"Complete Devotion"
Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
"Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?" Ps. 106:2
Our relationship with the Lord is an incredible thing. I don't think we can understand the full magnitude of this, and how important this relationship is in God's eyes. In Eph. 5:31 Paul quotes a verse that we've heard many times at a wedding. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." He explains something very important in the next verse. "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Our relationship with Christ is one of profound intimacy. In Ezekiel 15, the Lord is describing his relationship with his people. He talks about how he created them, and brought them to him, and then set them apart as his bride. The description of his love for them is quite vivid. It talks of gifts of clothing, jewelry, and how "you looked like a queen, and so you were!"
That's how God views each one of us. The bride of Christ. He loves us more intensely than we can realize. He can't wait to commune with us. To spend time with us. He is passionate about us.
Tragically, his people are not faithful. Ez. 15:15 says, "But you thought you could get along without me..." It goes on to describe how his bride becomes a prostitute to everyone that comes along.
We can be kind of flippant about "priorities" that are out of whack in our lives. Basically, we're talking about idolatry. About how we've found other things than the Lord to please us. To be our "lovers". We prostitute ourselves to flesh pleasing things. This separates us from God.
He created us for Him. We will never be satisfied until there is nothing that stains our intimacy with Him.
Proverbs 27:4 says, "Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger." Do you know why that is? Because when we are jealous, we feel like we are not getting something that we deserve. The dangerous part of it is that it is God who gives all things, so in essence we are mad that God hasn't given us what we feel we deserve. Praise him for the fact that he didn't give us what we REALLY deserve!!!
When you sit down to do your "devotions" each morning, think of what "devotion" means. While often our time in the word can become a ritualistic task, we need to understand the purpose of what we do is to "devote" our heart to the Lord. "Lord, I give you me." That's all it takes.
We need to live lives of complete devotion. We must guard against jealousy, bitterness, and all other cancers of the soul.
As you spend time with the Lord today, open your heart to him and ask him to purify you of anything that clouds your intimacy with him. We can't get along without Him. Even if we think we can, we need to be desperately in love with him and devoted to keep our relationship pure.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
11.2.12 "The Intensity of the Mission"
"The Intensity of the Mission"
Ezekiel 3:16-6:14
Hebrews 4:1-16
Psalm 104:25-35
Proverbs 26:27
Your world is desperate for you to be who God created you to be. My family is desperate for me to be the husband and dad God created me to be. My neighbors are desperate for me to be the light God created me to be. Society is desperate for me to be the salt God created me to be.
We have a Mission to reach our world for Christ. There is an intensity to this mission.
People don't like to be held responsible for things. When pro athletes get themselves into trouble, many times a comment is made, "Hey, I never asked to be a role model. I'm no role model, I'm just doing my job." Well, it doesn't work that way. We each carry a significant amount of responsibility. As profile and exposure increase, the responsibility increases all the more.
I was meeting a friend for an early morning meeting at McDonald's. We were sitting in the booth talking, and just over his shoulder, across the room, in my line of sight was a girl in her early 20's who was crying. Her glasses were broken in half, and she was trying to call someone on her cell phone. It looked to me like she had been slapped around. As I was meeting with this friend I was thinking the Lord was telling me to go talk to her. I started to try to figure out if it was "really God, or just me". Have you ever done that? It was one of those, "ok, if she hangs up the phone in the next 5 seconds, i know it's God..." type of things. Of course, all of those things happened but I was still waiting.
I finally went over to her and asked if everything was ok. She said everything was fine, and she had a ride coming. As I was walking away, I thought to myself, "whew. I guess it wasn't a big deal. She didn't need to talk to me." Remember how a second ago I was struggling with knowing whether it was "God or me"? Well, it became very clear that my next thoughts were God and not me. The Lord spoke to my heart, "It wasn't about her needing to talk to you, it was about you hearing my voice and responding to me. Delayed obedience is disobedience." Ouch.
