chapter states the purpose of every believer, "Be not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good."

Someone might challenge that notion by saying that Matthew 28:19-20 is the purpose statement for believers. Matthew 28:18-20 says this, "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I would suggest that is a strategy for overcoming evil with good. And an effective one at that! Becoming a disciple of Jesus certainly makes you better and helps you be better and do better things.

Someone else might argue that the First Commandment would be the purpose statement of Christians. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

Love is the deal! There is no doubt about that! But that is the source of doing good. Loving God is doing a good thing. There is no better thing. When you love God you will do what is best for Him and for you. And, when you love God you will do good for others as well. That sort of divine love WILL most definitely overcome evil.

So, living on purpose is a matter of loving on purpose. Loving God and loving others is evidence that God has overcome the evil in you, making you good and enabling you to overcome evil with the goodness of God.

Love is the power of your purpose and making disciples is the proof that His purpose is operating in you!

January 5, 2017

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

This great chapter of Romans would be just as great even if you read it backwards. You can start at the end and it still communicates the same great truths. Romans 12 has much to say about discovering God's purpose for your life and this final verse is the purpose statement.

The purpose of every believe is to overcome evil with good! Is that a great goal or what? Who could be against that? Why wouldn't everyone want to sign on with that purpose?

I can think of at least two reasons why this is not as easy as it sounds:

First, how can we overcome evil when we ARE evil?

What? Me evil?

Yes, you! And me. Thanks to Adam, all inherit an evil fallen moral nature. Everyone of us have been born into sin and that sin separates you and me from God. So, the fallen moral nature is cut off from the only hope it has of changing. So, the first evil that has to be overcome in the evil within!

Second, who defines good?

Does it make sense that evil people would be left to define what is good? No way! We would define goodness down to such a level that there would be little difference distinguishing good from evil. That largely describes where our culture is today. Goodness has been defined down because moral absolutes have been abandoned. So, goodness becomes the subjective opinion of each individual based on what works best for them. That is the moral chaos we see around us today. That is why we have political correctness. God has been replaced by the government and the worship of the earth, so goodness is defined by what is good for the state and what is good for the earth. Think where that ultimately leads - whoever has the most strength and power will ultimately define what is good and what is not. It is called totalitarianism. God is the Only One Who is good and only He is the source of all that is good! Good is what God says it is! Good is what God is!

Verses 1 and 2 of Romans 12 tells you how to overcome the WITHIN you so you can confront evil in the world AROUND you. That is your purpose. It is the only way you can fulfill the purpose statement delineated for you and me.

Tired of the evil within? 

Ready to become an over comer? 

Begin living on purpose today!

God of Hope

"Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

God is a God of hope!

A huge part of the hope He offers you is the power to change! Through the grace of Jesus, God can deliver you from your past and do a new work in your heart!

It is a fact that is change is inevitable. If it is impossible to NOT change then the question is, "Will I change for the better, will I knock myself out trying to stay the same by retreating into my comfort zone or will I become even more rigid and resistant to change?

A very wise man once told me there as three times people typically change:

1) When they care enough that they want to change.

2) When they know enough that they can change.

And.....

3) When they hurt enough that they have to.

Which of these is usually the cause of change in your life?

God is committed to changing you. His ultimate goal is to save you from your sinful self and rescue you from self-destruction. His hope is to transform you into the image of His Son, Jesus. He is the only One who has the power to change you that completely!

If He has to allow you to degenerate to the point of suffering painful live experiences in order to bring you to the point of positive change, He is willing to do that. But, why not surrender to His will for your life by acknowledging you need Him to be your Savior and let His Holy Spirit transform you into His image?

2017 will be a year of change. Let Him change you in ways that will help you change the world!