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TOTALLY ECLIPSED
A couple nights ago I observed a total lunar eclipse. As I watched this event unfold over the course of about 45 minutes or so I was struck by certain truths a lunar eclipse represents.
As you know, the moon reflects the light of the sun. A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth moves between the sun and the moon and casts its shadow on the moon. You can still see the moon, but the sun's light is obscured and the moon appears hazy.
Our lives in Christ are much the same. We, as human beings, do not really have a light of our own. Despite what we may believe about ourselves, as expressed by the character Jack Dalton in Titanic, we are not "the king of the world". We are like the moon, we reflect the light of the Son.
But what happens oftentimes in our lives is that this world, or what the Bible refers to as "the cares of the world", gets between us and the Son. His light no longer reflects off us to the world below. Rather, the shadow cast by the world obscures that light and any reflection we have becomes hazy.
Those cares do not have to be sin. In fact, the earth's shadow is very regularly not sin. It is job pressures. Money worries. Kids. Co-workers. Physical strains and issues. Lack of sleep. Traffic. Parents. In-laws. The boss. The economy. You get the picture.
And our light becomes hazy because we allow those things to keep us away from God. We stop going to church because we are busy. We don't pray or read the Bible because we are tired.
Going back to the lunar eclipse analogy the good news is that eclipses do not last forever. The moon is obscured only for a relatively brief period of time. The natural processes of gravity keeps the bodies in motion until, once again, the moon can reflect the light of the sun.
The same applies to our spiritual eclipses. It will pass. The difference is that it is not in our best interest to just "wait it out". In the spiritual sense natural processes will not cause the problem to self-correct. Throughout the Bible we are told that our spiritual health is a matter of action. In 2 Peter, for example, we are told to "add" certain things to faith. Adding is an action. It is not passive. You must do something in order to "add".
It is up to us to do what needs to be done, whether that is a rededication to Christ as our Savior, a commitment to regular church attendance, building a pattern of daily Bible reading and prayer, changing our attitudes so "things" do not have such an effect on our life. Whatever.
A PASTOR
So what is the Biblical role of a Pastor? They are leader's of God's people, or course. But how do they lead? How do they fulfill their call?
Let's look at that. But I am not going to use the scriptures you might expect. Instead, how about seeing what Psalm 72 has to say about it. And, yes, I know Psalm 72 is an Old Testament scripture and "pastor" is a New Testament church office. But the Israelite King served in much the same capacity as the Church Pastor. There are come comparisons worth noting.
A Pastor leads people correctly. This is more than leading them the right direction. It is also leading them in a manner that is right. Leading them with a right spirit and Godly demeanor (which I will talk about in greater detail in a moment). It is leading them with righteousness, and also in righteousness. It is leading by "walk", not just "talk".
A Pastor treats rich and poor alike before God. If those with resources have greater access to the pastor, and/or greater influence with him/her, then that person is not really a Pastor. Just calling yourself one does not make it so. "But I don' want to offend them." Offend who? A 'real' Pastor will take as much care not to offend the less fortunate of his.her congregation as the rich and powerful. Maybe even a bit more care. But who we really should be trying not to offend is God.
A Pastor brings the favor of God upon the people as he/she does what is right before God. The Pastor is the leader. The Pastor is the one with the ultimate responsibility before God. God will shine favor upon the Pastor who does what is right before Him. And by extension, the people who follow that Pastor will see the favor of God shining upon themselves as well.
A Pastor champions the needs of the poor. Not only should the Pastor not play favorites in the congregation, but the poor and needy of the community should be able to call them "Pastor" too, whether or not they ever attend the church. The same pastoral care the church gets, the poor and needy outside the church should get too. But first would come the needs of the poor within the congregation.
A Pastor looks for ways to help needy children. This seems redundant. And it is, to a point. I listed the poor first, then poor children because poor kids get attention, while poor adults sometimes do not. We shouldn't judge why they are poor, just help them. Teach them how to fish, for example. But for the kids, we need to do something more that just provide food, clothing, toys at Christmas, etc. Often times they do not know what is happening to them, or why it is happening. And whatever comprehension they might have is incomplete. They lack the emotional development to fully understand. We cannot just give things in the name of God and expect they can "connect the dots" to understand that God loves them and wants a relationship with them. And we cannot just give them things and walk away. They need friends.
