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“Don’t Be A Moron! – Life Lessons from the Two Builders

28 Aug

I recently asked a large class of teenagers to share what they recall from the greatest sermon they ever heard.  It was encouraging to hear them one by one begin to share where they were, the subject being presented, and how that lesson impacted their lives.  I was a bit saddened to learn that not one of them mentioned one of my sermons; but that is okay.

As we find ourselves sitting beside the multitude listening with anticipation to Jesus preach on “The Sermon on the Mount” we hear Jesus say the following, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:24-29)

When Jesus finished his sermon the people were amazed!  They had never heard anyone preach like that before.  Jesus spoke as one with great authority.  He called for people to act on what they heard.  He called them to make a life commitment.  He called them to live differently as a result of hearing His sermon.

As I began to study deeper into this familiar text I began to see some strong similarities as well as differences between these two men.

Similarities between the Builders

  1. Both Heard the Words of Jesus – Jesus begins His conclusion by saying, “Whoever hears these words of mine…”  Jesus is not only talking about the words he is about to say but is referencing his entire sermon and ministry.  Notice that both builders were represented in the crowd as Jesus spoke.
  2. Both Built a House – Building a house take great effort.  I recall those times my family aided my dad in building his log home.  It is hard work.  Try as I may, the house did not build itself.  It took personal effort and responsibility.  The same is true with our spiritual house.  No one can build it FOR us, we must build it OURSELVES.
  3. Both Experienced a Crisis -   Notice the words from verses 25 and 27, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house…”  Regardless of who we are, we have all gone through our own times of crises haven’t we?

Differences in the Two Builders

  1. One is wise; the other foolish – Upon deeper study, we find out the wise man is one who is thoughtful or discreet.  The Greek word to describe this man is φρόνιμος (phronimos).  On the other hand I found it interesting that Jesus describes the foolish man as μωρός (mōros) which literally means stupid or a moron.  Note that neither of these words had to do with a person’s I.Q. but everything to do with his or her willingness to hear the words of Jesus and apply them.
  2. The preparation for the crises is different – In both situations the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew.  The word for “flood” is used to describe a great river.  To fully comprehend this we need to have some understanding of the terrain in Palestine.  Palestine is comprised of hills and valleys.  In the late winter and early spring the mountain rains come.  The rains channel down between these mountains causing a might river to form, destroying any and everything in their path.  The wise man built his house up on the rock ledge or rock outcropping.  This builder chose the higher ground, the more difficult location.  He built his house on THE rock, which is Jesus Christ.  However; the foolish man built his house in the dry riverbed.  He built it in the direct path of trouble.  Trouble came for both men.  However; only one was able to withstand the storm.
  3. The final outcome – The wise man’s house did not fall.  Why? Because it was founded upon THE rock (2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Timothy 6:19).  The foolish man didn’t fare as well.  In fact, the text says “and great was the fall of it”.  We each must choose where we will build our house.  Prayerfully we will take the time to build a proper house of faith on Jesus and His Word.

I share these points with you today to ask a few simple questions.  How is the construction going?  Are you taking the personal time to build a faith that will withstand any storm you may face?  Are you building your home on a foundation which will fail you or are you putting forth the additional and needed effort to build it on THE rock?  May we each do the things necessary to develop a strong and satisfying faith with our Father, His Son, His Word, and His bride!  May God bless each of you richly!

 
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Posted by on August 28, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

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The Importance of Hearing God’s Word – Part 2

28 Jun

Last week we examined ways we can learn more about our Father in heaven.  We saw in Scripture where we can learn about Him by spending time in His Word, studying the actions and behaviors of Jesus, examining the evidence from nature, and by sitting and learning from Godly teachers.

In our second part it is my intent to try and share with you three blessings I have received by spending time in the Word of God.

Spending Time will help us come to KNOW!

