I've been going through bins of papers (you'd be surprised what a pack rat I can be) and came across a healthy stack of notes from various sermons and bible studies. I can't possibly throw these away without first capturing their goodness somewhere. So I chose here. Enjoy.
Make Us One - Craig Groeschel (a great author by the way) - Heard via satellite at Summit Church Orlando, June 29, 2008.
Father, in heaven, make us one - [paraphrased from John 17:20-24 (ESV) "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that that may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world."]
As Christians we must recognize that we all have one enemy. This enemy is not each other although with all the fighting amongst churches it certainly seems like it as times. No, this enemy is the devil, Satan, evil, whatever you want to call him, it is the same nonetheless. Sadly, we so often focus on what we don't like that other Christians are doing that we lose sight of all that Satan is doing. We focus on what other Christians are saying that doesn't agree with what we say and we lose sight of the lies Satan is telling. We have division in the Church and it is costing us dearly.
Di-Vision....a dividing of our vision, a dividing of the vision Christ gave us when He gave us our one purpose, when He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV) As Jesus said "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls." (Luke 11:17 ESV) What are we doing as Christians to keep our household from falling? Or instead, are we doing something to weaken its foundation? Do we lift one another up, in spite of our differences, or do we tear each other down. Do we focus on the one thing we have in common: the belief in a risen Lord, and on our one purpose: to share the Gospel? Or do we focus on differences that, in the grand scheme of things, don't really matter but that when focused upon have the power to weaken us and do much damage to our mission as a Church?
The solution to a divided Church? One heart and one soul. In Acts we read about the followers of Christ who 'had everything in common'. "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common....There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." (Acts 4:32,34,35 ESV) Wow...imagine if that type of society existed today. It would be called socialism I'm sure and yet here it is in the Bible. (I know....a topic for another discussion, another time.) While we may not be able to have the same type of system today (due to a variety of reasons too numerous to list here) we can glean a worthwhile concept. We are called to care for one another, to support one another, and to meet each other's needs. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love on another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35 ESV) What is love without action? Nothing. The world will see that we love Christ when we love the world.
May we never forget our one enemy and that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. [Jesus] came that [we] may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10 ESV) "[Our] adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ESV) As Christians, may we set aside our trivial differences and join together in this fight against the enemy. May we have one heart and soul so that together we may we show the world God's undeniable love through our unity with one another. Amen.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
WALKING in the Light
Both of my 'e-mail' devotions this morning dealt with the topic of walking with Christ. Both mentioned the privilege and blessing we have of a real relationship with a real God. Both talked about Christ as the light going into the darkness. Both talked about the courage we must have to follow Christ, to trust in the Holy Spirit's leading.
A coincidence, I think not. God knows that I need to hear things and see things clearly. That sometimes I'm a little slow. Although He's a God that whispers, thankfully He uses methods that comes across loud and clear.
May we all be bold to walk in the light, surrounded by God's undeniable love, everyday. Amen.
Below are the texts of both devotionals:
January 18, 2011
Walking with God - Charles Stanley
Genesis 6 Once we receive Jesus as Savior, His Spirit indwells us permanently. Yet there is a difference between having salvation and actually walking with the Lord. Being saved involves the forgiveness of sin and the blessing of an eternal security, while walking with God is a privilege that we live out day to day.
To understand this idea more fully, let's consider the example of Noah, a man Genesis 6:9 identifies as one who followed the Lord in this way--that is, he lived by faith. Surely he did not understand God's direction to build an ark. After all, there had never even been any rain--let alone a cataclysmic deluge. Until the flood, mist would rise from the ground to nourish vegetation. But because the Almighty spoke, Noah believed and obeyed.
For us, walking by faith need not mean something as monumental as saving wildlife from destruction. Instead, it's likely to involve something more commonplace, like living with godly priorities, spending time in the Word, or holding to God's values in a world that belittles them. In fact, it is frequently when there is no crisis or quandary to motivate us that our true character is revealed. When we are faithful with the simple, mundane things, our heavenly Father will entrust us with more.
Believing God and acting accordingly is an important aspect of following Him. Do you have such trust that you obey even when His directions are difficult or confusing? Ask Him to increase your faith, and renew your commitment to follow wherever He leads.
A coincidence, I think not. God knows that I need to hear things and see things clearly. That sometimes I'm a little slow. Although He's a God that whispers, thankfully He uses methods that comes across loud and clear.
