April 7, 2018

The Apostle Paul holds up the image of the Original Shepherd:

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others, In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2:1-11

Jesus was born to become the Shepherd for His people. A good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.

He was also the Lamb of God Who would take away the sins of the world.

How do you measure up to the Good Shepherd?

Paul, then shines the spotlight on two men who made the paradigm shift from sheep to shepherd. The first is Timothy.

"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon."  Philippians 2:19-24

What do you in Timothy that would help you shift from sheep to shepherd?

Another one Paul points to as one who made this shift is Epaphroditus:

"But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 

For he  longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me."  Philippians 2:25-30

What can you learn from Epaphroditus to help you make a shift in your soul?

Jesus was the Lamb Who became a Shepherd!

Timothy and Epaphroditus were sheep who became shepherds.

Learn from them to help you make this paradigm shift.

From Leader To Shepherd

"And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."  Mark 6:34

This is one of those rare times when you almost sense that Jesus may have been feeling a little overwhelmed by the size and scope of the need. He knew that if these people were to be reached He would need some help. That is why He had been preparing His disciples to be his under shepherds to care for His sheep.

Through these first six chapters of Mark He had called them and sent them out to do three basic but essential tasks:

1) To Follow Him

2) To Fish For Him

3) To Feed His Sheep

In the process He had modeled what a shepherd/leader looks like. Not all leaders are shepherds but Jesus calls His leaders to be just that!

Shepherds have internal qualities that set them apart. Sometimes they do things other people do, but shepherds have extra dimensions to their work that flow straight from their hearts.

Shepherds have compassion toward their sheep. They are not critical because they know their limitations. They can empathize with those under their care.

Shepherds know their sheep by name. They spend time with their sheep. They hear the same tired stories and put up with a lot of mundane things, but it is here in the small talk that the sheep learn their shepherd’s voice. Leaders don’t lead with voice as much as with vision. They decide where the flock needs to go but don’t worry much about who or how many are going.

Shepherds are self-forgetful. They lay down their lives. When something isn’t working, they try again because shepherds are attracted to the sheep. Leaders are attracted to an idea. They are frequently worried about promotion and rank and recognition.

Jesus is looking for disciples to become shepherds, because the problem with the world is that so many people are ―like sheep without a shepherd.

April 5, 2018

^"Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came. He appointed 12 of them and called them apostles. From that time on they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach. They would have authority to drive out demons." Mark 3:13-15

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, why are you following?

What is the point?

What is the purpose?

What is the payoff?

Do you know?

When Jesus called the Twelve, He made it very clear to them why He called them and what it would mean to follow Him.

They were to be with Him. God, from the time of Creation has desired to be in fellowship with Him. Mark tells us that He called these followers to enjoy a relationship with Him by faith. Relationship with God through was the point of creation and it is the point of our calling.

They were to proclaim Him to others who haven't heard His Gospel. He called them to preach with words and by their witness in all places at all times. Recruiting people for the Kingdom of God was clearly the purpose for following Him.

They were to demonstrate His power and authority over diseases and demons thus revealing His glory. Releasing those who were in bondage to sin and darkness was one of the reasons Jesus came and it would be a responsibility handed on to followers.

Jesus was clear in calling His disciples so they could be clear in their commitment as followers. They would live in relationship with Him. They would recruit others to believe in Him and follow Him, too. They would release others from the bondage of darkness by wielding His authority and power.

So, I ask again, why are you following?

Are you following Him to enjoy a relationship with Him?

Are you recruiting others to have a relationship with Him? 

Who have you recruited lately?

Are you revealing His power and glory?

Fellowship, Fishing, Feeding

^"And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him."  Mark 1:16-20

This is a big moment in the movement that would become known as Christianity. I want to share three key elements that I believe led to the "bigness" of this moment that led it to become a movement.

First is the request!

If you want a big result you need to make a big request! Jesus knew this needed to be a big moment so He made a big request, "Leave everything and follow me - NOW!"

I'm sure Jesus understood something intrinsic in human nature - people tend to rise (or shrink) to the expectations others have for them. He needed big things of them so he asked big of them.

Jesus could ask a big thing of them because He was giving something even bigger!

Are you asking bigger things of yourself than you ask of others?

Second is the response!

Jesus needed a big result so He made a big request of these four fishermen. And you have to admit that He DID ask a lot of them.

What if you were asked on the spot to drop everything that was familiar and important to you and walk away into an unknown future? What would your response be?

These fishermen were being asked to give up their passion to fulfill His purpose - AND THEY DID!

Third is the reason!

If you are going to make a big request and expect a big response you will need a good reason for doing so!

He did!

Obviously they thought so, too, because they responded to His demanding request.

So, what were (are) the reasons to forsake all and follow Jesus.

Fellowship - He wanted them to be with Him and He wanted to be with them and share ministry together.

