December 21, 2010 · 12:53 pm

Christmas is “Good News”

Christmas is “Good News.”

Luke 2:10-13 – And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Jesus came into the world to bring good news to all mankind. The good news banishes fear and gives everlasting peace by way of Salvation and not a part from it.

This word for Good News was EUONGELION. When the men of the village were off in battle the warriors would often send messengers back home to share news with the village. Most often the news was “good news” as they had a desire to keep the morale and the hopes of the people alive and fresh. In many cases the messenger would bring news that victory had been won over their enemies or the messenger would proclaim the death of an opponent.

Some historians say that the Jews would greet each other with the phrase “Have you heard any EUONGALION?” You see they longed for a Messiah, one who would save them. In them was this longing to see the coming Messiah.

That is why the words that the angel Gabriel brought to the shepherds that day was so important. Gabriel came as a messenger to proclaim the Good News that victory had been won and that peace was coming to the world. Victory would be won and peace would come through the birth of the baby Jesus would be their Messiah.

While the God News brings so much into the life of the believer please note two important results of the Good News:

  • It banishes fear – fear not
  • It gives everlasting peace – peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased.

God has created us in such a way that fear is a wake-up call. It arouses awareness of danger; it puts us on high alert. Yet it can also do just the opposite, overwhelming us and diminishing our alertness. Neuroscience links fear to the amygdala in the lower, primitive brain. This small structure scouts for trouble and in detecting it, sounds an alarm and jerks multiple neural cords. As it reacts quickly to the threat, it ignores fine distinctions and uses generalizations. Its strength is rapid processing, and its weakness is lack of precision. With extreme fear, noradrenaline flushes through the body, initially producing intense vigilance, but then flooding the brain and riveting attention on the object of fear. Now the fearful person can hardly shift attention elsewhere. Tunnel vision occurs. Fear takes over, overwhelming the imaginative capacities and advanced reasoning. The fearful one becomes locked into the present and loses the ability to envision something other than what is now threatening. Reality is pruned to the senses, to the synapses mediating fear, to the paralyzing moment.

But Christ comes as the Good News to banish fear. The angels said fear not. How often are we gripped with fear and other such emotions that tend to deter us from living out life as we ought to?

Fear has been a part of mankind’s psychic seen the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But in reality nothing has changed today! People are still caught in the grip of their fears, and this is even true during the Christmas Season, a time that should be joyous, happy and totally Christ-centered. We fear not having enough money, of not meeting everyone’s expectations; we worry over meals, over who will be there and who will not. We just seem to fear everything.

But Jesus came to banish fear, e.g. that unhealthy fear that binds us and prevents us from enjoying life.

Three times in the Christmas story Jesus spoke the words, “Fear not.”

  • Mary – Luke 1:30 – Do not be afraid – This spoke to the fear of God’s providence and what He is working out in us. Mary could have been afraid of what people would think of her and she could have been afraid of rejection which often occurred in that time when one conceived a baby out of wedlock.
  • Joseph – Matthew 1:20 – Do not fear to take Mary as your wife – This spoke to the fear of immediate obedience. Joseph was called on by God to accept this assignment of being the father of Jesus. While he had every right to leave Mary and refuse to marry her, He did the right thing.
  • The shepherds – Do not fear God’s presentation and call – These men were the outcasts of the land. The shepherds performed the lowest of duties and responsibilities. God came to the lowest so that there is a recognition that all can come to Christ.

The Good News gives everlasting peace – peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased. This is a peace that cannot be manufacturer but it must be received as a gift from God. This peace is not an absence of problems or difficulties but it is the recognition that God is present regardless of the problem.

Illustration of Peace – Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner. The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.  A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. 

This painting won as it illustrates the fact that peace is not the absence of turmoil but the recognition that God is there.

The scriptures themselves echo this message when in Isaiah 26:3 states that you (God) keeps him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. This peace is beyond human understanding, as we keep our minds stayed on Jesus and our eyes fixed on Him. Such peace is in a heart that is trouble free and unafraid regardless how difficult the trials and circumstances of life may be.

