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Author Archives: Gary Davenport

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About Gary Davenport

Christian man, husband, father, father-in-law, and granddaddy

10 Reasons to Believe in Christ rather than religion

20 Aug

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God never asks us to be religious; He asks us to believe in His Son. So why have human beings turned God’s simple offer into something convoluted—and despairingly difficult? 

Christ Is Someone to Know and Trust. Christ is more than a system, tradition or belief. He is a Person who knows our needs, feels our pain and sympathizes with our weakness. In exchange for our trust, He offers to forgive our sins, intercede for us and bring us to His Father. He cried for us, died for us and rose from the dead to show that He was all He claimed to be. Conquering death, He showed us that He can save us from our sins, live His life through us on earth and bring us safely to heaven. He offers Himself as a gift to anyone who will trust Him (John 20:24-31).

Religion Is Something to Believe and Do. Religion is believing in God, attending religious services, tradition, ritual, ceremony, and learning the difference between right and wrong. Religion is reading and memorizing Scripture, offering prayers, and giving to the poor. Religion helping the poor and making amends for past wrongs. Religion is something that was practiced by the Pharisees, those Scripture-loving, conservative, separatist, spiritual leaders who hated Christ enough to call for His death. They hated Him not only because He broke their traditions in order to help people (Matthew 15:1-9), but also because He saw through their religion to their hearts.  

Religion Doesn’t Change Hearts. Jesus likened the religious Pharisees to a group of dishwashers who clean the outside of a cup while leaving the inside dirty. He said, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?” (Luke 11:39,40, NIV). Jesus knew that a person can change his image without changing his act (Matthew 23:1-3). He knew that religious credentials and ceremony cannot change the heart. He told one of the most religious men of His day that unless a person is “born again” by the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Yet from that day until now, many of the most religious people in the world continue to forget that while religion can give attention to outward appearance, only Christ can change the heart.  

Religion Makes Much of Little. Jesus spoke to religionists who had a passion for detail when He said, “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone” (Luke 11:42). Jesus saw our tendency to make rules and to focus on “morally correct” behavior instead of keeping our eyes on the bigger issue of why we are trying to be so right. While the Pharisees were big on knowledge carried out to its logical conclusions, they forgot that God doesn’t care how much we know until He knows how much we care. It was this greater “why” that the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal…If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1,3, NIV).  

Religion Offers the Approval of Men Rather Than God. Jesus reserved His strongest criticism for religious people who used their spiritual reputation to get social attention and honors. To such religionists Jesus said, “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces” (Luke 11:43). Then, speaking to His disciples, He said of the Pharisees, “Everything they do is done for men to see” (Matthew 23:5). Jesus saw clearly into the practice of religion, which holds the opinions and attention of man to be more important and desirable than the approval of God.  

Religion Makes Hypocrites of Us. Jesus said, “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it” (Luke 11:44). What looks better than being dressed right, attending religious services and doing things that mark us as decent, God-fearing people? Yet how many religious scholars, ministers and faithful followers withhold honor and encouragement from their wives, attention from their children and love from their doctrinal enemies? Jesus knew what we often forget: What looks good may have a heart of evil.  

Religion Makes a Hard Life Harder. Because religion cannot change a heart, it tries to control people with laws and expectations that are not even kept by the religionists who interpret and apply the rules. With this “burden factor” in mind, Jesus said, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them” (Luke 11:46). Religion is good at describing high standards of right behavior and relationships, but poor at giving real and merciful help to those who realize they have not lived up to those expectations.

Religion Makes It Easy to Deceive Ourselves. It’s been jokingly said, “I love humanity. It’s people I can’t stand.” The Pharisees acted out a similar idea, but it wasn’t funny. According to Jesus, the Pharisees prided themselves in honoring and building memorials to the prophets. The irony is that when they met a real prophet they wanted to kill Him. Barclay says, “The only prophets they admired were dead prophets; when they met a living one, they tried to kill Him. They honored the dead prophets with tombs and memorials, but they dishonored the living ones with persecution and death.” This is the point Jesus made in Luke 11:47-51 and in a parallel passage in Matthew 23:29-32. The Pharisees had fooled themselves. They didn’t think of themselves as prophet-killers. Religionists don’t see themselves as the God-rejecting people they are.  

Religion Hides the Key of Knowledge. One of the greatest dangers of religion is that it causes us to be a danger not only to ourselves but also to others. To the religious biblical experts of His day Jesus said, “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering” (Luke 11:52). Religionists take away “the key of knowledge” by distracting people from the Word of God and from a “right attention of heart” by the unnecessary additions of denominationally correct traditions and expectations. Rather than leading people to God, religionists shift the focus to themselves and their own rules. Religionists are those who trust the beliefs and actions of their religion to do what only Christ can do.  

Religion Leads Its Converts Astray. In Matthew 23:15 Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” Converts of religion are in double jeopardy. They bring a double enthusiasm to their new way of life, and with zeal they blindly defend their blind teachers. They put themselves in the trust of people who have exchanged a system of rules and traditions for the life, forgiveness and relationship of an infinite Savior.

Religion is important in its place (James 1:26-27), but only when it points us to the Christ who died for our sins and who now offers to live His life through those who trust Him (Galatians 2:20; Titus 3:5). You’re not alone if you are unconvinced that Christ is all He claimed to be. But keep in mind that He promised God’s help to those who have good reasons for their questions. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17).

Here Jesus reminds us that we see things not only as they are, but as we are. If you do see the reasonableness of faith in Christ, keep in mind that the Bible says to the family of God, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works [religious efforts and accomplishments], so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for religious effort but a gift to all who put their trust in Him.

 

 
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Posted by on August 20, 2014 in Article

 

The Bible in a time of change — 2 Timothy 3. What is the place of the Bible in the life of the church?

19 Aug

(This is the transcript of my Sunday night sermon, which comes from a variety of sources. Special mention to Dr. James Thompson). 

If we judged from the number of copies sold, the Bible would still have to be counted the most influential book in the world.  Portions of Scripture have been translated into over 1,750 languages.  New translations continue to be published because people continue to buy Bibles. The Bible and books about the Bible outnumber any other field in publishing. It was not surprising to me to know just a few months ago that more Bible are printed in China than in any other country!