You can do this with any passage of Scripture.  Notice with me what Paul shares in Philippians 3:7-11 – “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith– that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Notice I have underlines certain words.  Go back and look at these words.  In this short passage are some powerful actions/promises we need to come to know and understand.  Every one of these words is vital to our relationship with God; with our peace with man, and to our example to the lost!  For example, how different would you be if you became focusing more upon the “power of his resurrection”?  How would your family be different if each one of you began to “become like him”?  Spend time understanding the context and the meaning of each word and you will come to KNOW Him on a deeper; more personal level!

Spending Time will help us to GROW!

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  Peter states in 2 Peter 3:17-18 – “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”  God wants each and every one of us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.  The only way to do that is to spend time with the Word.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to be part of a team at over 40 different camp sessions.  As I reflect back I find myself wondering, “Whatever happened to _________?  Where are they now?  What caused a former staff counselor to walk away from the Lord?”  I believe the answer is simple.  Instead of doing the things necessary to maintain and grow their faith they allowed other things to lure them away.  Paul is very clear in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  If we really want a strong faith, be in the Word!  If you want to remain faithful unto death, be in the Word!  If you want your family to be in Heaven, be in the Word!  If you want to finish strong, be in the Word!

Spending Time will help us to SHOW others our faith!

James gives us a clear challenge in James 1:21-25.  He writes, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.   For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.   For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”  Each time I consider this verse, I find myself wondering how different my life would be if I actually APPLIED all of God’s Word instead of allowing it to go in one ear and out the other.  We must not forget what we have heard rather put God’s Word into action in our lives.

Putting God’s Word into action will bless you richly.  Far too many people who profess Christ long to receive the blessings without putting in the work necessary for those blessings to be manifested within our lives.

The Importance of Eliminating Distractions.

I have spoke with too many Christians who want to know Christ but have allowed the things of this world to preoccupy their time and focus.  Thus, not allowing the Word of God to take its place of prominence in their lives.  As portrayed in the parable of the sower (Mark 4:18-19), we can be the thorny ground, full of thorns and thistles which represent the cares of the world and which choke out the Word and cause it to become unfruitful within our lives.

Proverbs 22:17-19 – “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.”

Point – We must listen so we can learn to trust the Lord.  To fail to eliminate distractions will hinder our listening ability.

What is needed for us to be able to effectively listen to God?  What can we do to prepare our hearts so we are in a position to hear what the Lord wants to reveal/communicate to us through His Word?

The Importance of a Bible Study Plan

Read the text. – This should probably go without saying, but I would recommend reading the text upwards of 10 times. And reading in such a way as to enter it. To smell, see, and taste what is happening in the text. This should take about half an hour.

Question the text. – I take a blank sheet of paper and ask every single question I can think of about the text, even if I know the answers. I ask about the names of people, what they mean, where else they appear in Scripture, who their family is, what their nationality is, and so on. Do this with every element, including what specific words mean, where else they are found in the Bible, and what different biblical authors mean by them. Don’t worry about answering the questions at this point; just raise them.

Learn the text. – This is where your study tools come in as you try and answer those questions. Everybody might not have access to Bible dictionaries, word studies, encyclopedias or commentaries, but there are some pretty good online tools you can use.

Find the 3 AM statement of the text. – It’s called the 3 AM Statement because if someone woke you up at 3 am the night before you’re going to teach and asked, “What is your talk about?” you would be able to answer them in one, short, easy-to-remember sentence.

Personally reflect on the text. – This is where you take some time to ask the question: “What does this text mean for me?” Not, “What does this text mean for them?” You journal your answer, after several hours of prayer. In short, you choose to deeply encounter the text yourself before you try and help others do the same.

Be Open. – Psalm 119:18 – Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.  Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  1 Corinthians 11:28 – Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

We Need a Biblical Perspective – Acts 17:11 – “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for the received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”  We must block out our preconceived notions and opinions and allow God’s Word to speak for itself.

We Need Physical Preparation – Luke 22:7-14, we find that the Lord sent Peter and John to make preparations for the Passover meal that they might observe it according to its meaning and significance.  The word prepare is used 3x in these verses.  Without physical preparation, the best spiritual preparation accomplishes little.