A Pastor is not harsh, haughty, or demanding of the people he/she leads. Psalm 72:6 states is this way, May his reign be as refreshing as the springtime rains -- like the showers that water the earth. Leading correctly, as in the first point above, means more than just the right direction. The Pastor's mannerisms and demeanor count for a lot. The Pastor is not above the people. The Pastor is supposed to be a servant of the people. Oh that does not mean a slave to the people, but, rather, the Pastor places the needs of the people first. Their best interest is at his heart. Taking care of their needs (which would include his/her own family since they are part of the congregation too) before his/her own. This article is based on scriptures relating to a King, but that does not mean the Pastor is a benevolent dictator, allowing a few crumbs to drop from his table to the masses below.
A Pastor causes the people to grow in God and flourish spiritually. That really is the first goal, and the only goal that counts. All the rest of this list are simply tools that help accomplish this one thing.
A Pastor is not narrow in his/her focus, but looks to incorporate all people into the church, irregardless of race, nationality, or social status. Growing should be a natural, and is a God-ordained, focus of a church. And that growth should come from unsaved members of the community, no matter the race, nationality, or social status. Taking care of the needs of the current congregation is good, but cannot be the sole priority. Expanding the reach of the church is as important. Putting structures in place that allow for growth, and allow the church to fulfill its mission.
GOD'S LEADER
What makes a good leader? What makes a leader, God's leader? Let's see what He says.
Deuteronomy 17:15-20 – When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, "I'm going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me," make sure you get yourself a king whom God, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don't take a foreigner—only a kinsman. And make sure he doesn't build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because God told you, "You'll never go back there again!" And make sure he doesn't build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn't pile up a lot of silver and gold. This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons
1. (:15) God chooses leaders
If you are to be a leader, recognize that you do not get the choice. You cannot declare yourself to be a leader. That is God’s judgment alone.
If we feel God wants us in His service, that is what we do, enter into service. Find a place to be doing something for Him.
If we feel God might have gifted us for leadership; we make ourselves available, to Him, and submit to His leading. If leadership is what he has for us, he will elevate us to that place, in His time.
2. (:15) God’s leader must be reliant on God
Study the great leaders of the Bible. Do you measure up to those people? Probably not. Not that they were perfect. Most were far from it.
However, their behavior is not the issue. Their willing obedience is the issue. Their self-sacrifice is the issue. Their servant-first attitude is the issue. Their reliance on God’s way, in God’s time, for God’s glory is the issue.
Think about Moses. Generally acknowledged as one of the greatest leaders of all time. But did he promote himself to leadership? Did everything go smoothly? He served his father-in-law as a shepherd for forty years before God elevated him to leadership.
How about David? Arguably Israel’s greatest king. Yet he served a corrupt king as a musician. He forgave that king when he tried to kill him. He did not take his rightful, God-ordained position of leadership for himself, even though he twice had the opportunity. He even had to leave the country he was supposed to lead for a time and live among his greatest enemy.
Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Paul arrested and killed Christians.
And the Bible has this to say about history’s greatest leader: (Isaiah 53) He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
3. (:16) God’s leader must listen to God
An old bumper sticker says, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it!”
No matter how good some opportunity appears. No matter how well something might seem to further the Kingdom. No matter what others may think better of. If God says to do something one-way or the other, do it that way.
At one church I served at, we were attempting to purchase property for the church’s first permanent building. At one point we made an offer to buy 10 acres of prime real estate. The contract was signed by all parties. Then the owner backed out. He wanted to sell all 40 available acres, or nothing at all.
Human wisdom said, “Go before a judge and have the contract enforced”. But God said wait. He would go before us. He had a perfect plan.
A bit later, the church was given 16 acres of the same property. And a better tract than we were going to originally buy.
God’s ways are not always our ways. But God’s ways are always the best ways.
4. (:17) God’s leader must guard his/her heart
(I Kings 11:1a, 3b) Now King Solomon loved many foreign wives …and sure enough, they led his heart away from the Lord.
I do not believe this verse applies only to multiple marriages. For almost no one in America in the 21st century has more than one wife (at least at a time).
I think it speaks more broadly to divided loyalties. What in our lives most threatens to turn our heart away from God? Or what in our lives most threatens to turn our attention from God? Or what in our lives most threatens to sap energy away from the pursuit of God?
Identify it. Repent of it. Flee from it!