This is a good sign, of course.  But to say that the Bible is a best seller is not to say that it is actually being read, for the Bible has a number of functions.  It may have a symbolic and central place in our church buildings or in our homes.  It may be used as a good luck charm, as if its mere presence could keep away evil.  It may belong to our collection of great books, and we may treat it with respect. We may regard it as many people regard Shakespeare—as a treasure from the past.  But does anyone really read it?bibleclasses

What is the place of the Bible in the life of the church?  On the surface, the answer is obvious enough: The church recognizes the inspiration and authority of the Bible for its life and practice.  The Bible is the basis for    preaching, Christian education, and private devotion. While no one has directly challenged these convictions, one may wonder if our actual practice is consistent with our stated belief about the Bible.

The Bible and Its Competition

The fact is, the Bible faces very stiff competition for our time.  To treat it with respect is far easier than actually to read it.  Besides that, the Bible is a very old book, and we live in a time when we are overwhelmed by information and entertainment that appear to be far more relevant than the Bible. 

We face, in the first place, the extraordinary challenge of the electronic media.  This challenge is so great that some have described our era as the beginning of an entirely new age when the printed page is eclipsed by the electronic revolution. 

Television images relayed by satellite from around the world bring war and famine into our living rooms.  Through cable television many of us may choose our entertainment from more than fifty options each evening–from high culture to mindless situation comedies.  Our computer screens will also bring images from countless alternatives into our homes.  We can be surrounded every waking hour by news, music, and information from the electronic media.

This revolution in the media has changed our lives and, in many instances, has brought improvements to the way we live.  Communication advances have produced the “global village” in which we are able to communicate around the world, bringing isolated populations into contact with the rest of the world.  Missionaries in distant lands employ the electronic media to remain in constant contact with their home churches, and advances in learning once reserved for the great institutions are now available worldwide.

As helpful as this revolution may be, it has left us with at least two major unsolved problems.  In the first place, this electronic explosion has produced “information overload,” leaving us overwhelmed by its sheer volume and unable to make good choices. 

In the second place, this quantity of information may omit the very thing a civilization needs most: that which makes better people. None of the available choices may actually create more wholesome lives.

We should also mention that entertainment is a strong competition. Many Christians choose to allow their entertainment choices to take ‘first place’ rather than attend worship and classes where the Scriptures are being taught.

Educational Options from the Past

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy, the church was faced with a variety of teachers.  In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul offers a depressing portrayal of the moral condition which will invade the church “in the last days” (3: 1).  When we read the entirety of the Pastoral Epistles, we recognize that these “last days” have already begun for the church and the community is now involved in a struggle to preserve its identity against these false teachers. 

The danger to the church will be seen in the decadent moral conditions that will invade from the outside as the worst excesses of pagan culture infiltrate the body of believers.  People will be “lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (3:2-4).  Paul anticipates a time when all of the character building that accompanies  “sound teaching” will be endangered in a church that reflects the worst of pagan morality.

The danger to the church is especially acute because the influx of corrupted ethics will come not from marginal Christians who are not fully transformed, but from those who “have a form of godliness” (3:5).  The danger will come from teachers!  The danger is magnified by the fact that the teachers will have eager listeners. 

As the teachers “sneak in” from house to house, they will take advantage of the most vulnerable people in the church.  The women of Paul’s day were especially vulnerable, perhaps because of the differences in education between men and women in the ancient world.  Thus the false teachers will “take captive weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (3:6-7).

Paul sees, therefore, a church where “education” is taking place.  The problem, of course, is that the education is destructive to character and morality.  Unlike the “sound” or “healthy” teaching that produces healthy lives, this form of education will destroy the moral character of the church.

Preparation for the Educational Ministry

How can we address the challenges posed by education that destroys more than it edifies?  Paul’s warnings in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 were not intended to reduce the church to despair over its future, for this warning was only the prelude to his instructions for meeting the challenge in 2 Timothy 3:10-17.  Deliverance for the church under siege, Paul knew, was a well-equipped leader who could offer an alternative to the polluted teachings that were invading the church.  Only the teacher who had received the proper education could meet that challenge. Timothy was that leader.

What is the proper education for the Christian teacher?  In 2 Timothy 3:14 Paul offers a compelling definition of Christian education when he says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and  have firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned it… .” Timothy’s preparation was two dimensional: he could recall “what he had learned”; but “what he had learned” could not be divorced from those “from whom he had learned.” Legitimate preparation had both a personal and an intellectual dimension.

Timothy was asked to recall those “from whom he had learned” because Christian instruction is never limited to the mere transmission of information.  We learn the Christian faith when we see how it has shaped the lives of our teachers.  We may learn higher mathematics without asking how it has shaped the character of the teachers, but the lifestyle of Christ cannot be transmitted devoid of its effect on the lives of its advocates. 

Timothy’s teacher was Paul, and his education included more than academic lectures.  “Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness… ” (2 Tim. 3:10). just as Jesus had equipped his disciples for service with his call to follow him, Timothy has followed Paul in his ministry. 

Timothy had seen the price which Paul had been willing to pay for his convictions.  He had discovered from Paul’s imprisonments and beatings that “all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).  He had also seen in Paul’s conduct the alternative to the decadent morality of other teachers (2 Tim. 3:1-9).

According to 3:15, Timothy had been learning “from infancy.  ” Timothy could not recall a time when the faith had not been regularly communicated.  Where the Christian faith is passed on effectively today, the same combination of factors is likely to be present as in the education of Timothy. 

Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:14 remind us that good teaching requires more than good models.  The modeling is meaningless without the content of learning. What Timothy had learned from childhood were “the holy Scriptures.” Long before the printing press made printed Bibles available in every home, Timothy learned “the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (3:15).  He was now especially equipped to teach the church because he had been educated for the task before him.

All Scripture Is Inspired

What Timothy learned “from childhood” remains the answer for a church in transition.  To a church facing numerous educational options, Paul said, “All Scripture is inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (3:16- 17). 

Scripture is the only source for “teaching, correcting and training in righteousness,” and it is the only  source which is capable of “equipping a person to every good work.” What had nourished Timothy “from infancy” is the only source for the church’s continuing health.  Whereas the false teachers were known for their decadent behavior (2 Tim. 3:1-9), Scripture provides the alternative that will result in healthy lives.