The fact is no matter the trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger you face, by the power of His Spirit living in you, you can continue to abide in His peace. You can face death, persecutions, the darts of Satan, present difficulties, and future uncertainties confident of His abiding presence and sustaining grace.

Philippians 4:5B-7 The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Are you afraid today? Do you lack peace? Pray and ask God to touch your life and bring you to a place where you can trust Him, for it is in trusting God that we minimize fear and dread in our life.

Visit pccministry.org for the complete audio of this message.

 

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December 16, 2010 · 9:02 pm

Christmas Is Worship

Christmas is Worship

 Text: Matthew 2:1-11

 The Christmas season is about worship and adoration to the “King of the Jews” who came to bring salvation and hope to all mankind.

 It is amazing how society has made this season about buying and giving gifts when in reality it is about worship and adoration to the King of Kings who came to earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

In the passage we read this morning we see five great truths about Christmas as a season of worship.

Who were the Magi? They were wise men who were astronomers and philosophers. God used their love of the stars to draw them to the place where Christ lay.

1. Jesus is the Messiah, the King of Jews, and should be honored that way. In V2 the wise men ask this profound question – Where is He who was born the King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and we have come to worship Him.

This question is profound because they are asking Herod this question. It had been Herod who had proclaimed himself as the king of the Jews for almost 40 years. But no one could call Herod Messiah, the long awaited God-anointed ruler who would overcome all rule and bring an end to history and establish the kingdom of God and never die or lose His reign. 

The fact is no one can take the place of Messiah God who is King of all the earth. And Christ is no ordinary man, teacher or prophet, He is the Son of the Living God who came to turn the world upside down – not as a warrior but in the innocence of a baby. You see this was important because in Jesus he was not just a king but He was the Messiah.

For the Jewish people the promise of a Messiah, redeemer, was what they longed for. The story is told that the Jewish people of that day would greet each other with the words “have you heard any good news?” They longed for their Messiah who would redeem the world and rescue them form the bondage and turmoil they faced.

The Magi recognized the fulfillment of prophecy and they had come to worship him. The Magi recognized what Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:17 recognized that Jesus should be worshipped as King when Timothy stated that to the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2. Jesus is to be worshipped by all of the nations and not just the Jews as represented by the Magi coming to worship Him.

Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus did not come to save a select few but he came that the whole world might be saved. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.

It is God’s desire to today that all mankind turn to Him and worship Him. This is regardless of their background and ethnicity. With this thought in mind it behooves us to understand that we too must take Christ to all of the world. We must deal with our innate biases that steer our thoughts and efforts away from loving the world.

3. God will do whatever it takes to make His Son known and worshipped. This is the heart of God.

 V2 – For we saw His star when it rose and we have come to worship Him.

 It is not clear how the wise men saw the star or how God used the star to draw them to the place where Jesus lay. In fact, we must be careful and not over think this as we will miss the truth that they were led by a star to the place where Jesus lay.

 There is often a time that God does things beyond our ability to comprehend them but that does not diminish what He has done. It simply means that rather than trying to figure it out we accept the truth and learn the greater lessons from these stories:

  • The Star
  • The parting of the Red Sea

4. Jesus is troubling to those who do not want to worship Him and brings out opposition to those who do.

 V3 – When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem was with Him.

 When we share Christ, we must be aware that there will be those who will not worship Him. I don’t understand that but that does not change the reality that some will refuse to give Him honor.

Even worse there will be those who not only fail to worship Him but they will come in opposition to what Christ stands for. We see this in our society today when people who refuse to worship Christ do not stop at that point but they go into a total opposition mode.

Isn’t it interesting that we can talk about God and we can talk about spiritual things but we can not talk about Jesus.

5. Worshipping Jesus means joyfully ascribing authority and dignity to Christ with sacrificial gifts.

 V11 – … and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts.

 We come into worship to give him gifts:

  • We give him our voices in song and words
  • We give him our thoughts as we recognize that worship is not a Sunday Morning event but a lifestyle that never ends.
  • We give of our time, talent and tithe to Christ. We offer what we have to honor God and to ascribe authority to Him.

 We do not give our gifts grudgingly or with suspicion but we do so because we are ascribing worth to Christ when we recognize that all we have belongs to Him anyway.

