November 26, 2011

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

I don't have to think very long to identify reasons to be thankful. I can't even list all of them.

This week-end after Thanksgiving I am thankful that one of my bad days is still more blessed than many peoples' good days.

What a faith! What a God! What a way to live!

How can I say that? Because it is fact! James verifies it in the first few verses of his letter to the believers.

If you were writing a letter to bless and encourage struggling Christians how would you begin that letter? I am not sure I would begin it by reminding them of their sufferings but James did. And it makes sense when we think about it.

These are some of the very first believers. This Christian faith is a brand new phenomenon. They have seen the signs and wonders. They have experienced the freedom and the fellowship. All the wonderful benefits that have come from receiving Christ and joining these Christians almost seemed too good to be true. How long can this last? What am I missing here?

Now they are facing the pressures of persecution. Some of their beloved leaders have been jailed. It is risky to identify yourself as a Christ follower. Public worship is becoming a thing of the past. The heat is being turned up on every hand. BUT through these trials and tribulations they have discovered something very significant - THEIR FAITH WORKS! Everything is true! God is real! Suffering as a Christian is better than prospering as a pagan! What would have destroyed them before they believed now develops them!

What sort of faith is this! What an incredible God! What a blessing to have a faith that works! What a joy to know the truth - because the truth is in the Truth. Pain now has a purpose! Suffering now has significance! Heartache now helps me understand the heart of God!

Can I count it joy when I suffer? What sort of notion is that? Is that healthy? Is it a delusion?

No! It is the blessing we have as Christ-followers! It is real! It is His reality! "All things really DO work together for the good of those who love Him....."!

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I thank God that because He is so good and so strong and so holy that living for Him and with Him makes my worst day make sense!

How about you?

November 24, 2011

“1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:1-13

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

The Apostle Paul wrote to this group of Christians while he was in prison and while they were facing some challenges and instructs them to be thankful and rejoicing!

How could they do that in the face of all they needed? These where tough times and they are supposed to rejoice? How?

Simple! He calls their attention to several things they CAN do! Be thankful for those things that you can do in Christ!

Paul says:

You CAN Get Along With Others!

“ I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Verses 2-3

Sometimes good people disagree. Sometimes feelings get hurt. But rather than be a pouter – be a peacemaker. You CAN get along with others in the strength God has given you!

You CAN Rejoice!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” V. 4

How can you rejoice always? Be “in” the Lord! Paul’s admonition is to rejoice “in the Lord”!

You CAN Have Peace!

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Vv. 5-7

When you are tempted by anxiety – pray! When you feel worried – pray and give thanks! Put God in charge of your life and then you can let Him take control of your troubles!

You CAN Think Right!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” V. 8

You can’t feel right or act right or be right if you will not think right! To think right, think on right things! Simple refuse to entertain wrong or negative thoughts!

You CAN Be Content!

“ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Vv. 9-12

Doesn’t it make sense that when you begin focusing on what you love rather than on what you lack you will find yourself feeling more positive – more content?

Today be thankful for ALL the things you CAN do! And you can do them because you have the strength and presence of Christ!

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

November 23, 2011

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    Philippians 4:4-7

Who doesn’t like to rejoice? I know I do!


But rejoice always? How can that be? ALWAYS? Even on a bad day?


And with your rejoicing ALWAYS give thanks.

These are two of the chief characteristics that should be typical of a believer. Unbelievers are often angry and selfishly feel that life deals them a bad hand.

So, how is it that I can ALWAYS, be rejoicing and thankful? How is that possible?


I see four causes for thanks giving and want to Call them to your attention.


First, you can be thankful for what God had done for you through Jesus Christ!

“For God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Thank you, God!


Next, you can be thankful for what God is doing for you now!


“I am come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10


Thank you, God!


Third, be thankful for what you know God will do because of His promises!


“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13


Finally, you can always be thankful for what He is doing that you are not even aware 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Ephesians 3: 20-21

Thank you, God!