Paul’s words about the Scriptures were actually a reference to our Old Testament, for these were the writings   which Timothy had known “from infancy.” However, we   may apply his words appropriately to the entire Bible, for the New Testament writers were also conscious of writing on God’s behalf.  Therefore what Paul says of the “sacred   writings” which Timothy had known can also be said for our entire Bible: they, and only they, are useful “for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness.  “

Paul adds ‘encouragement’  in 2 Timothy 4:2. IF we are not using ALL of these in our teaching, we are not using Scripture correctly. Rebuking and correction are often necessary.

Although few today will challenge Paul’s words directly, our actual practice may indicate that we are not convinced of the indispensability of Scripture.  One may wonder if Paul’s words are actually believed when the spiritual nutrition of the church consists of little actual reflection on the words of Scripture. 

If we take seriously Paul’s words, we will recognize that education is vital for the continuing health of the church.  However, as Paul’s experience indicates, some forms of learning can be no better than “junk food,” and other forms can be overtly destructive to the health of the church.  The church that meets the challenges of its time ensures that its education is based on the direct encounter with Scripture.

 
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Posted by on August 19, 2014 in Sermon

 

Life Is A Gift

18 Aug

Today before you think of saying an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food – Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife – Think of someone who’s crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life – Think of someone who went too early into eternity.

Before you complain about your children – Think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep – Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive – Think of someone who walks the same distance.

And when you are tired and complain about your job – Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another- Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one Maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – Put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Life is a gift… Live it… Enjoy it… Celebrate it… And fulfill it.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2

 
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Posted by on August 18, 2014 in Sermon

 

10 Reasons to Believe in a God who allows suffering

15 Aug

 

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Even profound Christian thinker C.S. Lewis wrote about the “problem of pain.” Why indeed would a good God allow a world of suffering? 

Suffering Comes With the Freedom to Choose.
Loving parents long to protect their children from unnecessary pain. But wise parents know the danger of over-protection. They know that the freedom to choose is at the heart of what it means to be human, and that a world without choice would be worse than a world without pain. Worse yet would be a world populated by people who could make wrong choices without feeling any pain. No one is more dangerous than the liar, thief or killer who doesn’t feel the harm he is doing to himself and to others (Genesis 2:15-17).

Pain Can Warn Us of Danger.
We hate pain, especially in those we love. Yet without discomfort, the sick wouldn’t go to a doctor. Worn-out bodies would get no rest. Criminals wouldn’t fear the law. Children would laugh at correction. Without pangs of conscience, the daily dissatisfaction of boredom or the empty longing for significance, people who are made to find satisfaction in an eternal Father would settle for far less. The example of Solomon, lured by pleasure and taught by his pain, shows us that even the wisest among us tend to drift from good and from God until arrested by the resulting pain of our own shortsighted choices (Ecclesiastes 1-12; Psalm 78:34-35; Romans 3:10-18).

Suffering Reveals What Is in Our Hearts.
Suffering often occurs at the hand of others. But it has a way of revealing what is in our own hearts. Capacities for love, mercy, anger, envy and pride can lie dormant until awakened by circumstances. Strength and weakness of heart are found not when everything is going our way but when flames of suffering and temptation test the mettle of our character. As gold and silver are refined by fire, and as coal needs time and pressure to become a diamond, the human heart is revealed and developed by enduring the pressure and heat of time and circumstance. Strength of character is shown not when all is well with our world but in the presence of human pain and suffering (Job 42:1-17; Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:6-8).

Suffering Takes Us to the Edge of Eternity.
If death is the end of everything, then a life filled with suffering isn’t fair. But if the end of this life brings us to the threshold of eternity, then the most fortunate people in the universe are those who discover, through suffering, that this life is not all we have to live for. Those who find themselves and their eternal God through suffering have not wasted their pain. They have let their poverty, grief and hunger drive them to the Lord of eternity. They are the ones who will discover to their own unending joy why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NIV; see also Romans 8:18-19).

Pain Loosens Our Grip on This Life.
In time, our work and our opinions are sought less and less. Our bodies become increasingly worse for the wear. Gradually they succumb to inevitable obsolescence. Joints stiffen and ache. Eyes grow dim. Digestion slows. Sleep becomes difficult. Problems loom larger and larger while options narrow. Yet, if death is not the end but the threshold of a new day, then the curse of old age is also a blessing. Each new pain makes this world less inviting and the next life more appealing. In its own way, pain paves the way for a graceful departure (Ecclesiastes 12:1-14).

 Suffering Gives Opportunity to Trust God.
The most famous sufferer of all time was a man named Job. According to the Bible, Job lost his family to war, his wealth to wind and fire, and his health to painful boils. Through it all, God never told Job why it was happening. As Job endured the accusations of his friends, heaven remained silent. When God finally did speak, He did not reveal that His archenemy Satan had challenged Job’s motives for serving God. Neither did the Lord apologize for allowing Satan to test Job’s devotion to God. Instead, God talked about mountain goats giving birth, young lions on the hunt and ravens in the nest. He cited the behavior of the ostrich, the strength of the ox and the stride of the horse. He cited the wonders of the heavens, the marvels of the sea and the cycle of the seasons. Job was left to conclude that if God had the power and wisdom to create this physical universe, there was reason to trust that same God in times of suffering (Job 1-42).

 God Suffers With Us in Our Suffering.
No one has suffered more than our Father in heaven. No one has paid more dearly for the allowance of sin into the world. No one has so continuously grieved over the pain of a race gone bad. No one has suffered like the One who paid for our sin in the crucified body of His own Son. No one has suffered more than the One who, when He stretched out His arms and died, showed us how much He loved us. It is this God who, in drawing us to Himself, asks us to trust Him when we are suffering and when our own loved ones cry out in our presence (1 Peter 2:21; 3:18; 4:1).

 God’s Comfort Is Greater Than Our Suffering.
The apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away an unidentified source of suffering. But the Lord declined, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” “Therefore,” said Paul, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Paul learned that he would rather be with Christ in suffering than without Christ in good health and pleasant circumstances.

