Sunday, July 31, 2011

Feed and Serve and Care and Set the Example

I Pet 5:2,3 "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;"

This is a good reminder to me…this is what an elder of a church is called to do. I really honestly do not know why I am in the position that I am in sometimes. It is an honor, but it is a huge responsibility. I know at times it is an amazing joy. At other times, let's be honest, it is a pain. Why? Because people can bring joy but people also have a tendency to produce problems. I have to remember that an Elder is a shepherd. It is a guy who is called to feed, and keep, and tend to the needs of people. It is a guy who exercises care. (That is actually what overseer means…care giver.) It is a guy who does it willingly…not because he has to. And it is a guy who is motivated properly. It isn't a position of authority for the sake of having authority, or power, or dominance. Rather, it is a place to serve as an example of how God works in a life.

When I think about the responsibility to feed and serve and care and be an example I realize how massive it really is. It means that I have to have a vital walk. It means that I have to be in tune with God, moment by moment so I can be sensitive to the needs of others. It means that I have to take the time to listen. It means that I have to expend the energy to help. It means that I need to spend the time to pray. It means that God should be working in my life in new and fresh and challenging ways, for if this stuff is not happening, then I can't feed others if I have not been fed. I can't place a meal in front of others when I have no food to give. It is tough to serve and care when I am not watching when help is needed and listening to what others are trying to communicate. It is tough to be an example if I am not living Biblically.

Frankly, this is tough stuff. As I think through it is impossible stuff. As I consider some of the issues that lay in front of us in our church of 250 people, I can't imagine what it would be like to be bigger, to have more people, to have more food to give, more needs to meet, more care to extend. Yet, I want us to grow. I want to see more people impacted for Christ. That is why I am grateful for two things. First, God did not call us to do this alone. There must be a group of guys who are called to do this, and we all need to be doing it together. We all need to feed and serve and care and be an example. This is what is known as a "plurality of elders". And it is necessary not just to get more than one head in the mix of ideas, but so that we can all work together to see God's kingdom expand where He has placed us. Second, God did not call us to do this in our own strength. Look at the next verse: "and when the Chief Shepherd appears…". There is One who is the Chief Shepherd. There is One who is the Chief Feeder, and Server, and Career and who has set the ultimate example. He is the One who feeds us and serves us and cares for us and is our example. Just look at Jesus and live like He did.

Feed and serve and care and set an example. This is what God has called us to do.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Do Good

I Pet 4:19 "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."

I am starting to catch a theme. Peter is writing to the persecuted church…to the dispersed church…to people who have gone through suffering. He is telling them that Christ suffered in the flesh and they can expect the same thing. He said that they should not be surprised at the "fiery trial" that they will experience. (Kind of a play on words since Nero burned Rome and some Christians were literally being burned.) This is tough stuff. This is not fun. And the early church was experiencing things that we can't imagine. They were experiencing things that many in the 21st century church are going through in other countries right now. They were experiencing suffering that we in America have never seen.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and Janet Parshal was talking about taking up our cross. Being willing to be ridiculed and ostracized and marginalized because we are Christians. If that is all the early church had to put up with, they would have rejoiced. If that is what the church in China or Iran had to put up with, they would be ecstatic. We think it is tough because someone calls us a name, or wants to take a cross out of museum. That is nothing. Real suffering is losing your home. Real suffering is losing your job. Real suffering is losing your family. Real suffering is being impaled on a stake, dipped in tar and set on fire.

And what does Peter say to these people? Trust God. Commit your souls to your faithful Creator. And you know what? They did. They took it. They are taking it and they are standing firm in their faith.

And, one other thing…here it is…do good. Even in the middle of suffering. Even in the middle of loss. Even in the middle of persecution…do good, act right, do what is right. I am not sure how this is done except through the power of God. The natural thing to do when you are in pain or have loss is to retreat. To close yourself off. To preserve yourself. Peter's advice is that this natural reaction needs to be taken over by the power of God and good must be done.

I know that in a country where we still have our freedom we have a tendency to be self centered, to go after what we think is our right, what we deserve, what we have worked hard for. It may be that doing good may actually be harder in this culture. What I need to do is resist. Resist the desire to have good done to me and do it for others. Now in our freedom and also when we meet suffering. Always do good, no matter what.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Quiet in the USA

I Pet 2:13-17 "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men - as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."

Right now the government is infuriating. These men and women who allegedly represent us, can't get their heads together to figure out what to do as it relates to our indebtedness. We are spending 1.4 trillion dollars more than we take in every year, and this is not stopping. It is so bad, we have to raise the debt ceiling so we can continue to borrow more money. This is insanity. We shouldn't be raising the debt ceiling we should be lowering it! We should be spending less money. Yet, our world is so upside down that Moody's and Standard & Poors indicate that they are going to lower our credit rating if we don't agree to borrow more money that we are unable to pay back! Does anyone have a brain? Sometimes I want to start a movement called: AIO…All Incumbents Out.

Yet, scripture tells us to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man, to the king and to governors. We are to honor the king. These were not hollow words that Peter was writing to these persecuted Christians. The reason these people had lost their homes and their livelihoods was because of the government. Nero had burned down Rome and blamed it on the Christians and they were taking the heat over it. (So to speak.) They were being persecuted because of what the government had done! They were being persecuted, killed and maimed and homeless…by the government. And Peter said to submit themselves to these clowns? Yes. But, Peter did outline government's role. To punish evildoers and praise those who do good. I have a feeling that maybe some people in the church wanted to take revenge. Some may have wanted to strike back and Peter said that they should not use their freedom in Christ to bring injury to others. That is what was to be punished. Instead, in the middle of all of the chaos that surrounded them they were to do good. They were to be examples. They were honor all people, love each other, fear God and honor the king. By doing this they would shut people's mouths.

I think of all of the chaos that is surrounding this country right now. We have the debt issue going on. We have several wars going on. We have people pushing for homosexual marriage. We have abortion still freely available. We have a widening gap between those who have and those who have need. We have Christians who are being fired from their jobs because they are taking a stand for the truth. Unfortunately, I don't think it is going to get much better. Frankly, this country is a mess. Yet, as believers, we are called do good. Kicked in the teeth? Do good. Ridiculed because of what you believe? Do good. Eliminated from positions because of the truth? Do good. Do good and you will silence the ignorance of foolish men. May it be very quiet in this country.