You CAN be thankful always – regardless of circumstances or situations!


In fact, you can be thankful that you can always be thankful!

November 22, 2011

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus is introducing the Kingdom of God. It is a transformational new way of thinking and believing and behaving about everything. In this portion of His message He is teaching on how you, as a believer, should view your material possessions.

In our first segment we identified the point of this teaching - If you are a Christ-follower today you have chosen to enter the Kingdom of God. When you made that decision you chose to live under the LORDSHIP of Christ or the KINGSHIP of God – two ways of saying the same thing.

In yesterday's post we examined the problem of this teaching - You have to live out you commitment to a spiritual kingdom in a material world! Will these spiritual principles work in a world driven by greed and consumerism?

This morning, in segment three consider:

 What Are The Possibilities?

YOUR CAN SPEND YOUR LIFE OR YOU CAN INVEST IT

 How?

 COMMIT TO RELATIONSHIP – “Seek Him” - “Serve Him”

"But seek first his kingyodom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." V. 33

To invest your life you must connect with something much bigger and better than you. Jesus said that the first passion and priority of your life must be entering into a personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you have chosen to enter the Kingdom of God you have committed to love Him more than anyone or anything in all the world. You can't live in His Kingdom and love anything or anyone more than you love Him.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money" V. 24

 

Whatever you choose to serve obviously becomes your master. That should go without saying but Jesus chose to say it. He knows how easily we delude ourselves into believing we are "the captains of our fate and the masters of our soul".

 

If money and materialism are your master you will never have enough and never know satisfaction. You will live under constant concern about losing it or having it stolen. As Jesus said, "His yoke is easy and His burden is light" - serve Him! Invest your life and your eternity in Him.

COMMIT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Do the right things in the right way for the right reasons! That is righteousness in a nutshell. And righteousness does it all the time!

Of, course, it is easier to do the right thing when you commit to the right relationship!

When it comes to money and material things, the right way to do it is this pattern:

Give - The first 10% goes to God

Save - The next 10% to 20% goes to you.

Spend - Use the rest to pay bills and live on.

The pattern of the world is opposite - Spend - Save - Give. That's not right!

COMMIT TO REALITY

God’s Kingdom Is The REAL Kingdom!

How Will I Know?

When you get in the right relationship with Jesus and you begin doing the right things, you will see real rewards and real results! Those alone will help you know God is real. As you live in that reality and that righteousness God will become increasingly more real to  you - more real than the things you see - touch - hear and see!

Jesus says that when you do life right and when you handle your resources right you will know it because you won't be consumed with worry! There is a fret factor in life and there is a faith factor.

Which characterizes your life?

If you are consumed by worry:

Check your relationship - are you serving Jesus? Are you seeking Him?

Check your righteousness - are you doing life according to His rules?

Check your reality - is God and His kingdom more real to you than the world you live it? Are you possessed by the faith factor?

November 21, 2011

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

What Is the Problem?

You have to live out you commitment to a spiritual kingdom in a material world! Will these spiritual principles work in a world driven by greed and consumerism?

A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents for thanksgiving dinner. After dinner, her mother told her father to find out about the young man. The father invited the fiancé to his study for a talk.

"So what are your plans?" the father asked the young man. "I am a biblical scholar," he replied.

"A Biblical scholar. Hmmm," the father said. "Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?"

"I will study," the young man replied, "and God will provide for us."

"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?" asked the father.

"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replied, "God will provide for us."

And children?" asked the father. "How will you support children?"

"Don’t worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiancé.

The conversation proceeded like this, and each time the father questioned, the young idealist insisted that God would provide.

Later, the mother asked, "How did it go, Honey?" The father answered, "He has no job and no plans, and he thinks I’m God!"

You can’t be quite that niave!

CHALLENGE – Use material things according to Kingdom principles for Kingdom purposes!

On April 28, 1999, just eight days after the Columbine shooting, shock rock singer Marilyn Manson was scheduled to perform a concert in Iowa City, Iowa. And since Manson’s music was prominent in the lives of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, there was a lot of emotion surrounding his concert. Mark Forstrom, a local Youth Minister in the area wrote about what happened.