 In Times of Crisis, We Find One Another.
No one would choose pain and suffering. But when there is no choice, there remains some consolation. Natural disasters and times of crisis have a way of bringing us together. Hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, riots, illnesses and accidents all have a way of bringing us to our senses. Suddenly we remember our own mortality and that people are more important than things. We remember that we do need one another and that, above all, we need God.

Each time we discover God’s comfort in our own suffering, our capacity to help others is increased. This is what the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

 God Can Turn Suffering Around for Our Good.
This truth is best seen in the many examples of the Bible. Through Job’s suffering we see a man who not only came to a deeper understanding of God but who also became a source of encouragement for people in every generation to follow. Through the rejection, betrayal, enslavement and wrongful imprisonment of a man named Joseph, we see someone who eventually was able to say to those who had hurt him, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

When everything in us screams at the heavens for allowing suffering, we have reason to look at the eternal outcome and joy of Jesus who in His own suffering on an executioner’s cross cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

You’re not alone if the unfairness and suffering of life leaves you unconvinced that a God in heaven cares for you. But consider again the suffering of the One called by the prophet Isaiah “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3). Think about His slashed back, His bloodied forehead, His nail-ripped hands and feet, His pierced side, His agony in the Garden and His pathetic cry of abandonment. Consider Christ’s claim that He was suffering not for His sins but for ours. To give us the freedom to choose, He lets us suffer. But He Himself bore the ultimate penalty and pain for all our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).

When you do see the reason for His suffering, keep in mind that the Bible says Christ died to pay the price for our sins, and that those who believe in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). The forgiveness and eternal life Christ offers is not a reward for effort but a gift to all who, in light of the evidence, put their trust in Him.

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2014 in Article

 

The Discipline of Meditation

14 Aug

In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in ‘muchness’ and ‘manyness,’ he will rest satisfied.

C. G. Jung remarked: “Hurry is not of the Devil; it is the Devil.” All the masters of meditation strive to awaken us to the fact that the universe is much larger than we know, that there are vast unexplored inner regions that are just as real as the physical world we know so well.

They tell us of exciting possibilities for new life and freedom. They call us to the adventure, to be pioneers in this  frontier of the Spirit.
It is a sad commentary on the spiritual state of modern Christianity that meditation is a word so foreign to its ears.

Genesis 24:63 (NIV) He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.

God spoke to them (fathers and prophets of old) not because they had special abilities, but because they were willing to listen.

R. D. Laing: “We live in a secular world…There is a prophecy in Amos that a time will come when there will be a famine in the land, ‘not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.’ That time has now come to pass. It is the present age.

Psalm 63:6 (NIV) On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Psalm 119:148 (NIV) My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Psalm 1:2 (NIV) But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The detachment from the confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God and to other human beings. Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely, and to the spiritual perception necessary to attack social evils.

“The contemplation of the saints is fired by the love of the one contemplated: that is, God.” (apprecciation to Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline).

 
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Posted by on August 14, 2014 in Spiritual Disciplines

 

Solving Our Money Problems

14 Aug

No test of a man’s true character is more conclusive than how he spends his time and his money. The following table might give us three perspectives which can be useful:

  POVERTY PROSPERITY STEWARDSHIP
View of prosperity Non-materialistic, disdain for possessions Prosperity is the reward of the righteous Possessions are atrust given in varying proportions
Possessions are: a curse a right a privilege
Scriptural reference Luke 18:18-22: sell, give to the poor (rich young ruler) Matt. 7:7-8 ask, seek, knock Matt. 25:14-30: parable of the talents
Mitigation Prov. 21:20 In house of wise are stores of choice food & oil, but a foolish man devours all he has Prov. 23:4-5 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich None
Needs met by “carefree attitude” don’t worry- seek kingdom 1st Matt. 6:25-34 “transaction”tithe for a blessingMal. 3:10 “faithful administration”1 Cor. 4:2;Matt. 25:21, 23
Concept Rejecter Owner Steward
Attitude toward poor We are We owe We care
Preoccupation Daily needs Money Wisdom
Attitude Carefree Prov. 3:5-6 Driven Prov. 10:17 Faithful Luke 16:10-11

Poverty Theology:  This theology is disgusted with worldliness, best symbolized by man’s obsession Money Managementwith money. He believes possessions are a curse and has rejected materialism in any and every form. A strong bias toward helping the poor exists, but he has few, if any, resources to actually help with the solution. A few guilty Christians with wealth may also fall into this category, especially if they inherited their money.

Prosperity Theology: This theology believes you have not because you ask not. They often have learned about tithing and have experienced the material blessings available by following the tithing principle. Because of their success with tithing, a preoccupation with money develops. They soon begin suggesting that the reason others are not experiencing God’s blessings financially as a lack of faith. No room is allowed for God to call some people to be poor. Many disciples of prosperity theology live consumptive lifestyles.

Stewardship Theology: Stewards believe God owns and controls everything. Possessions are a privilege and not a right; the steward gives up his rights. He reads Scripture to say possessions are a trust given in varying proportions, depending upon the innate, God-given abilities he has and his faithfulness and obedience to follow Biblical principles. The steward believes prosperity results from faithfully administering his talents, as given by God in His sole discretion.

Which one is correct? The steward!

Scriptures for discussion:

Proverbs 13:11: “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor increases it.”

   1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.”

 
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Posted by on August 14, 2014 in Article

 

The church has left the building. Which came first, the mission or the church?

10 Aug

Powerpoint file: The Church has left the building: Which came first? The mission or the church?

God’s initiative to work salvation God calls Moses and sends him on mission to Egypt.  Notice how other nations (Canaan, Egypt) and not just Israel are the focus of God’s mission. 

Genesis 12:1-9 (NIV) The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be Picture1blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.   

Exodus 3:7-12 (NIV) The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey–the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

The disciples are gathered up and involved in God’s mission.  Notice that mission begins by bidding God to sent out harvesters. Luke 10:1-3 (NIV) After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Jesus sends the apostles just as he was sent by the Father.  (v. 21).   

John 20:19-23 (NIV) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Biblical understandings of the kingdom of God Most Americans are not familiar with the implications of living within a kingdom. Often interchangeable with the terms “reign of God” or “rule of God.”

  • We are to receive the reign of God like a little child (Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17)
  • We inherit the kingdom (Mt. 25:34; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:21)
  • We enter the reign of God (Mt. 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 19:23-24; Mk 9:47; 10:23-25).
  • We are never mentioned as building or establishing the kingdom. That is God’s work.

