2 Chron 14:11 (NIV) Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."
When Asa became King of Judah he “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” He brought about a revival in Judah by removing idols from the land, and removed people and places that were associated with idol worship. King Asa also deposed his grandmother (the queen mother) because she had made an idol of Asherah. He did what he could to follow God. After reigning 10 years in peace and safety, the King of Ethiopia or Egypt, King Zerah, came to invade Judah. Zerah had an army of a million men and 300 chariots (A host of a thousand thousand, vs 9.) This is the largest assembled army recorded in scripture to come against God’s people. On the other hand Asa had a small army of men that “bare large shields and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand.” (2 Chronicles 14:8). Only a fool would face an army so outnumbered and so better equipped. But Asa had been faithful to God, and trusted God, and claimed God’s promises, and went to battle, powerless, but claiming victory in the name of the Lord. Asa's prayer in vs. 11, in KJV reads, [It is nothing with thee to help] in other words, God can as easily help the weak as the strong. So what does our being hopelessly outnumbered have to do with God’s ability? In the same way it is nothing for God to answer your prayers, whether really small or great big prayer request, both are just as easy for Him to answer.
The defeat of Zerah is one of the most remarkable events in the history of the Jews. Not only did they defeat them but all the food and supplies that Zerah’s army brought with them in order to sustain such a large army was captured as bounty.
God promises if we are faithful to Him, He will defeat the devourer. One way we show our trust in God, as well as our faithfulness to God is to return back to God one tenth of what He has given us. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Mal 3:10 (NIV). Like Asa our faithfulness will be rewarded from the storehouses of heavens riches and power. When we are faithful to God then God says He will be faithful to us, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal 3:11-12 (KJV)
When you are facing battles you feel you cannot possibly win, don't give up. In the face of a vast horde of enemy soldiers, Asa prayed for God's help, recognizing his powerlessness against such a mighty army. The secret of victory is first, like Jacob, to make a covenant with God, Jacob said, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Gen 28:20-22(NIV). Jacob made this vow, repeating what God had already promised him. Jacob claimed the promise and surrendered dependence on God's faithfulness, as a conditional agreement, not a bargain. Then the second secret to victory is to admit the futility of unaided human effort and then to trust God to overthrow our obstacles. His power works best through those who recognize their limitations, “Gods power is made perfect in our weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). It is those who think they can do it all on their own who are in the greatest danger.
Describe a time that you cried out to God for Help? What kind of covenant have you ever made with God? Explain how you believe God answered your prayer?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Luke 6:38
Luke 6:38 (NIV) “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Jesus used the illustration of a farmer packing grain in a basket to ensure the fullest amount was in his measure. He stuffed it in and pressed it down and even shook it down in order to get in the fullest measure possible. Isn’t it disappointing when you open a box of cereal and the box is 1/3 empty or a bag of potato chips and the bag is less than 1/2 full? Isn’t it even more disappointing when Christians are only 1/2 full of love, joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion to share with others? It has become standard practice for food production and packaging companies to fill food containers with air. But when a Christian is filled full of hot air, their lives are opposite of joy, forgiveness and compassion. A little bit of hot air amounts to a lot of judgmentalism, criticism, anger and greed. God’s ideal is that Christians are packed and shaken down so tight, filled so full of love and mercy and generosity that they are overflowing till every bit of the hot air is squeezed out.
Your heart can be as full of these qualities as you want it to be, God doesn’t limit any body to the amount they can be filled. But the measure we use to allow God to fill our lives with mercy, generosity and forgiveness is the same measure God uses to show us mercy, forgiveness and generosity. Some people may say to themselves; “I don’t want to be a pushover and be too forgiving.” or “I can only be so generous, at some point I won’t have enough for myself.” But it is impossible to out give God.
The story is told in the Bible of a rich, young Ruler in Luke 18:18-23. He came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?” The response Jesus gave was, “you must sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The rich young Ruler thought about this briefly, then decided, the cost to follow Jesus was more than he had bargained for. In sadness the man turned away, But Jesus said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." His disciples heard Him say this and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." The rich young ruler did not comprehend the principle of Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you, in the same measure you gave it.” He only imagined having nothing rather than the endless possibilities God has to give you more than you had to begin with.