What have you given up to have fellowship with Jesus? Is there something you need to give up to have better fellowship?

Fishing - He called them to "fish" for men. When He called them to fish they knew He meant not just fish for men but to "catch" them. They walked away from catching fish for the chance to recruit men into the Kingdom of God.

Are you fishing for men? Will there be others in Heaven because you fished for men?

Feeding - Jesus called these men not just to make converts but to develop disciples as well. He wanted them to learn to meet the spiritual needs of others, help them learn to grow in their faith and how to feed others.

Are you more concerned about being fed than you are concerned for feeding others?

April 3, 2018

^"And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him." Mark 1:16-20

Do you remember playing a simple old game called "follow the leader"?

I say simple because it just took one person designated as a leader and the rest of those playing were followers. The object of the game was for the followers to do exactly what the leader did. Those who did not follow the leader were eliminated from the game. Followers were eliminated until the one who followed the best was declared the winner.

Were you good at playing "follow the leader"?

When Christ began His earthly ministry He approached some fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John, and challenged them to "follow the Leader". They left their nets and their boats and followed.

Think about what actually happened when they answered His call to follow Him. By issuing this call Jesus was asking them to make a career change and walk away from their family business. He was urging them to leave something they knew well, enjoyed and were successful doing to follow Him into an uncertain future.

Notice how Mark's Gospel records this account, of Simon and Andrew he says, "They immediately left their nets and followed Him". And, of James and John he wrote, "And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him."

IMMEDIATELY they made the decision to forsake all they knew to follow Him. They didn't call a financial adviser or put their businesses up for sale they IMMEDIATELY dropped their nets, turned their backs on their boats and "followed the Leader"!

You have to admit that is impressive!

Let me ask you, "Are you following the Leader?"

They were willing to change their world in order to be used to change yours.

God is calling you to follow. 

Will you answer His call?

April 2, 2018

What a Savior we have!

In John Chapter 6 we see Him as the Bread of Life! He bids us to feed on Him.

In John 8 He identifies Himself as great than Abraham.

In Chapter 9 he presents Himself as the Light of the World and illustrates it by healing a blind man!

Wow! What a Savior!

Moving on to Chapter 10 he refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. His description sounds a lot like Psalm 23!

As a pastor friend of mine once declared, "When the Lord is your Shepherd - the future is your friend!" 

Here's why:

He Leads Us!

A hireling or a sheep rustler drives the sheep, but the Good Shepherd leads us. He leads us into the safety of His presence! He leads us into the security of His pasture! He leads us into the abundance of His truth. He speaks gently to us and calls us by name as He leads us. Think of that, the Good Shepherd knows your name!

He Loves Us!

A hireling or a rustler has no regard for the sheep. They mean nothing to them. To them the sheep are a necessary inconvenience. They lead the flock only for their own personal benefit. So when the sheep are threatened, they will flee to protect themselves. But the Good Shepherd loves His sheep. He provides for them. He protects them. He prays for them. He will give His life to save them. Think about that! You are loved by the Good Shepherd!

He leads us. He loves us. And, He laid down His live for us. Verse 10 sums up the desire of the Good Shepherd and the destiny of His sheep:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full!"

To quote my friend - "When the Lord is your Shepherd, the future is your friend!"

April 1, 2018

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:6-10

I want you to try and put yourself in the place of these women who went to the tomb in the early morning hours of that first Easter. But I want you to imagine that instead of going to the burial place of Jesus, you are going to the grave of your mother, or your father, or your child, or that of your best friend. As you approach you are struggling with that same old sense of sadness that always grips you when you visit here. But this morning is different! For when you get there the grave is open. Your sadness turns to shock, then to horror, but then you hear the voice of your loved one and you turn immediately toward the sound.

You cannot believe it! You blink once and then you blink again. There stands your loved one - alive and well! In fact, they look better than they ever! Without thinking or speaking or without consciously moving you find yourself locked in a warm tight embrace! They are alive! They are back!

Can you imagine the joy? If you can you may begin to understand what these women experienced outside Jesus' tomb that morning.

Sound impossible? That is precisely what happened that morning! These women arrived grieving and ready to prepare a dead body but found a risen Savior Who looked better than they had ever seen! They were filled with joy - and wonder - and hope! All the grief and despair of the last two days was gone! He was alive! He arose as He had said!

Easter is about life! Powerful life! Resurrection life! Eternal life! God's life! The only thing that died that morning was death!

Oh, about that scenario involving your loved one! It has happened! Because of the atoning death and because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, your loved one IS alive - more alive than ever! And some day their grave WILL be empty and you will see them in their glorified body! That very same type of glorified body the women saw that morning by His tomb!

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Corinthians 15:42-58

Celebrate! Rejoice! He has risen from the dead! He arose as He said! He is alive! Hallelujah!

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER SUNDAY!