"The Goal is Death"
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17
"Raise your hand if you think our goal should be to be different than the world." At the first read, it seems yes, our goal should be different than the world's goal... But our goal should not be "to be different from the world." Our goal needs to be that we have the mind of Christ. When we become like him, then we will automatically become different than the world.
How far are we willing to go with that?
The most basic of all human instincts is "self-preservation". It's in our instinct that when we hear a lion roar, our "fight or flight" reflexes begin to kick in. (more "flight" than "fight"!) As natural as this is, this must be something we overcome as we mature in Christ. We must die to our instinct of self preservation. I'm not saying that we should run to the zoo and jump into the cage, but we must be intentional about not letting human nature rule us. Dying to the flesh must be our goal.
Jesus lays this out for us. "Then he began to tell them about the terrible things he would suffer, and that he would be rejected by the elders and the Chief Priests and the other Jewish leaders - and be killed, and that he would rise again three days afterwards. He talked about it quite frankly with them, so Peter took him aside and chided him. 'You shouldn't say things like that,' he told Jesus.
"Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, 'Satan, get behind me! You are looking at this only from a human point of view and not from God's.'"
How would you feel if you were Peter? I picture the cartoon where the character shrinks down to the size of a mouse. My thoughts would be, "But I'm just trying to help! Don't you see how I'm trying to help you? Don't you see that I'm trying to build up your ministry?" Peter had the best intentions. But they were wrong.
Why were they wrong? Because they were the result of a fleshly response: self-preservation. Jesus recognized that, and took it very seriously.
"Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. 'If any of you wants to be my follower,' he told them, 'you must put aside your own pleasures and shoulder your cross, and follow me closely. If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process?"
We've talked in the past of "Dead Man Walking". It refers to taking every step with the knowledge that our goal is death. This should not be a "theory", or a catch phrase. It must be a way of life. "I lay down my desires, my pleasures, and I stay close to Christ, making intentional steps toward the death of my flesh."
That sounds so difficult, but what's the alternative? To live for me? To live the "Mediocre Christian Life"?
If my goal is to live for Christ, my objective must be to die for him.
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
Showing posts with label Transformation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transformation. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
2.1.12 "The Shortest Route"
"The Shortest Route"
Exodus 13:17-15:18
Matthew 21:23-46
Psalm 26:1-12
Proverbs 6:16-19
Exodus 13:17 say, "God did not lead them through the land of the Philistines, although that was the most direct route from Egypt to the Promised Land."
We really need to grab hold of the fact that God has a perfect plan that is not necessarily the shortest route. Whatever situation you may be in, there may be a point of frustration in your life, or a future plan that God has called you to that you feel is taking "too long" to get to.
We want the shortest route. We want the easy way. I've felt at different times in my life that the road I'm on has taken me so close to whatever "Promised Land" I'm hoping for that I can actually see it in the distance. Then there's a bend in the road, or a detour that in my mind brings me in the opposite direction. In the flesh it can be so frustrating.
When you drive from Milwaukee to Chicago, there's a point where you first see the Chicago skyline. You only see it for a bit, and then you take a curve. After that it seems like FOREVER before you see it again. In fact you don't see it until you're practically right downtown. This is often the type of scenario in our pursuit of God's plan for our lives.
Why does God do this? In verse 18 it says, "The reason was that God felt the people might become discouraged by having to fight their way through... he thought they might return to Egypt."
Yes, God has a plan for our lives. Yes, he places visions and dreams within us. He gives us goals. But he also knows that were he to drop them in our lap, we would ruin the plan if we have not spent the time with him in the wilderness.
Egypt is biblical example of the sinful life. Leaving Egypt is "getting saved". Too many "get saved" for the purpose of the "easy life", or the Promised Land. The word of God is very clear that there is a transformation that must occur inside the life of EVERY believer. How does transformation happen? Well, it's not found in a bowl of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. (unfortunately!) Transformation happens in the wilderness.
Anyone who's gotten serious about getting in shape is that it doesn't happen in the easy chair. In the same way, the journey the Lord has us on is for the purpose of getting us to sweat off a few pounds of human nature. Yes, you have to get up earlier. Yes, you have to increase your intensity of purpose. Stop whining & realize that's how it happens!
Today's reading in Psalm 26:2 says, "Cross-examine me, O Lord, and see that this is so; test my motives and affections too." In the wilderness our motives and affections are refined. They are refined through opportunities to make his name great. To us, they look alot like obstacles.
When they got to the Red Sea with the Egyptians coming at them, the Israelites' motives were revealed. "And they turned against Moses, whining, 'Have you brought us out here to die in the desert?... Why did you make us leave Egypt?'" Ex. 14:11
God has a purpose in all this. "I have planned this to gain great honor and glory over Pharoah and all his armies, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord." Ex. 14:4
Don't think that God has forgotten you. Understand that there is a reason you are not on the shortest route. He needs to complete his work in you. He needs to show himself great to you and through you. Allow him to have his way. If you don't you will repeat the test.
In the wilderness is where you truly understand how to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. "When the people of Israel saw the mighty miracle the Lord had done for them against the Egyptians, they were afraid and revered the Lord, and believed in him and in his servant Moses." Ex. 14:31
Allow God to complete his work in you on this journey.
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, December 18, 2011
12.18.11 "Christain"
"Christain"
Habakkuk 1:1-3:19
Revelation 9:1-21
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 30:10
The misspelling of the title is intentional. I'll explain in a minute. (cuz I know it drives some of you crazy!)
Today's reading from the One-Year Bible is pretty intense. At first glance it's tough to find a scripture that gives you that "warm-fuzzy" feeling. It's about destruction and plagues, and torment.
Habbakuk (I love that name!) is crying out to God because of the rampant sin and lack of justice. The Lord answers with this: "Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe. I am raising a new force on the world scene..." (Hab. 1:5-6)
Sounds great doesn't it? God's going to do something amazing! Do you know what it is? In the scriptures following he says he's raising up the Chaldeans, a "cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it."
How does that make sense? At first it doesn't to Habakkuk. "O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal - is your plan in all of this to wipe us out? Surely not! O God our Rock, you have decreed the rise of these Chaldeans to chasten and correct us for our awful sins. We are wicked, but they far more! Will you, who cannot allow sin in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up? Should you be silent while the wicked destroy those who are better than they?" Hab. 1:12-13.
Growing up in the late 70's & early 80's there were these movies that showed some of the post-Rapture terror that would cover the earth. They would scare me to repentance every time. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I think if that's our only exposure to the character of God, it leaves our understanding at about the level of Habakkuk's question.
I think many believers stop there as well. "Oh-oh. Look at that war, look at that disaster... here come the end times... better hunker down. Hit the fox-holes, it's going to be bad."
None of that is wrong, but it's tragically incomplete! In the 2nd Chapter of Habakkuk the Lord says this: "Note this: Wicked men trust themselves alone [as these Chaldeans do], and fail; but the righteous man trusts in me, and lives!"
Revelations 9 speaks of the same torment. It describes these horrific metal locusts out of a sci-fi movie that come to torture millions. in verse 4 it says, "They were told not to hurt the grass or plants or trees, but to attack those people who did not have the mark of God on their foreheads."
Here's why the title's misspelled. I'm a pretty fast typer, but some words I consistently spell wrong cuz i'm going too fast. One of them is "Christian". For some reason, I spell it "Christain". It's misspelled, but I'm really starting to like that word. I want to have the mark (stain) of Christ on my life.
What's the point of all this? There's a real urgency for us to BE who Christ wants us to be. The very nature of God is to weed out all of the impurities of sinful man. If you don't know God, trials and disasters will be overwhelming, but for those who truly know Christ it is a different story.
Habbakuk gets it. "O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe for the fearful things you are going to do. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. In your wrath, remember mercy." (Hab. 3:2)
Listen to the contrast: "But the men left alive after these plagues still refused to worship God! they would not renounce their demon-worship, not their idols made of gold and silver, brass, stone, and wood - which neither see nor hear nor walk! Neither did they change their mind and attitude about all their murders and witchcraft, their immorality and theft." (Rev. 9:10-21)
"Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my Strength, and he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." (Hab. 3:17-19)
Which option do you wanna take? I want to trust in the Lord! I want to BE stained with the precious blood of Christ so that the stain of sin is gone! I don't want to be tainted with the injustice of the world. God's wrath WILL be poured out on the earth. But it's not a wrath of hatred. It's a wrath that comes from incredibly intense love for His own.
I'm so glad that I'm one of His own! I want to be who He's created me to be! I want to devote my life to helping others to do the same... to be a "Christain"... to Live the DREAM!
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
Saturday, November 19, 2011
11.19.11 "Taming the Beast"
"Taming the Beast"
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
James 2:18-3:18
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
Have your words ever got you in trouble?
"If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way." James 3:2
Growing in Christ is such a matter of discipline. (I guess that's where disciple and discipleship come from!) I think there are times when we get frustrated with ourselves over the fact that God isn't changing us as fast as we'd like. We know and quote, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." But still there are some issues that just haven't "disappeared" as fast as we'd like.