In another story in the Bible, Simon of Bethany wanted to throw a feast for Jesus and His disciples in gratitude for being cured of leprosy. During the feast Mary Magdalene snuck into the feast and tried to secretly anoint Jesus’ feet with an expensive perfume. But the beautiful, strong fragrance revealed her secret to everyone in the room. Simon, who had been healed by Jesus, saw what Mary had done and was offended. Simon was aware that Mary had given herself to prostitution in the past and Simon was aware of this because he had led her into sin himself. Simon ignored his own guilt, but on the other hand he felt nothing but reproach toward Mary, and he questioned in his heart, “If Jesus were a true Prophet He would know what sort of woman Mary was and would not have let her touch Him.”
This story indicates the qualities of Mary's and Simon's hearts, and how each person had their own measure returned back to them. Mary was filled with love for Jesus, she shook it down and packed His love in her heart, love for the times she had been forgiven by Him and for resurrecting her brother Lazarus from the dead. Simon who had never sought forgiveness for the sin he committed with Mary filled his heart with condemnation. He was judgmental of Mary and critical of Jesus, Simon made it clear that the measure in his heart was full of a lot of hot air. Jesus went on to reveal to Simon that the measure by which he and Mary showed love and forgiveness was the same measure they received from God.
Simon learned that evening that Mary's gift was valued more by Jesus than the feast he intended to give Jesus as a gift. Because Marys' gift was packed tight and shaken down where Simon's measure was not. We hope Simon learned that the measure he had was not the only measure he could have received. If you want a fuller measure ask God for more, He can still pack it in and shake it down and heap it till it overflows.
Explain the reason why you would want more of God's goodness packed down tightly in your heart? Describe areas in your life you would like to see God pack it down tighter and filled more? What are the reasons why you selected those areas in your life compared to others?
Jesus used the illustration of a farmer packing grain in a basket to ensure the fullest amount was in his measure. He stuffed it in and pressed it down and even shook it down in order to get in the fullest measure possible. Isn’t it disappointing when you open a box of cereal and the box is 1/3 empty or a bag of potato chips and the bag is less than 1/2 full? Isn’t it even more disappointing when Christians are only 1/2 full of love, joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion to share with others? It has become standard practice for food production and packaging companies to fill food containers with air. But when a Christian is filled full of hot air, their lives are opposite of joy, forgiveness and compassion. A little bit of hot air amounts to a lot of judgmentalism, criticism, anger and greed. God’s ideal is that Christians are packed and shaken down so tight, filled so full of love and mercy and generosity that they are overflowing till every bit of the hot air is squeezed out.
Your heart can be as full of these qualities as you want it to be, God doesn’t limit any body to the amount they can be filled. But the measure we use to allow God to fill our lives with mercy, generosity and forgiveness is the same measure God uses to show us mercy, forgiveness and generosity. Some people may say to themselves; “I don’t want to be a pushover and be too forgiving.” or “I can only be so generous, at some point I won’t have enough for myself.” But it is impossible to out give God.
The story is told in the Bible of a rich, young Ruler in Luke 18:18-23. He came to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?” The response Jesus gave was, “you must sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." The rich young Ruler thought about this briefly, then decided, the cost to follow Jesus was more than he had bargained for. In sadness the man turned away, But Jesus said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." His disciples heard Him say this and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." The rich young ruler did not comprehend the principle of Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you, in the same measure you gave it.” He only imagined having nothing rather than the endless possibilities God has to give you more than you had to begin with.
In another story in the Bible, Simon of Bethany wanted to throw a feast for Jesus and His disciples in gratitude for being cured of leprosy. During the feast Mary Magdalene snuck into the feast and tried to secretly anoint Jesus’ feet with an expensive perfume. But the beautiful, strong fragrance revealed her secret to everyone in the room. Simon, who had been healed by Jesus, saw what Mary had done and was offended. Simon was aware that Mary had given herself to prostitution in the past and Simon was aware of this because he had led her into sin himself. Simon ignored his own guilt, but on the other hand he felt nothing but reproach toward Mary, and he questioned in his heart, “If Jesus were a true Prophet He would know what sort of woman Mary was and would not have let her touch Him.”
This story indicates the qualities of Mary's and Simon's hearts, and how each person had their own measure returned back to them. Mary was filled with love for Jesus, she shook it down and packed His love in her heart, love for the times she had been forgiven by Him and for resurrecting her brother Lazarus from the dead. Simon who had never sought forgiveness for the sin he committed with Mary filled his heart with condemnation. He was judgmental of Mary and critical of Jesus, Simon made it clear that the measure in his heart was full of a lot of hot air. Jesus went on to reveal to Simon that the measure by which he and Mary showed love and forgiveness was the same measure they received from God.
