May 1, 2013

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all..........Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."  Ephesians 4:1-6; 15

Okay, let's see......I may be a little confused. Can you help me? This is considered courageous:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/nba-center-jason-collins-comes-001100360.html

  

But this is not considered courageous?

  

http://youtu.be/jcmR86Ihakk

I must be missing something here...........


Are you prepared to confront your culture?

Do you have what it takes to stand courageously for your faith?

Why not send your expressions of support to Chris Broussard and then model his courage?

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

April 30, 2013

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-3

 

There is a reason why I wrote about how to recognize a true seeker. Nicodemus is an example of a true seeker.

 

If you desire to lead people to Christ, you will have your greatest success if you witness to seekers. Think about it. When you go to pick apples or tomatoes which ones do you pick? You pick those that are the most ripe don't you? Seekers tend to be the most spiritually ripe because they are taking initiative to find answers on their own.

Nicodemus was a spiritually ripe seeker because he was at a moment in his life where he was intellectually and spiritually open to what Jesus had to share. Jesus saw it, recognized it and seized on the opportunity.

I am challenging my people to "Each One Reach One" during this coming year. In other words, I am asking my members and regular attenders to focus on one person that they will try to win to Christ. To accomplish this goal it will be important to identify a person who you have influence with and who is the most spiritually "ripe".

Who is that person in your life?

Who is your "Nicodemus"?

Do you know?

Do you want to know?

If you don't, that is a problem.

If there is no one in your life that you have influence over, that is a big problem.

If you have no desire to influence some one for Christ, that is a shame! That probably means you are not spiritually ripe - you may be spiritually rotten!





 

April 29, 2013

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  John 3:1-2

 

The term "seeker" has been thrown around a lot for the past quarter century or so. It is unsually attached to the words, "friendly" or "sensitive" - as in "seeker-friendly" or "seeker-sensitive". Thousands of churches have designed their entire style and strategy around these concepts.

 

I am sure some of them truly understand what a seeker is while many of them do not have a clear concept.

 

For either and all, Nicodemus represents the definitive seeker.

 

First, he wasn't satisfied with being religious.

 

This is a man who had dedicated his whole life to studying, teaching and following his religious beliefs but they left him unfulfilled. After observing Jesus he now wondered if He hadn't something Nicodemus needed.

 

A true seeker is looking for something more than just being religious.

Second, he was seeking something real.

His religious experience consisted of many rules, regulations and rituals but no real relief from the guilt of sin. He was familiar with condemnation but a stranger to comfort.

Third, he was seeing supernatural reasons to believe in Jesus.

It is hard to ignore transformational life-change. And it is hard to deny miracle healings when blind men are now seeing and lame folks are now walking. How do you explain away people who Jesus raised from the dead? How do you cast doubt on those who one were once lepers but now fully restored to health?

His religion seemed to lack the power that this Jesus and His followers possessed.

Nicodemus came seeking Jesus! He came looking for answers and solutions that he wasn't finding in his own religious observance. He wanted more than what he was getting from his Jewish faith. So, when he came that night he was filled with questions but he was open to answers.

THAT describes a seeker!


 

 

 

 

April 28, 2013

Does obedience come as a result of revival or is revival a product of obedience?

What do you think?

My answer would be, "Yes!" I can make a case that both are true. But while obedience is always a product of revival, revival never happens without obedience.  I contend that wherever obedience is a constant revival is continual.

 

I am thinking about the first two chapters of Acts where the supernatural events of Pentecost were obviously direct results of the obedience of the 120 believers in the Upper Room.

 

Since that is so obviously true, let's consider several important insights into the nature of obedience that can edify your life and your church.

Obedience should bring an urgency.

I see that in this portion of Scripture from Acts 1 - "They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."  Acts 1:10-13

As all believers should, these followers felt an urgency to immediately obey the command of Christ. I am sure you have heard it said, "Delayed obedience is disobedience."

That's because it is true!

An urgency to obey and do the will of God always precedes and follows a season of revival.

Do you obey God immediately?

Obedience should bring unity.

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place", Acts 2:1

There is incredible power available to a group of believers who dwell in unity. That is in evidence throughout the Bible but nowhere more evident than here on the day of Pentecost.

Unity is unanimity. I am sure these believers didn't agree on everything. No group ever does. But they were totally in agreement over the urgent need to obey God.

If only we could have more churches in our nation that were unified in their urgency to obey God!

Do you long to see more power in your life?

Do you want revival for your church?

Live with urgency and pray for unity!