That's when we go buy the bumper sticker that says, "Please Be Patient, God isn't Finished with me yet." I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that statement, but where we get into trouble is in the fact that sometimes we're waiting for God to do some miraculous change in our lives without applying personal discipline. So, we give ourselves all kinds of grace over the fact that "oops, I slipped up again..."
The sad part is that there are times we don't offer that same grace to others. We're quick to point out their mistakes. "...and they call themselves a Christian..." James 3 warns Verse 1 warns about this: "Dear brothers, don't be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater than it would be for others."
Often we like to deflect what the Lord is trying to do in our own lives onto others. If the Lord's telling me I shouldn't do a certain thing, it's in my nature to judge you, and let you know that you shouldn't be doing it either.
Our growth needs to be from the inside out. James 3:13 says, "If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness, so that only good deeds will pour forth." The way to tame our tongue is to discipline our heart. It's to allow God to cleanse us entirely of the ungodliness that lurks within.
"And by all means don't brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil." James 3:14-16
It's amazing how practical God's Word is. We focus so much on the outside, but the only way to see true transformation on the outside is to be transformed on the inside. It's in disciplining our thoughts and emotions, and allowing the peace-loving nature of Christ fill us.
Listen to God's plan for us:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17-18
The only way our tongue can be tamed is as we grow steadily in the character-transforming discipline found in God's Word and allow his Spirit to fill our lives.
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 11, 2011
10.11.11 "Formed or Crushed?"
"Formed or Crushed?"
Jeremiah 16:16-18:23
I Thessalonians 4:1-5:2a
Psalm 81:1-16
Proverbs 25:6-7
There was a small window in my life where I thought I might be good at art. I think it was a period of about 2 days in 7th grade. Our assignment was to make a little head and face out of clay. The first day of the project was great! I was seeing my creation take form. But what happened the 2nd day "reshaped" my desires. One of the "punks" in my class thought my project belonged to a friend of his, and he smashed the side of it. I couldn't really do much in the few minutes before the grading began, so it was a bad grade, and i never really found the motivation again.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 says, "The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, "go down to the potter's shop and I will speak to you there. so i did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over." Verse 6 says, "As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand."
The phrase that really sticks out to me today is, "But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped..." God is the potter we are the clay. Are we turning out as he hoped?
The main difference between us and my little clay project is that the primary issue as to whether or not we turn out according to the Artist's design is whether or not we allow Him to shape us. When we are pliable in his hands, we become who he intends for us to be. When we decide we don't want his "shape", he has no option but to crush us and start again.
I Thess. 4:1,2 says, "... You already know how to please God in your daily living, for you know the commands we gave you from the Lord Jesus himself. Now we beg you - yes, we demand of you in the name of the Lord Jesus that you live more and more closely to that ideal."
The acrostic "DREAM" is not a magic formula for Christianity. It is simply a reminder of the foundational principles necessary to "please God in your daily living." We are pliable in the Potter's Hands when we put into practice what the Lord is revealing to us!
I remember some powerful times the Lord has spoken to my heart. I have been given clear direction. It's not enough to have been given direction. There's no "merit badge" for that. What we are held to account for is our obedience. This is the essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship.
Here's what the Psalmist has to say about it: "But no, my people won't listen. Israel doesn't want me around. so I am letting them go their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires. But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly then I would subdue her enemies! How soon my hands would be upon her foes!" Ps. 81:11-14
Paul jumps into "Relationships Devoted to Unity" in verse 9. "But concerning the pure brotherly love that there should be among God's people, I don't need to say very much, I'm sure! For God himself is teaching you to love one another." Well, Paul "shouldn't" need to say very much, but I think there are some brotherly love issues that need to be put into practice. We need to "... live more and more closely to that ideal." This REALLY needs to be a priority of the Church. Too many of our actions are motivated by offense, rights and opinions instead of brotherly love.
Reading this portion of scripture is in itself "Empowered Through Biblical Training", but Paul refers to living by the "rules" in verse 8. "If anyone refuses to live by these rules he is not disobeying the rules of men but of God who gives his Holy Spirit to you." You may think because this refers to obedience, it's a "D" thing, but the essence of "E" is discipline in the context of aligning to God's Word. I'm reminded of the song lyrics, "This is my daily bread: your very Word spoken to me." We need the empowerment of the Spirit found through the discipline of the Word.
Active Ministry Involvement is referred to in verse 11 & 12. "This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work, just as we told you before.... and you will not need to depend on others for enough money to pay your bills." The principle of Responsibility needs to be applied to the work before us. Paul says that applying this principle will result in God's provision.
Also, at the beginning of verse 12 Paul says the fruit of living the "A" is the "M". "As a result, people who are not Christians will trust and respect you." Our Mission to Reach our World for Christ should not only be a focused action, it should be the fruit of everything we do.
As we "live more and more closely to that ideal", as I Thes. 4:2 says, we place ourselves in the center of the Potter's wheel. We need to put into practice the things we know are right.
Where are you at right now? Are you being formed, or do you find yourself in a season of crushing? As difficult as it is, the crushing is not a bad thing. It's a sign that the Potter has not given up.
I'm thankful that the Lord is a much better artist than I am. He doesn't give up like I did, When someone bashes in the side of his project, He just crushes it down and begins again to form it into all he "desires it to be".
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
Jeremiah 16:16-18:23
I Thessalonians 4:1-5:2a
Psalm 81:1-16
Proverbs 25:6-7
There was a small window in my life where I thought I might be good at art. I think it was a period of about 2 days in 7th grade. Our assignment was to make a little head and face out of clay. The first day of the project was great! I was seeing my creation take form. But what happened the 2nd day "reshaped" my desires. One of the "punks" in my class thought my project belonged to a friend of his, and he smashed the side of it. I couldn't really do much in the few minutes before the grading began, so it was a bad grade, and i never really found the motivation again.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 says, "The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, "go down to the potter's shop and I will speak to you there. so i did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over." Verse 6 says, "As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand."
The phrase that really sticks out to me today is, "But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped..." God is the potter we are the clay. Are we turning out as he hoped?
The main difference between us and my little clay project is that the primary issue as to whether or not we turn out according to the Artist's design is whether or not we allow Him to shape us. When we are pliable in his hands, we become who he intends for us to be. When we decide we don't want his "shape", he has no option but to crush us and start again.
I Thess. 4:1,2 says, "... You already know how to please God in your daily living, for you know the commands we gave you from the Lord Jesus himself. Now we beg you - yes, we demand of you in the name of the Lord Jesus that you live more and more closely to that ideal."
The acrostic "DREAM" is not a magic formula for Christianity. It is simply a reminder of the foundational principles necessary to "please God in your daily living." We are pliable in the Potter's Hands when we put into practice what the Lord is revealing to us!
I remember some powerful times the Lord has spoken to my heart. I have been given clear direction. It's not enough to have been given direction. There's no "merit badge" for that. What we are held to account for is our obedience. This is the essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship.
Here's what the Psalmist has to say about it: "But no, my people won't listen. Israel doesn't want me around. so I am letting them go their blind and stubborn way, living according to their own desires. But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly then I would subdue her enemies! How soon my hands would be upon her foes!" Ps. 81:11-14
Paul jumps into "Relationships Devoted to Unity" in verse 9. "But concerning the pure brotherly love that there should be among God's people, I don't need to say very much, I'm sure! For God himself is teaching you to love one another." Well, Paul "shouldn't" need to say very much, but I think there are some brotherly love issues that need to be put into practice. We need to "... live more and more closely to that ideal." This REALLY needs to be a priority of the Church. Too many of our actions are motivated by offense, rights and opinions instead of brotherly love.
Reading this portion of scripture is in itself "Empowered Through Biblical Training", but Paul refers to living by the "rules" in verse 8. "If anyone refuses to live by these rules he is not disobeying the rules of men but of God who gives his Holy Spirit to you." You may think because this refers to obedience, it's a "D" thing, but the essence of "E" is discipline in the context of aligning to God's Word. I'm reminded of the song lyrics, "This is my daily bread: your very Word spoken to me." We need the empowerment of the Spirit found through the discipline of the Word.
Active Ministry Involvement is referred to in verse 11 & 12. "This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work, just as we told you before.... and you will not need to depend on others for enough money to pay your bills." The principle of Responsibility needs to be applied to the work before us. Paul says that applying this principle will result in God's provision.
Also, at the beginning of verse 12 Paul says the fruit of living the "A" is the "M". "As a result, people who are not Christians will trust and respect you." Our Mission to Reach our World for Christ should not only be a focused action, it should be the fruit of everything we do.
As we "live more and more closely to that ideal", as I Thes. 4:2 says, we place ourselves in the center of the Potter's wheel. We need to put into practice the things we know are right.
Where are you at right now? Are you being formed, or do you find yourself in a season of crushing? As difficult as it is, the crushing is not a bad thing. It's a sign that the Potter has not given up.
