September 21, 2013

"Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12

I find it interesting that when a witness is sworn in by the court to testify he promises to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Hold that thought as you take a look at our text this morning. Let's first take a look at this oath and then take a look at this verse and see how they intersect.

First, take a look at the oath. Does the oath imply that it is possible to tell a partial truth? It almost sounds like it. We know better. There is no other truth but the whole truth!

Second, by taking this truth are you conceding that you are normally a liar? It almost sounds like that. To me it sounds like when you take that oath you are in effect, saying "I normally lie but this time I am going to tell the truth."

How much confidence does that inspire?

Third, if you can choose to tell the truth sometimes then why would you not tell the truth all the time?

If you appreciate the irony of this then you can understand the point that James is making in verse 12. Remember, too, that he is giving counsel and advice to Christians. That being true you would wonder why he has to tell them not to lie.

What are we called to do within a local church?

Right, we are to love each other.

What is important to being able to love each other?

Trust?

Right!

Respect?

Correct!

Trust and respect are foundations upon which love is built. You will find it hard to love someone you can't trust or respect. That is one reason why truth telling is essential to a healthy church. 

Who wants to be part of a fellowship where you can't trust one another?

Me neither.

So, the purpose of a legal trial in a court room is to arrive at the truth via evidence and the testimony of witnesses. Understanding that, how many lies would it take to subvert that process? Not many! Maybe one!?

The purpose of the church is to proclaim the truth through the evidence of honest living and truth telling. How many dishonest people does it take to negatively impact the testimony of a church? 

Not many! Maybe one.

In a court room, a false testimony could cost the life of a defendant.

In the church fellowship distorting the truth could cost an eternal soul.

When you made the decision to become a Christ-follower you committed to become a truth-teller. As a Christian you are in a personal faith relationship with Jesus - The Truth. So how can you walk in faith and not live in truth. You don't need an oath you need obedience. Seek the truth and speak the truth.

Will you walk in truth today?

September 20, 2013

"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us." II Corinthians 8:3-5

Over the past two posts I have detailed two approaches to giving like the Corinthians did, beyond your ability. I talked about the Faith-Promise approach and I talked about the Self-Denial approach. I recommend them both. I do both.

What went without saying probably needs to be said is that these two approaches need to be practiced in addition to tithing. Faith-Promise is recommended but optional. Self-Denial is also optional. Tithing is required by Scripture. 

This is why I refer to this approach as "3-D Giving" - it is giving in three different ways.

In addition to a 3-D approach to giving there is also a 3-D attitude that is expressed in these verses. I want to challenge you with those attitudes.

I GIVE MYSELF TO GOD – “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

What God desires the most from you is your love and your loyalty. If He has your heart He will get your checkbook. Give yourself to God as your Sovereign and Christ as your Savior.

When God meets the deepest need in your life He brings a spiritual transformation within you. Because of that fundamental change that happens you will become concerned about the needs of others and more generous toward them.

GOD GIVES HIS STUFF TO ME - “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

When you get to know God in a personal way He adds a whole new dimension to your life! That dimension is the dimension of faith. With that faith you begin to trust God to supply your needs and to use you to provide the needs of others!

Once you know God by faith, you have access to all of His resources plus you have possession of His goodness and generosity.

I SHARE GOD’S STUFF WITH OTHERS – “Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.”

When you get God's nature giving becomes second nature for you!

The 3-D attitude of a giver gives himself to God as Savior, then acknowledges God as his source and then sees himself as a steward of God's blessings! When these three things happen life takes on a new dimension!

Are you a 3-D giver?

September 19, 2013

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will”   II Corinthians 8:3-5

These Believers who belonged to the church at Corinth were generous givers, as evidenced by the hearty commendation they received from Paul. He praised them for giving "beyond their ability".

Responding to that statement we asked, "How can you give beyond your ability?"

The best way to accomplish that is the Faith-Promise approach mentioned in the previous post. By covenanting with God you can see Him provide beyond your means, often supernaturally, to help meet a need.

I want to share a second way you can give beyond your ability to give. While this method may not involve supernatural intervention, it can expand your ability to give. I am talking about self-denial.

Self-denial simple involves giving up something you enjoy and contributing that amount of money toward the need. For instance, you may decide to fast a meal per week or per day and give the money toward a cause. Or, you may get rid of cable TV service and contribute the monthly fee amount toward some outreach ministry.

Another version of self-denial might involve selling an item that is very dear to you and donating the proceeds of the sale to missions. Perhaps it is a second car, a motorcycle, a boat, or a piece of jewelry that you sell in order to raise money for a ministry need. 

We saw the early Christians demonstrate self-denial in the second chapter of Acts. Their kindness and generosity had a profoundly positive impact on their community.

Self-denial is quite different from Faith-Promise but it is nevertheless an effective way to give "beyond your ability".

Faith-Promise is a wonderful of learning to trust God and and expand your giving.

Self-Denial can be an equally effective way of raising funds for missions or local outreach.

Doing both will double your generosity!

September 18, 2013

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will”  2 Corinthians 8:3-5

This sounds like high praise coming from the Apostle Paul! He seems very impressed by their generous giving. "They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability...."

I guess that IS impressive when you give more than you are able?

How does someone give more than they are able?

To answer that question is to understand Faith-Promise giving.

What is Faith-Promise giving?

Simply, it is making a promise to give an amount of money you expect to receive based on your faith in God's provision.

Take for example, the "FLOW H2O". You or your spouse and you have been praying for God to give you and amount you should trust Him to provide by the end of April 2014. After that period of prayer you agree with God and each other to promise that amount. Maybe you have part of that amount or most of that amount but you don't have all of it. So, you write that agreed upon amount on the card and sign your name in promise to give "beyond your ability".