 

April 27, 2013

"Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city." Acts 1:11-12
 

 While we were without a children's director for a brief period at a church I served, I began giving a children's sermon every Sunday. It worked much better than I expected and if you ask me, the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids!
 

On particular Sunday I had talked to the kids about the importance of obedience. As I was wrapping it up and making the powerful application of this profound truth, a little girl named Maddy was persistently raising her hand and calling, "Passer Brad, Passer Brad!"

I finally recognized her, "Yes, Maddy!"

She exclaimed with great emphasis,"Passer Brad, we don't got no 'bedience at our house!"

My glance shot past little Maddy to her parents who were beet read with embarrassment.

Let me ask you, "Do you have 'bedience at your house? How about in your heart?"

 

If you want to know the one thing that is the key to making the seven soulshifts it is obedience.

 

In these verses from the first chapter of Acts, we see the disciples responding in obedience to the command Jesus had given them prior to His ascencion into Heaven. They responded immediately and they responded urgently. Their response is to be admired and imitated because delayed obedience is disobedience.

 

The day that changed history - the Day of Pentecost - would never have happened without their obedience. Nothing transformational will ever happen in your life without obedience. There will be no soulshifts without obedience. There will be no spiritual power or growth without obedience. There will be no salvation nor holiness apart from obedience.

 

One of my favorite singers out of my generation, Don Francisco, connects obedience with holiness in this song:

 

http://youtu.be/ry5O9SuUfvY

 

 

When you hear the Lord do you answer, "Yes", regardless of the question?



 

 

 

April 26, 2013

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8


Has your life ever seemed like this?

^{http://youtu.be/IRkZN27Hp_k}

^{(Note - I am referring to the spinning plates not having people stepping on your head)}

Life gets tougher when you try to do too many things. The reason people pay to watch these Chinese acrobats is because of their unusual ability to do several difficult tasks at the same time. They are the exception not the norm.

God wired you and calls you to do just one thing well - obey Him.  You obey Him because you love Him. As you love Him well through obedience other good things happen! You will love others and you will serve Him by serving others.

So, the last thing Jesus told to His followers was one thing to do was one thing: "Wait!" But not just to "wait" but to wait for His promise to be fulfilled. With that in mind you realize the one thing Jesus is actually requiring of them

You know as well as I do that the enemy to doing one thing are the distractions caused by many things! Here is another humorous example of how that feels when you get stretched too many ways:

http://youtu.be/bYvbaqfq9mI

If your life feels like either the plate spinners or the sprinters with no direction, why not meditate on this Scripture text and let God refocus you on the one thing that will rescue you from the many things?

April 25, 2013

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach  until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8

 

I don't know about you, but I do better when I only have one thing to concentrate on at one time. When several thoughts or ideas or tasks compete for my attention I can get distracted and not do any of them well.

 

Over the past two months we have been studying seven soul shifts that lead to effective Christian living. This has been a very good study! I preached some challenging sermons and there have been some deep and meaningful discussions during the LIFE groups.

 

After reading the book and hearing the sermons and engaging in the discussions regarding these vitally important spiritual commitments you should be feeling a little overwhelmed about now! You may be wondering where to begin.

 

The tendency when you are overwhelmed is to do nothing! To do nothing after being convicted to do something by the Word of God  is dangerous. Very dangerous!

 

These Christ-followers were feeling overwhelmed by all that had happened to them over the past 50 days and were also feeling anxious about what would come next. What Jesus said to them would apply to us as we consider, "What next?"

 

In their anxiety they besieged Jesus with questions about what was next for them. Essentially they were asking, "What's next? Tell us everything that is going to happen!"

 

You know that feeling don't you?

 

If so, you will benefit from what Jesus told them!

 

They wanted to know everything but Jesus just gave them one thing, "Wait! ... but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about."

 

If you do an exhaustive study of the Jesus' exhortations to His disciples you would likely see that He never overwhelmed them with options or instructions but He told them one definite thing to do. The "next thing" was usually "one thing". In this case, the "one thing" was to wait on the promise that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit.

 

Going forward with the seven soul shifts let me counsel you to be very careful to avoid the two extremes that can result from the anxiety of being overwhelmed. One extreme is doing nothing. The other extreme is trying to do everything. But Jesus says, "Do one thing!"

 

What's next for you? Prayerfully ask God to reveal the soul shift He wants to happen in your heart. Once He makes that known to you - do that next thing!

 

God won't change you all at once but He wants to change you one obedience at a time!

 

By the way, one disobedience will change you, too.............