Love that can’t help it

I Pet 1:22 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,"

Now Peter is writing to the persecuted church…the one that had been driven from their homes and made to disperse all over the place…to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. As you think about it, this was a way that the Gospel spread throughout these areas. Peter was reassuring these people of their inheritance. He was telling them that they possessed things that the Prophets and angels only wished they had…so be holy. Not only that, but in their holiness, in their purity love each other fervently.

It is kind of interesting how our souls are purified. It isn't something that we can manufacture. It is something that God does in us. As the Spirit works in us we become obedient to the truth. As we become obedient to the truth we love each other. This obedience is something that leads into something. The actual translation should be "…you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit into sincere love of the brethren." This obedience impacts relationships. This obedience leads to service. This obedience brings about right attitudes. (I Cor 13) This obedience results in a sincere love, a genuine love, a deep heartfelt love of other Christians. And this love must be fervent, earnest, intense…from a pure heart. Peter starts this verse with a pure soul and he ends it with a pure heart.

I don't know why this is, but this is where my battles are won and lost…on the inside…in my soul…in my heart. I really want a clean inside. I really want purity. I really want my deep motivations to be sincere. I don't want to be obedient out of duty. I don't want to do things because I have to. I want my actions and my attitudes to stem from an inner man that truly is motivated by love. A deep love. A fervent love. This has to be a work of the Spirit because I know that I am incapable of manufacturing this in me. I know what I am like, and much too often it is duty not love. God help me.

God help us all. May we come to a point where we serve others because we can't help it.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Patience…Patience

James 5:8 "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."

Patience is not always evident in my life. Yesterday I was sitting in my office on the phone with a client who went on and on about what seemed to be important to them, but really had no relevance to their case. While they kept talking I kept getting more irritated. I had other things to do. I had other matters that needed to be taken care of. Why was this person wasting my time? Yet, patience is a fruit that is evident in a person's life who has the Spirit of God living in them. My flesh was certainly evident yesterday.

And here James is encouraging the church that had been scattered because of persecution to be patient. These people did not have to deal with a fifteen minute phone call. They had to lose everything that they had in order to protect their lives and their families. They had to run from their homes in order to avoid persecution. And James encouraged them to count this all joy. James charged them to be patient. To not lose heart. To suffer long. To endure tough times. I wonder what I would be like in that situation? Joyful? Patient? Or irritated? This really has to be a work of God's Spirit because the natural thing to do would be to get angry, to take out your revenge, to get even, to take matters into your own hands, to yell and scream. And James says: Be patient.

And establish your hearts. This is strengthening the inner man. This is being firmly fixed. This is being unwaverable even though everything around you is caving in. This is something that is evident on the outside because it is done on the inside.

Why? Because they knew that Christ was coming again. And why can we be patient when the world seems to be falling apart? Why can we be established even though this country can't figure out what to do with the debt ceiling? How can we endure tough times and be rock solid on the inside? Because we have a greater hope. This world is not all there is. Jesus is coming again someday and He is going to establish His kingdom "and He shall reign forever and ever". All the junk that is capturing the world's attention right now is nothing. It has no significance. It is unimportant. It will all end…"for the coming of the Lord is at hand." So be patient and establish your hearts…

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The World

James 4:4b "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

This is really a sobering verse. Why? Because I think a lot of us are stuck in a desire to be a friend of the world.

What does this mean exactly? The word friendship and friend in this verse comes from the word "philio". Philio is simply a friend, an associate, a companion. The key word here is "wants". This is a deliberate affection, a mindful purpose. If someone has a deliberate affection to be a companion with what Strongs says is "the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ" then that person is God's enemy. This person is hostile to God, opposes God, hates God. Strong stuff. That is why John says: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, for if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him."

I know that when I was a kid growing up in my GARBC Baptist church, this was preached about all the time. Separation from the world was one of the pillars of this denomination. Unfortunately, it seems that it may have gotten to the point of legalism at times, but nevertheless, their warning was not any stronger than the warning that James and John give. The point is: If you love the world, if you run after the stuff that this world has, if you desire what this world can give and deliberately pursue the goods, pleasures, advantages, power, status…then you are an adulterer…you are an idolator and guess what? You are not a believer. It seems like the world is a strong competitor in our lives and God does not allow any competition. He is God. Nothing can take His place.

So, I have to once again examine myself. What motivates me? What drives me? What do I passionately run after? Is it God centered or is it world centered? That is a test of my relationship with God.

And, I am afraid, that we have many people running around in our churches who say that they are believers, but they really are not. In fact, their consuming desire to have what the world has, to think like the world thinks, to be like the world is, really is evidence that they never knew God to begin with. In fact, they are God's enemies. To think that we have enemies of God in the church is really sobering.

This is a huge warning. It is an urgent message. I am wondering why we don't hear about this anymore?

Monday, July 25, 2011

Teachers

James 3:1 "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."

If you were to ask me what gets my juices going, what charges me up, what do I really like to do in the church, this is it...teach. I love preparing a sermon or a lesson or a plan and presenting it to people. I love taking God's word and grabbing the truth that is contained there and sharing it with others. As far as general teaching, not so much. I tried that. I was an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan and I tried teaching some business courses and I did not like it. But give me the Bible and an opportunity to present it to a large group, small group, one on one and I am there. As I lead worship every Sunday I don't preach, we leave that up to Randy, but I do teach, and I love it.

Then this verse hits me in the face. James was telling the church that there should not be many teachers. Why? Because those who share God's word with others will be strictly judged. Those who teach His word will face greater condemnation and punishment. Why? What is the big deal? Because what we say has to be truth. What we say has to line up with His Word. What we say communicates and influences. And what we say has to be real in our own lives.

What we say has to be consistent with His word. We must communicate truth. If we deviate. If we mislead. If we go after our own agenda and ignore or twist God's word, we are in trouble.

What we say influence. People listen and hopefully people respond. We don't share just to hear ourselves talk. We want people to apply what is said to their lives and make changes. If we are encouraging people to do certain things, it better be what God wants. If not, we are in trouble.

What we say has to be real in our lives. If it is not, if what we tell others to do is not something that we are doing we are hypocrites and we are in trouble.

It all boils down to what James goes on to say in the rest of the chapter. Watch your tongue. Control your tongue. Be careful with your tongue. It is a "restless evil full of deadly poison." It can influence to the point of death. When you think of it that way, no wonder James said: "Let not many of you become teachers." No wonder we, as teachers, will receive a stricter judgment. We are accountable for what we say and when it is said to impact others, we must be careful. We must be precise. We must be Spirit lead.

All the more reason to pray. All the more reason to ask God to control my tongue. All the more reason to prepare well. All the more reason to pray for my Pastor.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Faith and Works

James 2:22 "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect."