5. (:17) God’s leader must remain true to God
Over and over we are told in the first five books of the Old Testament how God, through Moses, admonished the Israelites that it was imperative to obey Him. He gave them explicit commands, and spelled out what would happen if they did not. And the whole book of Judges is the story of the people receiving just what they wanted. They wanted to live their own life their own way, and God removed His hand from them. Thus allowing their much stronger, more developed, better-equipped enemies to do to them what he had protected Israel from.
Did God break His promise to them? Or His earlier promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
No!
His promise to give their descendents the land of Canaan also contained the promise to remove His hand of protection and blessing should they choose to turn away from Him. He kept both ends of His deal. But, had they kept their end, God would have had to only keep one end of His.
Solomon is another example of this concept. God granted him wealth, power, influence, and wisdom. He commanded Solomon not to marry wives who would turn his heart from God. Solomon did not listen. So Solomon lost the very kingdom he ruled, the one that had been promised to him and his father, David.
Did God break His promise?
No!
Solomon’s “spider sense” must have neglected to remind him that with great power (and wealth, and influence, and wisdom) comes great responsibility. God’s promise was not just that Solomon would be a great king, or that David’s line would reign in Jerusalem, but also that it would be taken from him if he failed to obey.
6. (:17) God’s leader must live modestly and frugally
This is a tricky one. Let’s say you win a 150-million dollar lottery (that would actually be about 50 million after taxes and the obligatory penalty for taking it all at once). Which, of course, would be hard to do since you most certainly would not ever even think of using some of God’s blessings toward you on gambling.
But let’s say you found the winning ticket on the sidewalk. What do you do next?
I know what you are thinking. You would write your very generous 15-million dollar tithe check first. Before you do anything else, you would honor God. Then go about the business of enjoying His bountiful blessings. The million-dollar mansion (to provide stability for your family, or course). The luxury car(s) (to provide security for your family, or course). Expensive vacations (because the family that plays together stays together). The nicest of everything (since that would be the wise thing to do).
Brrrrrr! Sorry, wrong answer!
Does you current household income total up to be 35 million over the course of your career? If not, then the blessing (that you found on that sidewalk) just became a curse.
“OK smarty-pants, what would you do?” That’s the question on you mind right now, ain’t it?
Well, how ‘bout becoming a 95% giver? Divide what’s left after tithing into fourths. Give the first part away to a worthy ministry. Invest the next two parts to provide a ministry and missionary giving fund for the rest of your life. Set it up in such a way that your heirs have no choice but to continue what you start. Then invest the last part and live off the proceeds.
And since you don’t need $875,000 a year (in our example; 10% of 25% of 35 million), double your current take home, live on that, and give the rest to worthy causes.
I doubt any of us will find such a ticket on the sidewalk anytime soon (but if you do I can suggest a few worthy churches, missionaries, and ministries). But the point is not what would we do if God gave us seemingly unlimited resources. But, rather, what will we do with what he has given us now.
7. (:18) God’s leader must be constant in study and prayer
I addressed this for my life with what I call the Destination Transformation Journal. In it I outline a weekly plan of Bible reading, prayer, meditation, study, and vision casting. And this is the main reason DestinationGod.com exists.
I am about 43 as I write this. And I must tell you I am about 42 ½ years too late getting this started. I have discovered that living on my own strength was a colossal waste of time and energy.
Make time at the beginning of your day and give it to God. Even traffic doesn’t seem as bad on those days God gets the first hour or two. I live in metro Atlanta, so it is still terrible, but maybe not as bad.
8. (:19) God’s leader must be righteous
But it does not do you any good to read, pray, meditate, and study if you are not going to put it into practice. You live in obedience by following the rules. Yes, this is an age of grace. But our freedom doesn’t exist to give us carte blanche. He does tell us what He wants us to do.
It is really very simple. No one forces us to follow God and do right. But if we choose to say we follow God, then we are to do right. Those who want to claim to follow God, but do not want to do what He says amaze me. It is like wanting to join a dog lovers club but demanding the right to bring your cat because you don’t like dogs. Why join the club?
9. (:20) God’s leader must be humble
The rules apply to everyone, but me. No one says that. But how many people do you know who seem to believe that? The “do as I say, not as I do” syndrome.