There is an intensity to our Mission. The Lord spelled it out to Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 3:17-21 says, "Son of dust, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel; whenever I send my people a warning, pass it on to them at once. If you refuse to warn the wicked when I want you to tell them, you are under the penalty of death, therefore repent and save your life - they will die in their sins, but I will punish you. I will demand your blood for theirs. But if you warn them and they keep on sinning, and refuse to repent, they will die in their sins, but you are blameless - you have done all you could. And if a good man becomes bad, and you refuse to warn him of the consequences, and the Lord destroys him, his previous good deeds won't help him - he shall die in his sin. But I will hold you responsible for his death, and punish you. But if you warn him and he repents, he shall live and you have saved your own life too."
It is SO important that we learn to move when God says to move. It is a process. It starts with listening in small things. It becomes a habit of listening to his voice. This is why we're here. This is our purpose.
This is not only in relation to the unbeliever. as it said in verse 20, "if a good man becomes bad..." we need to be watching out for one another. We need to be intense in our discipleship. Too often we see someone making a bad decision, and we kind of shrug our shoulders and walk away "oh well, that's their own problem!" We don't realize that the Lord is directing us to watch out for one another, to warn each other about the dangers around the corner.
We lose the intensity of our mission when we become self centered and caught up in our own problems. We're concerned about our schedule. Our rest. Our time off. Our relationships. We forget that God has placed us where he has us for a VERY specific purpose: To Reach our World for Christ.
Listen today. Then do what God is directing you to do. If no one falls to their knees crying, "I wanna get saved!" don't feel like you failed, because that's not the point. The point is that you do EVERYTHING he commands you to do!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 3:16-6:14
Hebrews 4:1-16
Psalm 104:25-35
Proverbs 26:27
Your world is desperate for you to be who God created you to be. My family is desperate for me to be the husband and dad God created me to be. My neighbors are desperate for me to be the light God created me to be. Society is desperate for me to be the salt God created me to be.
We have a Mission to reach our world for Christ. There is an intensity to this mission.
People don't like to be held responsible for things. When pro athletes get themselves into trouble, many times a comment is made, "Hey, I never asked to be a role model. I'm no role model, I'm just doing my job." Well, it doesn't work that way. We each carry a significant amount of responsibility. As profile and exposure increase, the responsibility increases all the more.
I was meeting a friend for an early morning meeting at McDonald's. We were sitting in the booth talking, and just over his shoulder, across the room, in my line of sight was a girl in her early 20's who was crying. Her glasses were broken in half, and she was trying to call someone on her cell phone. It looked to me like she had been slapped around. As I was meeting with this friend I was thinking the Lord was telling me to go talk to her. I started to try to figure out if it was "really God, or just me". Have you ever done that? It was one of those, "ok, if she hangs up the phone in the next 5 seconds, i know it's God..." type of things. Of course, all of those things happened but I was still waiting.
I finally went over to her and asked if everything was ok. She said everything was fine, and she had a ride coming. As I was walking away, I thought to myself, "whew. I guess it wasn't a big deal. She didn't need to talk to me." Remember how a second ago I was struggling with knowing whether it was "God or me"? Well, it became very clear that my next thoughts were God and not me. The Lord spoke to my heart, "It wasn't about her needing to talk to you, it was about you hearing my voice and responding to me. Delayed obedience is disobedience." Ouch.
There is an intensity to our Mission. The Lord spelled it out to Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 3:17-21 says, "Son of dust, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel; whenever I send my people a warning, pass it on to them at once. If you refuse to warn the wicked when I want you to tell them, you are under the penalty of death, therefore repent and save your life - they will die in their sins, but I will punish you. I will demand your blood for theirs. But if you warn them and they keep on sinning, and refuse to repent, they will die in their sins, but you are blameless - you have done all you could. And if a good man becomes bad, and you refuse to warn him of the consequences, and the Lord destroys him, his previous good deeds won't help him - he shall die in his sin. But I will hold you responsible for his death, and punish you. But if you warn him and he repents, he shall live and you have saved your own life too."
It is SO important that we learn to move when God says to move. It is a process. It starts with listening in small things. It becomes a habit of listening to his voice. This is why we're here. This is our purpose.