Faith and Works. This is a big controversy in the Christian church. Some churches teach that in order to enter the pearly gates, you have to do a ton of good works. It is almost like when you get before God He has this huge set of scales. He puts your good works on one side and your bad works on the other and if the good out weight the bad, then you can enter into His kingdom. It isn't just some "Christian" churches that teach this...it seems like it is every faith tradition. The problem is, no one knows how many good works you have to do. If I mess up and don't do one good work, then am I disqualified? The question that needs to be asked is the name of a book by Andy Stanley. If this is the way it is, then "How Good is Good Enough?". No one seems to know.

The deal however is this: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saves us..." Titus 3:5. And: "For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, that no one can boast." Eph 2:8,9 And: "...for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." Gal 2:21 It is clear that Scripture teaches that there is no way that we can work our way into heaven. If we could, then Jesus did not need to die. If we could then when we get there we could say: "Look how great I am." If we could, then nothing is up to God.

So what is James talking about in this chapter that faith without works is dead? That works perfects faith? I think it is this way: God gives us the faith to believe. That is clear in Eph 2:8,9. Faith is a gift. God gives it and then by grace He saves us. But that is not the end of the story...it is just the beginning. True faith is revealed in what it produces. True faith in a person's life is evidenced by what they do. If a person claims to have faith but has nothing to show that his faith is real, what good is that? It is not true faith. It is only a sham. I know that I have to look at my life and ask the question: "What fruit am I producing? What am I doing that proves that I have genuine faith?" It there is nothing there, then I need to be concerned. This is what James is talking about. Not that works comes first, but that genuine faith comes first that produces good work.

Then this is the cool thing, the more I do, the greater my faith becomes. I have never noticed this before, but this verse shows how I can grow my faith. We have always heard: "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." But we rarely hear: "by works faith is made perfect". By works faith is made complete. By works faith grows. So it is like this: Faith produces works and works produces more faith.

Question: What am I doing too prove my faith? What am I doing to grow my faith?

Friday, July 22, 2011

Look, Continue, Do

James 1:25 "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

Once again I was surprised…surprised that I had no journaled in the book of James. So here it goes.

James is jammed packed. I mean, when you are reading this book see how rich it is. To pick out one verse a day is a challenge because there is so much. But today, I grabbed this one. It is in the middle of counting trials as joy, how to get wisdom, enduring temptation, good gifts from the Father, being swift to hear, being a doer of the word and not just a hearer (where we are going today), the definition of pure and undefiled religion. Like I said, huge…

But this verse kind of hit me. It hit me because it talks about what we should do with the word of God and the result of doing it. What should I do with the Bible? Look into it. Continue in it. Do it.

Look into it. It is almost like seeing something that you are curious about and you have to bend over to look into. There is this body action of bending, of stooping, of bowing. It is a humble position. It is a bent over position. It is a realization that the words that I am reading are directly from the hand of God. (I say that because the word look means to stoop, to look with the head bowed, to look with the body bent.) I know that I am guilty of taking the Bible for granted. I mean, I get up in the morning, grab my Bible and read it. That is good. The thing is, what is my attitude when I do this? Is it a humble attitude? Is it a grateful attitude? Is it an expectant attitude? The word "look" also means to look carefully into or to inspect curiously. It isn't just a flippant getting through your chapter and you have done your duty, it is more than that. It is "digging deeper". Studying the passage. Studying the context. Studying the history. Studying the words.

Continues in it. This means to remain beside it, to be always near it, to survive and remain alive in it. This isn't just looking into it and leaving it at that. It is living in it. It is making God's word our very existence. Even though I am in it and studying it every day, I wonder if I can say that? I wonder if I can say that God's word is my very existence? That it is my source for survival? Am I that desperate for it? Sure I love it. Sure I enjoy what it teaches me every day, but am I continuing in it the way James implies? If I were, it would be the thing I pick up the most often to read. I know that I go on the internet several times a day. Why don't I do that with the word of God? Kind of convicting.

Does it. This is a maker. A producer. A performer. An obeyer. This is the person who makes the word of God come alive in their lives and tangibly reproduces what it says. This is the person who takes what is written on paper and makes it come alive. This is the person who reads: "visits the widows and orphans in their distress" and actually does it. This is the hard stuff. This is the selfless stuff. This is the time consuming stuff. I think it is easy to preach a good game. It is much more difficult living it.

But when you do, you are the one who gets blessed.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Self Inventory

2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves [as to] whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. "

More of Paul's in your face confrontation. He is wrapping up his second letter to the Corinthian church and here are some of his final words: "Examine yourselves. Test yourselves. Are you really saved?"

Complacency is a really bad thing. Sometimes I think that we think that all we have to do is say a prayer, or raise our hand, or walk to the front, or whatever and we are good. I know that I really struggle when we have a children's event and the gospel is shared and then whoever is speaking says to the whole group: "Now if you want to receive Jesus, just pray this prayer with me." And then a bunch of kids all start repeating a prayer together. This is dangerous. Why? Because if Billy next to me is doing it, then I think I should do it. If I hear a bunch of kids saying this then I should too. Where is the genuine repentance? Where is the realization that I am a sinner and I need a Savior and the only way that I am going to have a relationship with God is through His Son? Does it happen? Oh, sure. I think that there was a girl in my small group in VBS who truly got it. But there were three others who mouthed a prayer and now they may have a false sense that they did something that gave them fire insurance.

Frankly, the proof of genuineness is in the life. The evidence that someone is saved, either in children or adults is fruit. Does my life prove that I am in the faith? Do my actions prove that I am a believer? Do my attitudes reflect that the Holy Spirit is in me? Are my words consistent with the words of Christ? Are my reactions God-like? Or, am I living the same way I was living? Do I think the same thoughts, respond the same way, follow the same path? If so, then I need to be concerned. If I continue to practice what I have always practiced, then genuine repentance, genuine faith, a genuine relationship with God is not there and I am in trouble.

These actually are great final words for a church that was messed up. These are great final words for a church that seems to be running smoothly. There is nothing wrong with asking the question: "Am I really a believer? Do I really see evidence of God in my life? Is He really at work there or am I just playing a game?" This is not to make people doubt, this is to make people come to grips with the truth. This is to make me come to grips with the truth. What do I see? Do I pass the test?