 Conclusion:

 This is the season of giving, food and relationships. It is this time that we honor God with all that we have and that we are so that our whole lives are a worship to Him. So, our worship and who we are can not be separated.

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December 7, 2010 · 2:46 pm

We Teach Christ

Equip through teaching and mentoring

Text: John 1:1 -14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2)He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. (4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (7) He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. (8) He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. (9) The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. (11) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. (12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (13) who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I chose this passage today because it defines who Christ is and it forms a foundation of all that we are to preach and teach in the church. I would propose to you that because Christ came and dwelt among us that all we teach and do should be founded upon the following concepts:

  • What we teach must be founded on a Biblical construct that is focused and centered on the person of Christ. Colossians 1:28 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
    • Too often we teach dogma and the law but they fall short of their purpose if we do not recognize that Christ is the only one that can bring lasting change into our lives. Dogma is what you believe, whether you believe it or not. And law is what you must do, whether it is good for you or not.[1]
    • The problem with the law is that it points to sin but it is powerless to do anything about the sin. But Christ came not to destroy the law but in order to empower people to live spiritual lives dedicated to passionately follow Him.
  • We teach for transformation and not simply knowledge. Verse 9 – He is the light that has come to enlighten us to understand truth and grace.
    • Romans 12:2 –Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
    • Dallas Willard in his book Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ said this about the need to be transformed; the greatest need of collective humanity is renovation of the heart. That spiritual place within us from which outlook, choices, and actions come has been formed by a world away from God.
    • This transformation is one that changes people from the inside through ongoing personal relationship to God in Christ and to one another. It is one that changes their ideas, beliefs, feelings and habits of choice, as well as bodily tendencies and social relations.
    • Notice that Jesus did not send his disciples out to start governments or even churches as we know them today but they were to establish beachheads of his person, word and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the Kingdom with Him.
  • We teach a living Gospel – V. 14 – He dwelt among us. Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. This living Gospel has the power to transform our lives.
    • The Gospel of Christ is living because it is Christ.
    • In John 1:4 john noted that life was in Him, life that made sense of human existence.
    • To be the light of life, and to deliver God’s life to women and men where they are and as they are is the secret of the enduring relevance of Jesus.
  • We teach a liberating Gospel – “Grace and truth” John 8:32 – If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. The amazing truth of the Old Testament is that its role is to show us the futility of trying to obey the law and fulfill all of its demands. It is impossible. But Christ came not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law and to give mankind power to live out this Christian life.
    • Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
    • One of the difficulties of modern Christianity is that the church today is that Christianity has not been imparting effectual answers to the vital questions of human existence. What has occurred is that many pseudo-spiritual movements have been created to fill this void. But the Gospel of Christ is what is needed to reach the crying, unmet need of the human soul.
  • We teach not to get people to act right but to be transformed in their inner being so that who one is in their thoughts, feelings, dispositions and choices is changed.

 

[1] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002).

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November 29, 2010 · 2:11 pm

Being a Church on Mission

Being a Church on Mission

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 – And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

What does it mean to be a Church on Mission – Being a church on mission means that we are intentional and deliberate about reaching others for Christ. It means we are missionaries without ever leaving our zip code. It means we do missions right where God has planted us—in our community, on the job, with family, at school or wherever you find people who are not churched or may be unsaved and have a need for a personal encounter with Christ.

Notice two words in this definition:

1. We are intentional – We purpose in our heart to reach our community for Christ. This does not happen by accident, it must be a lifestyle where we desire to see those around have a personal encounter with a living God.

2. We are deliberate – We watch for opportunities to share our faith with others and to be Christ to others by demonstrating Christ’s love for all. Someone has said that we should preach all of the time and some times we use words.

Notice that word “program” is not used in the definition. This is not about establishing another program in the church but rather it is about a lifestyle of passionately displaying the life of Christ so that others can experience His love and mercy. We should also note here that we do not save anyone but it is a work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to watch for where God is working and work for Him.