This is not only in relation to the unbeliever. as it said in verse 20, "if a good man becomes bad..." we need to be watching out for one another. We need to be intense in our discipleship. Too often we see someone making a bad decision, and we kind of shrug our shoulders and walk away "oh well, that's their own problem!" We don't realize that the Lord is directing us to watch out for one another, to warn each other about the dangers around the corner.
We lose the intensity of our mission when we become self centered and caught up in our own problems. We're concerned about our schedule. Our rest. Our time off. Our relationships. We forget that God has placed us where he has us for a VERY specific purpose: To Reach our World for Christ.
Listen today. Then do what God is directing you to do. If no one falls to their knees crying, "I wanna get saved!" don't feel like you failed, because that's not the point. The point is that you do EVERYTHING he commands you to do!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, November 1, 2012
11.1.12 "The Root of Rebellion"
"The Root of Rebellion"
Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
Hebrews 3:1-19
Psalm 104:1-24
Proverbs 26:24-26
Are you a rebel? What is a rebel? We think of rebellious children who thumb their nose at their parent and do their own thing. I think of a time when I thought I'd impress my dad by putting my hair in a ponytail and putting on a gaudy clip-on earring. He looked up from his desk and said. "You look stupid." That was pretty much the end of that. What is rebellion? Well, we know it has something to do with an attitude toward authority.
"But now is the time. Never forget the warning, 'Today if you hear God's voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against him, as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.'" Hebrews 3:15
Those rebels in the desert. Remember that? From this verse we see that the people rebelled against God by hardening their hearts when he would speak to them. We live in quite a rebellious age. Hundreds and thousands of people hear the good news each week, and yet live their lives unchanged. Their hearts become hardened.
How does the heart become hard? Is it a conscious thought? "You know what? Today I'm going to harden my heart." Where does it come from?
Let's look at where it came from in the "Desert Rebels":
"And who were those people I speak of, who heard God's voice speaking to them, but then rebelled against him? They were the ones who came out of Egypt with Moses their leader." vs. 16
Can you imagine walking across the Red Sea? That would be pretty unforgettable. Most of us have seen some kind of depiction of it through the special effects of a movie and we have some context to compare it to. But these people couldn't have seen anything close to this. It was absolutely AMAZING! How Awesome!!! But... it was these people who rebelled.
Vs 17-20: "And who was it who made God angry for all those forty years? These same people who sinned and as a result died in the wilderness. And to whom was God speaking when he swore an oath that they could never go into the land he had promised his people? He was speaking to all those who disobeyed him. And why couldn't they go in?..."
You ready? Here's the root of rebellion... it's coming...
Can you imagine making God angry for forty years? Walking through the Red Sea, and then dying in the desert because of your sin? What could cause this? What horrible act???? What could enter the heart of a man that could cause him to be so foolish??
Here it is. Verse 19: "And why couldn't they go in? Because they didn't trust him."
The root of rebellion is a lack of trust. Lack of trust is the door through which the awful stench of rebellion comes in.
Why is it that so many hear the Good News, and walk away unchanged? Because they don't trust God. They perceive that there is some flaw in this great plan of His. Lack of trust is the first step in the hardening of the heart.
What about me? I know God has told me to do something. I'm hesitant though. I don't feel like I can do it. I feel like I don't have the skills. I'm worried about what people will think. Guess what these excuses are: Lack of trust.
Living a life of radical trust would be an awesome thing. To know each day that when God speaks to our heart, we jump headlong into what he commands. But, we tend to be a hard-hearted people.
This lack of trust in God is one of the greatest hinderances to the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. Lack of trust causes us to worry. It causes us to try to mathematically figure things out on our own. All of that clogs the communication lines of heaven. It separates us from God. It is sin.