We all need to do this self inventory and if what we see is not consistent with what God's word teaches, we need to turn around. If what we see is consistent with Jesus living in our lives, then be humbly thankful.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Bold

2 Cor 12:15 "And I will very gladly spend and be spent, for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved."

So, let's lay it all out on the table. Don't hold back. Tell us what you are really thinking, Paul. He did. As I read through chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Corinthians I can see that Paul is not trying to be politically, socially or religiously correct. He obviously decided that he was going to come at this church and come at them hard. "You are putting up with false teachers." "I robbed other churches to minister to you." "I kept myself from being a burden." "You put up with people who put you in bondage." "It isn't profitable for me to boast." "I should have been commended by you." "Forgive me for not being a burden." "I am afraid that when I come to you I will find you in sin." And then this one which is a dagger to the heart: "I will very gladly spend and be spent, for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." In other words: I am pouring out my life for you and will continue to do this, but the more I love you the less I am loved by you. Wow. And the thing is, he was willing to do it.

Two things hit me: Paul was willing to totally burn out to minister to these people and not receive any love, or appreciation, or thanks, or recognition. He did it because he loved them. Am I willing to do that? Am I willing to minister and not only not receive love, but receive criticism? Tough stuff. As I think about it, this did happen at one time in my life and it is not fun.

That leads to the second point: Paul was willing to tell them. He was willing to be bold and lay it on the line and tell them that they were out of line. He did not care if they took this well or took this hard or if they were offended. He simply spoke the truth. This may be harder than ministering to others who do not respond well…and frankly, this is probably where I blew it in the past. I was willing to take the arrows but not boldly speak the truth in love.

It is funny, as you get older you tend to get bolder. As you get older you have a sense that speaking the truth into people's lives is more important than their friendship. I know that that sounds bad, but the question that needs to be addressed is whether it is more important to keep silent in order to maintain a friendship but watch a person or a church destroy itself, or is it more loving to confront the situation head on and realize you may lose a friendship but save a life? I think Paul believed the second option was the better of the two.

I hate it, but it is the truth. We need to loving, boldly confront people with their sin and let God do the rest. God please give grace.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Battling Strongholds


2 Cor 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds."


There is a battle going on. If you don't believe it, just work with people for a while. To be very honest, we are screwed up. Oh, we think that we have it together. We think that we can make smart decisions. We think that the best thing to do in any situation is what is good for me, yet we do dumb, stupid, brainless things that just mess up our lives. The real answer is to do what God says. The real answer is to obey what He has laid out in His word. The real answer is to give up our own personal agendas and give in to His. Yet we don't want to. We want to do our own thing. We think we know better. We want to believe a lie. It goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. The serpent told Eve that she needed more. She could have special knowledge. She could be like God and she took the bait and did what she wanted to do. She thought about herself. She did what was right in her eyes. The result? Sin. Consequences. Death. The thing is, we don't learn. We do the same thing. Like I said, there is a battle going on.

How do we fight it? How do we obtain the ability to make smart decisions? To make wise choices? To avoid pain, and agony, and grief, and horrible consequences? We can't fight this war with guns, and bombs, and swords, and knives. It is way beyond that. This war is an unseen war. It is the war within and the only way to win it is with the mighty weapons of God so that we can destroy those things that have a strong hold on our lives. Those weapons are the unseen weapons that are more powerful than anything we could ever devise as humans. Those weapons are the ones that God supplies. Those weapons are things like truth, and righteous, and the gospel, and faith, and salvation, and the word of God. These weapons are powerful. Nothing can destroy these weapons and these weapons take out anything that comes against them. The truth always wins. Righteousness always prevails. The Gospel is absolute hope. Faith can do anything. Salvation is secure. And the Word of God takes out everything that comes against it. (Eph 6)

So when I am struggling with insecurity, or fear, or pride, or jealousy, or anger, or bitterness, or a critical spirit, or a rotten tongue, or a bad temper, or habits that can destroy my life, and when Satan comes knocking...here they are. Here are our weapons. They will always win. Strongholds will be totally destroyed...gone...forever.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Persuasive

2 Cor 9:6, 15 "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully...thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Let's just say that I could not just pick one verse today…I had to hit both of these. And when you look at them, they are inseparably linked.

In chapter 8 Paul started to prime the pump. He started to get into his request that these people get ready to give the gift that they promised to give a year ago. It is interesting that it took this church one year to get this gift together. It was either very large and they needed all of that time, or it was something that they kind of put on the back burner and forgot about.

Well here comes Paul. He was not one to mince words. Sometimes I think his writing is humorous because of the way that he persuades people. For example, when he writes to Philemon to accept back his slave, Onesimus, he says: "If he has wronged you or owes anything, put that to my account." How nice. Paul will take care of it. But then he says: "not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides." Phil 19. Now how in the world is Philemon going to make Paul pay what Onesimus owes? He can't. The same happens here in this passage. He reminds the people how willing they were to give a year ago. As a result, he boasted about them to other churches. When he did this, he got the other churches all excited about what the Corinthian church was going to do. But just in case they are not ready, he is sending other guys to make sure that they are prepared to give the gift that they promised that they would give. Then he says: But don't give because you have to. Give because you really want to…hilariously. Then he tacks on this for a reminder: "Remember the law of sowing and reaping. If you sow a little you will reap a little. If you sow a lot you will reap a lot." Persuasive Paul…but truthful Paul.

I think that we need to persuade like this as well. We need to remind people of their promises. We need to encourage people to think about all that they have received and then be willing to share. I need to be reminded of this.

Then the kicker. Then the big enchilada. Here comes the wrap up. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." How can you resist when you think about all that God gave? How can you not give when you realize that God gave His very best, frankly the most precious thing that He had…His Son. This gift is indescribable. There is no way that we can explain it. Oh, we try, but we really don't know how much this cost the Father. There is no way that we can understand, but we can realize that it is more than we will ever give. Anything that this church gave was miniscule in comparison to what God gave. And anything that I give will never compare. 10%? Big deal. God gave it all.

So, did they need any more persuading? Probably not. Do I?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Generosity

2 Cor 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

This chapter is the beginning of two chapters of Paul's encouragement to the Corinthian church to be generous. Apparently the church had a desire a year earlier to start saving for a large gift that was going to be another church that was in need. This gift was going to be administered through Titus, a guy that everyone trusted.