Four core values of being on mission

  • Every believer a missionary: In the New Testament we do not see a Biblical distinction between evangelism and missions. In fact, the word “mission” or “missions” is never used. We are called to share the message of hope to all we encounter that are open to hear the message.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 – I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

  • We need to build relationships because in building relationships with others people will be more open to hear the message of Christ’s love. So spend some time getting to know others so that trust will grow. Think about how you came to know Christ. Was it not from a personal encounter with someone who loved you enough to share Christ with you? The scripture tells us to “go into all of the world.” It has been said that “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

 

  • We need to love exceptionally because our actions speak louder than our words. Maybe you have become aware of some hardship or simply a project your neighbor or co-worker is facing. Is there some way that you and your family may help in these things? Jesus knew our actions would speak as loud as our message, so he taught us to “let our light shine before other men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

  • We need to proclaim courageously as this kind of evangelism is different than proclamation evangelism. You may not share the gospel the first time you meet, but be sensitive to the Spirit’s work and when He opens the door of opportunity, don’t wait too long before you lead the conversation to spiritual things and to the good news about Jesus Christ.

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November 26, 2010 · 2:06 pm

Principles and Core Values that Dictates How I Do Ministry

Relevant preaching based in Biblical truth – In our current society situational ethics and a decreased regard for moral absolutes seem to be the norm, but in reality people truly are searching for truth. They are searching for relevant, authentic people who will lovingly care for them and motivate them toward the unchanging truth of the gospel. Thus, people need the unchanging truth of the gospel presented in a way that meets them where they are and in a language they can understand. To effectively present the gospel, all means available to the church must be used. These would include drama, dance, the arts, multimedia and sound biblical messages. This is critical as the inerrancy of Scriptures becomes the authority that detects the way we live and act within community. (Colossians 1:28, Acts 17…)

Worship – Worship is a lifestyle and not something that is just “done” on Sunday morning. The reality is that too often there is a disconnect between the person’s persona on Sunday and the rest of the week. God has called us to a lifestyle of worship so that all we do glorifies God and honors his name. When the church does gather for the “worship service” the entire service should be spiritually alive and vibrant but biblically based in order to reach those who are attending and point them to God almighty. (John 4:24, Romans 12:1)

Outreach & Mission – The church should be “on mission” rather than simply “doing missions.” The difference is in the mindset of the church. A church on mission recognizes that every individual is a missionary to their zip code. Therefore, they must reach their community, those on the job, students in their school and those with whom they connect. When the church does missions, it sends people on short-term trips, to foreign fields and it sends money to mission’s organizations but they fail to engage the culture around them with spiritual truth. This does not negate the sending of money or people to the mission field there is simply a greater recognition that we are all missionaries who are on mission. With that in mind, we must seek to develop the necessary strategies to reach our communities for Christ. As Andy Stanley, pastor of Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, GA has said “If we are going to reach people no one else is reaching we need to do things that no one else is doing.” These strategies may change from one location to the next but the underlying value is that we have a heart for people who do not know Christ and a compassion and passion to see them transformed by Christ. (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20)

Discipleship & Spiritual Growth – Within the church, we must be in the business of “equipping the saints” for the work of ministry. It is impossible for a single pastor to adequately minister to every one in the body effectively. Therefore, the church must “equip the saints” so that the body is ministering to each other. One of the successes of the early NT church was in its ability to minister to one another. Therefore, it is critical that the body of Christ have mechanisms in place to connect people to Christ, to one another, to the ministry, and to mission. This is best accomplished through small groups or home groups. Through home groups people are connected in authentic relationships and they can find their place within the context of the local church. Here they receive assistance in their journey toward becoming passionate and fully devoted followers of Christ. And, out the home group they serve together to reach their community for Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-14, Acts 2:41-47)

Simplicity in Ministry – One problem that faces many churches today is busyness and calendars that are jammed with activity. It is my belief that simplicity of ministry is critical. The church must establish its vision and then anything that fits outside that vision must be eliminated. This means sometimes the good must be eliminated so that the best can be raised up. The problem is that too often the church has “sacred cows” that are not easily sacrificed for the overall health of the body. Our process of connecting people to the church must be simple enough that everyone in the body understands and knows what is required of them and how they can become fully connected to Christ, to others, to their specific ministry and to mission.