He wrote, "The police, the media, and the community began to prepare for angry protests and ugly brawling between Christians and Marilyn Manson supporters."

Suddenly, something totally unexpected happened. Emerging thru the vehicle of e-mail, another local movement suddenly sprang to life— that the only way to truly change our moral climate is to soften hard hearts. (The hearts of Manson fans have been hardened bytheir perception that Christians are mean-spirited, hateful, and judgmental.) Thus, the idea was birthed to unravel that stereotype by encouraging Christians to show the pure LOVE of Christ to these fans in tangible ways.

Concert day finally arrived, and tension filled the community. The media geared up for an ugly battle between Manson fans and the Christian opposition. Instead, what they observed here was an amazing testament to the power of and love of Christ! Scores of Christians from churches all over Linn County and as far away as Des Moines (2 hours away) converged on the sidewalks outside the Five Seasons Center, to do two POSITIVE things: pray, and to show unmistakable love. It was a sight to behold.

* Groups conducted "prayer walks" around the arena.

* People prayed in huddles on the sidewalk.

* Churches around the city held special prayer meetings.

As for showing LOVE to the fans,

* One church purchased 100 pizzas, which were freely given away to the fans in line and bystanders.

* Cookies and over 1,200 cans of soda were purchased or donated and distributed.

* Someone made turkey & cheese sandwiches and gave them away.

* One pastor asked Manson fans who passed by how he could pray for them--about 20 shared specific things & were prayed for on the spot.

* After the concert, about $200 in cash (collected mostly by a local youth group) was given out to pay for parking in the parking ramp.

The Christians involved said, "We’re Christians and we’d like to show you God’s love by paying for your parking tonight." The immediate results of this love in action were phenomenal:

* People continually asked, "Why are you doing this?" and then listened to the answer.

* Two "live" radio reporters (one inside the stadium and one outside) discussed--on the air--how preferable it was to be outside with the generous Christians.

* At least 3 people gave their lives to Christ through the loving care of the Christians.

* At least one other fan that we know of chose not to go to the concert, ending up in church the following Sunday.

* After getting the pizza, one kid commented, "Wow, Marilyn Manson never gave me anything!"

* A Marilyn Manson web-site, reporting on our Christian response admitted, "so maybe those Christians aren’t half bad!"

As for the concert itself, we saw God work a miracle there as well. After only an hour, Manson abruptly ended the concert early. He suddenly flew into a rage: he threw his microphone to the ground, and stormed off the stage, never to return!

So to summarize the totality of Marilyn Manson’s visit to Cedar Rapids, we might say this: many fans came to the concert convinced that Christians were irritating and that Marilyn Manson was impressive and many left the concert feeling that Marilyn Manson was irritating and that Christians were impressive! Think of how much closer to the kingdom thousands of kids might be as a result of this unforeseen outreach event.

WHEN YOU KEEP FIRST THINGS FIRST KINGDOM PRINCIPLES NOT ONLY WORK IN THIS WORLD – THEY CHANGE IT!



November 20, 2011

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."  Matthew 6:24

A 16-year-old named William left home to seek his fortune. His earthly possessions were tied in a bundle carried in his hand. One day he met an elderly canal-boat captain who listened to his story that his family was too poor to keep him, and the only skill he had was making candles and soap.

The old captain knelt and prayed for the boy’s future and afterward gave him some advice.

“William, someone will be the leading soap-maker in New York. It could be you. Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an honest soap, give a full pound, and I’m certain you’ll be a prosperous and rich man.”

The 16-year-old who listened to godly counsel was William Colgate, who not only prospered beyond his wildest dreams but was able to give millions of dollars to the Lord’s cause.

William Colgate found great success in life and was able to bless many with his generosity because early in life he committed to putting first things first.