Years ago, in certain church circles, it was quite commonplace to hear preachers teach against women wearing jewelry. Of course they would do it while sporting a Rolex. Or women might be expected to dress very plainly, while the men expecting that wore tailored suits.
When I taught school this one always got to me. Most schools ban chewing gum. When students ask why, they are generally told it is because they leave old gum all over everywhere, instead of placing it in the trash. But then students would point out the cigarette butts left on the ground in the teacher’s “smoking area”.
Then there is the recent story of the governor whose state trooper limo driver routinely speeds down interstates. Or the congressman who violated airport security because his bag did not arrive off the plane quickly enough.
As the Apostle Paul might say, “Dear friends, this must not be”.
10. (:20) God’s leader must train his/her successor
If your successor isn’t on your staff, then you aren’t leading. Moses trained his successor, Joshua. Joshua then went on to great things. That is because Moses was a great leader, not because Joshua was.
Joshua did not train a successor. After his death, the nation of Israel disintegrated to anarchy. Several times in the Book of Judges we are told, “everyone did as they saw fit”. That is because Joshua wasn’t a good leader. At least not in the end. All his great work was undone by not leaving a strong leader in his place.
Identify who will take your place, and train them. They may not be able to take over right now. Maybe they wouldn’t even be able to take over in the near future. But that is why you train them. And if you do it right, they will end up being better at “it” than you.
THREE SQUARE MEALS
Part of the problem in our modern society is an absence of personal responsibility. We are all aware of the person who sued a fast food restaurant because the coffee was too hot. Even though this person spilled it on themselves, thus getting burned, the hamburger joint that sold it was responsible for the injury because it was too hot!
And we have also all heard how restaurants and junk food producers are to blame for obesity in America. As if they are forcing us to eat, or overeat.
Or how about the crying over high gas prices, all while we drive “mileage-challenged” trucks, vans, and SUV’s?
But has that same lack of personal responsibility crept into the church?
Many times people will leave churches because they claim they are not “being fed”. That there is not enough “meat” in the sermons.
Some people leave a church because the Bible studies and small groups are not “deep enough”. Again, not enough meat. They are not being fed.
But as an adult I do not need someone to feed me. I am capable, and even expected, to feed myself. If I went to a restaurant, or to someone’s home, and waited for someone to come along and cut up my food and feed it to me, I would be laughed out of the building. I am expected to feed myself.
In fact, as an adult I am even expected to provide my own food much of the time. I can purchase it, cook it, and consume it – all without the help of anyone else. And that is because I am considered to be mature.
Can a “mature” Christian really be mature while complaining that churches, preachers, small groups, etc don’t provide enough meat? Short answer: NO! The responsibility of our spiritual growth is ours alone. It is not the job of the church.
For those who complain about a lack of spiritual depth in your church, or in other churches, I have one thing to say … GROW UP!
Spiritual growth can be compared to three square meals. Let’s take a look at the main ingredients of each meal:
Milk –
-- Necessary nourishment
-- Suited for babies, who lack the ability to eat and chew
-- Must be given to babies, they cannot do anything on their own to get it for themselves
-- Only toward the end of the time of milk can a baby even hold their own bottle, but they cannot do anything to fill that bottle for themselves
Mush –
-- Baby food
-- Useful only once their system can handle food with some substance
-- Still dependent on others to prepare food and provide it to them
-- Can begin feeding themselves near the end of this stage
Meat –
-- At early part of this stage a child can feed themselves, although they might require someone to cut it for them
-- But only in maturity can someone prepare their own steak
-- In maturity one feeds themselves, does not require help, and would not even let people feed them
Spiritual development is the same.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:1-3)
Someone new to the Christian life is not to be expected to feed themselves, although, like a baby, they will begin trying to reach out for the milk as time goes by. A new Christian gets most of their spiritual nourishment at church, listening to sermons. Sunday sermons should be designed to feed the “baby” Christian, who has no other reasonable source for spiritual “food”.
It is popular in some circles to find criticism of some of today’s most well known ministers. That criticism often centers on a supposed “shallowness” of messages. But things like Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and Joel Osteen’s Best Life Now messages serve a great purpose. They feed the new Christian the milk necessary for growth.
And if I were a “mature” member of either congregation, I would not consider myself short-changed. That service benefits me for the encouragement corporate worship provides. Furthermore, my role in a church service should be one of example. I model appropriate praise and worship to the newer Christians around me. But I can receive a lot of spiritual benefit from those messages too. More about that in a moment.