Receiving the kingdom involves accepting the generosity of the king. Inheriting the kingdom involves becoming an heir…a member of the king’s house.  Entering a kingdom involves conforming to the way of life established by the king.

The lordship of Christ is often reduced to individual concerns.  When salvation is reduced to individualistic concerns, Christ is regarded as personal savior, or “Lord of my life.”  When it is a limited perspective, the church tends to ignore that God has exalted Christ as Lord universally.

In Acts 2, Peter asserts that God has made Jesus Lord regardless of the acceptance or rejection of the crowd.  He calls them to repent of their rejection of the objective reality of Jesus’ lordship and not simply acceptance of a subjective experience of that lordship

(Acts 2:36-41 (NIV) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The relationship between church and mission…remembering…the mission is God’s initiative

  • we are those who have received, inherited, and entered into the kingdom of God
  • God has exalted Christ as Lord over all creation.

John 17:14-18 (NIV) I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Begins with God and the world.  Mission is more than just an adjunct activity of the church.  Mission cannot be reduced to obedience to a command to evangelize.  God sends Christ and Christ sends His church. God rules over the entire world despite the fact that some reject that rule.  The church is formed and made visible because God gathers the church from the world.

When we say that “the church has a mission,” we tend to view the church as a sort of machine that comes in a kit so that when we assemble it properly according to the instructions and turn on the power it goes to work.  But the Bible never pictures the church as an independent institution that churns out a product or repeats a task under its own power.  The biblical view of the church is not a static organization that determines its own mission.  Rather, God has a mission in this world and God is about his mission; He is calling and sending people caught up in that mission and they are the church. 

The biblical view of the church

The followers of Christ are called “The Way.” (Acts 9:2)

  • The church is the transformation of the old humanity into the new humanity (Eph. 2:15).

The church is the result of God’s Activity

  • we are the fish caught up in the dragnet (Mt. 13:47-50)
  • we are the sheaves of wheat gathered in harvest (Mt. 13:24-30)
  • we are the mustard tree sown by the sower (Mk 4:30-32)
  • we are persecuted believers on the run who tell the story that changes the world (Acts 8).

The mission of God is a tidal wave breaking onto the shores of earth and the church is caught up in it.  The mission of God is like a storm front moving into this world.  The church is like a pile of leaves or a drift of snow gathered up by the wind. (John 3:8)  We are the visible evidence of God’s invisible activity in the world. 

The mission of God has a church. Treasure in a brown paper: 2 Cor. 4:7-12 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (NIV) Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

The believer is simply a “jar of clay”; it is the treasure within the vessel that gives the vessel its value.  The important thing about a vessel is that it be clean, empty, and available for service.  We must focus on the treasure and not on the vessel. Paul was not afraid of suffering or trial, because he knew that God would guard the vessel so long as Paul was guarding the treasure. God permits trials, God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory. God is glorified through weak vessels.  

I need your ideas of service projects we could do to help others.  

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2014 in Church, Sermon

 

10 Reasons to Believe in the Christian Faith

10 Aug

When stacked up against all other religions, Christianity is the only one that shines with the light of authenticity. Why? 

 

The Credibility of Its Founder.
Christ said He came from heaven to fulfill prophecy, to die for our sins and to bring to His Father all who believe in Him. Logic says that He was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend or the Lord of heaven. His first-century followers drew their own conclusions. They said they saw Him walk on water, still a storm, heal crippled limbs, feed 5,000 with a few pieces of bread and fish, live a blameless life, die a terrible death and live again. During His ministry, when some of Jesus’ followers took issue with His teachings and left, He asked those closest to Him if they too wanted to leave. Peter spoke for the others when he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68,69, NIV).

cropped-th-51.jpgThe Reliability of Its Book.
Written over a period of about 1,600 years by 40 different authors, the book on which the Christian faith rests tells one story that begins with creation and concludes on the threshold of eternity. The integrity of its historical and geographical record is supported by archaeology. The accuracy with which it has been copied and handed down to us has been confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran. Originating neither in the East nor the West, but in the Middle East-the cradle of civilization-the Bible continues to speak not only with spiritual power but with convincing prophetic accuracy.

Its Explanations for Life.
All religious systems attempt to give meaning to our existence. All attempt to explain our thirst for significance, the problem of pain and the inevitability of death. All religions attempt to apply the design of the cosmos to our individual lives. It is the Christian faith, however, that reflects the caring attention to detail so evident in the species and ecosystems of the natural world. It is Christ who speaks of a Father who takes note of every sparrow that falls, a Father who numbers even the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:29-31). It is Christ who reveals a God who shows how much He cares for all that He has created. It is Christ who clothed Himself in our humanity to feel what we feel, and then to suffer and die in our place. It is Christ who reveals a God who cares as much about His creation as the design and detail of the natural world indicates (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:16-25).

Its Continuity With the Past.
The Christian faith offers continuity with our deepest ancestral roots. Those who trust Christ are accepting the same Creator and Lord worshiped by Adam, Abraham, Sarah and Solomon. Jesus didn’t reject the past. He was the God of the past (John 1:1-14). When He lived among us, He showed us how to live according to the original plan. When He died, He fulfilled the whole Old Testament sacrificial system. And when He rose from the dead, the salvation He offered fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham that through his descendant He would bring blessing to the whole world. The Christian faith is not new with Christ. From Genesis to Revelation it is one story. It is His story-and ours (Acts 2:22-39; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

Its Foundational Claim.
The first Christians were not driven by political or religious dissent. Their primary issues were not moral or social. They were not well-credentialed theologians or social philosophers. They were witnesses. They risked their lives to tell the world that with their own eyes they had seen an innocent man die and then miraculously walk among them three days later (Acts 5:17-42). Their argument was very concrete. Jesus was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His body was buried and sealed in a borrowed tomb. Guards were posted to prevent grave tampering. Yet after three days the tomb was empty and witnesses risked their lives to declare that He was alive.