Multi-generational – While the target group in a church might vary it is critical that we bridge the gaps between the generations. The best way to accomplish this is to have the various generational groups serve one another in ways that spur one another to growth

Youth and children – We must be more effective in reaching this and future generations for Christ by providing ministry that is relational, authentic and relative to where our youth and children are in the culture. If the statistics are correct and there is no reason to believe they are not, only 4% of this generation of youth has a commitment to Christ. This percentage has declined over the last decade and if it continues in this downward trend then we could face the elimination of the church as we know in just a couple of decades. Therefore, the church must create environments that are conducive to seeing youth and children developing vital relationships. This also means that a significant amount of the budget must be used to develop this ministry.

Cross-cultural Ministry – As our nation has become more ethnically diverse, we as the church have tended to remain segregated but the church must look for ways to become more ethnically diverse. This can not be forced nor can it be simply a program or goal to attain but must be a part of the DNA of the church because they have a passion to reach all men for Christ regardless of race, culture or life experiences.

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November 18, 2010 · 3:38 pm

Core Values that Drive My Life

On November 7th we officially arrived in Delaware and began our ministry at Peninsula Community Church. This has been an adventure. It has been one which has seen God’s hand at work and His grace in action in so many ways. We are so excited to be here and to serve as the senior pastor of PCC. It is my belief that if we are faithful to God’s calling and obedient to His will that we will see His glory revealed in and through PCC.

In this blog today and over the next couple of weeks I want to share with you my philosophy of ministry. I will begin with what I consider the core values of my life. The goal of this is for you to get to know me better as we serve God and reach the communities of the DELMAR peninsula together.

Core Values that Drive My Life

Centrality and authority of the Word of God – The Scriptures are the unchanging authority that guides and directs all I do. My desire is to rightly divide the Word of truth, apply that truth to my life and then allow it to become alive in my heart by living out that truth in all that I do as a passionate follower of Christ.

Prayer – All that is done in my life and ministry must be birthed and launched in prayer. Without prayer I am powerless to live a life devoted to Christ and I will also be out of fellowship with the living God.

Worship – Living a lifestyle of worship is as just as important to me as the actual act of worship. My goal is to be the same person during the week that I am on Sundays or in a church setting. As John 4:24 states my desire is to worship God “in spirit and in truth.”

Team Work/Partnership – The work of the ministry must be a team effort. Therefore, I am called to be an equipper of the saints so that the work of the ministry can be accomplished. The result will be that the body will become a place of unity. In unity, we become a dwelling place for the presence of God. I live by the motto that says build great people and you will build a great ministry. It is always people first.

Right Priorities – In all of life we must set proper priorities so that we are not entrapped by the cares of life. For me, it is God first, followed by family and then ministry. My fear is that I will be guilty of winning others but lose my family in the process.

Man on Mission – I prefer to be “on mission” rather than just doing missions or ministry. I recognize that I am called to reach those in my community and within my sphere of influence. I am called to be God’s ambassador and therefore will faithfully represent Him by developing loving relationships and by reaching out to others who are unchurched/unsaved and need the hope of Christ.

Transformation of Character – I recognize that I am on a journey of growth and transformation. The goal is to be like Christ. I can never stop growing or else I will die spiritually. I also realize that I have not arrived at full maturity yet but am growing and being renewed day by day.

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August 20, 2009 · 10:45 am

Do You Have Risky Faith?

As I was preparing to write this, the thought that came to my mind was that faith is risky. Now please don’t assume that I am a heretic or that I mean that we are to be presumptuous in our faith. But what I want to communicate is that there is a huge element of risk involved with walking in faith.

Let me define what I mean by risk. When God calls us to do something or to step out in faith there is an inherit risk because when we obey we are not sure of what the outcome will be. But we go for it because we have faith. Imagine the thoughts that might have been going through the nation of Israel as they began to march around the walls of Jericho? What about Gideon who had a trained and equipped army but God said to pare it down to just 300? And then there is David who was just a teen but had more faith than all of the armies of Saul. He faced the giant with five smooth stones and a sling shot. What about the disciples who left their jobs to follow a man who called them to follow?