Once you outgrow milk, it is on to baby food.
They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together. Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
As a Christian grows, the need for nourishment changes. We need more substantial food. More depth in the teaching. But how do we get that if the pulpit is the place where new Christians get their “milk”? Bible studies and small groups are the place for this second meal.
Now I called this meal “mush”. That is not meant to be derogatory. But you know how preachers love alliteration. I couldn’t resist using an “m” word instead of saying baby food. The truth is, Bible studies and small groups (or Sunday schools for those churches who still do adult classes there) are among the most beneficial aspects of any church.
These groups provide a place for people to learn from the Bible, and learn how to study it for themselves. If a church is really “on its game”, it will provide a spiraling curriculum in its adult education programs. By that I mean there would be a number of basic Bible study classes designed to build on the teaching given in the weekend services. The format would be mostly lecture, with some question and answer, providing practical teaching applicable to everyday life.
Then other classes would go deeper into Bible topics in a discussion format. This gives the participants the opportunity to learn how to open the Word for themselves. The highest level of these classes would begin to delve into matters of doctrine.
Now we are growing in the faith. As a person goes further in the small group/Bible study/Sunday school program of their church, the focus should change. It should become more about helping, serving, and teaching others.
So the mature Christian goes to Sunday services for the corporate worship and to be an encouragement to others. We go to small group for the fellowship and to be used to teach others. But where do we get our “meat”?
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14, emphasis added)
We train ourselves? Yes, we train ourselves!! Careful though. We train ourselves as we have learned about righteousness and through the constant use of the Scriptures. By the time we get to this third meal we ought to be able to take things we hear and dig into them for ourselves. Learning even more than we did in the initial hearing. That is why a mature Christian should never criticize the simple messages of a Sunday sermon. That is how one can learn from the Osteens and Warrens; take what you hear and study more.
A mature Christian doesn’t need “deep” Bible studies any more than a mature person needs someone to feed them their meals. Someone else may provide the meal, through a sermon or Bible study, but the mature one takes it and feeds themselves. And the mature don’t even need to wait for someone else to provide the meal. You can “cook” for yourself.
As the writer to the Hebrews tells us, continued Spiritual growth is our own responsibility.
BEING FERTILIZER
“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son…” Romans 8:29
If you can start the day without caffeine…
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains…
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles…
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it…
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time…
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment…
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than your poor friend…
If you can face the world without lies and deceit…
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong…
If you can conquer tension without medical help…
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics…
Then, you are almost as good as a child…or a dog!
Or, you are growing and maturing spiritually.
So, how do we grow spiritually? And, more than that, how do we help each other grow? I think one of the most powerful choices you and I can make is the decision to love other people, to help them grow.
1. AFFIRM EACH OTHER’S WORTH When you and I affirm other people, we’re doing some incredible things in this world. We are showing love.
But, how do we do this? How do we make the choice to affirm people in everyday life?
With ACCEPTANCE. Do what the Bible says in Romans 15:7 when it says, “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you...” One of the greatest ways to feel better about who you are is to lift other people up. It gives you a thrill like nothing else.
With ATTENTION. The Bible says in Galatians 6:10, “Give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Let’s all look for opportunities to show attention to the people in our life, to pay attention. That is the greatest gift of love that we can give them. And don’t just wait for it to happen, make opportunities to show attention.
With AFFECTION. If you love others in God’s family, you need to show it and make a habit of hugging, of touching, of giving a firm handshake, or a pat on the back, an ‘Atta boy,’ whatever it takes to just give them a word of encouragement that says, “You know what? I love you. We’re in this together.” It’s not enough just to say it. You gotta show it.
With APPRECIATION. Appreciation means to “raise in value”. The Bible says, “Brothers and sisters… appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.” I Thessalonians 5:12 2. PRAY FOR EACH OTHER’S GROWTH We usually pray for people’s needs. They have health needs and financial needs, and we should pray for these things. But we don’t spend nearly enough time praying for people’s spiritual growth, and we should, because that’s what’s going to last.
For example, this first verse from Ephesians 3:18-19, who could you pray this verse for? “I pray…you’ll be able to feel and understand, how long, wide, deep, and high Christ’s love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves…”
Who do you know that you need to pray the next verse for? Hebrews 13:21, “I pray… you will always be eager to do right.” Parents wouldn’t you like to pray that for your kids? Not only that they will do what was right, but also that they’d be eager to do the right thing. Or how about Romans 15:13, “I pray God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.”