I'm thankful that the Lord is a much better artist than I am. He doesn't give up like I did, When someone bashes in the side of his project, He just crushes it down and begins again to form it into all he "desires it to be".
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, September 29, 2011
9.29.11 "Moved, yet Unchanged"
"Moved, yet Unchanged"
Isaiah 57:15-59:21
Philipians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 24:9-10
Incredible things happen when we are faithful in reading the Word. The more we read, the more we hear God's voice, and the more the scriptures come alive. Today's reading in Isaiah is great! Isaiah chapter 58 speaks of each element of the DREAM.
Is 58:2 "[My people] act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and are so delighted to hear the reading of my laws - just as though they would obey them - just as though they don't despise the commandments of their God! How anxious they are to worship correctly; oh, how they love the Temple services!"
Too often rather than a Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we live FOR a Dynamic Event! We'll slap down 30 bucks for concert tickets and feel like that's our act of worship. So anxious to worship correctly... and yet...
verse 3 says, "'We have fasted before you,' they say, 'Why aren't you impressed? Why don't you see our sacrifices? Why don't you hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!' I'll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting,"
It's easy to slip into the mistake of trying to impress God with our worship. Not good. Too often even the worship is "about me" rather than responding to His greatness!
Here's a question: Why are you saved? just because it's the right thing to do? Just because you need the additional strength to live life the way you are? We need to be experiencing changed lives! Too often we are moved and yet unchanged. Our relationship with God should make itself manifest in EVERY area of our lives. Our Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship should bring us to a position of change.
verse 4: "Look, what good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me." Relationships Devoted to Unity are important to God. He wants to see our "impressive" worship in action. Look at verse 6: "No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn." This is important to God.
Active Ministry Involvement is the process of using our resources which include time, talent, and money to serve others. This is a fruit of true worship as well. verse 7: "I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help." We MUST use the resources God has given us as he leads.
Empowered Through Biblical training shows up in verse 8. (I know E should be before A, but this is the way it's outlined in this scripture!) The principle of "E" is Discipline. Verse 8 says, "if you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind." If we Discipline ourselves to be faithful to his commands, and to godliness, the Light of his Word will shine on us. As we read about in Ephesians 6 yesterday, the armor of God will surround us.
All of this is for the purpose of our Mission to Reach our World for Christ. verse 10 says, "Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day." We are the light of the world. We need to put our faith in action. That's when our purpose is fulfilled.
So, why are you saved? It should be so that God can change your life. If you're living life the same way you did years ago, something could be out of whack. In Philippians 1:6 today, Paul says, "And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." Through His power we are equipped to mature and grow in him.
I don't want the church service to only "move" me. I don't want to just be "blessed" by an encouraging word. I need to be changed by the power of God! This should have an effect on me today. This should change me as I grow in him.
Lord, Change Me! Don't allow me to stop at a state of emotional recognition of you, but help me to open up and give you the freedom to complete your work in me and through me.
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
Isaiah 57:15-59:21
Philipians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 24:9-10
Incredible things happen when we are faithful in reading the Word. The more we read, the more we hear God's voice, and the more the scriptures come alive. Today's reading in Isaiah is great! Isaiah chapter 58 speaks of each element of the DREAM.
Is 58:2 "[My people] act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and are so delighted to hear the reading of my laws - just as though they would obey them - just as though they don't despise the commandments of their God! How anxious they are to worship correctly; oh, how they love the Temple services!"
Too often rather than a Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we live FOR a Dynamic Event! We'll slap down 30 bucks for concert tickets and feel like that's our act of worship. So anxious to worship correctly... and yet...
verse 3 says, "'We have fasted before you,' they say, 'Why aren't you impressed? Why don't you see our sacrifices? Why don't you hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and you don't even notice it!' I'll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting,"
It's easy to slip into the mistake of trying to impress God with our worship. Not good. Too often even the worship is "about me" rather than responding to His greatness!
Here's a question: Why are you saved? just because it's the right thing to do? Just because you need the additional strength to live life the way you are? We need to be experiencing changed lives! Too often we are moved and yet unchanged. Our relationship with God should make itself manifest in EVERY area of our lives. Our Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship should bring us to a position of change.
verse 4: "Look, what good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me." Relationships Devoted to Unity are important to God. He wants to see our "impressive" worship in action. Look at verse 6: "No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn." This is important to God.
Active Ministry Involvement is the process of using our resources which include time, talent, and money to serve others. This is a fruit of true worship as well. verse 7: "I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help." We MUST use the resources God has given us as he leads.
Empowered Through Biblical training shows up in verse 8. (I know E should be before A, but this is the way it's outlined in this scripture!) The principle of "E" is Discipline. Verse 8 says, "if you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind." If we Discipline ourselves to be faithful to his commands, and to godliness, the Light of his Word will shine on us. As we read about in Ephesians 6 yesterday, the armor of God will surround us.
All of this is for the purpose of our Mission to Reach our World for Christ. verse 10 says, "Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day." We are the light of the world. We need to put our faith in action. That's when our purpose is fulfilled.
So, why are you saved? It should be so that God can change your life. If you're living life the same way you did years ago, something could be out of whack. In Philippians 1:6 today, Paul says, "And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." Through His power we are equipped to mature and grow in him.
I don't want the church service to only "move" me. I don't want to just be "blessed" by an encouraging word. I need to be changed by the power of God! This should have an effect on me today. This should change me as I grow in him.
Lord, Change Me! Don't allow me to stop at a state of emotional recognition of you, but help me to open up and give you the freedom to complete your work in me and through me.
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, August 8, 2011
8.8.11 "Turn the Light on!"
"Turn the Light on!"
Ezra 7:1 - 8:20
I Corinthians 4:1-21
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 20:28-30
"When the Lord comes, he will turn on the light so that everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like, deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we have been doing the Lord's work. At that time God will give to each one whatever praise is coming to him." (I Cor. 4:5)
That is a great verse! A few days ago we looked at Psalm 26:2 and how the Lord tests our motives and affections. This is one of the deepest elements of the Christian walk. Often, because people see what we are like on the outside, that is what we put all our effort into. The truth of the matter is that God is not as concerned with what people are thinking of us as he is about who we are inside.
Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic, a ministry in California made this statement. "We must be careful to run as fast as our character is deepening, and not as fast as our talent goes wide or high." He was speaking to pastors, and he said this as well, "Because we have a job in professional ministry based on talent, we may have never walked that lonely road with Christ to develop the kind of character that will handle the conflict and spiritual warfare that leadership requires."
This applies to every one of us whether or not we are in "professional" ministry. The focus of our life needs to be to allow God to shine his light on what's on the inside. That needs to be formed under the direction of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, not only are we not concerned with what others may see, we are more equipped to handle whatever may come our way.
When we are living the Spirit - empowered life, we have an internal drive that will navigate through any situation. If we don't have this working inside, we're like a nice looking car with no engine. we "coast" through life. The problem with coasting is that where you go is completely dependent on external forces. Things are great when we're zooming down hill, but when it's time to climb the mountain, there's nothing inside.
Paul says in verse 20, "The Kingdom of God is not just talking; it is living by God's power." Just because you look like you're living the DREAM doesn't mean you are. There needs to be a Spirit transformation that brings it about.
"What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?" (I Cor. 4:7)
The Psalm today can be applied as well. "In my prosperity I said, 'This is forever; nothing can stop me now! The Lord has shown me his favor. He has made me steady as a mountain.' Then, Lord, you turned your face away from me and cut off your river of blessings. Suddenly my courage was gone; I was terrified and panic-stricken." (Psalm 30:6-7)
It's easy for our human nature to convince us that if we "look" like we're who God created us to be we don't have to go through the refining process. That's not the case. That's a dangerous game to play. We need to allow him to make us into who he's created us to be. Then we wont have to be worried about what people see, because it's taken care of.
Allow God to turn the light on today!
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
Ezra 7:1 - 8:20
I Corinthians 4:1-21
Psalm 30:1-12
Proverbs 20:28-30
"When the Lord comes, he will turn on the light so that everyone can see exactly what each one of us is really like, deep down in our hearts. Then everyone will know why we have been doing the Lord's work. At that time God will give to each one whatever praise is coming to him." (I Cor. 4:5)
That is a great verse! A few days ago we looked at Psalm 26:2 and how the Lord tests our motives and affections. This is one of the deepest elements of the Christian walk. Often, because people see what we are like on the outside, that is what we put all our effort into. The truth of the matter is that God is not as concerned with what people are thinking of us as he is about who we are inside.
Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic, a ministry in California made this statement. "We must be careful to run as fast as our character is deepening, and not as fast as our talent goes wide or high." He was speaking to pastors, and he said this as well, "Because we have a job in professional ministry based on talent, we may have never walked that lonely road with Christ to develop the kind of character that will handle the conflict and spiritual warfare that leadership requires."
This applies to every one of us whether or not we are in "professional" ministry. The focus of our life needs to be to allow God to shine his light on what's on the inside. That needs to be formed under the direction of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, not only are we not concerned with what others may see, we are more equipped to handle whatever may come our way.