Simon learned that evening that Mary's gift was valued more by Jesus than the feast he intended to give Jesus as a gift. Because Marys' gift was packed tight and shaken down where Simon's measure was not. We hope Simon learned that the measure he had was not the only measure he could have received. If you want a fuller measure ask God for more, He can still pack it in and shake it down and heap it till it overflows.
Explain the reason why you would want more of God's goodness packed down tightly in your heart? Describe areas in your life you would like to see God pack it down tighter and filled more? What are the reasons why you selected those areas in your life compared to others?
Friday, August 21, 2009
Exodus 33:11
Ex 33:11 (NKJV) “So the Lord (Yahweh) spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
It is incredible to think that Moses was so close to God, that God considered him a friend. The children of Israel also thought this was incredible too but instead of wanting to imitate Moses and develop a personal friendship with God themselves, they were intimidated by God and admired Moses as someone with powers and abilities beyond the average person. The oneness that God desired with His people, at that time, only existed with Moses.
God was to the children of Israel a mysterious pillar of cloud, it is hard for people to become friends with someone they cannot see, touch or hear. So God, the creator of all things, and the King of the universe, humbled Himself and became a human, an infant, a helpless child. He did this so that He could understand us, and we could understand Him. If God wanted to prove that he desired to be our friend, He could not have done more. He demonstrated his desire to have oneness with us by becoming one of us, Emanuel, “God with us.” He became a man so that we could know Him and understand Him and want to be His friend. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 (KJV).
The oneness that Christ desires with us is so deep He described it this way, that “they (His followers) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 (KJV). The closeness of relationship that exist between Jesus and His Father is to be the same depth of relationship Christ desires with us, and at the same time, the same depth of relationship believers have with one another, “that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22-23 (KJV). We as a Church are truly not as close to one another at the amazing level Jesus intends for us to be. But then beyond that, Jesus tells us that when the world sees the oneness we have as Christians, people of this world will be drawn to us. The world is desperately looking for a real connection with people who care, the churches oneness has a purpose, to draw the world to Christ. In this way, our love will prove to the world that God loves them as much as the Father loves the son. And by this “the world will know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:23 (KJV)
The biggest problem with Christianity today is our tunnel vision, we have a hard time seeing God's bigger picture. It seems like, for most Christians, that we are perfectly content to have a personal relationship with Jesus and then stop there, perfectly satisfied with the little picture. Moderation, when God has so much more in mind for His Church. We complain and are dissatisfied with the fact that the Church doesn’t seem caring and it is so impersonal, and we accept it as the status quo. However, we cannot look to the “church” to change the status quo, because what is the church? – I am the church, change must start with me not with “them.” You may say what can I do? I am just one person, the problems are too big in the church for me to fix? But a fire starts with just one little spark and a storm begins with just one drop of rain.
Making the church more caring and less impersonal begins with one drop of rain – me; and soon there is a puddle – us; then a river – the congregation; then ponds – multiple congregations; and lakes – countries; and eventually oceans – the whole world. Why can't the church be filled with the oneness of Christ and compassion for one another, and for the world? There is no reason it can't, Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” John 10:16 (NIV). Sure, just watch the rivers sweep those other sheep into the flood till the world is consumed. It is a divine strategy.
By God's power we can overcome our lack of imagination, and the Church will become one even as Jesus and the Father are one. Wouldn't it be just like God if something as simple as oneness would be the key to spreading the Gospel to the entire world.
Describe how deep of a friendship you have with God? Compare that to the type of friendship you would like to have with Him? What does the status quo in the church you attend feel like? What are some things you can do to make a difference?
It is incredible to think that Moses was so close to God, that God considered him a friend. The children of Israel also thought this was incredible too but instead of wanting to imitate Moses and develop a personal friendship with God themselves, they were intimidated by God and admired Moses as someone with powers and abilities beyond the average person. The oneness that God desired with His people, at that time, only existed with Moses.