May we all be bold to walk in the light, surrounded by God's undeniable love, everyday. Amen.
Below are the texts of both devotionals:
Walking with God - Charles Stanley
Genesis 6
To understand this idea more fully, let's consider the example of Noah, a man Genesis 6:9 identifies as one who followed the Lord in this way--that is, he lived by faith. Surely he did not understand God's direction to build an ark. After all, there had never even been any rain--let alone a cataclysmic deluge. Until the flood, mist would rise from the ground to nourish vegetation. But because the Almighty spoke, Noah believed and obeyed.
For us, walking by faith need not mean something as monumental as saving wildlife from destruction. Instead, it's likely to involve something more commonplace, like living with godly priorities, spending time in the Word, or holding to God's values in a world that belittles them. In fact, it is frequently when there is no crisis or quandary to motivate us that our true character is revealed. When we are faithful with the simple, mundane things, our heavenly Father will entrust us with more.
Believing God and acting accordingly is an important aspect of following Him. Do you have such trust that you obey even when His directions are difficult or confusing? Ask Him to increase your faith, and renew your commitment to follow wherever He leads.
Walk in the Light -January 17, 2011 by Ronnie McBrayer
Leo Tolstoy once compared religious rules to the light given off by a lamp post. It is a bright light. It dispels the darkness. As long as man or woman stood in that light, he or she could see. But the lamp post had limitations, Tolstoy said. To remain in the light meant going no where. One had to stay put to remain in the light. But following Jesus, Tolstoy said, was like a light or lantern fixed to a pole. A person could carry that pole out in front of him and travel anywhere he liked. Tolstoy never held a flashlight, I am sure, but we have and can understand the analogy that way: To remain a rule-keeper, is to remain under a street light. To follow Christ, is to take a flashlight in hand, and go somewhere – to explore, to pierce the dark, to have a faith that is dynamic, not static.
Much of the church is locked into keeping the rules. Therefore, they stand in their little circle of light, unmovable and fixed like a stone, barking at the street traffic as it moves along and cursing the darkness. They have light, but the light does not serve them well. They might as soon be chained to a post; they are imprisoned, not growing or going anywhere. Religious rules, or to use biblical language, “The Law,” has been eclipsed by Jesus. Written words have been improved upon. Yes, the rules were all we had, once upon a time, but now we have something better – we have Jesus himself – showing us the way.
Up to the coming of Jesus, the faithful followed religious codes to please or pursue God; that was their understanding of faith. But religious rules could not give life or spiritual freedom. While the law was instructive and useful, ultimately, it could only constrict and confine. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “The letter (the rules) kills;” it can’t give life. Now, I know to think of spirituality without rules is a radical departure for many of us who have based our entire connection to God on rule keeping, “being good,” measuring up, and following the jot and tittle of every bit of religious instruction. Of course, when we failed to live up to these demands, and failure was inevitable, we were swamped with guilt, fear, and shame.
Enough of that, for that is not the way of Jesus. Christianity is not a heavy obligation to stagnant, inanimate rules, handed down from the mountain and engraved in stone. Rather, Christianity is the free enjoyment of a relationship with a living person. This is Good News: God, who is now present in Christ, calls people of faith to follow Jesus, not to follow the rules. This is the liberation so many of us have been longing for.
While traveling once, I had two different sets of directions on how to get to where I was going. On the dashboard was a crumpled set of written directions. They were coffee stained, had notes scribbled on them, and unknown to me, did not match recent road construction. The other set of directions were being called out to me from a GPS system. As I neared my destination there was a terrible conflict. My written directions began to fail me. Following them to the letter, I reached a point that they no longer worked. The streets the written direction told me to take just weren’t there – either that or their names had been changed.
Meanwhile the voice of the GPS was saying things like: “Prepare to make a right turn…When possible, make a legal U-turn.” But I kept driving according to my written directions even though it was obvious they no longer worked. Finally, I had to make a leap of faith. I accepted the fact that my written directions had taken me as far as they could, and now, to get to where I needed to be, I had to listen to the personal voice, now calling me. And that Voice was right all along. Monday, January 17, 2011
Come and See
At Church yesterday the message was from John, when the Disciple Andrew and another disciple see Jesus for the first time after he is baptized. They ask Jesus where he is staying and he says, "Come and you will see." Little did they know he was calling them not just to see where he was staying that night but where he stood in life, his beliefs, how he saw the world. (John 1:39)
Come and See.....isn't that what we as a Church are supposed to say to those around us that don't know Christ. Come and see how good God is, how merciful God is, how full of joy you'll be, how patient and gracious and loving He is. Come and see, I'll show you through my life. You'll see through the way I live how much God loves you.