May we all be diligent in our reading, studying, and meditation of God’s Word.  It will change your life in ways beyond all comprehension.  May God bless you richly.


 
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Posted by on June 28, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

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“From a Father’s Heart – A Plea to His Daughter”

22 May

Recently I was spending some time in meditation.  I was pondering the type of man I would want my daughter to one day marry.  I see so many wonderful young ladies often “settle” for the first guy that gives them attention.  In some cases the two of them are able to have a great marriage and a fulfilled life.  But for every success story, there are so many more who are in a situation where they are unhappy, unfulfilled, and dissatisfied with their spouse.

I am reminded of Proverbs 15:22 which states, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”  I came to realize the need to seek counsel from other men of faith who have spent much time in prayer in regards to the type of man their daughters will one day marry.

As I began to receive these words of wisdom from fellow fathers I thought it might be nice to share some of their words of affirmation and prayers of hope.  I am sharing these words from the heart of fathers for a few reasons.

  1. To allow all the unmarried daughters in the world to consider the type of man a group of fathers pray and hope they will seek out.  I urge and encourage you to begin spending time in deep consideration the type of man you want to spend the rest of your life beside.
  2. To allow all the single men in the world to consider the type of man they need to be in order to be pleasing to their future spouse and her family.  Far too often young “men” are not being taught and trained to be just that, “men.”  Please take time to do a self evaluation and consider these following thoughts to see how you are doing in various areas.
  3. To the rest of us – I hope the following words are a form of edification and encouragement.  In a world which is quickly spiraling further and further away from Biblical truth and relevancy, it is encouraging to see there are still families who are actively living and seeking to be a family of faith (Joshua 24:16).

The following statements are from a group of godly men, husbands, and father’s in which I have the privledge to serve beside at the Keller church of Christ (www.kellercofc.org).

My wish for my daughter;

“Simply a Godly man. One who is a Christian (I’ll not support nor attend her wedding if she marries non-Christian man), one who aspires to have the qualifications of at least a Deacon as this covers lots of bases. One who is committed to walk his whole life with God and to carry his family along the same journey.  As one of my daughters said in frustration one day, “Dad I want a guy just like you only younger and cuter!” How does one top that?”

“First and foremost, I want my daughter to marry a man who will walk with her on her journey to heaven, not someone who just “goes to church” or worse yet, gets in the way of her going to church, but someone who is actively working for the Lord.  He should always treat her with respect and kindness and never take her for granted.  He should be a man who always strives to do what’s right, even if (or especially if) doing what’s right isn’t easy.”

“I want my daughters to marry men that treat them with dignity and respect.  I want them to be Christian men who will help my daughters and their families lead a good life, are an example to others, love my daughters as Christ loves the church and help them get to heaven.  And I will be sure and tell them the very same thing my father-in-law told me. “Love my daughter with all your heart and treat her well, but if you ever lay a hand on her in anger and hit her, I will find you and you will never hit another person for the rest of your short life.   Then he added, “We’ve been hunting together and you know how well I can shoot, and you can’t run that fast, so don’t make me come after you!”  Trust me, that sticks with you!  Any man that wants to marry one of my daughters better have good manners, show us the respect we deserve, not lazy, willing to help with stuff like washing dishes and setting the table, and be willing to be a part of our entire family and do stuff with us.  Most of all, they need to love my daughters more than anything or anyone else.  If they are happy, then we will be happy.”

“I want my daughters to first marry a Christian. I have been praying for her husband since she was born that he would be a Godly man with patience and that he would help continue to lead her down the straight and narrow path. I have prayed that he would be honest in his dealings with others and have the integrity to be able to stand against satan and all who try to destroy the “body of Christ”.  He would also have ability to lead her and their family, as well lead others to Christ.”

“First and foremost, his identity would be in Christ, a whole person with or without marriage, a servant, self-less, loving his wife more than anything, second to God. A family man, who considers relationships to be of utmost importance, hospitable, patient, kind, gentle, lover of children, and respecter of the elderly. An optimist, not a complainer, ready to take on the disappointments in life. A provider and hard worker. A man who recognizes that he is not perfect, grows his strengths and matures in his weaknesses – Humble.   What a list! We can only make such a list because we strive to attain these qualities in our own lives BECAUSE OF CHRIST!”