Lord, forgive me for my lack of trust in you. You've done awesome things in my life. In salvation you brought me through the Red Sea and out of the Slavery of my sin. That is an incredible miracle, one far greater than anything I can imagine. Help me to trust you more. Help me to recognize that my excuses open the door to my rebellion. Forgive me Lord. Help me to realize that when I don't trust those you've placed in authority over me, I'm opening the door to rebellion as well. Help me to radically live for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 1:1-3:15
Hebrews 3:1-19
Psalm 104:1-24
Proverbs 26:24-26
Are you a rebel? What is a rebel? We think of rebellious children who thumb their nose at their parent and do their own thing. I think of a time when I thought I'd impress my dad by putting my hair in a ponytail and putting on a gaudy clip-on earring. He looked up from his desk and said. "You look stupid." That was pretty much the end of that. What is rebellion? Well, we know it has something to do with an attitude toward authority.
"But now is the time. Never forget the warning, 'Today if you hear God's voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against him, as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.'" Hebrews 3:15
Those rebels in the desert. Remember that? From this verse we see that the people rebelled against God by hardening their hearts when he would speak to them. We live in quite a rebellious age. Hundreds and thousands of people hear the good news each week, and yet live their lives unchanged. Their hearts become hardened.
How does the heart become hard? Is it a conscious thought? "You know what? Today I'm going to harden my heart." Where does it come from?
Let's look at where it came from in the "Desert Rebels":
"And who were those people I speak of, who heard God's voice speaking to them, but then rebelled against him? They were the ones who came out of Egypt with Moses their leader." vs. 16
Can you imagine walking across the Red Sea? That would be pretty unforgettable. Most of us have seen some kind of depiction of it through the special effects of a movie and we have some context to compare it to. But these people couldn't have seen anything close to this. It was absolutely AMAZING! How Awesome!!! But... it was these people who rebelled.
Vs 17-20: "And who was it who made God angry for all those forty years? These same people who sinned and as a result died in the wilderness. And to whom was God speaking when he swore an oath that they could never go into the land he had promised his people? He was speaking to all those who disobeyed him. And why couldn't they go in?..."
You ready? Here's the root of rebellion... it's coming...
Can you imagine making God angry for forty years? Walking through the Red Sea, and then dying in the desert because of your sin? What could cause this? What horrible act???? What could enter the heart of a man that could cause him to be so foolish??
Here it is. Verse 19: "And why couldn't they go in? Because they didn't trust him."
The root of rebellion is a lack of trust. Lack of trust is the door through which the awful stench of rebellion comes in.
Why is it that so many hear the Good News, and walk away unchanged? Because they don't trust God. They perceive that there is some flaw in this great plan of His. Lack of trust is the first step in the hardening of the heart.
What about me? I know God has told me to do something. I'm hesitant though. I don't feel like I can do it. I feel like I don't have the skills. I'm worried about what people will think. Guess what these excuses are: Lack of trust.
Living a life of radical trust would be an awesome thing. To know each day that when God speaks to our heart, we jump headlong into what he commands. But, we tend to be a hard-hearted people.
This lack of trust in God is one of the greatest hinderances to the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. Lack of trust causes us to worry. It causes us to try to mathematically figure things out on our own. All of that clogs the communication lines of heaven. It separates us from God. It is sin.
Lord, forgive me for my lack of trust in you. You've done awesome things in my life. In salvation you brought me through the Red Sea and out of the Slavery of my sin. That is an incredible miracle, one far greater than anything I can imagine. Help me to trust you more. Help me to recognize that my excuses open the door to my rebellion. Forgive me Lord. Help me to realize that when I don't trust those you've placed in authority over me, I'm opening the door to rebellion as well. Help me to radically live for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
10.31.12 "Undeserving"
"Undeserving"
Lamentations 4:1-5:22
Hebrews 2:1-18
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 26:23
We all have expectations. When we walk into a store, we expect that employees will treat customers with respect. If we buy something, it will be in good working order. We should be satisfied. We paid for it, we deserve it.
What a blessing it is to serve God. "I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me. He forgives all my sin. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle's! He gives justice to all who are treated unfairly." Ps 103:1-7
How do you feel reading that scripture? It's too easy to read all of that and say, "Boy, I sure am glad for all that!" and go on with the day. We can become callous to the blessing of salvation.