God was to the children of Israel a mysterious pillar of cloud, it is hard for people to become friends with someone they cannot see, touch or hear. So God, the creator of all things, and the King of the universe, humbled Himself and became a human, an infant, a helpless child. He did this so that He could understand us, and we could understand Him. If God wanted to prove that he desired to be our friend, He could not have done more. He demonstrated his desire to have oneness with us by becoming one of us, Emanuel, “God with us.” He became a man so that we could know Him and understand Him and want to be His friend. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 (KJV).
The oneness that Christ desires with us is so deep He described it this way, that “they (His followers) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 (KJV). The closeness of relationship that exist between Jesus and His Father is to be the same depth of relationship Christ desires with us, and at the same time, the same depth of relationship believers have with one another, “that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22-23 (KJV). We as a Church are truly not as close to one another at the amazing level Jesus intends for us to be. But then beyond that, Jesus tells us that when the world sees the oneness we have as Christians, people of this world will be drawn to us. The world is desperately looking for a real connection with people who care, the churches oneness has a purpose, to draw the world to Christ. In this way, our love will prove to the world that God loves them as much as the Father loves the son. And by this “the world will know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” John 17:23 (KJV)
The biggest problem with Christianity today is our tunnel vision, we have a hard time seeing God's bigger picture. It seems like, for most Christians, that we are perfectly content to have a personal relationship with Jesus and then stop there, perfectly satisfied with the little picture. Moderation, when God has so much more in mind for His Church. We complain and are dissatisfied with the fact that the Church doesn’t seem caring and it is so impersonal, and we accept it as the status quo. However, we cannot look to the “church” to change the status quo, because what is the church? – I am the church, change must start with me not with “them.” You may say what can I do? I am just one person, the problems are too big in the church for me to fix? But a fire starts with just one little spark and a storm begins with just one drop of rain.
Making the church more caring and less impersonal begins with one drop of rain – me; and soon there is a puddle – us; then a river – the congregation; then ponds – multiple congregations; and lakes – countries; and eventually oceans – the whole world. Why can't the church be filled with the oneness of Christ and compassion for one another, and for the world? There is no reason it can't, Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” John 10:16 (NIV). Sure, just watch the rivers sweep those other sheep into the flood till the world is consumed. It is a divine strategy.
By God's power we can overcome our lack of imagination, and the Church will become one even as Jesus and the Father are one. Wouldn't it be just like God if something as simple as oneness would be the key to spreading the Gospel to the entire world.
Describe how deep of a friendship you have with God? Compare that to the type of friendship you would like to have with Him? What does the status quo in the church you attend feel like? What are some things you can do to make a difference?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Proverbs 3:5-6
Prov 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Are you facing a crossroad in your life? Do you have family or friends who are depending on you to make wise choices? Are you ever unsure whether you are making the right decisions?
Is there a difference between just trusting the Lord, and trusting the Lord with all your heart? Maybe it’s time to try some extreme trust! I have heard it said, "To have things you've never had, you must be willing to do things you've never done.” Like trusting when we know potential harm may come to us or trusting without a guarantee. So many times we want answers, plain and clear, before we trust. But real trust, trusting with all your heart, involves stepping out in total darkness, unsure of where you are stepping, unable to see your hand in front of your face trust walking. It is not really trust if there is no risk, it is not really trust if the path is straight and the road is clearly marked, if the brightness of the sun clears away the shadows and reveals all the obstacles in our way.
We often want to do things our way rather than God’s way, God’s way is not the natural way we often think about, so to do things we have never done is in many ways parallel to trying it God’s way, something we cannot do without being led by the Spirit. The New Testament talks often about individuals like Paul and Philip being led away by the spirit. This is something we need to ask for from God on a daily basis, for God to redirect our plans through His Spirit in all that we do. Then be willing to do whatever God directs us to do no matter how crazy it may sound at the time.
God will not give us detailed instructions and it is not like Him to reveal His plans far ahead of time. But if we are open minded to His “still, small voice” speaking to our hearts, if we have faith to believe what He is revealing to us, is actually from Him, then just in time He will direct our paths.
Describe some of the risks you have taken in order to follow Jesus? What other risks would you be willing to take to follow Him more?
Are you facing a crossroad in your life? Do you have family or friends who are depending on you to make wise choices? Are you ever unsure whether you are making the right decisions?