“The man I want my daughter to marry is first of all a man of God.  He has already made the decision that he and his family will follow in the steps of Jesus.  His walk with Jesus affects his whole life, from his speech, to the kind of entertainment he watches and listens to, to the way he spends his money.  He respects my daughter as a partner, and leans on her strengths as much as he supports and protects her.  If he is wise, he will learn what is actually worth arguing about and what to just let go (hint, mostly just let it go).  As he becomes wiser, he learns to appreciate the internal qualities that make her special, the kind of things that don’t fade away when brown hair is replaced by gray and wrinkles start appearing on her face.  He is learning the difference between being the boss and being a leader.  Finally, he loves my daughter enough to hold her accountable and encourage her in her own walk with God.”

“These are the qualities i thought of for who would marry my daughters: Member of the church, Respectful, Caring, Puts her needs first before his, Good listener, Polite, Good manners, Likes to hunt and fish, Wants to have kids.”

“I pray that my daughter would find a “Christian” young man when she decides to Marry, someone who already has a relationship with God and that they together would continue to grow as a Christian family. I would like to stress “Christian” to both male and female when finding the right person to marry, if you married outside of the Church you could always hope to convert but never be assured that this would be the case and could be a challenge that might not ever happen. Marriage is a Partnership for life and it takes two committed parties to make it work, I expect the man to be the leader of his household to have the utmost highest of Moral Values, Honor and Integrity as a person. I would expect my Daughter to always be treated with Greatest of Respect by her husband and to always be Honored and Defended as any husband should. I would also expect my daughter to have the same core values and expectations to Respect, Honor and Defend her husband as any wife should. When both the Husband and Wife are committed to God and to each other this is a strong foundation to have a marriage built upon and that is what I would hope for my daughter.”

“The type of man I want my daughters to marry would be a Christian who deeply loves God and firmly believes in His son Jesus as his Savior.  A gentleman, who respects women as his equal who should be treated with courtesy, kindness and respect.   A good listener, who is also a good conversationalist.  Humble, strong in faith, loving, kind and loves children and dogs.”

“In considering the type of man I want my daughter to marry I first must say that this is the type of thing that her mother and I have thought about since we discovered that we were having a daughter. We have been praying for her husband and his parents for many years.  That being said, I must say that the thought of my daughter dating is a frightening proposition. One because I know of the broken hearts that are to come as she searches for ‘the one’. The other frightening consideration is that in the dating process in search of a mate, that she may run across those who don’t respect her, share her/our values, or have a love for God.  My daughter is not an object, she is a person with thoughts and feelings beautiful on the outside, even more so on the inside. She is an emotional being, sometimes beyond my ability to understand. That being said, that trait is not to be exploited to take advantage of her. Again she is a person, not an object to play with.  I want my daughter to marry a man that is on fire for God. I want her to marry a man that will stand up for right and not back down. I want my daughter to marry a man that is respectful to her but also to others. I want my daughter to marry a man that can admit and sometimes laugh at his own mistakes.  Why is all  of this so important? In a mate my daughter can find the one who not only is responsible for her care for the rest of her life on earth, but in a mate my daughter will be partnered with someone that should help her to get to heaven during the 60+ years she has left on her wedding day. If her mate fails in that endeavor the consequences are eternal.”

Praise God for men of faith who are fervently praying and encouraging their daughters to seek the Lord and all His ways!  May all our daughters learn to rely on God to bring  them a man who will walk with them hand in hand on the path of righteousness.

May God bless each of you richly.

 
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Posted by on May 22, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

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“Born Free” by Benedict Little

26 Apr

I remember, vaguely as a child, watching the movie, and hearing the soundtrack by the same name.  The film was based on book of same title (Joy Adamson) about raising a lion cub and setting her free.