When we are living the Spirit - empowered life, we have an internal drive that will navigate through any situation. If we don't have this working inside, we're like a nice looking car with no engine. we "coast" through life. The problem with coasting is that where you go is completely dependent on external forces. Things are great when we're zooming down hill, but when it's time to climb the mountain, there's nothing inside.
Paul says in verse 20, "The Kingdom of God is not just talking; it is living by God's power." Just because you look like you're living the DREAM doesn't mean you are. There needs to be a Spirit transformation that brings it about.
"What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?" (I Cor. 4:7)
The Psalm today can be applied as well. "In my prosperity I said, 'This is forever; nothing can stop me now! The Lord has shown me his favor. He has made me steady as a mountain.' Then, Lord, you turned your face away from me and cut off your river of blessings. Suddenly my courage was gone; I was terrified and panic-stricken." (Psalm 30:6-7)
It's easy for our human nature to convince us that if we "look" like we're who God created us to be we don't have to go through the refining process. That's not the case. That's a dangerous game to play. We need to allow him to make us into who he's created us to be. Then we wont have to be worried about what people see, because it's taken care of.
Allow God to turn the light on today!
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, July 3, 2011
7.3.11 "Empowered for Repentance"
"Empowered for Repentance"
2 Kings 22:4-23:30
Acts 21:37-22:16
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 18:11-12
What does it mean to be "Empowered through Biblical Training"? What are we empowered for? Well, the answer is obvious in some ways. We are Empowered to live the Balanced Christian Life... to Live in Obedience (D), Relationships.... etc.
All of that is true, and important, but it should never just be stuck in our head. It must reach our heart. What happens when you read the Word?
In 2 Kings 22-23, an 8 year old becomes king. He is described as a king who "followed in the steps of his ancestor King David, obeying the Lord completely." (22:2) At the age of 26, he orders the temple repaired. (Remember the past kings have pretty much decimated it, and defiled it with heathen altars.) In 22:8, The word of God is discovered. "One day Hilkiah the High Priest went to Shaphan the secretary and exclaimed, 'I have discovered a scroll in the Temple, with God's laws written on it!'"
verse 11: When the king heard what was written it in, he tore his clothes in terror.
The following 2 chapters describe the process it takes for Josiah to carry out repentance throughout the land, destroying high places, altars, evil priests, etc. It's hard work!
As we "discover the scroll" each day, what happens in us? We are not in a day where the "scroll" is hard to find. We have several bibles in each of our homes. Yet at the same time, the scroll can be lost to us even though it's right in front of us. It's very easy to get caught in the ritual of reading the Word and not become empowered through it. Empowered for what?
With a heart open to the Word, the first thing Josiah was empowered for was repentance. To hear the laws of God is like taking an audit of the heart. At this stage, the nation of Judah did not line up with God's plan. The process of repentance was begun. It was not a pretty process. It took time. It was work. What empowered this work? Knowing the commands of God.
In this age of grace, forgiveness is a prayer away. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for that! Where would we be without it! But, this forgiveness that is so available to us does not negate the necessity of repentance in our lives. It is a process as well. when we are forgiven, we must follow through with steps of repentance to cleanse our lives from that which has led us astray. We must apply the commands that are revealed to us in the "scroll".
James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does."
The empowerment that comes through the Word is for a purpose. It's so that we can use it as a mirror. Does my life line up with God's commands? As the Word reveals high places that need to be torn down, we must follow through in discipline to tear them down. We are empowered by the commands God has given.
Live Empowered today. The Psalm reading for today is a great way to close.
"Oh the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God: But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely." Ps 1:1-2
Think about ways to follow Him more closely as you Live the DREAM!
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
2 Kings 22:4-23:30
Acts 21:37-22:16
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 18:11-12
What does it mean to be "Empowered through Biblical Training"? What are we empowered for? Well, the answer is obvious in some ways. We are Empowered to live the Balanced Christian Life... to Live in Obedience (D), Relationships.... etc.
All of that is true, and important, but it should never just be stuck in our head. It must reach our heart. What happens when you read the Word?
In 2 Kings 22-23, an 8 year old becomes king. He is described as a king who "followed in the steps of his ancestor King David, obeying the Lord completely." (22:2) At the age of 26, he orders the temple repaired. (Remember the past kings have pretty much decimated it, and defiled it with heathen altars.) In 22:8, The word of God is discovered. "One day Hilkiah the High Priest went to Shaphan the secretary and exclaimed, 'I have discovered a scroll in the Temple, with God's laws written on it!'"
verse 11: When the king heard what was written it in, he tore his clothes in terror.
The following 2 chapters describe the process it takes for Josiah to carry out repentance throughout the land, destroying high places, altars, evil priests, etc. It's hard work!
As we "discover the scroll" each day, what happens in us? We are not in a day where the "scroll" is hard to find. We have several bibles in each of our homes. Yet at the same time, the scroll can be lost to us even though it's right in front of us. It's very easy to get caught in the ritual of reading the Word and not become empowered through it. Empowered for what?
With a heart open to the Word, the first thing Josiah was empowered for was repentance. To hear the laws of God is like taking an audit of the heart. At this stage, the nation of Judah did not line up with God's plan. The process of repentance was begun. It was not a pretty process. It took time. It was work. What empowered this work? Knowing the commands of God.
In this age of grace, forgiveness is a prayer away. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Praise God for that! Where would we be without it! But, this forgiveness that is so available to us does not negate the necessity of repentance in our lives. It is a process as well. when we are forgiven, we must follow through with steps of repentance to cleanse our lives from that which has led us astray. We must apply the commands that are revealed to us in the "scroll".
James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does."
The empowerment that comes through the Word is for a purpose. It's so that we can use it as a mirror. Does my life line up with God's commands? As the Word reveals high places that need to be torn down, we must follow through in discipline to tear them down. We are empowered by the commands God has given.
Live Empowered today. The Psalm reading for today is a great way to close.
"Oh the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God: But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely." Ps 1:1-2
Think about ways to follow Him more closely as you Live the DREAM!
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, June 12, 2011
6.12.11 "God Purifies Hearts"
"God Purifies Hearts"
I Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3
"Silver and gold are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts." (Prov 17:2-3)
We are commissioned to go and make disciples, right? So, how are you doing with that? "Well, I have a bunch of Christian friends... and I put up a flyer at work when there's an event...."
So what about this "making disciples" thing? Could you produce a list of individuals that you are discipling in their relationship with the Lord? If not, why? What keeps Christians from charging forward with this?
I think our big issue about the challenge of discipleship is thinking that it means WE need to fix people. If we witness and they don't get saved, WE feel like we've failed. If we pray for healing and it doesn't happen for them, WE wonder what we did wrong. If we are counseling someone and they make the wrong decision, and fall away or fall into sin, we wonder what WE could have done different.
These thoughts reveal an important misconception that we have in the discipleship process. WE can't make a change in the hearts of men. "God purifies hearts." As we begin to realize (personally and then teach others) that all we are is a Connection Point to God, it takes some of the self-imposed paralysis away that comes from feeling that WE have to have the answers and WE have to "fix" people.
Too often we create this huge divide between discipleship and friendship. It's almost like our voice and posture, and everything changes to "discipleship" mode when it comes to spiritual matters. We struggle to find something profound to say. That's totally unnecessary.
All we have to do is Connect them to God, and he takes care of the rest. We have to have faith and be obedient, but beyond that we can come up with all the discipleship books & answers we want, but its no good without the power of God. Going back to the proverb analogy, all of our own efforts will only be a manmade fire that might refine silver or Gold, but do nothing to change the hearts of men.
I'm a person who loves puzzles. I like to solve things. But I'm learning as I grow in Christ that people don't need to be "solved" they need to be put in touch with God. Then HE takes care of it. In fact, if we do it the other way around, we get into BIG trouble. Pretty soon we put restrictions, and man-made obstacles to coming to Christ. I've shared the story before about how when I was a teen-ager I was leading a friend to Christ, but I made him put his cigarette out first before praying with him. I was trying to get him "cleaned up" before "taking a bath". It sent the wrong message. It's GOD who purifies hearts. WE can light a fire and purify silver, but there's NOTHING we can do to change a heart.
We can't "convince" people into the kingdom. Evangelism is not a game show where our goal is to answer every question right & then the prize is they "have to" get saved. We are just here to display the presence of God so others can respond as the Lord directs.
We can't fix people. I think that often we are more interested in changing the lifestyles of our neighbors instead of just creating an opportunity for them to meet God and letting HIM change things in His timing. I have friends who are living a very ungodly lifestyle. I could get after them about that, but I'm much more interested in them coming into contact with the One who can show them what REAL life is like. He'll take care of the rest.
All we need to do is clear the road. We need to connect people to Christ. This is our Mission. We must disciple individuals, and we don't have to be intimidated by the thought that WE have to have all the answers. All we have to do is be available to help people get to a place where they can hear from God.
Your Christian friends? Guess what... they need to be discipled by you... and you need to be discipled by them! We need to be helping one another grow in Christ. We can't fix the problems, but we MUST encourage one another to grow.