Since your pledge is a promise made to your local church in the sight of God, you take it very seriously and begin earnestly praying for God to provide the difference between what you have and what you promised!

You first show your faith by giving what you already have. And then you continue to pray and watch for how He will provide.

Let's say a couple of weeks pass and unexpectedly you get a refund check on your electric bill and it is half of what you need to fulfill your pledge! You are excited and begin praising the Lord! Now your faith is strengthened and you continue to pray with even more expectancy. You and your spouse cannot wait to see how God will provide the rest of the promise!

That's how you are able to give "beyond your ability". It is a scenario I have seen unfold dozens of times over the years!

Faith-Promise is the difference between being a pipeline or being a pail. The pail may hold a gallon of water but once it is poured out it is gone - empty. However, a pipeline is open on both ends with one end attached to the source of supply and the other end attached to the need.The pipeline is simply a conduit connecting the supply with the need. Making a Faith-Promise is the commitment to be a pipeline and not a pail.

For FredWes to meet our goal of raising $8,500 to allow World Hope to drill a life-giving well in a remote African village we will need more pipelines than pails!

Next Sunday when we receive the pledge cards, will you be a pail or a pipeline?

September 17, 2013

In this week leading up to the launch of our "FLOW H2O" project, here are some Scriptural insights to guide you in deciding how much to pledge. I present the Scriptures without comment.

FAITH PROMISE SCRIPTURES

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will” (2 Corinthians 8:3-5). 

SCRIPTURES ON THE GREAT COMMISSION:

• “He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation’” (Mark 16:15). 

• “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” (Matthew 28:19-20). 

• “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm  96:3). 

• “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10). 

• “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 1:8). 

• “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). 

SCRIPTURES ON FAITH:

• “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). 
• “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). 
• “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). 
• “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). 

SCRIPTURES ON STEWARDSHIP:

• “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). 

• “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). 

• “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” ( 2 Corinthians 9:7, NRSV). 

• “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows  generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

September 16, 2013

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10

I would help you look for your lost child because I care about you and your child.

You would do the same for me.

But, let's be honest, each of us would search harder for our own child that we would for another's child. That is human nature. You know it. I know it. And certainly, God knows it.

When you look back at the story of the lost sheep, you realize that the one who cared the most about that sheep was its shepherd. He was the only one who went looking because he was the one who valued the animal the most. He was the one most motivated to search.

Now, when he found it and brought it back safely, there was a great celebration. Many people were happy that the sheep was found and returned, but now one cared as much as the shepherd. It just makes sense.

As we focus on the next parable, The Lost Coin, we see this truth even more clearly. The coin that was lost by this woman was likely part of her dowry. In that culture they didn't wear wedding rings but instead they took the coins from their dowry and made a necklace from them. They wore that necklace around their neck or on their head to show that they were married. Obviously, that necklace and those coins would have far more value to the woman than to anyone else. So, when one coin detached from the necklace and was lost, she was the one most motivated to find it. No one else came to aid in the search, but many joined in the celebration when the lost coin was located.

You could say that is wrong, but I think Jesus is saying that is natural. After all, Who understands human nature better than Him?

As I study these two parables I draw out this principle for reaching lost people - CELEBRATE ALL BUT CONCENTRATE ON A FEW.

In Luke 15, Jesus isn't chiding these religious leaders because they didn't care about ALL lost people, He is upset with them for not caring about ANY lost people.

When Jesus left us with the Great Commission, He didn't expect any one individual Christian to go to "all the world" and reach the whole world. He gave that command to the WHOLE Church. Collectively, we are to reach as many lost people in our corner of the world as we possibly can. That cannot happen by one or two individuals doing all the reaching. But it becomes a real live option if a majority of believers commit to reaching a few lost people.

No one will be more motivated to reach the lost friends or family members than you because you care for them more than anyone else. And, by virtue of your relationship to them, you have more trust and credibility with them. You are the most likely person to bring that lost person home.

Don't feel guilty or defeated because you don't feeling motivated to reach the whole world. Feel bad if you don't get excited when lost people come home and repent if you don't care enough to reach the few lost people God has placed in your life.

CELEBRATE ALL - CONCENTRATE ON A FEW!

September 15, 2013

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28

You have an "ever after". So do I.

God created you and designed you to live forever and you will. The time you spend in your flesh and blood and bone body is limited to seven or eight decades, but your spirit will live "ever after."

That begs the question, "Ever after what?"

Good question! Let's talk about that.

In our finite world of time, we are familiar with "after". "After" is the next thing to happen when the current thing transpires. We live in the world of "now" and "after". You look at your schedule now and look at the things you have scheduled after.

But the Scripture tells us that there is a day coming when we run out of "after" and move to the world of "ever". Then what?

How you answer the question of "ever" depends on what you do in the "after". For example, what will you do "after" you read this article? How will you respond to the truth expressed in the Scripture?

Here's my take on this "ever after" question.

Your "ever" is determined by what you do "after" you know the truth about Jesus. Once you are presented with the truth that you are a sinner and because your sin separates you from God, your "ever" does not look optimistic. If you continue trying to earn your own salvation you will be lost "ever after" you die. But, if you confess your sins and repent of your sinfulness and turn to Christ "after" you hear the truth of the Gospel, your "ever" suddenly becomes happy.

Your "ever' begins the moment "after" you are born, but your happy "ever" starts "after" you are born again! When God breathes the life of His Holy Spirit into your spirit you become spiritually alive and one with God through Christ. "Ever after" that decision, your whole world changes. You gain abundant life here and eternal life "after".

How does your "ever" look? What will you do "after" you know the truth