“Born free, as free as the wind blows – As free as the grass grows – Born free to follow your heart – Live free and beauty surrounds you – The world still astounds you, each time you look at a star – Stay free, where no walls divide you – You’re free as the roaring tide, so there’s no need to hide – Born free, and life is worth living, but only worth living, ’cause you’re born free.”

This film, and even the song, still brings a lump to my throat every time. On a different, but similar note, our country (South Africa) celebrated “Freedom Day”, on the 27th of April. This is a freedom of a different kind – Political freedom, or democracy.

As God’s people, we celebrate a FREEDOM of a different kind – freedom from the bondage to sin (Rom.8:31).  This is why Christ died, to set us free and release us from Captivity, which is symbolized by the Babylonian Captivity that the Jews endured in the Old Testament.  What then is the key to this freedom?

The path to True Freedom begins with RECOGNIZING where we are in our relationship with God. Jesus said, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” – Jn.8:32. The Pharisees were indignant! They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” – Jn. 8:33. They had obviously or conveniently forgotten the Babylonian Captivity that their forefathers had been a part of, about 500 years ago. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”

The path to True Freedom begins with REALIZING that we need a REDEEMER. Jesus was very clear about whom that person is. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” – John 8:36

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome about the bondage that was brought about by the “fall” of Adam, and how we were all affected by the sin of Adam.  “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass [Adam], but much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification… for if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” – Rom. 5:15 – 17.

In essence, we are unable to free ourselves – we have to be RELEASED.  Paul told the Romans, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death – Rom.8:2.

Paul said, in referring to our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection [baptism], which is our rebirth, “For one who has died has been set free from sin” – Rom.6:7. This concept of being “born again” is authored by Christ Himself cf John 3:3-5. Through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ we are in a sense, “born free”, but at the same time, we are born into a relationship of RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Consider the words of the Apostle Paul, “and, having been set free from sin, [we] have become slaves of righteousness” – Rom.6:18.

Another blessing attached to being “born free” is that of a REWARD.  “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom. 6:22, 23. Jesus Himself tells us what the reward is for obedient faith. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life” – John 3:16

We are warned however by the Scriptures to REGULATE our use of freedom.  The Galatians were reminded not to go back to the “Law” as the basis of salvation. “ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery [to the Law of Moses] – Gal.5:1.  The Jewish Christians were reprimanded to, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He [God] has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” – Heb. 13:5

The Apostle Peter reproved the scattered community of Christians, saying, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” – 1Pe-2:16

Conclusion:  The democratic freedom that the secular world strives for is good, but the true freedom that Christ brings, is better, by far! The reason is that the former is temporary and fragile at best because it is governed by men. The latter is permanent and eternal, because it is given by God. Someone once said, “It is better to die for an ideology that will live, than to live for an ideology that will die.”

Christ did that for us, and thereby gave us free access into the grace by which we now stand! He knew there was no other way to redeem this world of weak and fallen people – for God so loved…

“You may never know the results of your actions, but if there are no actions, there can be no results” – Gandhi

 
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Posted by on April 26, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

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Some Lofty Goals

06 Jan

Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, was once asked by a reporter, “What makes a champion?”  Landry’s answer was power-packed.  “A champion is someone who didn’t give up when he wanted to.”  He went on to say: “Success is not accidental.  We learn how to achieve.  I would like to list four short steps it takes to be a champion in the field of sports.

  • 1 – Faith.  Believing you can win.
  • 2 – Training.  The Cowboys work out four times a week.  They lift millions of pounds of iron each session.  They run many miles to win.
  • 3 – Goals – All winning teams set goals. 
  • 4 – You must possess the will to reach the goal you set for yourself.  This is probably the most important quality of all champions.”

Landry understood what it took to be a champion.  He witnessed firsthand the power of goal setting and then the will to reach the goals that were set.

Cancer survivor Greg Anderson once said, “When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.”

Spiritually speaking, we have got to set some goals within our spiritual life that will move us toward being the champion Christian that God desires us to be.

In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul shares with us at least three spiritual goals which would be of great value for us to consider today.