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
I Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3
"Silver and gold are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts." (Prov 17:2-3)
We are commissioned to go and make disciples, right? So, how are you doing with that? "Well, I have a bunch of Christian friends... and I put up a flyer at work when there's an event...."
So what about this "making disciples" thing? Could you produce a list of individuals that you are discipling in their relationship with the Lord? If not, why? What keeps Christians from charging forward with this?
I think our big issue about the challenge of discipleship is thinking that it means WE need to fix people. If we witness and they don't get saved, WE feel like we've failed. If we pray for healing and it doesn't happen for them, WE wonder what we did wrong. If we are counseling someone and they make the wrong decision, and fall away or fall into sin, we wonder what WE could have done different.
These thoughts reveal an important misconception that we have in the discipleship process. WE can't make a change in the hearts of men. "God purifies hearts." As we begin to realize (personally and then teach others) that all we are is a Connection Point to God, it takes some of the self-imposed paralysis away that comes from feeling that WE have to have the answers and WE have to "fix" people.
Too often we create this huge divide between discipleship and friendship. It's almost like our voice and posture, and everything changes to "discipleship" mode when it comes to spiritual matters. We struggle to find something profound to say. That's totally unnecessary.
All we have to do is Connect them to God, and he takes care of the rest. We have to have faith and be obedient, but beyond that we can come up with all the discipleship books & answers we want, but its no good without the power of God. Going back to the proverb analogy, all of our own efforts will only be a manmade fire that might refine silver or Gold, but do nothing to change the hearts of men.
I'm a person who loves puzzles. I like to solve things. But I'm learning as I grow in Christ that people don't need to be "solved" they need to be put in touch with God. Then HE takes care of it. In fact, if we do it the other way around, we get into BIG trouble. Pretty soon we put restrictions, and man-made obstacles to coming to Christ. I've shared the story before about how when I was a teen-ager I was leading a friend to Christ, but I made him put his cigarette out first before praying with him. I was trying to get him "cleaned up" before "taking a bath". It sent the wrong message. It's GOD who purifies hearts. WE can light a fire and purify silver, but there's NOTHING we can do to change a heart.
We can't "convince" people into the kingdom. Evangelism is not a game show where our goal is to answer every question right & then the prize is they "have to" get saved. We are just here to display the presence of God so others can respond as the Lord directs.
We can't fix people. I think that often we are more interested in changing the lifestyles of our neighbors instead of just creating an opportunity for them to meet God and letting HIM change things in His timing. I have friends who are living a very ungodly lifestyle. I could get after them about that, but I'm much more interested in them coming into contact with the One who can show them what REAL life is like. He'll take care of the rest.
All we need to do is clear the road. We need to connect people to Christ. This is our Mission. We must disciple individuals, and we don't have to be intimidated by the thought that WE have to have all the answers. All we have to do is be available to help people get to a place where they can hear from God.
Your Christian friends? Guess what... they need to be discipled by you... and you need to be discipled by them! We need to be helping one another grow in Christ. We can't fix the problems, but we MUST encourage one another to grow.
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, June 1, 2011
6.1.11 "The Breathalyzer"
"The Breathalyzer"
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10a
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:156-176
Proverbs 16:14-15
What does your breath smell like right now? How's that for a great thought for the day? Our breath actually tells a lot about us. It can reveal what we just ate. My mother-in-law used to make a spaghetti sauce that seems like for every pound of meat you put in a pound of garlic. You know for a couple days that you ate that! Impurities actually come out in our breath as well. As we sleep there are impurities in our body that are released, and manifest themselves in some pretty amazing odors in the morning.
When pulling over a driver who is suspected of drinking, the police give the breathalyzer. It determines whether or not an individual has been drinking too much. I have no experience in this matter, but I believe it's a test you can't beat. Your breath reveals what you've been doing. Once I had a meeting with a young engaged couple. They looked lovingly into each other's eyes. Then she blew into his face, "I ate your favorite... dill pickle chips..." I guess romance is in the eye (or nose) of the beholder...
The verses that captured my thoughts this morning are from John 20. Jesus has died and has risen. He's already appeared to Mary in the garden.
"That evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish leaders, when suddenly Jesus was standing there among them! After greeting them, he showed them his hands and side. And how wonderful was their Joy as they saw their Lord!
"He spoke to them again and said, 'As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' Then he breathed on them and told them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:19-22)
Jesus breathed on them. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. It was on his breath. We need to connect a few dots here to our own lives. First, notice that receiving the Holy Spirit is connected to being sent. We all have a purpose. We have a mission to reach our world for Christ. We must fulfill this mission in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in our own strength. We need to be in a position of receiving the Holy Spirit. We must accept the gift he has given us. Let him fill us, refresh us, renew us, and empower us.
The other thought is that we should have the Holy Spirit on our breath. OK, there's no actual Holy Ghost mouthwash that we can use to obtain this, but It should be our desire that every word we speak is given under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and that our minds have been so transformed that our actions and our words exude the fragrance of Christ.
The only way to get to this point is to die to the flesh. We have to submit our lives to his transforming power and the refining process. It isn't easy when death is involved. We need to be a "Dead Man Walking" just as Christ was. He defeated the power of death. He defeated the sinful nature. He walked in victory.
Smell like Christ today!
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
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10a
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:156-176
Proverbs 16:14-15
What does your breath smell like right now? How's that for a great thought for the day? Our breath actually tells a lot about us. It can reveal what we just ate. My mother-in-law used to make a spaghetti sauce that seems like for every pound of meat you put in a pound of garlic. You know for a couple days that you ate that! Impurities actually come out in our breath as well. As we sleep there are impurities in our body that are released, and manifest themselves in some pretty amazing odors in the morning.
When pulling over a driver who is suspected of drinking, the police give the breathalyzer. It determines whether or not an individual has been drinking too much. I have no experience in this matter, but I believe it's a test you can't beat. Your breath reveals what you've been doing. Once I had a meeting with a young engaged couple. They looked lovingly into each other's eyes. Then she blew into his face, "I ate your favorite... dill pickle chips..." I guess romance is in the eye (or nose) of the beholder...
The verses that captured my thoughts this morning are from John 20. Jesus has died and has risen. He's already appeared to Mary in the garden.
"That evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish leaders, when suddenly Jesus was standing there among them! After greeting them, he showed them his hands and side. And how wonderful was their Joy as they saw their Lord!
"He spoke to them again and said, 'As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' Then he breathed on them and told them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:19-22)
Jesus breathed on them. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. It was on his breath. We need to connect a few dots here to our own lives. First, notice that receiving the Holy Spirit is connected to being sent. We all have a purpose. We have a mission to reach our world for Christ. We must fulfill this mission in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in our own strength. We need to be in a position of receiving the Holy Spirit. We must accept the gift he has given us. Let him fill us, refresh us, renew us, and empower us.
The other thought is that we should have the Holy Spirit on our breath. OK, there's no actual Holy Ghost mouthwash that we can use to obtain this, but It should be our desire that every word we speak is given under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and that our minds have been so transformed that our actions and our words exude the fragrance of Christ.
The only way to get to this point is to die to the flesh. We have to submit our lives to his transforming power and the refining process. It isn't easy when death is involved. We need to be a "Dead Man Walking" just as Christ was. He defeated the power of death. He defeated the sinful nature. He walked in victory.
Smell like Christ today!
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, May 11, 2011
5.11.11 "I Got a New Attitude!"
"I Got a New Attitude!"
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
In I Samuel 10, Samuel is anointing Saul as king. He pours oil on him and says, "I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the king of his people, Israel!" (vs.1) Samuel then begins to prophecy over him, and lets him know some things that are going to happen to him on his way home.
"'At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you will prophesy with them and you will feel and act like a different person. From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances, for the Lord will guide you. Go to Gilgal and wait there seven days for me, for I will be coming to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. I will give you further instructions when I arrive.'
"As Saul said good-bye and started to go, God gave him a new attitude, and all of Samuel's prophecies came true that day." (I Sam. 1:6-9)
Anyone need a "new attitude"?
We must be transformed by the power of God. In John 6:57, Jesus says, "I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me!"
Are we living the transformed life? I've used the phrase before that too often we "surrender" just enough to God to feel good about "me" instead of surrendering all to him. If we are truly living in the power of the Spirit, there is a transformation that MUST happen.
How does your attitude compare with that of one year ago? Is it the same? Are you the same person? How are you dealing with conflict? How are you dealing with trials? How are you responding to authority? What about your habits? Is it all the same?
In verse 7 Samuel had said, "From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances..." There are many of us who think thats GREAT! We are living THAT verse! The problem is we aren't experiencing the verse before it. We are not putting ourselves in a place where we experience the transforming power of the Spirit.
Therefore, our lives are not motivated by the Spirit, but by the circumstances. We have a circumstantial theology. Our beliefs about God change with the wind.
I MUST experience the power of his Spirit! I MUST be transformed. This is not a great suggestion. This is a cry of Desperation! "Holy Spirit, Change ME!"