"He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sin, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth." Ps 103:8-11
"those who don't deserve it..." Who is that? that's me. I walk in and out of the church doors at least a couple dozen times each week. I must be cautious lest I take for granted the grace God has given me. I should never walk into his presence as if I deserve to be there. I should not walk through life as if I deserve to be a child of God. I don't. All i deserve is the punishment for my sin. Praise the Lord, "he has not punished us as we deserve..."
I'm thankful that through the power of his blood we can boldly come before him. "He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west." Ps 103:12 He has made us pure. Even though we don't deserve it. "For he knows we are but dust, and that our days are few and brief, like grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever."
How does an individual live if they feel like they "deserve" God's favor? They make for tough customers. We had friends years ago who had a goal to get a free meal at a restaurant every time. They would try to find something to make a stink about. It was actually quite embarrassing. When asked about it, the comment was, "hey, I paid for this meal, and it's their job to keep us happy." Well, let's just say the waiters had their work cut out for them.
Do you know that it's not God's "job" to keep us happy? He has a purpose for all creation, and we are so blessed to be even thought of as part of the family. How awful to walk around in life as if "I paid for this Christianity, so I deserve better..."
Lord, I'm so thankful that you chose me to be one of your very own. I'm full of flaws and I've failed you many times, and yet your love for me just makes it all seem to disappear. Forgive me for times that I walk around as a spoiled child acting arrogant like I deserve your favor. I don't. Help me to walk daily in the humility of one who's been forgiven so much.
"Let everything everywhere bless the Lord. And how I bless him too!" Ps. 103:22
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Lamentations 4:1-5:22
Hebrews 2:1-18
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 26:23
We all have expectations. When we walk into a store, we expect that employees will treat customers with respect. If we buy something, it will be in good working order. We should be satisfied. We paid for it, we deserve it.
What a blessing it is to serve God. "I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me. He forgives all my sin. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle's! He gives justice to all who are treated unfairly." Ps 103:1-7
How do you feel reading that scripture? It's too easy to read all of that and say, "Boy, I sure am glad for all that!" and go on with the day. We can become callous to the blessing of salvation.
"He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sin, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth." Ps 103:8-11
"those who don't deserve it..." Who is that? that's me. I walk in and out of the church doors at least a couple dozen times each week. I must be cautious lest I take for granted the grace God has given me. I should never walk into his presence as if I deserve to be there. I should not walk through life as if I deserve to be a child of God. I don't. All i deserve is the punishment for my sin. Praise the Lord, "he has not punished us as we deserve..."
I'm thankful that through the power of his blood we can boldly come before him. "He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west." Ps 103:12 He has made us pure. Even though we don't deserve it. "For he knows we are but dust, and that our days are few and brief, like grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever."
How does an individual live if they feel like they "deserve" God's favor? They make for tough customers. We had friends years ago who had a goal to get a free meal at a restaurant every time. They would try to find something to make a stink about. It was actually quite embarrassing. When asked about it, the comment was, "hey, I paid for this meal, and it's their job to keep us happy." Well, let's just say the waiters had their work cut out for them.
Do you know that it's not God's "job" to keep us happy? He has a purpose for all creation, and we are so blessed to be even thought of as part of the family. How awful to walk around in life as if "I paid for this Christianity, so I deserve better..."
Lord, I'm so thankful that you chose me to be one of your very own. I'm full of flaws and I've failed you many times, and yet your love for me just makes it all seem to disappear. Forgive me for times that I walk around as a spoiled child acting arrogant like I deserve your favor. I don't. Help me to walk daily in the humility of one who's been forgiven so much.
"Let everything everywhere bless the Lord. And how I bless him too!" Ps. 103:22
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
10.30.12 "Trick or Treat!"
"Trick or Treat!"
Lamentations 2:20 - 3:66
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 102:1-28
Proverbs 26:21-22
Sin is sneaking up on you. It's waiting for a chance to infect you. You're probably thinking that this is going to have something to do with halloween. It doesn't. It has to do with one of the biggest lures and deceptions in the body of Christ. This is a sin that probably all Christians have taken part of at some point. Sometimes it's been willful, other times it came out of nowhere, but the opportunity is always there. It's always at the door. It's not only at your door. There's someone near who's often willing to dive into the sin with you.