I find it interesting that Paul actually uses a significant portion of this letter to encourage people to give. He doesn't run from this. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't beat around the bush. He comes right out and says: "abound in this grace (of giving) as well". Not only that but he says: "I am testing how sincere your love is by showing you what other people have done." And then the clincher: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…". This was it. Even though the church in Macedonia had been generous in giving, Jesus was their, and our, ultimate example. And here it is:

Though He was rich. When we are talking rich, this was rich. The word for rich actually means "abounding in material resources". It also means "abounding in Christian virtues and eternal possessions". Let's face it, Jesus had it all. As God in heaven, He was the possessor of all things, material and spiritual. He had it all. He could not get anything more because He owned it all…everything. But look at what He did. He was willing to give it all up. He was willing to leave the splendor that was heaven and all that it contained and all that He owned to come down to earth. He gave up all of the stuff that was in heaven…and believe me there is a lot of stuff in heaven. And He gave up something even more significant. He gave up his position. He let go of some of His attributes as God. He did not eliminate them. He did not get rid of them. He simply suppressed them and He became a man. He came to a very dirty, ugly, poor, needy place and took on a very humble birth and lived a humble, simple life and died a very painful death. He became poor. The word for poor actually means: "beggar". He went from total contentment, total wealth, total power, total position, to total poverty.

Why? Why would He do this? So we could be made rich. So we could have abundance. So we could be richly supplied. And when this word rich is used, it is used in a material sense but also in a spiritual sense now owning eternal possessions. Jesus gave it all up so we could have it all. The problem was, the Corinthian church was balking at giving. The problem is, we also balk at giving. We even balk at talking or preaching about it.

It is interesting, but I heard the other day that the average believer gives 3% of their income. Crazy. Those of us who really have a lot only give 3%...when the starting point is 10%. Just imagine what could be done if people who claim to be Christians gave 10%. We would significantly impact our world. But, we like to hang on to our stuff. We think that we can't do without. We act like the Corinthian church and hesitate.

I am sure glad that Jesus didn't think that way.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Therefore

2 Cor 7:1 "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

When I was younger I had a pastor who always used to say: "When you see a therefore know what it is there for." In other words, there is something that precedes the therefore so take a look to see what it is. Paul said that since we have these promises. What promises? Here they are from 6:16 and 18: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people." And: "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Those are some pretty amazing promises that God has made to believers. Really this stuff is really mind blowing: He will dwell in us. This really means that He will influence us. He will walk among us. He is our God and we are His people. The very God of the universe, of all creation, of all that we see and don't see, the God of heaven, the God who is eternally existent, the God who scripture says "dwells in unapproachable light", this God will personally work in our lives. He will mingle with us and walk among us and He will be ours and we will be His. Not only that, but this intimacy is beyond just being with us and walking with us, He is our Father and we are His kids. This is not just a friendship, although it is that, it is a familial relationship. It is a blood relationship. It is an eternal relationship. It is a relationship that cannot be broken. It is a loving, caring, providing, protecting relationship. This God that we cannot even fathom is my Father. I am His child. He wants to influence me and direct me and help me and use me and walk with me every day.

Because of that…therefore…how should I live? In purity. In holiness. Clean from all filthiness both in the body and in the spirit. It seems like that is where we are attacked. Physically and mentally. We use our bodies to do dumb stuff and we use our minds to think dumb stuff. Inner and outer purity. Inner and outer holiness. Inner and outer cleansing. I know that some people deal with sin that involves their bodies. Sexual sin. Habits that we just can't seem to break whether it is drinking or drugs or smoking or gluttony or whatever. Our tongues are used to destroy people. There are all kinds of things that our bodies do that are not consistent with God's holiness. Then this one: In the spirit, in the mind, in the inner man. This is the one I battle. Oh, I can look all holy on the outside, but inside I am critical, and competitive, and controlling, and proud, and doubting, and fearful…to just name a few. Not holy at all. Not pure at all. This is where I need to get a good dose of the fear of God. When I do, I will perfect holiness…or I should say, He will perfect holiness in me. I really cannot control the junk on the inside. He has to do it. He has to perfect it. He has to reveal it and cleanse it and take care of it.

Because He is to influence me. He walks with me. He is my God. I am His. He is my Father. I am His kid…inside and out.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Affections

2 Cor 6:12 "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections."

Out of all of the well known verses in chapter six, this one stuck out. Why? Because there is so much truth in it. Oh, yes, all of the other verses are filled with truth, but this one just kind of hits who we are and why things happen in our lives. Really?

Paul was still writing to a church that needed work. Even though he was in their face in his first letter, and even though he softened up in his second letter, he was still reminding them that they needed to change. Apparently they were still playing around with the world. They were still sitting on the fence, playing both sides, trying to see how far they could go and not get burned. Paul reminded them: "Don't go there. Don't be unequally yoked, don't have fellowship or communion (common union) with unbelievers." (vs14-18) He was not saying that they should not be in the world. He was not saying that they should not minister to the world. He was not saying that they should not develop friendships with unbelievers. If that were to happen we would never reach our world. He was saying that they should never become one with other believers. This can apply in business relationships. It can apply in marriage. It can apply anywhere where two become one unit. Apparently this was going on and Paul was once again in their face and telling them to stop.

And why does this go on? Why do we form business partnerships with people who have a totally opposite worldview? Why do we date and marry individuals who do not share our beliefs? Why do we argue over who is the best? (I Cor.) Why do we have illicit relationships? (I Cor.) Why are we enslaved to habits that we seem to be unable to break? Because of our affections. The word for affections in the KJV is bowels. That which is in the deepest part of our lives. That inner portion of our lives that drives what we do.

The Corinthians were probably grumbling about how restrictive Paul was…how he was telling them that they should or should not do certain things and this was his reply: "Hey, your lifestyle isn't cramped (the word for restricted) by me, your own inner desires really restrict you." Your own affections have you bound and you can't get away from them.

How true. I do things because of me. I make dumb decisions because of some inner desire that I have. I get stuck because of me. I can't live a life of freedom because of my own fear, or my own desires, or my own habits. What we need to be is open. As a response we need to enlarge our hearts. We need to say: "God I am open. Work in me. Change my heart. Change my affections. Change my inner person." That is what verse 13 is all about: "Now in return for the same…you also be open."

I know the dumb things that I do. I know that I get stuck because of various cages that enslave me. I need to break out. And I know of others who are right there too. They think that another drink will just calm them down. They think that getting out of a marriage will just solve all of their problems. They think that playing that video game or spending time on facebook will make them happy. The problem is that we are enslaved by our own affections. Instead we need to surrender and be open to what God wants.