 The Goal of Perfection (vs. 12a)

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

We often hear people make statements such as, “Nobody’s perfect’” or “I’m not perfect.”  Statements such as these are usually made when they are under conviction about some sin in their life and they think this little sentence gives them an excuse.

It is true that no one is sinless (Romans 3:23) except for Jesus (2 Cor 5:21) Christ.  However Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Paul also stated in Colossians 1:28, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature (perfect) in Christ.”

Paul is not talking about sinless perfection but about a worthy goal that every Christian ought to set for him or herself.  God’s Word has given us the task of growing into a full grown mature Christian.

The Goal of Dissatisfaction (vs. 13a)

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.

One noted author once wrote, “A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race” (Wiersbe, pg. 88).

Far too often we end up comparing ourselves to other Christians as the measuring stick of our faith.  However; Paul refused to follow this line of thinking.  Instead of comparing himself to other men, he compared himself to himself and with Jesus Christ.

It is imperative for us to constantly evaluate our lives.  This is the only way we will be able to improve in areas in which we are coming up short and strive to grow in those areas. Anytime we become satisfied with anything in our lives other than the passionate pursuit of an intimate relationship with Christ, we are on dangerous ground.

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  (Matthew 5:6)

 The Goal of Forgetting (vs. 13b-14)

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

If you are anything like me, you often have a hard time remembering?  If fact, if it weren’t for the large calendar on my desk, I would forget a lot of very important information.

If we are going to be champions for Christ, we need to practice some spiritual forgetfulness.  We need to no longer be influenced by or affected by the past.  Too often we allow ourselves to be weighed down by our sinfulness or shackled by the failures of others.  Paul understood that he would not go back and change the past.  The decisions and actions he portrayed in the past are gone.   Paul chose to focus on the present in order to have a glorious future with our Father and the saints in Heaven.

As we continue through this New Year, may we each take the time to monitor our spiritual walk with God.  May we be open and honest with ourselves about where we are verses where we would like to be.  Do whatever it takes!

May God bless you richly!

 
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Posted by on January 6, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

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Down From the Mountain

24 Sep

Several years ago I was given the opportunity to travel with some friends to Green River, WY.  I had never been that far north and longed to see that part of the United States.  I recall the scenery being unlike anything that I had seen before.  The rolling hills, the various types of shrubs and bushes were magnificent as I stood in awe of God’s wisdom and power.

One day we decided to make a couple of hour drive over to the Grand Teton National Forest in Jackson Hole.  I must admit that I had never hear of the Grand Tetons and was excited to see them for the very first time.  As we arrived the snow began to fall.  In a matter of minutes if went from a light, gentle snow to a heavy snowfall which instantly limited our view to only a few yards in front of us.  Ultimately, we were only able to see the base of the Teton Mountains.  Therefore we did the only thing we could do, we went into a local store and bought some postcards.

What is it about mountains that draw us to them?  Why do many have a deep sense of longing to travel great distances to see a large pile of rocks which seem to ascend high into the heavens?  We all have our different answers, but to me, I always feel closer to God when I am on (or even very near) the mountains.

Throughout history, mountains have stood as a symbol for unity or covenant with God’s people.  Think back to Abraham’s act of obedience through his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22).  Remember the giving of the law on top of Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19-20) Elijah took on the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).  Jesus was on a mountain when he delivered the ”sermon on the mount” (Matthew 5-7).  Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives to pray to God (John 17) and then is taken to a mountain which ultimately led to His death on Mount Calvary (Matt 27).

There have been so many great things which have occurred on top of the mountain.  But of all the mountaintop experiences, the one which really speaks to me we find in the beginning of Mark 9.  Here we find where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him up on the mountain and Jesus is transformed.  His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could clean them and there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

What would you have done?  How would you have reacted to this special event that Jesus wanted to share with you?  I often wonder how I would have reacted if I would have been there.  More than likely I would have remained silent due to the fear of saying the wrong thing.  But one thing is clear, this event was one of epic proportions that solidified in the hearts and minds of those men who Jesus claimed to be.