Throughout the record of biblical history, godly men and women had their quiet lives interrupted by a call to act courageously in obedience to God. They were given a call

which asked them to leave the serene security of their lives to accomplish a work that God has set aside for them to do.

In all of these circumstances they had no idea of what the outcome would be. What if on the seventh day and the seventh time around Jericho the walls did not even vibrate? What if the walls had not fallen? Imagine the glee of the inhabitants of Jericho? Imagine the laughter and ridicule that would have come from the city? Imagine the sense of failure on the part of Israel?

But the nation stepped out in obedient faith. In fact, each step they took was a step of faith. It was a risk but it was worth it. The reason they could take the risk is that they had a promise and a plan initiated by one greater than them. In Joshua chapter 1 we see why they had such great faith to do something so wild and crazy.

First of all, in verses 2-3 they had a word from God that the land they were to possess was theirs already; all they had to do was take it. They could take the risk because God was leading them and their success or failure was not in their ability to accomplish the task but to trust God. In fact, in verse 5 they had been given the promise that they would succeed because they had the presence of God with them. He would not allow them to fail.

Secondly, their success was predicated on their obedience and willingness to follow God with a whole heart. Joshua their leader had received and had communicated to the nation that they could and should be strong and courageous. They did not have to fear the enemy. As they obeyed God the walls fell and they totally conquered Jericho. The enemy had been destroyed.

But a problem occurred as they ran to take Ai. The problem is that they did not seek for God’s direction; they simply ran on their past successes to defeat Ai. The sad commentary is that they were defeated in the process. The people of Ai routed them out of town. The Israelites that were once victorious now bowed their heads in defeat.

The risk in faith is that God does not always do the same thing in the same way. Read through the Bible and see how God moved upon men to accomplish great things for Him. In each case, God uses a different method and a different means to accomplish His tasks. The lesson for us is that faith requires us to fully trust God for He has a plan and a way designed for our victory.

As individuals, we are in a place where we must trust God fully for His will to be accomplished. As he moves, the way His will is fulfilled may be totally different than anything that we have seen in the past. The key for us is that we hear God, obey His call and then be faithful to see it through. To us that may seem totally risky because it might be outside of our comfort zone but if God is leading let’s do it. So, are your ready for risky faith.

Points and questions for consideration:

  1. Do you have a risky faith or are you content to stay in your comfort zone?
  2. Think about a time where you had to take a risk. What emotions did you experience?
  3. Share with someone about a time when you took a risk and God did something totally awesome through the risk.
  4. Take some time to read the many Biblical stories of men and women who stepped out in faith based on the call of God. What is God showing you through these stories?
  5. Are you in a place that you need to have risky faith? Ask God for His strength and the courage to step out.

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July 30, 2009 · 11:38 am

Understanding Stewardship

When I use the term “stewardship” what comes to your mind? Do you focus only on your finances? Does your mind race to the preacher in the pulpit that is constantly demanding more money and “if you give” you will receive some sort of special gift or miracle as if God only blesses if we give to “their” particular ministry? For others, it is that annual event or plea that takes place in most churches where the pastor preaches a series of messages on being a “good steward” by giving more money. The reality, however, is that stewardship is more than just money, it is a lifestyle where we recognize that all we possess, whether it is money, talent, friends or possessions, belong to God. God owns it. But, we have the privilege and the responsibility to manage what we have been given. And how we manage what God has given, speaks much about our worship to God.

I love what John Piper said in one of his messages entitled “Magnifying God with Money” (By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org.) The inner essence of worship is the treasuring of God as infinitely valuable above everything. The outer forms of worship are the acts that show how much we treasure God. Therefore all of life is meant to be worship because God said whether you eat or drink or whatever you do – all of life – do it all to show how valuable the glory of God is to you (1 Corinthians 10:31). Money and things are a big part of life, and therefore God intends them to be a big part of worship – since all of life is to be worship. So the way you worship with your money and your possessions is to get them and use them and lose them in a way that shows how much you treasure God – not money.