"Gossip is a dainty morsel eaten with great relish." Prov. 26:22
What is it about gossip? For some reason people like to talk about other people. "Did you hear about..." Why is that such a lure? Why are we enthralled with the problems of others? In the reading a few days ago the Proverb reading said, "Yanking a dog's ears is no more foolish than interfering in an argument that isn't any of your business." Prov. 26:17
Sometimes we think that if we phrase gossip in the form of a prayer request, we've cleared ourselves of the sin part. That's not necessarily true. Our human nature wants to feel better about itself. Often it takes the opportunity to shine light on someone else's faults or struggles just to elevate ourselves.
There is some lure to gossip. It's like a piece of candy. I like those brown pink and white ones with the coconut... mmmm... you pop it in your mouth and your mouth waters, savoring the flavor. There's something about our human nature that salivates over hearing the troubles and / or faults of others. If we are not careful we find ourselves savoring their trial.
How do we know when something is gossip, and not just talking about our lives? One way is to recognize when the voices go low. Another is when it's said, "Don't tell anybody this, but..."
Wouldn't it be great to be gossip free? Where trust and freedom abound? That's the fruit of Relationships Devoted to Unity. If I know you would never say anything to harm me, and you know the same about me, we can trust each other to work together in ministry... to help each other through any situation. I will treat your needs with honor, and I know you will defend me to the end. That's a the kind of Body I want to be a part of. One that is truly Devoted to Unity.
Yesterday's Proverb was verse 20: "Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops." I love the thought of "tensions disappear". How wonderful that is! Let's prioritize that atmosphere in the body of Christ!
Don't be lured in by the "treat" of gossip. It's really a "trick" that destroys unity. Unity is VERY important to Christ, so we need to treat it with the utmost care. Defend one another!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Lamentations 2:20 - 3:66
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 102:1-28
Proverbs 26:21-22
Sin is sneaking up on you. It's waiting for a chance to infect you. You're probably thinking that this is going to have something to do with halloween. It doesn't. It has to do with one of the biggest lures and deceptions in the body of Christ. This is a sin that probably all Christians have taken part of at some point. Sometimes it's been willful, other times it came out of nowhere, but the opportunity is always there. It's always at the door. It's not only at your door. There's someone near who's often willing to dive into the sin with you.
"Gossip is a dainty morsel eaten with great relish." Prov. 26:22
What is it about gossip? For some reason people like to talk about other people. "Did you hear about..." Why is that such a lure? Why are we enthralled with the problems of others? In the reading a few days ago the Proverb reading said, "Yanking a dog's ears is no more foolish than interfering in an argument that isn't any of your business." Prov. 26:17
Sometimes we think that if we phrase gossip in the form of a prayer request, we've cleared ourselves of the sin part. That's not necessarily true. Our human nature wants to feel better about itself. Often it takes the opportunity to shine light on someone else's faults or struggles just to elevate ourselves.
There is some lure to gossip. It's like a piece of candy. I like those brown pink and white ones with the coconut... mmmm... you pop it in your mouth and your mouth waters, savoring the flavor. There's something about our human nature that salivates over hearing the troubles and / or faults of others. If we are not careful we find ourselves savoring their trial.
How do we know when something is gossip, and not just talking about our lives? One way is to recognize when the voices go low. Another is when it's said, "Don't tell anybody this, but..."
Wouldn't it be great to be gossip free? Where trust and freedom abound? That's the fruit of Relationships Devoted to Unity. If I know you would never say anything to harm me, and you know the same about me, we can trust each other to work together in ministry... to help each other through any situation. I will treat your needs with honor, and I know you will defend me to the end. That's a the kind of Body I want to be a part of. One that is truly Devoted to Unity.
Yesterday's Proverb was verse 20: "Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops." I love the thought of "tensions disappear". How wonderful that is! Let's prioritize that atmosphere in the body of Christ!