Often we mistake "Chronological" growth in Christ as "Maturing" in Christ. In other words, We feel that the "longer" we're saved, the better we are. That's ONLY true if the Spirit is allowed to continually transform and guide and direct and shape. The moment I step out of this process, I am in trouble. A spirit that is not continually refreshed by the presence of God quickly "spoils". It turns sour. It turns prideful, self-reliant, rebellious and stale. It becomes a stench rather than the sweet aroma it is intended to be.
Make it your priority to put yourself in a position of transformation. Walk in the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit.
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
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
In I Samuel 10, Samuel is anointing Saul as king. He pours oil on him and says, "I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the king of his people, Israel!" (vs.1) Samuel then begins to prophecy over him, and lets him know some things that are going to happen to him on his way home.
"'At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you will prophesy with them and you will feel and act like a different person. From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances, for the Lord will guide you. Go to Gilgal and wait there seven days for me, for I will be coming to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. I will give you further instructions when I arrive.'
"As Saul said good-bye and started to go, God gave him a new attitude, and all of Samuel's prophecies came true that day." (I Sam. 1:6-9)
Anyone need a "new attitude"?
We must be transformed by the power of God. In John 6:57, Jesus says, "I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me!"
Are we living the transformed life? I've used the phrase before that too often we "surrender" just enough to God to feel good about "me" instead of surrendering all to him. If we are truly living in the power of the Spirit, there is a transformation that MUST happen.
How does your attitude compare with that of one year ago? Is it the same? Are you the same person? How are you dealing with conflict? How are you dealing with trials? How are you responding to authority? What about your habits? Is it all the same?
In verse 7 Samuel had said, "From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances..." There are many of us who think thats GREAT! We are living THAT verse! The problem is we aren't experiencing the verse before it. We are not putting ourselves in a place where we experience the transforming power of the Spirit.
Therefore, our lives are not motivated by the Spirit, but by the circumstances. We have a circumstantial theology. Our beliefs about God change with the wind.
I MUST experience the power of his Spirit! I MUST be transformed. This is not a great suggestion. This is a cry of Desperation! "Holy Spirit, Change ME!"
Often we mistake "Chronological" growth in Christ as "Maturing" in Christ. In other words, We feel that the "longer" we're saved, the better we are. That's ONLY true if the Spirit is allowed to continually transform and guide and direct and shape. The moment I step out of this process, I am in trouble. A spirit that is not continually refreshed by the presence of God quickly "spoils". It turns sour. It turns prideful, self-reliant, rebellious and stale. It becomes a stench rather than the sweet aroma it is intended to be.
Make it your priority to put yourself in a position of transformation. Walk in the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit.
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, May 3, 2011
5.3.11 "The Power to Change"
"The Power to Change"
Judges 17:1-18:31
John 3:1-21
Psalm 104:1-23
Proverbs 14:20-21
Are there things about you that you'd like to change? Maybe appearance, or habit, or personality, or something else? When man sinned, one of the consequences was an innate dissatisfaction in our flesh of where we are. There's a desire to change. Often we hear these "pit to pinnacle" stories of people who have worked hard to transform their lives. Because our culture values riches, we love the "get rich quick" stories. We like to hear of the people who've triumphed through adversity.
Because people are so often discontent about themselves and where they're at in life, there is usually a great desire to change; to become a better person.
For example, we need to be people who Live the DREAM. We need to live the Balanced Christian Life. Each of us need to be strengthened in one area or another to be who God created us to be. As great as that desire is, we cannot forget that it is not in our power to change.
Jesus is meeting with Nicodemus when he says, "Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven." (John 3:6)
When we get trapped in rut of the "comfortable Christian Life", we can be numbed by our own "good intentions". We "mean" to be transformed into a Christ-like nature, and we even take steps to make improvements. We try to be "better" people, but for some reason we find it "doesn't work".
The main reason we fail is that we try to do it in our own strength, and we only want to change the things WE want to change. An individual can spend a lifetime struggling to transform themselves, when what really needs to happen is to surrender to the working of the Holy Spirit.
A Christian business leader said, "God can do more in a flash than we can do in a lifetime of effort." God desires to work in us to transform us. We need to understand the priority of placing ourselves wholly in his presence, and allow him unlimited access to every area. We need to change what he places on our heart to change, not what WE think needs changing.
The power to Change is the Power of the Holy Spirit. We need to surrender to him and his plan. When we try to do it in our own strength, we can be very frustrated with ourselves. Sometimes we just need to step out of the way and let the Spirit work. Let His light shine on us and transform us into instruments for His glory.
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
Judges 17:1-18:31
John 3:1-21
Psalm 104:1-23
Proverbs 14:20-21
Are there things about you that you'd like to change? Maybe appearance, or habit, or personality, or something else? When man sinned, one of the consequences was an innate dissatisfaction in our flesh of where we are. There's a desire to change. Often we hear these "pit to pinnacle" stories of people who have worked hard to transform their lives. Because our culture values riches, we love the "get rich quick" stories. We like to hear of the people who've triumphed through adversity.
Because people are so often discontent about themselves and where they're at in life, there is usually a great desire to change; to become a better person.
For example, we need to be people who Live the DREAM. We need to live the Balanced Christian Life. Each of us need to be strengthened in one area or another to be who God created us to be. As great as that desire is, we cannot forget that it is not in our power to change.
Jesus is meeting with Nicodemus when he says, "Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven." (John 3:6)
When we get trapped in rut of the "comfortable Christian Life", we can be numbed by our own "good intentions". We "mean" to be transformed into a Christ-like nature, and we even take steps to make improvements. We try to be "better" people, but for some reason we find it "doesn't work".
The main reason we fail is that we try to do it in our own strength, and we only want to change the things WE want to change. An individual can spend a lifetime struggling to transform themselves, when what really needs to happen is to surrender to the working of the Holy Spirit.
A Christian business leader said, "God can do more in a flash than we can do in a lifetime of effort." God desires to work in us to transform us. We need to understand the priority of placing ourselves wholly in his presence, and allow him unlimited access to every area. We need to change what he places on our heart to change, not what WE think needs changing.
The power to Change is the Power of the Holy Spirit. We need to surrender to him and his plan. When we try to do it in our own strength, we can be very frustrated with ourselves. Sometimes we just need to step out of the way and let the Spirit work. Let His light shine on us and transform us into instruments for His glory.
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, December 23, 2010
12.23.10 "Through the Power of the Spirit"
"Through the Power of the Spirit"
Zechariah 4:1-5:11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23
"Through the Power of the Spirit, Live the DREAM!" That's been the closing line for these DEVO's for quite some time. Because of it's familiarity, it can very easily lose it's impact.
We all know we need to mature in Christ. We know that comes through the study of God's word, and although we don't like it, but we know that it comes through the "pure joy" of trials that James talks about.
We also "know" that salvation is not of works, but sometimes we may not look like we know that. For instance, we can try to apply each of the DREAM principles to our life, but do it in our own strength. "I'll do my best to obey God's Word, get along with others, try to read my bible, join a ministry group, and pass out a couple tracks. I'm 'Livin' the DREAM!'" If we're not careful we can find ourselves living like those in 2 Timothy 3:5 "having a form of godliness but denying its power."
Today's reading in Zechariah has a familiar verse: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty - you will succeed because of my Spirit" Zech. 4:6 This is a verse that needs to be ingrained in our DNA. It must be a part of who we are.
God desires us to be who he has created us to be. He has sent his Spirit to complete that work in us. Why would we try to accomplish anything without the Spirit?
Over the past few years, I've gotten into doing construction projects around the house. We've finished the basement and built a deck. I know just enough about electrical, masonry, carpentry, etc. to THINK I can accomplish it on my own. I've come to learn oh so well the importance of having the right tool for the job. I tend to be creative, so I'll often use something for a task other than for which it was intended. Like doing finish carpentry with a hack-saw... not the smartest thing. Nothing a little putty wont cover up... Worse yet was when i couldn't find a saw, I thought I'd just pound a chisel through a board... almost needed stitches for that one. Through this process I also learned that there are those who DO know the way things should be done... they are on my speed dial. As I called one friend he said, "my goodness... I hope someone's takin' pictures of all this!"
We are created for a purpose. We are formed for the purpose of the Spirit working through us. Why do we so often try to accomplish things on our own? Why do we attempt to accomplish things in a manner other than we were intended? What are we thinking?
We must operate completely dependent on the power of the Spirit. Then something like the DREAM can be a powerful tool in our life! The Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship becomes a life of obedience, radical faith, and glorious praise. Relationships Devoted Unity experience breakthroughs and we deal with people the way the Lord would. Empowered through Biblical Training becomes much more than cold ritual as God's word comes alive! Active Ministry Involvement becomes a phenomenal experience of God working through us as we use our resources for His glory. Our Mission to Reach our World for Christ becomes powerfully effective to the world around us.