Its Power to Change Lives.
Not only were the first disciples dramatically changed, but so was one of their worst enemies. Paul was transformed from a Christian killer into one of their chief advocates (Galatians 1:11-24). Later he reflected the changes that had occurred in others as well when he wrote to the church in Corinth: “Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prositutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Its Analysis of Human Nature
The Bible says that society’s real problems are problems of the heart. In an age of information and technology, failures of character have scandalized institutions of family, government, science, industry, religion, education and the arts. In the most sophisticated society the world has ever known, our national reputation is marred by problems of racial prejudice, addiction, abuse, divorce and sexually transmitted disease. Many want to believe that our problems are rooted in ignorance, diet and government. But to our generation and all others, Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man `unclean'” (Matthew 15:19-20).

Its View of Human Achievement
Generation after generation has hoped for the best. We fought wars that would end all wars. We developed educational theories that would produce enlightened, nonviolent children. We conceived technologies that would deliver us from the oppressive slavery of work. Yet we are as close as ever to what the New Testament describes as an end time marked by wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, disease, loss of affection and spiritual deception (Matthew 24:5-31; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Its Impact on Society.
A carpenter rabbi from Nazareth changed the world. Calendars and dated documents bear silent witness to His birth. From rooftops, necklaces and earrings, the sign of the cross bears visual witness to His death. The Western worldview, which provided a basis for social morality, scientific methodology and a work ethic that fueled industry, had roots in basic Christian values. Social relief agencies, whether in the West or the East, are not fueled by the values of Hinduism, Buddhism, atheism or secular agnosticism, but by the direct or residual values of the Bible.

Its Offer of Salvation.
Alternative religious views have saviors who remain in the grave. No other system offers everlasting life as a gift to those who trust One who has overcome death for them. No other system offers assurance of forgiveness, eternal life and adoption into the family of God by calling on and trusting Someone in the same way a drowning person calls for and relies on the rescue of a lifeguard (Romans 10:9-13). The salvation Christ offers does not depend on what we have done for Him, but on our acceptance of what He has done for us. Instead of moral and religious effort, this salvation requires a helpless admission of our sins. Instead of personal accomplishments of faith, it requires confession of failure. Unlike all other options of faith, Christ asks us to follow Him-not to merit salvation but as an expression of gratitude, love and confidence in the One who has saved us (Ephesians 2:8-10).

You’re not alone if you are still unconvinced about the reasonableness of faith in Christ. But keep in mind Jesus’ claim that we don’t have to resolve our doubts on our own. He said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17).

If you do see the reasonableness of faith in Christ, keep in mind that the Bible says to the family of God, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The salvation Christ offers is not a reward for effort, but a gift to all who put their trust in Him.

Reprinted with RBC Ministries (Radio Bible Class), Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2014 in Article

 

The Need for Convictions

08 Aug

INTRODUCTION

I. It is difficult to preach on an unpopular subject–conviction.
A. Our age is opposed, this is an age of toleration.
1. In man’s misguided quest for freedom, he misses the meaning.

B. Perhaps this mistake is most evident in the religious world. 
1. To the most radical, any religious practice is acceptable. 
a. A recent ecumenical meeting had representatives of Protestant
denominations. The Catholics, both Roman and Orthodox were also present.
Most startling, a leader in the Native American religions was asked to
lead a prayer. He did not believe in either the Father or the Son.


1975075_432464496857338_1394685051_nII. This toleration in religion is so different from what is found in the
Scriptures. 
A. Daniel went to the lion’s den instead of changing his prayer schedule.

B. The apostles in the early church 
(Acts 4:7-13) “And when they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” {8}
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders
of the people, {9} if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick
man, as to how this man has been made well, {10} let it be known to all
of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ
the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead– by this
name this man stands here before you in good health. {11} “He is the
STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH 
BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone. {12} “And there is salvation in no 
one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among 
men, by which we must be saved.” {13} Now as they observed the confidence 
of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained 
men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

(Acts 4:18-20) “And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not
to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. {19} But Peter and John
answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to
give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; {20} for we cannot
stop speaking what we have seen and heard.””

(Acts 5:28-29) “saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue
teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” {29} But Peter
and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men.”

C. Jesus’ message to the churches of Asia was to be strong. His promises
were to “. . . him that overcomes.”

III. Which should we follow–the spirit of the age or the example God’s
people?
A. Is it really necessary to hold a belief against all opposition? 
B. Ask yourself t these two questions
1. If no one stood for anything, if the spirit of the age seen in many
churches prevailed, would the world be a better place?
a. Would more love, compassion and patience exist? 
b. Would crime, illegitimate births, abortions and deaths from AIDS
decrease?

c. The trend of our times is that all of these are increasing as the
spirit of the age prevails.
2. On the other had, if all followed the Biblical teaching, would the world be worse? 
a. If people held to Biblical traditions on love and morality, would we be so worse off?

DISCUSSION
I. THE REASON FOR CONFLICT–OUR CONCEPTION OF TRUTH
A. Few will deny a change in the world’s view of right and wrong. 
1. Some of us have seen a extreme shift in a concept of absolute truth. 
a. In the past, right and wrong were based on principles of law and
morality based on the Bible. 
2. This we can document. 
a. This began first in philosophy. One’s feelings, his non-rational
experience was superior to demonstrated facts.
b. Art became confused. All expressions were acceptable. No wonder that
a gallery once had a picture hung for a week before someone realized
it was upside down. 
c. This then infiltrated the music and culture. “There are many media
for killing men . . . today. They all operate in the same direction: no
truth, no morality. You do not have to go to art galleries or listen to
the more sophisticated music to be influenced by their message. The
common media of cinema and television will do it effectively for you.” 

—from The God Who Is There p. 41

B. Is it possible there are no absolutes, that nothing is right or wrong?
1. Absolutes are a part of much of our lives. We have absolutes in
math, science, medicine, etc. 
2. We have them in our everyday lives. If I wanted to go Melbourne, I
would not take Interstate 75 because I liked the number. If I did, I
would wonder why I was in Naples. 
3. There are some absolutes in our lives that are extremely important. 
a. If I go and buy two shirts at $20 a piece, I will have strong convictions if I am charged 
$50. To me, 2 + 2 +4 is an absolute I will defend. 