Tough stuff. True stuff. Open up.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Life and Death


2 Cor 5:14,15 "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."


Paul continues in this chapter talking about the temporariness of this life. He is really hammering it home: "this tent, is destroyed", "we who are in this tent groan", "while at home in the body we are absent from the Lord", "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ". And then this summary statement: Christ died for all and we are all dead. It all looks so foreboding. Really, not too many people like to think about this stuff. We like to think that we are going to live long healthy lives because we want to hang on to what we have here. Paul says: "No. Your perspective has to be different." Why? Really because of the hope that we have: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That is hope. "For we walk by faith and not by sight." (v7) and as a result our mindset has to be this: We "who live should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."


Our death is really our life, not only in the future, but today…right now…as I sit here. Jesus died and rose again. Now there is hope. There is peace. There is a secure eternity. And there is the reason for life. Christ died so I could have eternal life. I owe Him everything. He has secured my place in heaven some day, so what should I do as I live? Live for Him.


I can get so wrapped up in myself. I think about what I prayed for this morning. I prayed for Dave Underwood. (Thankfully, that is not me centered.) I prayed about my impact in VBS. (Me.) I prayed about my back. (Me.) I prayed about having wisdom at work. (Me) Sure I prayed about my wife and kids and church and country, but as I prayed I actually thought that the big ticket items were the ones I mentioned. And then I read this verse. "those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." This should not only change the way that I live, it should change the way that I pray. No longer for myself…but for Him who died and rose again. And what is on Jesus' heart? Other people. How should I live? Not for myself. Not for my pleasures. Not for my wants. Not for my goals. But for Christ. For what He wants. For who He wants to reach out to.


This really is tough stuff. It is dying to myself and living for Him. It is a constant battle because my flesh is so powerful. But…He died and rose again. God help me keep this fresh every day.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Jars of Clay

2 Cor 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

This verse is hitting me today because of a phone call that we got at 2:23 in the morning last night. Georgann and I were sound asleep and the phone rang. Now, you know that when the phone rings at that time in the night that it is either a drunk guy who is dialing the wrong number, or it is bad news. I wish it were the drunk guy...but it wasn't. Michelle called and asked us to pray for Dave Underwood, Jeremy's dad. Apparently, he was pitching in a softball game last night and a line drive decided to make its way to his face. He was rushed to the hospital and may need surgery this morning. And here is the reminder, we live in earthen vessels...or as the NIV puts it: "jars of clay". In other words, we are fragile, fallible people. We are easily broken, and injured, and as we get older we realize that these bodies are breaking down.

And Paul says that this is good thing. Why? Why is it good that we are temporary clay pots? Because these clay pots hold a treasure that is powerful. And if that treasure was contained in something that was strong and infallible then we would start to depend on who we are. I might be tempted to say: "Look at me. Look at how great I am. Look at what I am able to do." This can't happen, though, because deep down we know who we really are. I feel my back hurting when I lift bags of mulch. I see the age spots on my face. More and more I realize that I am temporary. If anything of eternal value is accomplished in this body it is not because of me, it is because of God.

The weird thing is that God entrusts this treasure, this "light in the knowledge of the glory of God" (v6)in such weak creatures. But He does. He knows what He is doing. And why does He do it? So people know that this is a supernatural thing. So people know that what happens through our lives is not something that is even remotely humanly possible. The excellence of the power is totally God...it can't be explained any other way.

So, when I am tempted to take credit, when I even think that I may be capable to doing anything of eternal value in myself, think again. There is no way. It is all God. It will always be God. It will never be me...because I am a jar of clay, a mud pot, an earthen vessel...that has the power and glory of God dwelling inside of me. Wow!

And once again: I am nothing, He is everything, and He wants to use me.

(Please pray for Dave Underwood)

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Letters

2 Cor 3:2 "You are our epistle (letter) written in our hearts, known and read by all men."

I love this. You can see the heart that Paul had for these people. He loved them. He cared deeply for them. He cherished the relationship that they had. Even though he came down on them in his first letter, the reason he came down so hard was because he had such concern for them, and the reason he was so concerned was because of his love. Frankly, if you don't care about someone, you really don't care about what they are doing with their lives. They can live any way that they want to and you could not give a rip. But watch someone you love make dumb decisions, or engage in a counterproductive lifestyle and you want to do something. You want to warn them. You want to take them by the neck and shake them and say: "I love you. Look at what you are doing with your life. I have to warn you because it hurts too much to watch you destroy yourself." This is how Paul felt about the church at Corinth. He loved them so much he called them his epistle...his letter, that was written in his heart.

I am not good at writing letters. It takes time. It takes thought. It takes mental energy. And once you put it down in writing and send it, it is done. Now when I was dating Georgann letter writing was easy. It was our connection. I loved getting letters from her. It gave me a window into what she was thinking, what she was doing, what her life was like. And...letters are better than e-mails (which did not exist when we were dating). I know that I get e-mails all the time about all kinds of stuff. But when I go to the mailbox and pull out a letter that is addressed to me, something inside says: "Wow. I wonder who this is from? I wonder who cared enough to send me a letter."

Paul was saying: "You are our letter. We cared about you so much that we were willing to invest our time, our energy, our gifts into your lives so that what is written is something that all people can read and know." Others could see these people's lives and read and know that these people had been with Paul.

I ask myself: "Who is like that in my life? Who can I say that I have invested time and energy and effort into so that they are a letter that is written on my heart that other people can read and know. This is what discipleship is all about. This is what building one on one relationships is all about. This is what is meant when Paul told Timothy "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Tim 2:2 This is letter writing so that what is revealed in the lives of others is what others have invested in me and others can see it. It is almost like a chain letter. It goes from one to another to another. And, as Paul reveals in the following verses, it is really a letter of Christ written by Holy Spirit in the lives of others.

What letter is God writing through me?

Friday, July 8, 2011

The Smell of Victory

2 Cor 2:14 "Now thanks [be] to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

Two cool things. First, God always leads us in triumph in Christ. I need to let that sink in for a little while. God ALWAYS causes us to be triumphant in Jesus. This faith that we have is not a downer. Rather, it is victory. Victory over all the junk that can bring us down. Victory over temptation, victory over sin, victory over habits, victory over attitudes, victory over guilt, victory over condemnation, victory over insecurity, victory over fear, victory over Satan, victory over self, victory over doubt, victory over expectations, victory over death. God always, always, always causes us to triumph. When I get stuck, when I get defeated I need to go back to this and claim it. God always causes us to triumph...in Christ. This is not something that I can do on my own. This is not drumming up enough will-power to overcome that habit, or sin, or doubt. This is totally on Jesus. He is the One who gained this victory for me. I need to rely upon Him, not myself. I need to trust Him, not my abilities. I need to say: "God, I can't do this but You can.", because it is Christ who has won.