Often we mentally end this incredible account with Peter, James, John, and Jesus coming back down the mountain to rejoin the other disciples.  But we must not stop there…we must read on to (in my opinion) gain a very valuable life lesson.  As we continue reading in verses 14ff we learn that the other disciples are having a very difficult time healing a boy with an evil spirit.  We read in verse 16 where the crowd, disciples, and the teachers of the law are arguing as to why this boy wasn’t healed.

As I read this passage, all I can do is stop and scratch my head.  I strive to put myself into the sandals of Peter, James, John, and even Jesus to try to understand who they must have felt.  These four men had just come from the top of the mountain; where the glory of the Lord was revealed to them and as soon as they get back into the “real world” they find themselves amidst quarreling, possibly shouting, anger, confusion, disrespect and a whole list of other possibilities.  How sad is this scene?  How sad for these four men…

The more we meditate of this scene; I believe the more and more real it becomes for our own spiritual walk with the Lord.  How many times have we found ourselves in a mountain peak experience whether it is in a worship service; witnessing a new birth into Christ; a brother or sister who have repented and returned to the Lord; attending a retreat or spiritual seminar, etc. only to return to “normal life” filled with sin, anger, hatred, jealousy, or wrath?  If you have ever found yourself in this arena, you know how much it hurts.  So what do we do?

I would suggest we can learn three things about this experience.

  1. We must strive to understand the purpose of our mountaintop experiences.

Mark tells us that Jesus “led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves.” The text does not tell us which mountain, some commentators have believed it to be Mt Tabor (not likely since there was a Roman fortress there at the time) – but it is more likely that it was Mt. Hermon which is the highest mountain in the whole region (9,400’).

But it was a place that was isolated, where they could be alone with God. In order to have intimate fellowship with God it is often necessary to seek seclusion from the world and its influences. The reason that we don’t experience mountaintop experiences more is because we are too caught up with what is going on in our lives in the here and no, and do not schedule time to be alone with God.

2.   We must strive to understand the privileges of our mountaintop experiences.

Luke tells us that the disciples are weary after the climb up the mount and evidently as Jesus prayed they fell asleep (Lk. 9:32). When they awoke it was to a very spectacular and surreal scene before their eyes.  These apostles have the privilege to witness (a) Jesus’ transfiguration (b) The prophets Elijah and Moses (c) a cloud overshadows them.  (This is the Shekinah glory of God – which was the visible symbol of the power and presence of God.) (d)  a voice spoke to them.  (As the cloud settled on top of the mountain, out of cloud booms the very voice of God saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!)

As Christians we today get to share in the same experience…not in a miraculous way but in a very practical way.  We too get to share in Jesus’ glory.  We get to be in the lives of the prophets like Elijah and Moses by reading, meditating, and studying their teachings.  We also get to hear the very voice of God through His Word and we can know that God is constantly overshadowing us with His love, mercy and goodness.

3.   We must strive to maintain the proper perspective of our mountaintop experiences.

Matthew in his account says that “When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. (7) But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”(Matt 17:6-7) Initially the disciples were overwhelmed, stunned and frightened. This was an experience that they were never to forget!! Peter tells that they “… were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16) Luke says that “… the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening.” (Luke 9:29) Matthew said that “…his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2)

Then in verse eight we read, “Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.” Before they realized it the cloud passed away, when the visitors were gone and the voice from Heaven was no longer heard, only Jesus remained. God allows us to have mountaintop experiences so we will get our eyes on Jesus.

There was joy on the mountaintop but there was need down in the valley. We cannot live on the mountaintop, we must climb the mountain and experience intimate fellowship with God, and then we must take what we have gained on the mountaintop back down into the valley.

We must witness the glory of God on the mountaintop so that we can minister to the misery of man in the valley. At the bottom of the mountain there is always a suffering needy world that needs the ministry of those who have been on a mountaintop with God. We must meet God both in the secret place and in the public place of worship so that we can meet the sinful and needy people in the market place.

 
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Posted by on September 24, 2010 in Uncategorized

 

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