Or Ephesians 1:17, “I pray God …would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation...”
Or, II Thessalonians 3:5, “I pray the Lord will guide you to be as loving as God and as patient as Christ.”
How about Ephesians 3:16, “I pray that God may strengthen you with power through his spirit.” 3. ADMIT OUR OWN MISTAKES Ephesians 4:25 says, “Tell each other the truth because we all belong to each other.”
Confession is not just your deep, dark sins. Confession means admitting what’s going on in your life. “You know, I’m having some doubts today,” you admit. That’s confession. “You know, I’m worried about such and such.” That’s a confession. “You know I’m feeling a little lonely today.” That’s a confession. “You know, I’m having a hard time forgiving that person.” That’s a confession. “You know, I just don’t know why but I feel depressed. I feel discouraged today.” That is a confession. 4. ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER’S COMMITMENT I Timothy 4:7, “Keep yourselves in training for Godly life.” How do you do that? How do you stay in training for Godly life? You get a training partner. It is always easier to work out physically when you’re working with somebody else. For your spiritual workout, you need to get a spiritual training partner.
It should be another man if you’re a man, or a woman for the ladies, but, ideally, our closest spiritual partner should also be our spouse.
The fact is spiritual growth and maturity is a choice. You’re only as close to God as you choose to be. One day you’re going to stand before God and give an account of your life, and He’s going to ask, “Did you ever make these commitments? Did you ever fulfill the purposes I put you on earth to fulfill?”
My Pastor is constantly asking, “What’s your next steps?” Meaning, how do we apply whatever lesson we learned to our life, family, or ministry? That’s my question to you, what’s your next step? Do you need to invite Christ into your life? Do you need to be baptized? Do you need to join a small group? Do you need to find someplace in ministry to serve others? What's your next step toward being fertilizer? (adapted from a sermon by Rick Warren)
GONNA, WANNA
In verse 10 of Matthew chapter 13 the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do you speak to the people in parables"?
Quite often people complain that the Bible is too difficult to understand. Or that it is too difficult to be a Christian. And they might use Jesus' habit of using parables to prove their point. It would seem that Jesus wants His message to be vague. But it doesn't appear to me that most of these are terribly difficult to understand. Especially to people who lived in that time and place and were familiar with the illustrations He used. But even now, 2000 years later, they still don't seem to be all that bad.
In addition to that, there are many passages in the Bible that are quite plain. No way to misunderstand. But yet, people still do. There are quite a few lists of sins to avoid in the New Testament. Some will look at a list that includes sexual immorality, homosexuality, etc and say, in effect, "Oh no, that isn't what God meant", while others look at it and say, "Go, God, go. Tell it like it is". But then those same cheerleaders conveniently overlook the remainder of the list that talks about lying, jealousy, envy, gossip, gluttony, etc.
Some who are Pentecostal/Charismatic (and my Mom would say those are not the same) will see passages about tongues and elevate them to the highest level of God's revelation, while completely missing those scriptures that talk about limiting tongues in certain circumstances or that other gifts are to be desired above tongues. But those who do not accept tongues will totally ignore any scriptures that suggest tongues is not just other known languages but is, indeed, also a spiritual unknown language.
Many people extol the virtues of the Ten Commandments, and decry efforts to remove them from public view. But would these same people want to acknowledge the other 600+ commandments as being relevant for today? And some of those people will say, "Keep the Ten Commandments posted!" in one breath and with the next say, "Tithing is an Old Testament law, and we live under grace now."
And, of course, two people can look at the exact same scripture and one come away with a point-of-view that is called in theological circles "Calvinism", while the other will see what is known as "Wesley-Arminianism". Meaning one will see that once they are saved they don't have to worry about sinning. If they do, they do. "Once saved always saved", grace will cover it. The other will see that salvation is a starting point, and that any sin ("in word, thought, or deed") puts your eternal position in jeopardy. And, yes, I know those are the extremes of those theologies.
The point is, if I had been in Jesus' place and the disciples asked me about using parables, I would have been tempted to respond, "What does it matter, you're gonna hear what you wanna to hear anyway." And, actually, that is what Jesus did say, in effect.
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