C. If we are willing to accept that God’s word is absolute truth, we must
be willing to accept the results. (1 Pet 1:24-25) “For, “ALL FLESH IS
LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. 
THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, {25} BUT 
THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER.” And this is the word 
which was preached to you.”
1. We must believe that Jesus is all He claimed to be.
2. We must accept the reality of sin and the need of salvation. 
3. Life, death and the judgment are real. 

II. THOSE WHO HOLD THESE CONVICTIONS MUST REALIZE THEY ARE IN A WAR.
A. Paul described this conflict. (Eph 6:10-13) “Finally, be strong in
the Lord, and in the strength of His might. {11} Put on the full armor of
God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
{12} For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. {13}
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist
in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

1. We face the devil’s schemes.
2. We struggle with the powers of the dark world and the spiritual forces of evil.
3. We face the devil’s flaming arrows.

B. We must know our enemies–the devil, the world and the flesh. 
1. The devil is a cosmic force constantly opposed to man.
a. He has helpers Ephesians 6:12
b. The devil has one goal–to cause as many as possible to be lost.
2. We face the world as our enemy. 
a. The world is a mindset opposed to God. 
b. Its goal is to get all to conform. 
c. J. B. Philip’s translation of Romans 12:2 “Don’t let the world
squeeze you into its own mold.”
d. The world calls us to be correct and offend none. (We are to give no
place offense unless our stand for truth offends someone).. The
compelling cry of the world is You have hurt my feelings.”
e. The call is to be politically correct. 
f. So often we hear, ,”I don’t want to be judgmental…”
3. Our third enemy is the flesh. 
a. This is our desires. The goal of the flesh is for us to give in to
selfishness. A woman once called a talk show. She said she had been
married for six months. Her husband had three children by his former
wife, 16, 14 and 1. The woman had dated her husband while his wife was
still expecting. The moderator asked how she could live with a man who
had deserted his family. She said, “He makes me feel good.”

C. If we are right to hold convictions, we must oppose our enemies. 

III. IS THERE ANY HOPE?
A. We must first realize we live in a counter-culture. Christianity
is a culture within a culture. 
1. We are aliens (Heb 11:13) “All these died in faith, without
receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them
from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles
on the earth.”

(1 Pet 2:11) “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain
from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.”

2. We live in a culture and seemingly are no different. Yet we do
not belong here. Like E. T., we want to go home. 
3. We endure what is necessary to get back to where we belong. 

B. There is hope because God is able. (Rev 3:8) “‘I know your
deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut,
because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not
denied My name.”
a. Jesus holds the keys.
b. He opens a door none can shut. 
c. Though we are weak, we will overcome. 

C. We can hear some say, “Won’t this destroy the church?”
1. How valuable is the church which will to accommodate almost every
worldly practice? One which becomes just as preoccupied in material
things.
One that joins the world’s craze for entertainment instead
of worship and service.
One that loves its sexual standards to attempt to attract
the world. 
If the church will not stand for truth and oppose the
world’s mind set, it should be destroyed. Every time the church has
lowered itself to meet the world, the church has lost.

 
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Posted by on August 8, 2014 in Article

 

Spiritual Disciplines – What are they?

07 Aug

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(Terry and I are hosting our college age/young professionals small group in our home for a few weeks. This will be our ‘outline’ for those sessions)

Celebration of Discipline

Unless we can make progress in the moral and spiritual realms – we may not even survive.

God has given the disciplines…as a means of receiving His grace.

Do not let the disciplines become law! When the Disciplines degenerate into law, they are used to manipulate and control people. We take explicit commands and use them to imprison others. The result of such deterioration is pride and fear. When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight. Everybody things of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.

If we are to progress in the spiritual walk so that the Disciplines are a blessing and not a curse, we must come to the place in our lives where we lay down the everlasting burden of needing the manage others.

Meditation: how do we receive the desire to hear His voice?

In real prayer — we begin to love the things God loves.

We must not be led to believe the Disciplines are for spiritual giants and hence beyond our reach, or for contemplatives who devote all their time to prayer and meditation. Far from it. God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who must wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our normal daily activities. If they are to have any transforming effect, the effect must he found in the ordinary junctures of human life: in our relationships with our husband and wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors.

When one’s inner spirit is set free from all that holds it down, that can hardly be described as dull drudgery.

The primary requirement is a longing after God. Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Inwardly you have longed to launch out into the deep. Psalm 42:7 (NIV) Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

The Spiritual Disciplines are an inward and spiritual reality and the inner attitude of the heart is far more crucial than the mechanics for coming into the reality of the spiritual life.

The natural motions of our lives produce mire and dirt. Sin is part of the internal structure of our lives. No special effort is needed. No wonder we feel trapped.

The moment we feel we can succeed and attain victory over our sin by the strength of our will alone is the moment we are worshipping the will. Willpower will never succeed in dealing with the deeply ingrained habits of sin.

By dint of will people can make a good showing for a time, but sooner or later there will come the unguarded moment when the ‘careless word’ will slip out to reveal the true condition of the heart. We have no intention of exploding with anger or of parading a sticky arrogance, but when we are with people, what we are comes out. The will has the same deficiency as the law – it can deal only with externals. It is not sufficient to bring about the necessary transformation of the inner spirit.

The inner righteousness is a gift from God to be graciously received. The needed change within us is God’s work, not ours.

The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where He can work within us and transform us. God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we are placed where He can bless us. In the Cost of Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer made clear that grace is free, but it is not cheap. Once we clearly understand that God’s grace is unearned and unearnable, and if we expect to grow, we must take up a consciously chosen course of action involving both individual and group life. That is the purpose of the Spiritual Disciplines.

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Jonathan Edwards lived by a list of resolutions. For example: “Resolved, never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.” This statement shows how serious he was about pursuing holiness. It reveals a man who understood the fear of the Lord and sought to live it.

Yet look at another of Edwards’ resolutions: “Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.” 

What marvelous balance! Edwards resolved to fight the sin in his life but recog97262076_640  nized that it would be a slow and painful process, one that would often feel unsuccessful. Defeat didn’t weaken his resolve.

Spiritual Disciplines – What are they?

Do you have to have lot of free time to engage in whatever this is? Is it something you can do with friends? Do you have to be in worship?

Spiritual disciplines are practices modeled by the life of our Lord and in the rhythms of the church dating back to the first centuries.