A number of years ago in a church I pastored in New York, a gentleman came up to me and handed me a check at the end of the service. I looked and the check was for more than $10,000. I ask the gentleman what this was and he said that since he did not like the last pastor or what was happening in the church at the time, he had withheld his tithe until he was more secure in what was happening. He had placed the money in a savings account and was now feeling pretty good about the condition of the church. Initially, I was reluctant to take the money but I did. Then it dawned on me that he said that he had placed the money in a savings account. I proceeded to ask him about the interest the money had made since he had taken what rightfully belonged to God and placed it in a savings account. The next week he brought me a check for the interest on the account.

The point is that too often we narrow the focus of stewardship to finances and while that is a huge part of it, there is more. The fact is our lives must be worship to God so how we handle what we have been given speaks of how much we honor and worship God.  Real stewardship includes our money, our time, and our talents. In reality it is about everything we are and everything we do. Do we mange our lives in a way that brings glory and honor to God? If we do, then giving our tithes and offerings to the church will not be a burden but it will be an honor to do so and it will be worship that magnifies and honors God. In essence, we are saying “We trust you Lord.”

God has been faithful and he has provided for us in so many ways but the challenge is for us all to step up to the plate and honor God with our giving and our lives. This means that we will no longer sit on the sidelines but we will all get into the game. We participate by giving abundantly to God. We participate by getting involved. We participate by sharing our faith with someone that does not know Christ. We participate by bringing an encouraging word to someone that needs a shoulder to cry on.

By the way John Piper finished his sermon with these words:

I close by simply relating these four points to the corporate act of worship we call “the offering.” This moment and this act in our service will be worship for you, regardless of the amount – from the widow’s mite to the millionaire’s thousands – if by giving you say from the heart: 1) I hereby trust you, God, as my happy, generous Shepherd, Father and King, so that I will not be afraid when I have less money for myself in supplying the needs of others; 2) I hereby resist the incredible pressure in our culture to accumulate more and more and cast my lot with the impulse to simplicity for the sake of others; 3) I hereby lay up treasure in heaven and not on earth so that my joy in God will be maximized forever; and 4) with this offering I declare that since my treasure is in heaven, my heart goes after God.

Are you ready for the challenge? Let’s do it. In advance, I celebrate what God is going do when we are faithful as stewards of the blessing He has given us. To God be the Glory!!!!!

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June 23, 2009 · 3:34 pm

The Perfect Storm

Several years ago I was fishing with a friend of mine that owned a party boat out of Long Island. Captain Carl had called me the night before because he was taking the boat on an ocean trip, a trip he only took once or twice a year. The trip would consist of fishing the wrecks out in the Atlantic Ocean. As we left the docks that day, the weather was absolutely beautiful. It was hot but being on the boat we had a wind that was blowing that kept us cool, plus I was able to ride in the wheel house where there was air conditioning.

After a great day of fishing, (I had caught 20 -30 black fish and sea bass) Carl called for me to come to the wheel house. As I climbed the stairs to meet up with Carl, I could hear excessive chatter on the boat’s two-way radio. What Carl began to explain is that a storm had been brewing over the ocean and was moving up the coast at a far greater speed than anyone had imagined. The result was that we had to stop fishing and begin the race back to the dock.

As we neared the inlet into the sound, the waves were already 5 to 6 feet high which meant that the waves within the narrow inlet were more than 10 feet high. The inlet on a good day was a difficult one to navigate. We now had to shoot the gap with gale force winds and waves that were beginning to crash over the sides of the boat. I have to tell I was a bit frightened actually a lot frightened. All Carl would say to me is “please pray.”

In the midst of the storm, I watched as this seasoned captain navigated through the treacherous inlet. After we made it through, he revealed his secret to me. He had invested in very expensive radar and GPS equipment for just such a time as this. He did not take his eyes off of the equipment as he was navigating through the inlet. As a result, we safely made it through the storm.

As I later reflected on the day, I thought about the storms we face in our lives. Sometimes it seems that they last forever and others seem to come and go. Others blow in unexpectedly and leave just as quickly. As Christians, it is critical that we keep our eyes fixed on the One that can and will help navigate us through the storms of life.