Is there a difference between just trusting the Lord, and trusting the Lord with all your heart? Maybe it’s time to try some extreme trust! I have heard it said, "To have things you've never had, you must be willing to do things you've never done.” Like trusting when we know potential harm may come to us or trusting without a guarantee. So many times we want answers, plain and clear, before we trust. But real trust, trusting with all your heart, involves stepping out in total darkness, unsure of where you are stepping, unable to see your hand in front of your face trust walking. It is not really trust if there is no risk, it is not really trust if the path is straight and the road is clearly marked, if the brightness of the sun clears away the shadows and reveals all the obstacles in our way.
We often want to do things our way rather than God’s way, God’s way is not the natural way we often think about, so to do things we have never done is in many ways parallel to trying it God’s way, something we cannot do without being led by the Spirit. The New Testament talks often about individuals like Paul and Philip being led away by the spirit. This is something we need to ask for from God on a daily basis, for God to redirect our plans through His Spirit in all that we do. Then be willing to do whatever God directs us to do no matter how crazy it may sound at the time.
God will not give us detailed instructions and it is not like Him to reveal His plans far ahead of time. But if we are open minded to His “still, small voice” speaking to our hearts, if we have faith to believe what He is revealing to us, is actually from Him, then just in time He will direct our paths.
Describe some of the risks you have taken in order to follow Jesus? What other risks would you be willing to take to follow Him more?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Romans 8:28
Rom 8:28 (KJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Is there anything God does not touch or that he shows no interest in? God’s hand is involved in everything and nothing happens that His eyes cannot penetrate. “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” Ps 145:9 (NIV); “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” Matt 10:29 (NLT); and God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matt 5:45 (NIV); God “gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25 (NIV).
But this promise that “all things work together for good” is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called according to his purpose, that is, those who have chosen to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set. They trust in God, not in worldly treasures; their security is in heaven, not on earth. Their faith in God does not waver in pain and persecution because like Joseph, David and Paul; whose lives were filled with suffering, each of them knew that God was ultimately with them no matter their circumstances.
Just because God is involved in our lives doesn’t mean that all that happens to His people is good. Evil is working against us. God is involved in a spiritual warfare against Satan, it is the great controversy between good and evil. In this great controversy Satan is striving to keep non-Christians from coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and at the same time rendering Christians ineffective. Satan has dominion over this world, so he takes advantage of his authority over this world to cause pain and suffering. God only has authority over us when we submit our lives to Him. God will not interfere with our freedom of choice so we must make requests to God through our prayers and intercession for others in order for God to have permission to get involved in our human affairs. But by submitting our lives to Him we can claim the promise, that although Satan is out to ruin our lives, God will thwart Satan’s evil and turn it into good.
Even though evil is prevalent in this fallen world, God is able to turn every circumstance around for the long-term good of those who love Him. Like in the story of Joseph, Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave, but within this evil act God made good come of it, as Joseph, saw God’s hand in the end, and he was able to forgive his brothers as he said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” Gen 50:20 (NIV). When Balaam was hired to pronounce curses upon the Children of Israel, God “turned the curse into a blessing” Deut 23:5 (NIV). When Absalom tried to overthrow the kingdom from David, his father, David said, “It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today” 2 Sam 16:12(NIV). When the Children of Israel were in slavery in Egypt, the more the Egyptians oppressed them the more God caused them to prosper. Also, when the children of Israel were wandering in the desert wilderness, they felt cursed by God because they were hungry and thirsty and so God blessed them with manna from heaven. In circumstances of apparent disaster God manages to turn things around. When Paul was in prison, God used that situation for him to be a witness to the government of Rome. But the ultimate example of God turning a curse into a blessing is the plan of salvation. We were cursed by sin, then “Christ rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.” Gal 3:13 (NLT)
God is not working out good just to make us happy, He is actually working to fulfill his purpose in the lives of those who love Him. God’s highest purpose is to transform us into the character of Christ. The New Testament Greek word for “transform” is metamorfoústhe which means "metamorphose.” Christians are to metamorphose like a caterpillar, going into his cocoon and then coming out a butterfly. When we as Christians, show our love for Christ by surrendering our lives to Him, this is symbolized by the ordinance of baptism. As our lives metamorphose, our words, our thoughts, our deeds, and our actions are changed. The old caterpillar dies when we are submerged beneath the water of baptism representing dying to self and being buried in the grave with Christ. Then we are resurrected, up from the water, to a new life with Him, a total and complete change like into the butterfly. The apostle Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom 12:1-2 (NKJV)
So a new paraphrase of this promise could read: So in all circumstances, even when Satan is causing us pain and suffering, we know God will turn Satan’s evil into our long-term good, because our lives are synchronized with God’s ultimate purpose and we are being metamorphosed into the character of Christ.