When I was in High School my youth pastor gave me a book called "The Hungry Inherit". I don't remember much about the book, but I do remember this quote: "When I try I fail, but when I trust He succeeds." True. When I try to gain the victory in my own strength, I blow it every time. But when I turn it over to Christ and let go, He brings the success. He brings the victory. He allows me to triumph...ALWAYS.

Second cool thing (kind of)...we stink. Christians have an aroma. It isn't B-O. Rather, it is a sense (scents) that God is present, that His knowledge is where we are. This is something that we carry with us all the time because we are possessors of the Holy Spirit. It is interesting, but I need to remember that I take the Spirit of God with me wherever I go. The result of that is that people are either attracted or repelled. We either smell good or we smell bad. For those who are attracted to life, we smell great. But for those who would rather enjoy this world and the junk in it, we smell really bad. They don't want any part of us. They don't want to be around us
because we are a constant reminder that they are in the presence of a Holy God and they can't handle it. It is clear, we should not be afraid of offending people, because a smell offends naturally. It isn't that we try to do this, it isn't that we want to do this, it is just something that happens when the Spirit of God flows from our lives.

The real concern is: What if we don't smell any longer? What if we blend in? What if we have lost our savor?

God help me to smell like victory.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Secure

Cor 1:21,22 "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

When I read these verses I feel secure. Why? Because God does three things in our lives if we are in Christ. He establishes us, He anoints us and He seals us.

This is Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church. It must have been tough writing the first one. No one likes confrontation. No one likes to get in the face of another person or another group and tell them that they are sinning. Not even Paul. But his first letter teaches us that this is necessary sometimes. If we want to see growth, if we want to see stability, if we want to see holiness in individual lives and the life of churches, we have to be willing to do the hard thing and hold each other accountable. Paul did this. But then, I think he watched the Corinthian church's response to his letter and he thought he needed to write to them again…and this time he starts out with the topic of comforting one another. At the beginning of his first letter he hit them head on with the problem of their division. At the beginning of this letter he starts out with "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." A totally different tone.

Then he writes this: "We are established. We are anointed. We are sealed." He was telling the Corinthian church they both they and he (he uses the word 'us') are secure. And so are we…so am I. Why should they feel secure? Why should I feel secure? Because here is the trinity Christ, God and the Holy Spirit all involved in this work. And we are established. We are firm. We will not be moved. We are anointed. God has placed His hand on us and we have been given gifts confirming who we are. We are His and He is working through us. And we are sealed. This is like when they used to take wax and press the king's ring into the wax when a decree was issued. It was confirmed. There was no doubt that this was something that the king wanted and would be done. So it is with us. God has placed His eternal mark in our lives and His work will be done in and through us. We are a sure thing in His kingdom and nothing can change that.

Just to be sure, however, Paul uses one more word: guarantee. The actual word is "earnest" or down payment. In contract law this is called "consideration". It is what is given as a pledge that this thing will absolutely be done. Here Paul is saying that the Holy Spirit is God's down payment, consideration, guarantee. Absolutely nothing can change our relationship with Him…and I am thankful.

Talk about security. Talk about eternal security. There is no doubt. We are eternally secure in Christ because the Trinity, working together, has established us, anointed us and sealed us. It is guaranteed. Thank God.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Wrapping it Up


I Cor 16:13,14 "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."


It is always interesting to me to see what someone says at the end of their letter. It is an indication of what is really important to them. You know, "Oh, and by the way, before I forget, here is one more thing." It is something that they want people to remember. This is something that happens at the end of conversations as well…at least at my house. My wife will call me at work and sometimes the last thing she says is something like: "Now don't forget to call the insurance guy." I know that this has been on her mind the whole time but she saves it to the end so I don't forget. (Which I do anyway.)


Paul was like this. There was something that he did not want this church to forget so he saved it until the end. He already had said it throughout the letter, but he thought that he might get it in one last time. You know, he said before to be steadfast. He said before let everything you do be done for edification and love each other. He is just hitting some of this stuff again. What does he say?


Watch. Pay attention. Be vigilant. After all, this was a church that let some things slip. They had to be on their guard. Remember: "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 10:12 Be careful.


Stand fast in the faith. Persevere in the faith. Be steadfast. Don't let what is going on around you either in the church (because things were messed up there and they can get messed up now) or in culture sway you from the truth.


Be brave. The actual translation is: Be a man. Man up. Don't be a wimp. All kinds of adversaries were swirling around Paul and he was moving forward. (v9) Do the same in the face of opposition.


Be strong. Grow in your strength. How does this happen? Exercise. Work out. Challenge yourself.


Do everything in love. Even though you have to watch and stand fast, and be brave, and be strong, make sure that this happens…every act, every word, every attitude…let it be done in love. (I Cor 13)


These are good words for the church today as well. It seems like there are many adversaries and they seem to be getting louder and bolder every day. In our society, we all have to be tolerant. We all have to accept one another. We all have to listen to one another's ideas…unless you are a Christian. Bible believing Christians are open game. So those of us who are Bible believing Christians need to watch and stand fast in our faith and be brave and be strong. And above all, we have to do everything in love. That is the difference maker. That is what sets us apart. (John 13:34,35) That is what is going to be the real witness to the world.


The idea of challenging myself hits me. What am I doing that exercises my faith? What am I doing that is hard and stretches me? My sister is going on a missions trip by herself to Guyana on Friday. Am I willing to do something like that? Be open.



Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Steadfast

I Cor 15:58 "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

I always loved this verse because it is such a shot in the arm when you start to get weary in ministry. But I never considered its context. This seems to be such a weird verse at the end of chapter 15.

Paul was just giving the Corinthian church a lesson on the resurrection. Apparently, not only did the Corinthian church have problems with behavior, but they also had problems with doctrine. There were some in that church who claimed that there was no resurrection from the dead. I am guessing that these were people who came over from the Saduceean belief that there was no resurrection. There is only one problem with that. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus didn't raise and if Jesus didn't raise then why in the world were they even meeting as a church? The whole basis for the Christian faith would be out the window. No resurrection, no living Savior. No living Savior, no hope, no forgiveness…total futility. But then comes this verse: "But now Christ is risen from the dead…". In other words, it doesn't really matter what some of you think, the truth is the truth and Jesus is alive. Paul saw Him, James saw Him, the apostles saw Him, 500 saw Him, the disciples saw Him, Peter saw Him. This was uncontroverted truth because there were so many people who witnessed Jesus alive after He died. And frankly, Paul's life was in jeopardy all the time because of this fact. If it wasn't true, why in the world risk death? But Paul did. In fact, everyday he knew that He could die because of what He was proclaiming. (vs30,31)

So how does verse 58 fit into all of this? Why be steadfast? Why be immovable? Why always overflow in God's business…even in the face of opposition? Because what they did was not going to go to waste. And why is that? Because Jesus is alive.