The writer of Proverbs recognized this need when he wrote the passage that most of us can quote from memory. He said “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-9 (ESV)

Too many times, I tend to lean upon “my” abilities and on “my” experience to get me through life’s issues but when I do this I often crash against the rocks. However, when I stay focused on God and trust Him to lead me, He directs my steps even when I don’t understand what is going on. My challenge to you today is to stay focused on God and allow Him to direct your steps. You may not know where He is leading or what He is doing in the moment but stay focused and keep leaning and you will be amazed at what God does. He has a plan and He will see it fulfilled because He is God.

Things to consider:

Are you facing storms in your life right now? If so, what are you focusing on to get you through the storm? Is it God and His Word or is there something else?

Why do you think it is so hard to trust God when the storms of life blow in?

Can you share a time when you had a storm blow in and how you dealt with that storm?

What scripture passage do you hold onto when you are faced with a storm?

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June 16, 2009 · 3:26 pm

God’s Detours Brings About His Purposes

When Michelle and I lived in NY, I will never forget the day there was an accident that blocked the roadway on which I was traveling. Because the accident blocked the entire road the police department was detouring traffic from the roadway to one of the side streets. However, the community they were detouring the traffic into had only one entrance and one exit. You guessed it…. we entered and exited at the same point. The problem of course is that the traffic inside the community began to backup until there was no longer any room for another car. So, we sat on this side street in this unknown community for more than an hour waiting for the accident to be cleaned up. I can now look back and laugh but not so on that day.

In life, we are often faced with what appears to be detours. We are going along in life and suddenly we find that we have to change course. We don’t want to change course but we must. The detours of life could be almost anything. It might the doctor’s report that suddenly and radically changes our life forever. It could be unexpected financial loss that comes from a job loss or forced retirement. The detour may come in the form of a death of loved one or spouse. It could be a change of occupation or location of work. Or, it could be the transition of a pastor that was have loved and admired. Whatever the issue, life as you know it will never be the same as a result of the detour thrown at you.

In 1 Samuel 22, we see the story of David who was on the run from Saul. David had been anointed by Samuel to be the King of Israel. He was anointed king but now he is on the run. But wait, it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. He was suppose to be anointed King and Saul was to step down so that David could take the throne and begin his reign as king. But a different story is unfolding. It is a story that is hard to understand especially since God had personally selected David as the King. But, as always God has a better plan. He wanted to equip David in a way that he had not been equipped.

Instead of becoming king, David had to depart from Jerusalem and from there he escaped to the cave of Adullam. No kingdom just a cave. No throne just a rock. David experienced a detour in his life. While he was on the way to being king he landed in a cave alone and without anyone around him. He was chosen by God but His reign was yet to be.

But all is not lost. God had a plan as David had been enrolled in the school of leadership and trust. David just did not know it yet. You see God used the detour to change David’s life and to prepare him for his time on the throne. When experiencing God’s detour(s) we must realize that God brings change into our lives not to destroy us but to reroute us so that we end up where God wants us to be all along. In the cave, David feels worthless, useless, mistreated, and misunderstood but he was right where he was supposed to be. God designed this experience so that David would become a different kind of King.

It was here that God gave David a new assignment. In the detour, David was to reach those he would have never reached otherwise. In 1Samuel 22:2 we see that …everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. Look at who God sent his way. He sent those who were in distress or as the Hebrew word suggests those under pressure. Others were in debt. They could not pay their bills. And he sent those to David who were discontented. They had bitterness in their souls because they had been wronged and mistreated. What a crew God sent to David, a worn out depressed and motley group. David’s assignment was to train a new army that would be loyal to him. And he did. Had he never experienced the detour he would not have experienced this new adventure and this new call from God.

For some, it may seem that God has us on a detour but, the fact is, God has us right where he wants us. Seasons of transition and God directed detours are an opportunity for us to grow if we understand that God is at work. We will be able to more clearly define who we are and what we are to be about as an individual. It is often in the detours of life that we can reach those who have not been reached thus far. So while it seems we are on a detour, God is at work. Trust in Him and wait on Him for in the appointed time God will reveal His purpose.

Questions to consider

What detours are you experiencing?

Do you see the hand of God in the detour?

What do you see God doing in the detour that is preparing you for a mission that is beyond yourself?

Who is God putting in your life in this time of detour that you can minister to?

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