Will they? Do our lives reflect the undeniable love of Christ to those around us?
In the past five months I've been exposed to what seems like an increased amount of death and sadness on both a personal and global level. Fathers died. Moms got sick. Babies died. Children died. Teenagers went missing. Homes were destroyed. People were robbed. Useless violence persisted. The darkness goes on and on. The darkness will continue to go on until the light shines brighter. I've said this before but I'll repeat it - more for myself than anyone else: The darkness remains and spreads because the light does not shine. For me, this is the easiest, clearest, simplest reminder of our job as Christ followers - to shine His light.
Just sitting in church yesterday I grew frustrated. All around me were people who claim to follow Christ, claim to love Him, claim to have surrendered their lives to His plan for them - myself included. All across the nation were thousands of other people just like us. Sitting in warm churches, our tummies filled from coffee and donuts, our voices warm from singing, and our hearts full of Christ's love (hopefully). But then...does it stop when we exit the church doors? I have to think for some of us it must (including myself here again). If it didn't then I don't see how it's possible that darkness could remain let alone continue to spread.
My prayer this new year is that ALL those who claim to know Christ will step up to the plate and love like Christ. And if we're not willing to do that I pray that we won't profess false claims....for that, perhaps, could do more damage than darkness itself. The Christian who claims to love but clearly isn't loving is a dangerous weapon indeed.
May we all pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the boldness of Christ to share God's undeniable love with those all around us. So that then people, who need God more than anything else in their life, may truly 'come and see. Amen.
Come and See.....isn't that what we as a Church are supposed to say to those around us that don't know Christ. Come and see how good God is, how merciful God is, how full of joy you'll be, how patient and gracious and loving He is. Come and see, I'll show you through my life. You'll see through the way I live how much God loves you.
Will they? Do our lives reflect the undeniable love of Christ to those around us?
In the past five months I've been exposed to what seems like an increased amount of death and sadness on both a personal and global level. Fathers died. Moms got sick. Babies died. Children died. Teenagers went missing. Homes were destroyed. People were robbed. Useless violence persisted. The darkness goes on and on. The darkness will continue to go on until the light shines brighter. I've said this before but I'll repeat it - more for myself than anyone else: The darkness remains and spreads because the light does not shine. For me, this is the easiest, clearest, simplest reminder of our job as Christ followers - to shine His light.
Just sitting in church yesterday I grew frustrated. All around me were people who claim to follow Christ, claim to love Him, claim to have surrendered their lives to His plan for them - myself included. All across the nation were thousands of other people just like us. Sitting in warm churches, our tummies filled from coffee and donuts, our voices warm from singing, and our hearts full of Christ's love (hopefully). But then...does it stop when we exit the church doors? I have to think for some of us it must (including myself here again). If it didn't then I don't see how it's possible that darkness could remain let alone continue to spread.
My prayer this new year is that ALL those who claim to know Christ will step up to the plate and love like Christ. And if we're not willing to do that I pray that we won't profess false claims....for that, perhaps, could do more damage than darkness itself. The Christian who claims to love but clearly isn't loving is a dangerous weapon indeed.
May we all pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the boldness of Christ to share God's undeniable love with those all around us. So that then people, who need God more than anything else in their life, may truly 'come and see. Amen.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Baptism Sunday
I attended a Lutheran church today; it was ‘Baptism of the Lord’ Sunday. Part of the service included a Baptismal Renewal Litany which I thought was a good reminder of the relationship we enter into with Christ once baptized. I’m recounting a portion of the litany below.
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth...
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the God the Father Almighty. He will come again to judge the living and dead...
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting....
Baptism in not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word....
In Baptism God forgives sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what he has promised....
It is not water that does great things, but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word. Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit....
Baptizing with water indicates that the Old Adam in us – our sinful nature, should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new person should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever....
It is my earnest purpose to continue steadfast in this faith and in the promise of my baptism. I ask God to help and guide me....
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given me the new birth of water and of the Sprint and has forgiven me all my sins, strengthen me with His grace to life everlasting. Amen."
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
My Prayer....
My prayer is that I become the person God, in all His glory, created me to be. My prayer is that God shapes me and forms be to be like Him and His precious, ever loving Son. These are hard prayers; especially when God takes you up on it.