Zech 4:7 says, "Therefore no mountain, however high, can stand before Zerubbabel! For it will flatten out before him! And Zerubbabel will finish building this Temple with mighty shouts of thanksgiving for God's mercy, declaring that all was done by grace alone."
What needs to be accomplished in your life? What breakthroughs are needed? Your name probably isn't Zerubbabel, but God has called you into his service, and there are probably mountains in your way. Live in the Power of the Spirit, expect great things, & see what happens!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Zechariah 4:1-5:11
Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23
"Through the Power of the Spirit, Live the DREAM!" That's been the closing line for these DEVO's for quite some time. Because of it's familiarity, it can very easily lose it's impact.
We all know we need to mature in Christ. We know that comes through the study of God's word, and although we don't like it, but we know that it comes through the "pure joy" of trials that James talks about.
We also "know" that salvation is not of works, but sometimes we may not look like we know that. For instance, we can try to apply each of the DREAM principles to our life, but do it in our own strength. "I'll do my best to obey God's Word, get along with others, try to read my bible, join a ministry group, and pass out a couple tracks. I'm 'Livin' the DREAM!'" If we're not careful we can find ourselves living like those in 2 Timothy 3:5 "having a form of godliness but denying its power."
Today's reading in Zechariah has a familiar verse: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty - you will succeed because of my Spirit" Zech. 4:6 This is a verse that needs to be ingrained in our DNA. It must be a part of who we are.
God desires us to be who he has created us to be. He has sent his Spirit to complete that work in us. Why would we try to accomplish anything without the Spirit?
Over the past few years, I've gotten into doing construction projects around the house. We've finished the basement and built a deck. I know just enough about electrical, masonry, carpentry, etc. to THINK I can accomplish it on my own. I've come to learn oh so well the importance of having the right tool for the job. I tend to be creative, so I'll often use something for a task other than for which it was intended. Like doing finish carpentry with a hack-saw... not the smartest thing. Nothing a little putty wont cover up... Worse yet was when i couldn't find a saw, I thought I'd just pound a chisel through a board... almost needed stitches for that one. Through this process I also learned that there are those who DO know the way things should be done... they are on my speed dial. As I called one friend he said, "my goodness... I hope someone's takin' pictures of all this!"
We are created for a purpose. We are formed for the purpose of the Spirit working through us. Why do we so often try to accomplish things on our own? Why do we attempt to accomplish things in a manner other than we were intended? What are we thinking?
We must operate completely dependent on the power of the Spirit. Then something like the DREAM can be a powerful tool in our life! The Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship becomes a life of obedience, radical faith, and glorious praise. Relationships Devoted Unity experience breakthroughs and we deal with people the way the Lord would. Empowered through Biblical Training becomes much more than cold ritual as God's word comes alive! Active Ministry Involvement becomes a phenomenal experience of God working through us as we use our resources for His glory. Our Mission to Reach our World for Christ becomes powerfully effective to the world around us.
Zech 4:7 says, "Therefore no mountain, however high, can stand before Zerubbabel! For it will flatten out before him! And Zerubbabel will finish building this Temple with mighty shouts of thanksgiving for God's mercy, declaring that all was done by grace alone."
What needs to be accomplished in your life? What breakthroughs are needed? Your name probably isn't Zerubbabel, but God has called you into his service, and there are probably mountains in your way. Live in the Power of the Spirit, expect great things, & see what happens!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, November 19, 2010
11.19.10 "Taming the Beast"
"Taming the Beast"
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
James 2:18-3:18
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
Have your words ever got you in trouble?
"If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way." James 3:2
Growing in Christ is such a matter of discipline. (I guess that's where disciple and discipleship come from!) I think there are times when we get frustrated with ourselves over the fact that God isn't changing us as fast as we'd like. We know and quote, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." But still there are some issues that just haven't "disappeared" as fast as we'd like.
That's when we go buy the bumper sticker that says, "Please Be Patient, God isn't Finished with me yet." I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that statement, but where we get into trouble is in the fact that sometimes we're waiting for God to do some miraculous change in our lives without applying personal discipline. So, we give ourselves all kinds of grace over the fact that "oops, I slipped up again..."
The sad part is that there are times we don't offer that same grace to others. We're quick to point out their mistakes. "...and they call themselves a Christian..." James 3 warns Verse 1 warns about this: "Dear brothers, don't be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater that it would be for others."
Often we like to deflect what the Lord is trying to do in our own lives onto others. If the Lord's telling me I shouldn't do a certain thing, it's in my nature to judge you, and let you know that you shouldn't be doing it either.
Our growth needs to be from the inside out. James 3:13 says, "If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness, so that only good deeds will pour forth." The way to tame our tongue is to discipline our heart. It's to allow God to cleanse us entirely of the ungodliness that lurks within.
"And by all means don't brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil." James 3:14-16
It's amazing how practical God's Word is. We focus so much on the outside, but the only way to see true transformation on the outside is to be transformed on the inside. It's in disciplining our thoughts and emotions, and allowing the peace-loving nature of Christ fill us.
Listen to God's plan for us:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17-18
The only way our tongue can be tamed is as we grow steadily in the character-transforming discipline found in God's Word and allow his Spirit to fill our lives.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
James 2:18-3:18
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
Have your words ever got you in trouble?
"If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way." James 3:2
Growing in Christ is such a matter of discipline. (I guess that's where disciple and discipleship come from!) I think there are times when we get frustrated with ourselves over the fact that God isn't changing us as fast as we'd like. We know and quote, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature..." But still there are some issues that just haven't "disappeared" as fast as we'd like.
That's when we go buy the bumper sticker that says, "Please Be Patient, God isn't Finished with me yet." I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that statement, but where we get into trouble is in the fact that sometimes we're waiting for God to do some miraculous change in our lives without applying personal discipline. So, we give ourselves all kinds of grace over the fact that "oops, I slipped up again..."
The sad part is that there are times we don't offer that same grace to others. We're quick to point out their mistakes. "...and they call themselves a Christian..." James 3 warns Verse 1 warns about this: "Dear brothers, don't be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes; and when we teachers of religion, who should know better, do wrong, our punishment will be greater that it would be for others."
Often we like to deflect what the Lord is trying to do in our own lives onto others. If the Lord's telling me I shouldn't do a certain thing, it's in my nature to judge you, and let you know that you shouldn't be doing it either.
Our growth needs to be from the inside out. James 3:13 says, "If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness, so that only good deeds will pour forth." The way to tame our tongue is to discipline our heart. It's to allow God to cleanse us entirely of the ungodliness that lurks within.
"And by all means don't brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil." James 3:14-16
It's amazing how practical God's Word is. We focus so much on the outside, but the only way to see true transformation on the outside is to be transformed on the inside. It's in disciplining our thoughts and emotions, and allowing the peace-loving nature of Christ fill us.
Listen to God's plan for us:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness." James 3:17-18
The only way our tongue can be tamed is as we grow steadily in the character-transforming discipline found in God's Word and allow his Spirit to fill our lives.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, September 16, 2010
9.16.10 "The Goal of Christian Maturity"
"The Goal of Christian Maturity"
Isaiah 22:1 - 24:23
Galatians 2:17-3:7
Psalm 60:1-12
Proverbs 23:15-16
As we grow in the Balanced Christian Life, our objective is maturity. When you start out on any journey, it's a good idea to know where you are headed. So, what is your objective in maturity?
We'll start with a quiz. I'm going to give you two scriptures and you have to pick which of the two is our goal. Now, you might have to think about this!
Ok, Here's door number 1:
"I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Here's door number 2:
"Then have you gone completely crazy? For if trying to obey the Jewish laws never gave you spiritual life in the first place, why do you think that trying to obey them now will make you stronger Christians?" Galatians 3:3
Well, which one did you pick?
Here's the thing. Paul is talking to the Galatians this way because they started to get real legalistic about issues of the Jewish law, and were equating their Christian walk with these external actions. Basically, they had lost sight of what it's all about. Paul says in 3:1 "... you USED to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though I had waved a placard before you with a picture on it of Christ dying on the cross." They had lost sight.
Glad that never happens to us, right? Well, here's how we get lured into that trap: We each have certain areas of conduct in which the Lord is leading us to change. As we draw closer to Christ, we sense his Spirit drawing us to "clean up!" Where we can easily get into trouble is when we start to place our cleaning list on other people. "God is dealing with me that this is wrong, so if anyone who is doing this is wrong..." We place our burdens on others. Another mistake is that we start to clean up our act, and we get so hung up in the cleaning process that we become prideful about what we no longer do.
The reality is that becoming "crucified with Christ" is what our goal must be. When one begins to live this way, it naturally reflects in that individual's conduct. There are certain things that individual will not do. However, changing your conduct will not automatically make you crucified with Christ. Don't get me wrong, we do need to be set apart from the filth of the world, but it doesn't end with being set apart. We must set ourselves apart for the purpose of experiencing his presence.
This may be hard to follow, but I'll keep plowing away. Let me use this example. There is a lot of junk on TV. When you develop maturity in Christ, there are things you will not watch. Your character and Christ in you will not allow you to do it. it just doesn't feel right. However, just because you stop watching things that are inappropriate does not make you mature in Christ. Proper conduct is the FRUIT of the Spirit purifying us.