When I get tired, when I start to feel like I am burning out in doing God's business come back to this…Jesus is alive and because He is alive what I am attempting to do in His kingdom will not be in vain. So be steadfast…firm, be immovable…persistent, and abound and excel in God's work. When it is all said and done, because Jesus is alive, I will get to see results. He will do it because He lives and is still at work even now in 2011.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Excel in Edification

I Cor 14:12, 26b "Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel...Let all things be done for edification."

Edification. That's a word you don't hear much anymore. The word means to "build up, to promote another's growth". I think our idea of building up is to encourage each other. To support one another with uplifting words. That is nice, and we need to do that, but I think we miss the main point of edification…of building up. It is not just encouraging the other guy. It is actually working to make the other guy better. It is striving to promote their growth.

We are so growth centered in the church. But most of the time, we talk about it in terms of "me". How can I grow? Give me the tools that I need to grow. What can I do to get better? Paul was telling the church in Corinth that everything that they do should not be done for their own personal growth, but for the growth of others. It is not a "me centered" approach. It is an "other's centered" perspective. What can I do to help other people grow? What can I do to help my worship team grow? What can I do to help the guys I minister with grow? What can I do to promote their success? Paul said as we use our spiritual gifts, we need to use them in all things with this perspective in mind.

Not only that, but I love the word "excel". It means "to exceed a fixed number or measure". It is the over and above approach. What can I do to help my wife grow? Do more. What can I do to help my kids grow? Do more. What can I do to help my pastors grow? Do more. What can I do to help other believers grow? Do more. Frankly, this isn't easy because it requires thought. It requires planning. It requires asking questions. It requires intentionality. It is not just floating (which I am good at) and hoping that growth will take place. It is a purposeful act on my part to see others grow.

Just think if everyone in the church had this mindset. Amazing stuff would happen.

I need to excel in edification. I am going to get started by asking questions, and then hopefully following through.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Parade

I Cor 13:4-7 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

The 13th chapter of Corinthians is well known. Both those who read the Bible and those who don't are familiar with it. If you have ever gone to a wedding in your life, you probably have heard these words. So what is so striking about these four verses that I picked out today? What hit me? "Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up." That is what hit me. Why? Because, confession time, I have a desire to parade myself. Really? Yep. This guy hides it well, but inside, I want to be discovered. I want people to look at me and say: "There's Glen Richardson…". I remember that years ago a few of us guys formed "The Ohio Family Rights Association." This was to be a big deal thing, and I am afraid that my motivation was not the purest. I wanted to be known. (It fell through.) The problem is, I still find myself with this mindset. I find it as I blog...thinking that someone will read this and say: "This guy is good." I find myself in this mindset at church…especially after last week and people's kindness after I preached. (No wonder I don't do this more often.) I find myself in this mindset at work. Just yesterday another attorney came up to me and congratulated me on a case that I had won in the Court of Appeals. My response? "Was it in the green book?" (That is a publication that goes out to attorneys to tell them about significant case law.) Why was that my response? Because my name would get out there. Dumb. The thing that I have to realize is that this attitude is not based in love. It is based in selfishness. I have to constantly fight this desire to be recognized. If it happens it has to be a God thing and if it happens, I have to think nothing of it. Instead, God help me, I have to walk in love and not seek it, not desire it, not pursue it. No agents. No PR firms. No spokespeople. Frankly, the only PR firm I should need is the one that God is running in heaven. If He wants it, it will happen, and only when I can handle it. In the meantime, grow. Let Him teach me. Let Him mold my life and be willing to do what I do in obscurity. (In fact, should I even keep this blog going?)

The other thing that hit me about this chapter is how selfless love is. Patient, kind, not envious, not self seeking, not proud, not rude, not easily provoked, does not think the worse, rejoices in truth not evil, bears, believes, hopes, endures all things. I know that when I am loving, this stuff happens. But when I am concerned about me I am not patient, or kind. I can get testy. I don't think positively about people. I know that we talk about this stuff as a group of leaders at church. The question we constantly ask ourselves is: "Is that attitude loving? Does it think the best or the worst?" We have to love. We have to exemplify love. We have to live love. When we do, it will come out in how we respond to others and our response will always be selfless.

I have a long way to go.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Gifts

I Cor 12:1 4-7 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant...There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."

There are three chapters in the New Testament that I think are huge when it comes to the life of the church. Rom 12, I Cor 12 and Eph 4. All of them deal in some way with the church, the unity of the body, the importance of each member toward each other and the gifting of each believer. I Cor 12 hits this subject with the most depth.

I love how Paul starts this chapter: "I don't want you to be ignorant about this thing called spiritual gifts." The word for ignorant means: not know, not understand, be wrong. In other words, taking it in the opposite Paul was saying: "I want you to know, understand and be right about spiritual gifts in the church." This was important to him. This was important to the church. It was important for people to get a handle on this so that there was no division, so that everyone exercised their gift for the profit of all in the body.

Unfortunately, sometimes I think that we either avoid this subject because we are unsure of it, or we don't want to emphasize it because of the misuse of "spiritual gift inventories"…tests that you take to discover your gift. I think that this is wrong on both counts. We can't ignore this subject. We can't avoid this subject. We can't just hope that people will understand this subject by osmosis. Paul knew that people were not going to get it without solid teaching, and he said: "I want you to understand this and practice it properly."

In the church there are different gifts, ministries and activities. All you have to do is look at our church calendar and you will see that there are all kinds of things going on. I remember when our church first started. There were basically 2 ministries. The Sunday morning service and nursery. That was it. Now I can count more than 35 ministries. I am grateful for how God has worked and how people have plugged in. There is truly a diversity of ministries and activities…but they all have to be fueled by gifted people. People who have been given supernatural abilities by the Spirit of God. The key? It is the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God who does the work in all of us and we should all work in harmony for the profit of all. We all have to understand that it is Spirit of God who does this work. This is not something that comes naturally. It is not something that we simply say: "Oh, I have been naturally given this talent so I am going to use it." That is important and should be used, but God has done something else in each believer: He has given each one of us gifts that we need to realize, understand and use in the body of Christ. We need each other…and we need to teach it.