October 26, 2011

“While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”  Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.  Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.”  Matthew 9:18-26

“What determines your reality? How do you decide what is real?”

That is a very important question. You need to have a very good answer. Over the next few posts I want to share some examples of people whose faith shaped their reality. They believed what they believed more than they believed what they saw. Christ was more real to them than their circumstances.

Two great examples are shown in these several verses from Matthew 9.

The local synagogue leader – and position of respect and influence in any community – came to Jesus bearing news that was all too real, his beloved daughter laid dead at home. But he made an amazing statement, ““My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”

Wow! Here is a guy who should have been grieving but instead – he was believing! This dad refused to let death have the last word with his daughter. Though there was nothing he could do he knew that Jesus was in town and was convinced that Jesus WAS the Son of God. So his thought process went something like this – Jesus is in town. Jesus in the Messiah come from God. God is the Creator and Giver of life. Therefore, Jesus is connected to the source of life and He should be able to raise my daughter from the dead. THAT was his new reality – his faith in Jesus.

Since he believed so strongly in Jesus, Jesus was able to believe in this guy and He arose to follow this fellow home to raise his deceased daughter. But before they made it to the end of the block a woman with a debilitating blood disease took her opportunity to touch the Master’s garment. There is an important reason she reached for the hem of his garment and I recommend you do some research on it.

Matthew reveals what she was thinking as she reached to touch Jesus, ‘She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’” Her affliction was real, but her faith was more real. She had a faith that changed her reality. She came with a disease and went home completely healed.

Jesus and the synagogue leader then sped their way to his home. As Jesus entered the house He saw the evidence of a death – mourners and music. Speaking to them, Jesus ordered them to leave. Mourners are for the dead and this girl was not going to be dead. That caused them to mock Him because they were locked into a different reality than He was.

After the commotion was stilled, Jesus went to where the daughter was laid and He proceeded to raise her back to life in respect to the great faith of her father. The father’s faith became reality. By letting Jesus have the last word, death did not.

So, I ask you, “Does reality shape your faith or does your faith shape reality?”

October 25, 2011

"Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

This is another unexpected secret of satisfaction. Kingdom mourning is not depression but grief over our own spiritual bankruptcy. It is the result of seeing God in His holiness and seeing our own sinfulness in stark contrast. When confronted with God's purity , "those who mourn" are utterly striken by the enormity of debt the owe.

This is the mourning of Isaiah, after seeing "The Lord seated on a high and lofty throne," angels encircling the room, the very foundation quaking beneath his feet, the whole templ filling with the smoke of God;s glory. And without stopping for throught or explanation, Isaiah blurts out the only thing his soul knows to say, "Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am ruined, because I an a man of unclean lips and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." Isaiah 6:1,5)

This was the experience of Paul, who cried out conerning his ongoing struggle with sin, "What a wretched man I am! Who shall rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24)

It is the experience of every kingdom ctizen.

But - good news! - those who mourn over their sin are "comforted" by their forgiveness. While our awareness of our need never departs, God's comfort their forgiveness. While our awareness of need never departs, God's comfortis also continual. Our tears are tears of joy. We hurt, but we are satisfied.

This is more than a personal mourning. It's also a shared mourning - a sadness over the damaging effects of sin in our world, in our churches, in our extended families, among our friends. But for us, the sorrowing poor, our tears are turned into happy laughter through the intervention of the Messiah, whose kingdom pleasure is to "comfort all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:2)

Do you mourn today over the sins of your past? Over the sin of someone you love? Find comfort in knowing that through Jesus, God offers forgiveness. Continue to pray for those in sin.

October 24, 2011

Day 23 EKG Devotional

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 

I have walked with people through the experience of financial bankruptcy, so I understand the humiliation it causes. Spiritual bankruptcy ("poor in spirit") is humbling as well, but that's where the similarities end. There's no guarantee in bankruptcy that the person will ever recover financially. But Jesus promised that when we file for spiritual bankruptcy - when we recognize our complete inability to pay our debts or dig ourselves out of the hole - the "kingdom of heaven" is ours. (Matthew 5:3)

To enjoy the satisfaction Jesus offers, we need to know what being "poor in spirit" is. It is emptying ourselves before God, humbly acknowledging our impoverished spiritual condition.

The more we recognize the  enormous depth of our spiritual need, the more we will seek the reign of God in our lives. The less attached we are to this world, the more passionate we are toward the kingdom of God.

Declaring spiritual bankruptcy goes counter to our human nature which is proud and self-reliant. We would rather believe the lie that we are in control and we can work it out. All we need is a better education or a promotion at work, or different friends, or a better church, or a better attitude, or any number of other "props". Many people live under the delusion that happiness is just "out there somewhere" slightly beyond our reach.