Describe an event in your life that was really bad at first but then God fixed it and made it right? Compare some areas in your life that Christ has transformed in you contrasted with the ways you were before?
Is there anything God does not touch or that he shows no interest in? God’s hand is involved in everything and nothing happens that His eyes cannot penetrate. “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” Ps 145:9 (NIV); “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” Matt 10:29 (NLT); and God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matt 5:45 (NIV); God “gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25 (NIV).
But this promise that “all things work together for good” is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called according to his purpose, that is, those who have chosen to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, a new mind-set. They trust in God, not in worldly treasures; their security is in heaven, not on earth. Their faith in God does not waver in pain and persecution because like Joseph, David and Paul; whose lives were filled with suffering, each of them knew that God was ultimately with them no matter their circumstances.
Just because God is involved in our lives doesn’t mean that all that happens to His people is good. Evil is working against us. God is involved in a spiritual warfare against Satan, it is the great controversy between good and evil. In this great controversy Satan is striving to keep non-Christians from coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and at the same time rendering Christians ineffective. Satan has dominion over this world, so he takes advantage of his authority over this world to cause pain and suffering. God only has authority over us when we submit our lives to Him. God will not interfere with our freedom of choice so we must make requests to God through our prayers and intercession for others in order for God to have permission to get involved in our human affairs. But by submitting our lives to Him we can claim the promise, that although Satan is out to ruin our lives, God will thwart Satan’s evil and turn it into good.
Even though evil is prevalent in this fallen world, God is able to turn every circumstance around for the long-term good of those who love Him. Like in the story of Joseph, Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave, but within this evil act God made good come of it, as Joseph, saw God’s hand in the end, and he was able to forgive his brothers as he said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” Gen 50:20 (NIV). When Balaam was hired to pronounce curses upon the Children of Israel, God “turned the curse into a blessing” Deut 23:5 (NIV). When Absalom tried to overthrow the kingdom from David, his father, David said, “It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today” 2 Sam 16:12(NIV). When the Children of Israel were in slavery in Egypt, the more the Egyptians oppressed them the more God caused them to prosper. Also, when the children of Israel were wandering in the desert wilderness, they felt cursed by God because they were hungry and thirsty and so God blessed them with manna from heaven. In circumstances of apparent disaster God manages to turn things around. When Paul was in prison, God used that situation for him to be a witness to the government of Rome. But the ultimate example of God turning a curse into a blessing is the plan of salvation. We were cursed by sin, then “Christ rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.” Gal 3:13 (NLT)
God is not working out good just to make us happy, He is actually working to fulfill his purpose in the lives of those who love Him. God’s highest purpose is to transform us into the character of Christ. The New Testament Greek word for “transform” is metamorfoústhe which means "metamorphose.” Christians are to metamorphose like a caterpillar, going into his cocoon and then coming out a butterfly. When we as Christians, show our love for Christ by surrendering our lives to Him, this is symbolized by the ordinance of baptism. As our lives metamorphose, our words, our thoughts, our deeds, and our actions are changed. The old caterpillar dies when we are submerged beneath the water of baptism representing dying to self and being buried in the grave with Christ. Then we are resurrected, up from the water, to a new life with Him, a total and complete change like into the butterfly. The apostle Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom 12:1-2 (NKJV)
So a new paraphrase of this promise could read: So in all circumstances, even when Satan is causing us pain and suffering, we know God will turn Satan’s evil into our long-term good, because our lives are synchronized with God’s ultimate purpose and we are being metamorphosed into the character of Christ.
Describe an event in your life that was really bad at first but then God fixed it and made it right? Compare some areas in your life that Christ has transformed in you contrasted with the ways you were before?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Job 19:25
Job 19:25 (NIV) I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.”
In this life people will constantly judge us, whether they are right or wrong about us, fair or not, we face constant scrutiny for our every action. Job faced tremendous condemnation from his friends; they accused him of hiding some secret sin in his past that was the result of all his misery. I personally feel that the attacks from Job's friends may have been more hurtful, than the loss of possessions, the death and desertion of his family, and the painful physical boils covering his body because nothing hurts worse than betrayal. But if we are in Christ Jesus, God does not condemn us for our past, our redeemer lives and will stand up for us when we are judged in the last days. Romans 8:1, tells us that there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” A conditional statement, based upon the fact that if we are no longer “controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, then the Spirit of God lives in us” and we are not condemned. Romans 8:9.