These practices are embedded in the rich history of God’s story in each century as He is writing our stories. They are simple practices that help create space for God and for you to attend to His Presence.

Life is crazy busy. Each of us needs an anchor to hold us down in the midst of the incredible speed at which our lives move. Some days could feel like they are spiraling out of orbit.

Discipline is defined as “training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior.” Discipline is not part of the sin nature, but it is a natural component of the Christian life. In fact, almost nothing of any significance in our lives is ever accomplished without it.

Spiritual disciplines can be described as those behaviors that augment our spiritual growth and enable us to grow to spiritual maturity. This process of spiritual growth and development begins to take place the moment a person encounters the risen Christ and comes to Him for salvation.

The purpose of spiritual discipline is the development of our inner being, that which has been transformed by Christ at salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17 ).

Redeemed believers have experienced the total renewal of the whole person from within, involving differences in thought, feeling and character that may be slower to be evident in our outward behavior.

This is what Paul had in mind when he spoke of taking off the “old self” and putting on the new, “which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10).

By definition, disciplines are (but are not limited to):Spiritual Disciplines-potter-confession

  1. Repetitive actions driven by spiritual decisions rather than natural environmental reactions.
  2. Deliberately self-induced behaviors that nurture spiritual health and fosters spiritual growth leading to maturity with God.
  3. Deliberately self-induced actions to alter existing life and thought patterns, thereby breaking the normal cycle of life and breaking the focus on intimacy with God.
  4. Spiritual exercises to develop “Sacred Rhythms” to engage in intentional spirituality in the pursuit of intimacy with God.

Why they are called disciplines — They are not the natural intuitive thing to do.

You need to make a conscious choice to engage in them; they are not something you would do of your own accord.

There will times where you don’t feel like doing what is necessary for your spiritual health. However disciplines provide stability and structure in order to carry you through those times you wish to ignore your spiritual health.

Spiritual Disciplines are a personal choice—only you can choose to undertake them at your own pace, but if done correctly you will feel closer to God than ever before. This is something you may need to think about carefully because it is a long journey which will not be easy to undertake.

When we become Christians, we have to develop our faith over time. There are spiritual disciplines that help us become stronger in our faith. Unlike the spiritual gifts, which are provided to us by the Holy Spirit, spiritual disciplines are more like finely honed tools that aid us in our spiritual walks. Yet each of the spiritual disciplines takes time to develop and effort to incorporate into our daily lives.

How Do Spiritual Disciplines Work? A spiritual discipline is a good habit that allows you to remain open to God and develop yourself spiritually. Discipline is one of the hardest things for us to learn. Think of some of our finest athletes. Most of them have a strong sense of discipline, because they have to build up strength, endurance, and skill to be good at a particular sport.

Surgeons spend years developing their surgical skills and learning the human body so that they are able to skillfully fix what is malfunctioning in the body. Our favorite writers have the discipline to sit down every day to write, edit, and re-write until the story is right. They hone their language skills and their ability to see a final product in all of the chaos of storytelling.

That’s what spiritual disciplines are to our faith.

Spiritual disciplines exercise our spirit, mind, and emotions so that we become closer to God. They help us see His will for our lives more clearly so that we can live the life He desires for us. The more we practice these disciplines, the better we get at them, and the stronger we make our faith.

Types of Spiritual Disciplines — There are two types of spiritual disciplines – those that are PERSONAL and those that are corporate. The personal disciplines are those that each individual should develop for him or herself, while the corporate disciplines are one that the entire church body can do together.

Disciplines of Personal Development (Inward)

  1. Prayer – communicating with God (Matt. 6:9)
  2. Meditation – focusing on God and his will  (Phil. 4:8)
  3. Fasting – a reminder of the source of all nourishment (Luke 5:35; Matthew 6:16-18)
  4. Bible Study – careful attention to the reality that God reveals to us, especially through Holy Scripture (Luke 2:46)
  5. Chastity—1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Disciplines of Service to the Body of Christ (Outward)

  1. Simplicity – seeking God’s Kingdom first (Matt. 6:33)
  2. Submission – placing God’s will above one’s own (Luke 22:42)
  3. Solitude – withdrawing from the world to spend time with God (Matt. 14:23)
  4. Service – supportive action toward others (Mark 10:45)
  5. Evangelism — (Matt. 28:18-20)
  6. Stewardship — (1 Cor. 4:1-2; Luke 10:25-28; 1 Cor. 16:1-2)

Disciplines of Service with the Body of Christ (Corporate)

  1. Confession – acknowledging one’s sin with and to others in the community of faith  (James 5:16)
  2. Seeking Guidance – giving and receiving direction from others along the journey with Jesus  (Acts 15:8)
  3. Celebration – taking joy is what God has done (1 Cor 5:8)
  4. Worship – giving God glory through attitudes and actions (1 Cor. 14:26)

spdiscExamples of How Real Change Happens

The Disciplined Christian can know God’s ways though study…He or she spends time soaking in Scripture, becoming intimately familiar with its message, learning the history of God’s church, and gaining understanding of the practical implications of theology.

The Disciplined Christian is reminded of the source of all blessing and sustenance through fasting…Abstaining from food, time commitments and distractions, from anything that takes focus from Jesus brings clarity, focus, and humility.

The Disciplined Christian can slow down through simplicity…

Seeking the kingdom of God first ultimately causes the believer to cast aside anything that is not holy. The pursuit of wealth and power are the antithesis of the kingdom that Jesus models.

The Disciplined Christian can hear God’s voice more clearly through solitude…Alone time with God helps provide room for silence, waiting on God, and hearing the sometimes still, small voice of his Spirit.

The Disciplined Christian is grieved by sin through confession…Personal and corporate confession provide a way to confront, admit, be convicted of, and deal with sin in the context of a supportive community and ministers of grace.

The Disciplined Christian puts God in the highest place through worship…The believer joins with others in praise and thanksgiving, placing Jesus in the supreme place of honor in his or her life.

Conclusion

These spiritual disciplines help to combat the sinful nature and our naturalistic world view. They can bring the believer into a mental, emotional, and spiritual state of higher awareness of God, his nature, and his kingdom. These tools are one way for individuals and communities to begin to bring their focus back to the Holy One and seek His will.

 
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Posted by on August 7, 2014 in Spiritual Disciplines

 
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