The blessing comes down even to us today. Some of you used soap made by Colgate this morning in the shower. Or, some of you used toothpaste made by Colgate. Either way – we are blessed this morning because William Colgate put first things first!

I would not be a good pastor if I completed a sermon series about stewardship and failed to remind you of the importance of putting first things first. I want you to find blessing in your life like William Colgate did!

Actually, my goal has been to take you beyond stewardship to a bigger idea – LORDSHIP! And Lordship requires that you put God first in every area of your life and keep Him there by keeping first things first.

What Is the Point?

There was a man the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm. It was late at night and no cars were passing. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car coming towards him and stop. Without further thought, he got in the back seat of the car, closes the door and, when he turns to thank the driver for stopping for him, he realizes there’s nobody behind the wheel. The car starts slowly down the road again. The guy looks at the road ahead and sees a curve coming his way. Scared, he closes his eyes and starts to pray for his life. Just before the car reaches the curve, a hand appears thru the window and turns the steering wheel. The guy, paralyzed with fear, watches how the hand appears every time they come to a curve in the road. Gathering his strength, he leaps from the car and runs to the nearest town. Wet and in shock, he goes to a cafe and asks for a cup of stiff coffee. He quickly drinks his coffee and starts telling everybody about the horrible experience he’s just been thru. A silence envelopes the cafe when the man begins to weep like a baby out of sheer fright from the experience he has been through. About half an hour later, two guys walk into the same cafe and one says to the other, "Look Bob, there’s that guy who got in the car when we were pushing it down the road"

The first thing you must do is make sure you have chosen to be in the right kingdom. Everyone belongs to a kingdom. You are either in the kingdom of God or the kingdom of evil. You are either in the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. No one is without a kingdom.

Jesus makes it clear which Kingdom you need to be in!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

If you are a Christ-follower today you have chosen to enter the Kingdom of God. When you made that decision you chose to live under the LORDSHIP of Christ or the KINGSHIP of God – two ways of saying the same thing.

The question is – do you?

How do you know?

A missionary in the New Hebrides watched some native killing hogs. These natives cut off the hogs’ tails and put them over in a pile. When the missionary asked the natives why they did this, they replied, “The meat is for us, the tails are for our gods.” Some Christians are just as foolish and sinful. They take everything for themselves and give God the leftovers, if anything.

If God is the King of your life and if Jesus is the Lord of your life – YOU DON”T GIVE HIM THE LEFT OVERS! You give Him the first AND the best of EVERYTHING:

1) Your Passion – What you love

2) Your Pay Check – What you earn

3) Your Pastime – What you do with your time

4) You Possessions – What you have

5) You Priorities – How you make your decisions

In other words, as a Christ-follower  – you live like He is the KING of your life!

November 19, 2011

EKG Devotional Day 38

How do we mere mortals dare think that we can advance the kingdom of God on earth? Since few of us ever hope to attain greatness in the eyes of the world, we just don't consider ourselves all that powerful or influential. It's ovrwhelming for most of us to think we could actually be involved in daily conversations and actions that impact eternity. 

Bu every Christian who lives with kingdom purpose can know true greatness. And this is why: "for thine is the power!" (Matthew 6:13). God is all powerful. We can't, but He will!

Truly, living with kingdom purpose by relying on God's power is the only way we will ever see lasting, spiritual fruit growing from the things we do or say. Any othe approach is destined for a temporary shelf life and guaranteed insignificance.

We must let God inspire and direct us if we are to perform HIs kingdom purposes. Genuine kingdom growth and ministry requires supernatural empowering.

Kingdom people are not given an option about being entrusted with God's power and His message. The Holy Spirit is given to us, lives within us, and produces all the necessary pwoer to propel our witness.

The Holy Spirit is God is us, enabling us to advance God's kingdom, to serve His purpose and do His will.

With God living in and through us, we have everything we need.

Has discussing and learning about God's kingdom changed you? How has it changed you? Write down those changes and ask the Holy Spirit to empower those changes. Ask Him to show you how He wants to use you for His kingdom.