God may allow us to be chastised, and we may go through trials. We are not to confuse trials for condemnation. During those times of trial it is easy for us to think that God has left us for some reason. We may even begin to think that God is displeased with something we have done, and that is why heartache has fallen down upon us. In those times we need to remember Job. Satan attacked him only to try to show that his devotion to God was not sincere. Job’s friends saw all the evil that fell upon him and decided that all of this must be a punishment from God.
But like Job, we cannot stop people from accusing us, or thinking the worst about us when our world seems to be falling down around us. But also like Job we can say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation . . . I know that I shall be vindicated. Who is he who will contend with me?” Job 13:15-19 (NKJV)
How does it make you feel when people criticize and condemn you? In contrast what does it feel like when someone comes to your defense? Share how this has happened to you? Identify ways you can be a better friend to someone being personally attacked by others?
In this life people will constantly judge us, whether they are right or wrong about us, fair or not, we face constant scrutiny for our every action. Job faced tremendous condemnation from his friends; they accused him of hiding some secret sin in his past that was the result of all his misery. I personally feel that the attacks from Job's friends may have been more hurtful, than the loss of possessions, the death and desertion of his family, and the painful physical boils covering his body because nothing hurts worse than betrayal. But if we are in Christ Jesus, God does not condemn us for our past, our redeemer lives and will stand up for us when we are judged in the last days. Romans 8:1, tells us that there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” A conditional statement, based upon the fact that if we are no longer “controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, then the Spirit of God lives in us” and we are not condemned. Romans 8:9.
God may allow us to be chastised, and we may go through trials. We are not to confuse trials for condemnation. During those times of trial it is easy for us to think that God has left us for some reason. We may even begin to think that God is displeased with something we have done, and that is why heartache has fallen down upon us. In those times we need to remember Job. Satan attacked him only to try to show that his devotion to God was not sincere. Job’s friends saw all the evil that fell upon him and decided that all of this must be a punishment from God.
But like Job, we cannot stop people from accusing us, or thinking the worst about us when our world seems to be falling down around us. But also like Job we can say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation . . . I know that I shall be vindicated. Who is he who will contend with me?” Job 13:15-19 (NKJV)
How does it make you feel when people criticize and condemn you? In contrast what does it feel like when someone comes to your defense? Share how this has happened to you? Identify ways you can be a better friend to someone being personally attacked by others?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
II Corinthians 12:15-17
1 Cor 12:15-17 (NIV) “If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?”
Why does the hand tell the foot “I don’t need you”?
Well, it might be because the foot just stomped all over those fragile fingers. It’s been said that Christians are the only people who shoot their own wounded – and sometimes there might be some truth to that statement.
I have been thinking about how some people shoot at members of their own body who don't eat the right way, or who don't dress to the right standards, or sing music from outside of the authorized Hymnal.
It is easier for them to point their finger in judgement rather than show love and nurture, encouraging spiritual health, rather than causing spiritual hurt.
We all have taken a winding road on our Christian journey. Sometimes our walk with God has been up, sometimes it has been down. When it is down we need our brothers and sisters to build us back up spiritually not criticise us and knock us down. Sometimes we could learn more patients with other's faults in order to love them enough to take the necessary time to understand them and heal them. To really help them work through their struggles and return them back into favor with God. It is a process that takes earnest prayer, much time and heartfelt tenderness.
So say our members get spiritually weak, what do we do about it? Say they commit adultery and murder, like David did. They publicly and verbally deny being a follower of Jesus and swear against it with an oath, like Peter did. When times get tough they quit their commitment to serve God in the ministry, like Mark did. When under stress and their lives are threatened, they run away from their problems, like Elijah did. Or to avoid the possibility of a life threatening situation they lie about being married allowing another man to make sexual advances toward his wife, like Abraham did. Say you are a deceiver and crafty and you steal the birthright and the blessing from your own brother, like Jacob did. Or you are jealous of your spoiled younger brother so you sell him as a slave and lie to your father about what actually happened to him, like Joseph's 10 brothers did. Or you move in, and start living with a prostitute and fall in love with her, like Sampson did. Do we tell them that their influence brings an unhealthy atmosphere to the body, and tell them to straighten up or be amputated as members of the body?