Don't be lured in by the "treat" of gossip. It's really a "trick" that destroys unity. Unity is VERY important to Christ, so we need to treat it with the utmost care. Defend one another!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, October 29, 2012
10.29.12 "The DLOW Challenge"
"The DLOW Challenge"
Lamentations 1:1 - 2:19
Philemon 1:1-25
Psalm 101:1-8
Proverbs 26:20
So, are you living the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship? Where's the easiest place for you to live your "D-LOW"? I would imagine that for most it's a church setting. We know how we're supposed to act spiritual there, so we put it on. For some it may be at work. I've talked to a few who work in a factory where they can sing to the top of their lungs and no one can hear them. How's your DLOW when you're driving?
Living the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship entails turning every situation into a chance to commune with God. It's rejoicing in trials and victories alike. It's recognizing that every frustration is an opportunity to hear his voice in a new way. It's offering him our highest form of worship: Obedience.
Do you know what can be the hardest place to let your DLOW shine?? HOME! Home is where we let it all out. Our family sees our flaws. In public we've worked to maintain an image. We wanna be light to the world, so we're really careful about what we say. We keep our attitudes in check. We even try to point others to scriptural principles. So, what happens at home?
David was a man after God's own heart. He had the same issue. "I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should." Ps 101:2
What happens when tensions rise in the home? Where's the DLOW? It's interesting that when we begin to set into motion the habit of worship and obedience at home, it becomes MUCH easier everywhere else.
Do you ever wonder why reality TV is so popular? My theory is that people like to see the portrayal of how people REALLY are. Most people live their lives constantly building walls of pride and pretension. With these shows, the reality cameras are always on, so people are shown for who they really are. My guess is the popularity is there because the viewers realize that "I'm not so bad" when they realize others are the same or "worse" than they are.
Who I am at home is WHO I AM. When my daughter was young, she found my name tag and was walking around saying. "Look I'm Pastor Greg, you're just Greg!" She was getting a big kick out of it. The question is how much difference is there between Greg & Pastor Greg? When the name tag goes on what has to change? If I'm Living the DLOW, there is no mask. No pretension.
When the atmosphere of the home is one where worship is alive, it's amazing how family members can encourage one another. "Daddy, I was looking for this and I prayed and God helped me find it." That may not seem like a big deal, but when we connect our relationship with the Lord to the everyday victories and frustrations, we are beginning to Live the DREAM.
How's the DLOW in your home? Make the presence of God known in your home. When someone has a hard day, stop and pray together. Respond to situations in a Godly manner. Respond with worship and obedience & see what begins to happen. Live the Dynamic LIFESTYLE of Worship.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, October 28, 2012
10.28.12 "Seduction and Destruction"
"Seduction and Destruction"
Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
Titus 3:1-15
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 26:18-19
There is a powerful part of our human nature. Much of it's power lies in the fact that its attack is subtle. Its entry into our life is not something that we even guard against. We welcome it we entertain it. We dwell on it and it grows. We're not worried that its roots are going deeper and deeper, because we think it to be a good thing. It's hard to know at what point it becomes out of control, but many times it ends up on the throne of our thoughts. We don't even realize that this "friend" has now become our master, and we're controlled by it.
What is this rebel, this insurrectionist? This thing that causes such a subtle yet devastating war inside? It's none other than our Opinion.
"Don't get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and controversial theological ideas; keep out of arguments and quarrels about obedience to Jewish laws, for this kind of thing isn't worthwhile; it only does harm. If anyone is causing divisions among you, he should be given a first and second warning. After that have nothing more to do with him, for such a person has a wrong sense of values. He is sinning, and he knows it." Titus 3:9-11
Unity is important to God. The majority of the time, it is Opinion that destroys unity. Division is most often birthed when an individual has an opinion of how something could be done better. It may very well be a good idea, but whoever is in authority determines not to do it that way. Opinion feels that it hasn't been understood, so it pushes a little harder to make a point... to no avail. Suddenly, Opinion has changed it's name to Offense. Offense feels justified, because Opinion was a really good idea. Offense begins to search for allies, and looks for platforms to promote this great Opinion. The only thing is that the drive is now Offense. Offense is intent on Opposition. The Seduction of Opinion is now leading to Destruction of Unity.