The truth is happiness is not "out there" it is in welcoming the total and complete reign of Christ into your heart and mind and living for His kingdom. It seems the desparation of poor people allow them to recognize that easier. They are more open to becoming "like children" in order "to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). They are the least and yet "the greatest in the kingdom" (Matthew 18:4). They have nothing but God, but when you have nothing but God is when you discover He is all you really need. He satisfies. Are you counted among the "satisfied"?

October 23, 2011

How many of you enjoy being right?


How many of you wish you could be right every time?

Do you know someone who is always right?     (Rush Limbaught – 98.6% of time)

Here are some people I want to get it right every time:

1) Surgeons

2) Airline Pilots

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT: - Understanding all the great things that happened the moment you were saved!

1) Repentance – Turning from away from sin and toward God

2) Restitution – Making things right because you have been made right

3) Redemption – Bought out of slavery and bondage by blood of Christ

4) Regeneration – Made spiritually alive by the Spirit of God

5) Reconciliation – Personal relationship with God restored by Christ

6) RIGHTEOUSNESS – Being made right with God in every way

As I mentioned last week righteousness happens in three steps:

1) Justification – being declared “not guilty” because of the sacrifice of Jesus

2) Sanctification – being set apart to God, cleansed from sin, and Spirit-filled

3) Glorification – righteousness made complete in Heaven

Emmanuel Ninger was a great artist and a brilliant man, but he misused his talent as an artist and, along with his pictures, painted phony 20-dollar bills. Finally, he was caught and convicted. After his arrest, his portraits were sold at public auction for over $5,000 each. The irony of the story is it took him almost exactly the same length of time to paint a 20-dollar bill as it took him to paint a $5,000 portrait.

That is exactly why we need to be made righteous – we have a strong bent toward evil.

When we speak of righteousness, what are we talking about? OT word = “justice, justification, and salvation”.

In the New Testament the Greek word = the “state of him who is as he ought to be…”

Righteousness = being acceptable to God. In this state that God approves, are character qualities of “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting”. Righteousness thinks and acts right.

So here, we see that righteousness is our position in life that is approved by God, and based on the character qualities of God.

Paul declares that the gospel reveals, or shows us, what it means to be righteous- a “condition acceptable to God”.

How does the righteousness of God, become righteousness from God, and credited to us as righteousness? What does Paul mean by this and how does it happen?

There are two ideas about righteousness that come from two different theological views: one is called imputation and basically believes that because of what Jesus did for us, God looks at us through His blood and declares us righteous. That would be like the surgeon going through school and residency and then being given his Dr.’s License and pronounced a surgeon. He is “imputed” as a doctor. He is legally a Dr. even though he hasn’t started his practice. Or, it would be like the pilot getting his hours in and passing the test for his license but not yet flying an airliner. He is “imputed” as a pilot – declared a pilot by one with authority.

As a Wesleyan, I have always been taught that righteousness in imparted to us – God actually makes us righteous He doesn’t just pronounce us righteous. So I have always been an imparted righteousness guy not an imputed righteousness guy. However, as I studied for this message I messed up my theology by realizing that both are true! God imputes righteousness to us by the sacrifice of Christ and then imparts it to us as we walk in the Spirit.

I. Righteousness Is Imputed Through Christ, Romans 5:9-19

(JUSTIFICATION)

Imputed righteousness means God put all His money in your account to settle your debt. Some powerful things happen because of that!

Christ’s righteousness imputed for your wrath!

Christ’s reconciliation imputed for your alienation!

Christ’s grace imputed for your trespass

Christ’s gift imputed for your judgment

Christ’s life imputed for your death

When you trust Christ for your salvation and accept His sacrifice for your forgiveness, that connects you to the righteousness of God.

II. Righteousness Is Imparted Through Christ, Romans 6:11-19

(SANCTIFICATION)

YOU PUT THE DEVIL OUT, BUT DID YOU LET HIM LEAVE HIS BAGS?

You got out of a bad relationship because it was bad, but you are still resentful and angry.
(You let the devil leave his bags.)

You got out of financial debt, but you still can’t control the desire to spend on frivolous things.

(You let the devil leave his bags.)

You got out of a bad habit or addiction, but you still long to try it just one more time.
(You let the devil leave his bags.)

You said, I forgive you, but you can’t seem to forget and have peace with that person.

(You let the devil leave his bags.)

You got out of that horribly oppressive job, but you are still trying to sabotage the company after you’ve left. (You let the devil leave his bags.)

You cut off the affair with that married man/woman, but you still lust after him/her.

(You let the devil leave his bags.)

You broke off your relationship with that hurtful, abusive person, but you are suspicious and distrusting of every new person you meet.  (You let the devil leave his bags.)

You decided to let go of the past hurts from growing up in an unstable environment, yet you believe you are unworthy of love from others and you refuse to get attached to anyone. (You let the devil leave his bags.)