These are people who fell, who knew they messed up, repented and returned to God. It should be our purpose like it was with the Prophet Nathan to bring the the straying King David to repentance and renew a right spirit between David and with God again.
But if we shoot our wounded, we do not have anyone to write the book of Psalms or the Gospel of Mark. When we shoot our wounded, like the brothers of Joseph, we have no Judah in the Church and therefore no lineage of Christ. When will we learn to have the patient, gentle, compassion with others and not give up on people who need Christ the most. God has not given up on them, God never gives up on any of us, He always holds out His hand for forgiveness. Praise God that He has not given up on me, because I know I keep failing but He is still working on me and I am not yet what He wants me to be.
However, if the church is filled with wounded and spiritually sick members of the body, the body resembles a spiritually dead body; like a valley of dry bones filling up the pews. It takes time for the spiritually wounded to become healed. Then because the members of the body are normal sinful people this - Why His arms aren't reaching; Why His hands aren't healing; Why His words aren't teaching; And why His feet aren't going.
Describe the kinds of spiritual wounds you may have experienced, or you have seen in other people? Share specific ways you think you could be a support for other people who have had the kind of wounds that need healed?
* contributing statements by Shari Willis
** Lyrics by Casting Crowns
Why does the hand tell the foot “I don’t need you”?
Well, it might be because the foot just stomped all over those fragile fingers. It’s been said that Christians are the only people who shoot their own wounded – and sometimes there might be some truth to that statement.
I have been thinking about how some people shoot at members of their own body who don't eat the right way, or who don't dress to the right standards, or sing music from outside of the authorized Hymnal.
It is easier for them to point their finger in judgement rather than show love and nurture, encouraging spiritual health, rather than causing spiritual hurt.
We all have taken a winding road on our Christian journey. Sometimes our walk with God has been up, sometimes it has been down. When it is down we need our brothers and sisters to build us back up spiritually not criticise us and knock us down. Sometimes we could learn more patients with other's faults in order to love them enough to take the necessary time to understand them and heal them. To really help them work through their struggles and return them back into favor with God. It is a process that takes earnest prayer, much time and heartfelt tenderness.
So say our members get spiritually weak, what do we do about it? Say they commit adultery and murder, like David did. They publicly and verbally deny being a follower of Jesus and swear against it with an oath, like Peter did. When times get tough they quit their commitment to serve God in the ministry, like Mark did. When under stress and their lives are threatened, they run away from their problems, like Elijah did. Or to avoid the possibility of a life threatening situation they lie about being married allowing another man to make sexual advances toward his wife, like Abraham did. Say you are a deceiver and crafty and you steal the birthright and the blessing from your own brother, like Jacob did. Or you are jealous of your spoiled younger brother so you sell him as a slave and lie to your father about what actually happened to him, like Joseph's 10 brothers did. Or you move in, and start living with a prostitute and fall in love with her, like Sampson did. Do we tell them that their influence brings an unhealthy atmosphere to the body, and tell them to straighten up or be amputated as members of the body?
These are people who fell, who knew they messed up, repented and returned to God. It should be our purpose like it was with the Prophet Nathan to bring the the straying King David to repentance and renew a right spirit between David and with God again.
But if we shoot our wounded, we do not have anyone to write the book of Psalms or the Gospel of Mark. When we shoot our wounded, like the brothers of Joseph, we have no Judah in the Church and therefore no lineage of Christ. When will we learn to have the patient, gentle, compassion with others and not give up on people who need Christ the most. God has not given up on them, God never gives up on any of us, He always holds out His hand for forgiveness. Praise God that He has not given up on me, because I know I keep failing but He is still working on me and I am not yet what He wants me to be.
However, if the church is filled with wounded and spiritually sick members of the body, the body resembles a spiritually dead body; like a valley of dry bones filling up the pews. It takes time for the spiritually wounded to become healed. Then because the members of the body are normal sinful people this - Why His arms aren't reaching; Why His hands aren't healing; Why His words aren't teaching; And why His feet aren't going.
Describe the kinds of spiritual wounds you may have experienced, or you have seen in other people? Share specific ways you think you could be a support for other people who have had the kind of wounds that need healed?
* contributing statements by Shari Willis
** Lyrics by Casting Crowns
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