My own ability to criticize, judge, and blatantly think I know better than the next person amazes me at time. Thankfully, God is a polite, gentle, understanding God. He teaches me lessons one-on-one rather than in front of a large group. (Most of the time.) He teaches me lessons in little ways rather than big wammies. (Most of the time.) He teaches me lessons because He knows me better than myself. (All of the time.) He teaches me lessons because He loves me. (All of the time.)
I know these lessons are for my own good, so in spite of the pain and yes, the self-embarrassment, I will continue to pray these prayers. I will continue to strive to live like Christ. I will continue to go against the flow. I will continue to take a stand. I will continue to rely on God's Word and no one else's. And when I fail, which I will do, I will continue to get back up and take His hand, which He lovingly extends to me, to us all.
My own ability to criticize, judge, and blatantly think I know better than the next person amazes me at time. Thankfully, God is a polite, gentle, understanding God. He teaches me lessons one-on-one rather than in front of a large group. (Most of the time.) He teaches me lessons in little ways rather than big wammies. (Most of the time.) He teaches me lessons because He knows me better than myself. (All of the time.) He teaches me lessons because He loves me. (All of the time.)
I know these lessons are for my own good, so in spite of the pain and yes, the self-embarrassment, I will continue to pray these prayers. I will continue to strive to live like Christ. I will continue to go against the flow. I will continue to take a stand. I will continue to rely on God's Word and no one else's. And when I fail, which I will do, I will continue to get back up and take His hand, which He lovingly extends to me, to us all.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Life...
Much has happened in my life since I last posted. While I don't normally include a lot of personal details on this blog, mostly just thoughts, the events over the past few months seem too big to exclude. I'll share the extremely short version here.
After five months of working for my father in a new town, 2,000 miles away from my old town, my friends, and my family, my dad passed away from a sudden heart attack. He was 53 years old.
How do I explain that type of loss? I can't. From those around me I've heard the inevitable question: How could a loving God take a man away from his family so soon? How do I answer that question? I can't. What I can do though is continue to rely on the strength of the Lord, continue to walk on the faith that has never failed me before, and continue to love those around me as they move through their own stages of grief.
My God is bigger than death. I know this as a fact. My God is bigger than life on this Earth. I know that as a fact. When someone I love moves from earth to death, the pain is still there. But my God is bigger than my pain. I know this, although I may not always feel it.
Over the months since my father's death, my heart has healed somewhat. More important, my heart has grown. The love that I experienced from those around me and from those 2,000 miles away is the love of Christ. I hope to share that love as I continue down my path, as I continue fulfilling God's purpose for me. While I can't explain the events in my life, I know that if I let Him, God will use them to sanctify me, to make me more like Him.
I don't know why my dad died. But I do know my God is good, all the time. I know His love is true, all the time. So in the darkness of the night when sadness washes over me, I will cling to His light. I will cling to His life that He shares with me, and I will live for Him in spite of it all.
After five months of working for my father in a new town, 2,000 miles away from my old town, my friends, and my family, my dad passed away from a sudden heart attack. He was 53 years old.
How do I explain that type of loss? I can't. From those around me I've heard the inevitable question: How could a loving God take a man away from his family so soon? How do I answer that question? I can't. What I can do though is continue to rely on the strength of the Lord, continue to walk on the faith that has never failed me before, and continue to love those around me as they move through their own stages of grief.
My God is bigger than death. I know this as a fact. My God is bigger than life on this Earth. I know that as a fact. When someone I love moves from earth to death, the pain is still there. But my God is bigger than my pain. I know this, although I may not always feel it.
Over the months since my father's death, my heart has healed somewhat. More important, my heart has grown. The love that I experienced from those around me and from those 2,000 miles away is the love of Christ. I hope to share that love as I continue down my path, as I continue fulfilling God's purpose for me. While I can't explain the events in my life, I know that if I let Him, God will use them to sanctify me, to make me more like Him.
I don't know why my dad died. But I do know my God is good, all the time. I know His love is true, all the time. So in the darkness of the night when sadness washes over me, I will cling to His light. I will cling to His life that He shares with me, and I will live for Him in spite of it all.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I Know I'm Filled to Be Emptied Again...
"I know I'm filled to be emptied again, the seed I've received I will sow." This is a line from the Desert Song by the group Hillsong. I love the entire song, listen to it here, but this line in particularly speaks to me.