What makes this so destructive is the lure of Opinion in the first place. It might not necessarily have been off base theologically, nor did it begin with impure motives, but momentum was built as Opinion was given more honor than it was due. The Values and Goals of the Body have been lost as Opinion as grown to the point of blocking them out. It has taken the throne. Sometimes this happens because some find their personal value in their opinion. If their opinion is rejected, then they feel rejected, so they fight for the right for opinion to live.
Discipleship many times is the "ministry of damage control". I usually say that in jest, but there is truth in it. Much of the time we find alignment by getting out of line and needing to be brought back in to line. Paul's instructions to Titus don't say "if someone is divisive, kick them out right away." He says warn them. However, he does say that there is a point to not give them a voice any longer. If an individual will not accept "alignment", "such a person has a wrong sense of values."
This is a difficult part of growing in the Body of Christ. This is why it is so VITAL that the mission and vision are shared by all. It keeps our values in check. It keeps us aligned with scripture. Being Empowered through Biblical Training helps keep Opinion aligned with the Word, and Relationships Devoted to Unity keeps our dedication to building one another up, and keeps our opinion from growing out of control as we are committed to one another.
Keep Opinion in its proper perspective today.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
Titus 3:1-15
Psalm 100:1-5
Proverbs 26:18-19
There is a powerful part of our human nature. Much of it's power lies in the fact that its attack is subtle. Its entry into our life is not something that we even guard against. We welcome it we entertain it. We dwell on it and it grows. We're not worried that its roots are going deeper and deeper, because we think it to be a good thing. It's hard to know at what point it becomes out of control, but many times it ends up on the throne of our thoughts. We don't even realize that this "friend" has now become our master, and we're controlled by it.
What is this rebel, this insurrectionist? This thing that causes such a subtle yet devastating war inside? It's none other than our Opinion.
"Don't get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and controversial theological ideas; keep out of arguments and quarrels about obedience to Jewish laws, for this kind of thing isn't worthwhile; it only does harm. If anyone is causing divisions among you, he should be given a first and second warning. After that have nothing more to do with him, for such a person has a wrong sense of values. He is sinning, and he knows it." Titus 3:9-11
Unity is important to God. The majority of the time, it is Opinion that destroys unity. Division is most often birthed when an individual has an opinion of how something could be done better. It may very well be a good idea, but whoever is in authority determines not to do it that way. Opinion feels that it hasn't been understood, so it pushes a little harder to make a point... to no avail. Suddenly, Opinion has changed it's name to Offense. Offense feels justified, because Opinion was a really good idea. Offense begins to search for allies, and looks for platforms to promote this great Opinion. The only thing is that the drive is now Offense. Offense is intent on Opposition. The Seduction of Opinion is now leading to Destruction of Unity.
What makes this so destructive is the lure of Opinion in the first place. It might not necessarily have been off base theologically, nor did it begin with impure motives, but momentum was built as Opinion was given more honor than it was due. The Values and Goals of the Body have been lost as Opinion as grown to the point of blocking them out. It has taken the throne. Sometimes this happens because some find their personal value in their opinion. If their opinion is rejected, then they feel rejected, so they fight for the right for opinion to live.
Discipleship many times is the "ministry of damage control". I usually say that in jest, but there is truth in it. Much of the time we find alignment by getting out of line and needing to be brought back in to line. Paul's instructions to Titus don't say "if someone is divisive, kick them out right away." He says warn them. However, he does say that there is a point to not give them a voice any longer. If an individual will not accept "alignment", "such a person has a wrong sense of values."
This is a difficult part of growing in the Body of Christ. This is why it is so VITAL that the mission and vision are shared by all. It keeps our values in check. It keeps us aligned with scripture. Being Empowered through Biblical Training helps keep Opinion aligned with the Word, and Relationships Devoted to Unity keeps our dedication to building one another up, and keeps our opinion from growing out of control as we are committed to one another.
Keep Opinion in its proper perspective today.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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