SANCTIFICATION IS CLEANING OUT  ALL THE BAGS THE DEVIL HAS LEFT.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” I John 1:7-10

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.” Ro. 12:1-2

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Galatians 5:15-17

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “ II Peter 1:4-8

God’s righteousness is imputed to you through your faith in Christ and then it is imparted to you in Christ as you walk in obedience and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Impartation means that God not only put money in your account to cover your debt, he gives you access to His account!

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Do you want your surgeon to get it right?

Do you want your pilot to get it right?

Do you think God wants you to get it right?

Why go through life always wrong when you can live in His rightness?

GET IT RIGHT AND YOU GET SPIRITUAL FULLNESS!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6


GET IT RIGHT AND LIFE COMES TOGETHER!

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

GET IT RIGHT AND YOU WILL FINISH WELL!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-9

Watch this........                                 http://youtube/GpB-FUg9PD4


YOU WERE MADE RIGHTEOUS WHEN YOU GOT SALVATION – ISN’T IT TIME TO GET IT RIGHT?

October 22, 2011

EKG Devotional Day 22

I was never a Rolling Stones fan, but I do remember their song "(I can't get no) Satisfaction." Its lyrics are nearly without rival in capturing the emptiness of humankind. This song - in its day - echoed the prevailing sentiments of a generation.

Has anything really changed over the years, through? We will see the many futile attempts people make - and we make - to find statisfaction. Bigger houses, better jobs, more money, faster cars, classier clothes, more outrageous and expensive thrills. These are all part of the quest to fid satisfaction in life. We may call it fulfillment, happiness, or status , but we're all seeking to find meaning and purpose.

Satisfaction.

The miracle of the kingdom, though, is that when Jesus told us to pursue righteousness, to set our hearts on Him and His kingdom, He was actually offering us the only satisfaction life can give. In pursuing His kingdom, we discover that all the things we once considered worthy goals take a backseat to knowing God and experiencing the freedom that comes from His rule in our lies.

So do you want satisfaction? Then you want the kingdom because nothing else satisfies...though we try and we try and we try and we try.

The week read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7 in The Gospel of Matthew. How does Jesus' radical plan for finding satisfaction in life compare with what society says? How does it compare with your experiences?

October 21, 2011

EKG Devotional Day 20

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."  Matthew 4:1-11

After Jesus had fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness - a reminder of the forty years Israel spent in the wilderess (Deuteronomy 8:2-3) - Satan came to Him. (This is typical, Satan always approaches us when he thinks we're at our weakest,) The first temptation struck hard at Jesus' immediate needs: lonliness, hunger, and credibility.

All alone out here, Jesus? What kind of father leaves his son all by himself in the middle of nowhere  with nothing to eat?

Hungry, Jesus? Surely for a miracle worker like You, these little loaf-sized stones are only bread in disguise.

You're the Son of God, Jesus? I might believe it myself if you'd prove it to me.

Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronmoy 8:3: "He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers alone had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live by bread alone but on every world that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Jesus knew what Israel had failed to comprehend - that we, God's people, can rely on the Father for our every need. But we have to put first things first.

Jesus first desire was unquestioned obedience to the Father's plan for His life. Thus He would do nothing - absolutely nothing - that would compromise their relationship. This "first things first" reality is what Jesus would later teach His disciples, telling them to "seek first the kingdom" and trust our spiritual needs, God takes care of our physical needs without even having to think about them.

When does temptation come to you? When you are hungry, lonely, afraid? Reflect on your temptations and the events and emotions surrounding those times. Ask God to help you through such difficulties in the future so that you can put first thisng first and focus on the kingdom.



October 20, 2011

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus' message was not like anything these early disciples had ever heard. Everyone was amazed at the depth of his understanding and the authority with which He taught. Never had anyone taught with His methods or His message. His promise that God's rule and reign would be ushered in through His own ministry. A passion for His righteousness would penetrate their very lives, and they in turn would spread the news of this kingdom,, becoming fishers of men.

The Master was not merely inviting them to become recipients of the kingdom. He was empowering them to become agents of the kingdom, giving them the joy of encouraging others to experience this blessing, now and forever.

Yes, even to this very day, God promises blessing - not to the strong, the powerful, and the mighty but to the poor in spirit, to those who mourn, who are gentle, who hunger for his righteousness, who are merciful and who ar gentle, who hunger for His righteousness, who are merciful and who are gentle, who hunger for His righteousness, who are merciful and pure in heart, and who seek peace even when it's returned as persecution.

And how does God bless them?

He declares, "The kingdom of heaven is theirs."

They hall be comforted, the shall inherit the earth, enjoying the kingdom benefits even on this side of heaven. They shall be satisfied in their quest for righteousness. They shall be shown the indescribable mercy the sons and daughters of God. They will not always be spared the sting of suffering, but they will receive the eternal reward of their Father. They enjoy the blessing of God, a constant relationship with the King of glory.

Does your heart swell with gratitude at God's forgiveness and blessings in your life? Express your love to God by sharing His love with someone who has not yet experienced the gift of salvation. God will thank you.