In my life I've gone through ebbs and flows, valleys and peaks in my relationship with God. I've always (or for as long as I can remember) known there was a God and for the most part I've believed in Him and His goodness. Although there were certainly times when I didn't place my full trust in Him, that all changed about 7 years ago. I really started living FOR Him about 5 years ago.
Since truly, 100%, all out, no turning back dedicating my life to Jesus, the experience has been wonderful, the freedom amazing, and the change in my life phenomenal. God is full of blessings and love and friendship and joy and the list goes on. So if He's so wonderful, and fabulous, and amazing (and He is) then why would I ever not stay right next to Him?
If I'm honest with myself, there are times when I certainly don't spend the time in His word or with Him in prayer that I should to maintain our relationship. We've all heard this before. Just like any relationship, our relationship with God requires maintenance on both sides. Well, God is flawless so He always fulfills His end of the deal....it's us that struggle with time management, laziness, selfishness, and a host of other thorns in our flesh....or maybe that's just me.
Anyways, I've gotten somewhat off track. My point with the line from the Desert Song by Hillsong is that there are seasons in my life where I feel farther away from God. I would say at times I am in one of those seasons now. I'm in a place (physically, emotionally, and mentally) that I've never been before. I no longer have my group of friends to hold me accountable, a home church to keep me regular in worship, an accepted and recognized place in my community, or my dear sisters-in-Christ to meet and pray and cry and laugh in the Holy Spirit's presence (thank God for the telephone).
My point though is that in spite of the valleys I may find myself in, I believe that I have been filled at other points in my life so that I may be emptied at this point. There have been times in my life where I have been overflowing with the presence of the Lord and the effects of His presence. I know I'm still in the presence of the Lord now since He is always with us and promises to never leave us, but it is those times of fulfillment in the past that push me through these times of scarcity now.
Does any of this make sense? All in all, I'm so thankful for the undeniable love of our God. The blessings He shares and the amazing plan He has for our lives. I know I am exactly where He desires me to be. I know He is using me even if I don't realize it or can't see it in tangible ways. I know that all of the seeds I've received in the past are being sown now....and that there will be a time when I will be filled again so that once again I may be emptied for the mighty purpose of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
In my life I've gone through ebbs and flows, valleys and peaks in my relationship with God. I've always (or for as long as I can remember) known there was a God and for the most part I've believed in Him and His goodness. Although there were certainly times when I didn't place my full trust in Him, that all changed about 7 years ago. I really started living FOR Him about 5 years ago.
Since truly, 100%, all out, no turning back dedicating my life to Jesus, the experience has been wonderful, the freedom amazing, and the change in my life phenomenal. God is full of blessings and love and friendship and joy and the list goes on. So if He's so wonderful, and fabulous, and amazing (and He is) then why would I ever not stay right next to Him?
If I'm honest with myself, there are times when I certainly don't spend the time in His word or with Him in prayer that I should to maintain our relationship. We've all heard this before. Just like any relationship, our relationship with God requires maintenance on both sides. Well, God is flawless so He always fulfills His end of the deal....it's us that struggle with time management, laziness, selfishness, and a host of other thorns in our flesh....or maybe that's just me.
Anyways, I've gotten somewhat off track. My point with the line from the Desert Song by Hillsong is that there are seasons in my life where I feel farther away from God. I would say at times I am in one of those seasons now. I'm in a place (physically, emotionally, and mentally) that I've never been before. I no longer have my group of friends to hold me accountable, a home church to keep me regular in worship, an accepted and recognized place in my community, or my dear sisters-in-Christ to meet and pray and cry and laugh in the Holy Spirit's presence (thank God for the telephone).
My point though is that in spite of the valleys I may find myself in, I believe that I have been filled at other points in my life so that I may be emptied at this point. There have been times in my life where I have been overflowing with the presence of the Lord and the effects of His presence. I know I'm still in the presence of the Lord now since He is always with us and promises to never leave us, but it is those times of fulfillment in the past that push me through these times of scarcity now.
Does any of this make sense? All in all, I'm so thankful for the undeniable love of our God. The blessings He shares and the amazing plan He has for our lives. I know I am exactly where He desires me to be. I know He is using me even if I don't realize it or can't see it in tangible ways. I know that all of the seeds I've received in the past are being sown now....and that there will be a time when I will be filled again so that once again I may be emptied for the mighty purpose of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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