Paul says in 3:2 "Let me ask you this one question: did you receive the Holy Spirit by trying to keep the Jewish laws? Of course not, for the Holy spirit came upon you only after you heard about Christ and trusted him to save you."
The life of holiness is a result of drawing close to Christ. Trying to be pious does not make you closer to Christ. Too often our human nature wants to take the path of "fixing things" before drawing close to Christ. We forget that drawing close to Christ "fixes things."
This is a tough message to properly communicate so I hope it makes sense. I'll use another example: I remember one big mistake I made when I was in high school. I was witnessing to a friend who was feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit very strongly. He was smoking as we were walking down the street. It got to the point where he was ready to say the sinner's prayer. He finally said, "ok, I'm ready to do it." I told him, "alright, but first put that out." It took some convincing, but he did, and we prayed. The unfortunate and unintended picture he had in his mind was that if he smoked, he wasn't Good enough for Christ. Consequently, he really struggled as an early Christian because he had such difficulty with the smoking issue. He felt he couldn't "measure up".
What I didn't understand fully at that stage in my life is that my only job was to lead him to Christ. I needed to let the Lord take care of the rest. We all need to remember that we catch the fish, and HE cleans them. We don't need to get cleaned up BEFORE taking the bath!
When dealing with others, we don't realize that God's cleaning list may very well be in a different order than ours. What we want God to take out of another person's life may not be the next item on God's agenda. In fact, when we spend to much time worrying about what God's agenda is for someone else, it can too easily distract us from the next thing he wants to take out of our own life.
Draw close to Christ, and everything else will take care of itself. That should be the goal of your maturity. To be crucified with Christ, so that it's not you living, but him living in you!
Even as we work at living the DREAM, we must remember that it's through the power of the Spirit, not our own strength that we grow in Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Isaiah 22:1 - 24:23
Galatians 2:17-3:7
Psalm 60:1-12
Proverbs 23:15-16
As we grow in the Balanced Christian Life, our objective is maturity. When you start out on any journey, it's a good idea to know where you are headed. So, what is your objective in maturity?
We'll start with a quiz. I'm going to give you two scriptures and you have to pick which of the two is our goal. Now, you might have to think about this!
Ok, Here's door number 1:
"I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Here's door number 2:
"Then have you gone completely crazy? For if trying to obey the Jewish laws never gave you spiritual life in the first place, why do you think that trying to obey them now will make you stronger Christians?" Galatians 3:3
Well, which one did you pick?
Here's the thing. Paul is talking to the Galatians this way because they started to get real legalistic about issues of the Jewish law, and were equating their Christian walk with these external actions. Basically, they had lost sight of what it's all about. Paul says in 3:1 "... you USED to see the meaning of Jesus Christ's death as clearly as though I had waved a placard before you with a picture on it of Christ dying on the cross." They had lost sight.
Glad that never happens to us, right? Well, here's how we get lured into that trap: We each have certain areas of conduct in which the Lord is leading us to change. As we draw closer to Christ, we sense his Spirit drawing us to "clean up!" Where we can easily get into trouble is when we start to place our cleaning list on other people. "God is dealing with me that this is wrong, so if anyone who is doing this is wrong..." We place our burdens on others. Another mistake is that we start to clean up our act, and we get so hung up in the cleaning process that we become prideful about what we no longer do.
The reality is that becoming "crucified with Christ" is what our goal must be. When one begins to live this way, it naturally reflects in that individual's conduct. There are certain things that individual will not do. However, changing your conduct will not automatically make you crucified with Christ. Don't get me wrong, we do need to be set apart from the filth of the world, but it doesn't end with being set apart. We must set ourselves apart for the purpose of experiencing his presence.
This may be hard to follow, but I'll keep plowing away. Let me use this example. There is a lot of junk on TV. When you develop maturity in Christ, there are things you will not watch. Your character and Christ in you will not allow you to do it. it just doesn't feel right. However, just because you stop watching things that are inappropriate does not make you mature in Christ. Proper conduct is the FRUIT of the Spirit purifying us.
Paul says in 3:2 "Let me ask you this one question: did you receive the Holy Spirit by trying to keep the Jewish laws? Of course not, for the Holy spirit came upon you only after you heard about Christ and trusted him to save you."
The life of holiness is a result of drawing close to Christ. Trying to be pious does not make you closer to Christ. Too often our human nature wants to take the path of "fixing things" before drawing close to Christ. We forget that drawing close to Christ "fixes things."
This is a tough message to properly communicate so I hope it makes sense. I'll use another example: I remember one big mistake I made when I was in high school. I was witnessing to a friend who was feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit very strongly. He was smoking as we were walking down the street. It got to the point where he was ready to say the sinner's prayer. He finally said, "ok, I'm ready to do it." I told him, "alright, but first put that out." It took some convincing, but he did, and we prayed. The unfortunate and unintended picture he had in his mind was that if he smoked, he wasn't Good enough for Christ. Consequently, he really struggled as an early Christian because he had such difficulty with the smoking issue. He felt he couldn't "measure up".
What I didn't understand fully at that stage in my life is that my only job was to lead him to Christ. I needed to let the Lord take care of the rest. We all need to remember that we catch the fish, and HE cleans them. We don't need to get cleaned up BEFORE taking the bath!
When dealing with others, we don't realize that God's cleaning list may very well be in a different order than ours. What we want God to take out of another person's life may not be the next item on God's agenda. In fact, when we spend to much time worrying about what God's agenda is for someone else, it can too easily distract us from the next thing he wants to take out of our own life.
Draw close to Christ, and everything else will take care of itself. That should be the goal of your maturity. To be crucified with Christ, so that it's not you living, but him living in you!
Even as we work at living the DREAM, we must remember that it's through the power of the Spirit, not our own strength that we grow in Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, August 6, 2010
8.6.10 "God's Puzzle"
"God's Puzzle"
Ezra 3:1-4:24
I Corinthians 2:6-3:4
Psalm 28:1-9
Proverbs 20:24-25
I Corinthians 2:9 "...no mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord."
Proverbs 20:24 "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?"
God has a purpose for your life. This is not just a passing thought. You may have heard this a thousand times, but it this should be something that burns within you. God has a plan for you!
So many times we get caught in the trap of trying to figure out this plan in our own terms. Trying to manipulate it. Trying to "understand everything that happens along the way." There is no way we can fathom what God is trying to do. One thing is for certain. He's trying to change someone's world through you.
I would imagine that God would get frustrated. He has this great plan for us, and for it to be completed, many things need to happen.
He looks down upon his people and sees all of the pieces of the puzzle before him. He just needs them to allow him to put them in place. There are pieces that need to be reshaped a bit in order to fit. So, the Spirit begins to mold. But for some reason the piece decides it doesn't want to be shaped that way. Either the shaping process is too uncomfortable or it wants to be a different shape, This puzzle piece stops the process. it's no longer available.
Another piece is going through the shaping process just fine, but isn't happy with the piece that it's connected with. That piece said something it didn't like. This one actually disconnected itself and decided to be part of a different puzzle.
All the while I imagine God's excitement for this masterpiece waning as he watches each piece trying to "understand everything that happens along the way."
It's a good thing God isn't like me. There have been times I would have thrown the puzzle on the floor. His patience and his mercy are unfathomable. I've worked on some interesting projects.... built a deck... finished a basement... tried to replace an ignition cylinder in my truck... All of these projects were tough enough in their own right. I can't imagine if my materials and tools began to develop a mind of their own... Any problems I have in those projects I know are a result of my own workmanship. With God, the only thing keeping him from completing his work is his people who think they've got it figured out, and just begin to do their own thing. We need to just be pliable.
Do you love the Lord? Then walk in obedience. Don't question the shaping process, don't try to figure out why the difficulties have to be the way they are. Just know that God's plan is more than you could ever imagine. Trust Him to complete it. Be the puzzle piece that is available, moldable, and completely devoted to do his will.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezra 3:1-4:24
I Corinthians 2:6-3:4
Psalm 28:1-9
Proverbs 20:24-25
I Corinthians 2:9 "...no mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord."
Proverbs 20:24 "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?"
God has a purpose for your life. This is not just a passing thought. You may have heard this a thousand times, but it this should be something that burns within you. God has a plan for you!
So many times we get caught in the trap of trying to figure out this plan in our own terms. Trying to manipulate it. Trying to "understand everything that happens along the way." There is no way we can fathom what God is trying to do. One thing is for certain. He's trying to change someone's world through you.
I would imagine that God would get frustrated. He has this great plan for us, and for it to be completed, many things need to happen.
He looks down upon his people and sees all of the pieces of the puzzle before him. He just needs them to allow him to put them in place. There are pieces that need to be reshaped a bit in order to fit. So, the Spirit begins to mold. But for some reason the piece decides it doesn't want to be shaped that way. Either the shaping process is too uncomfortable or it wants to be a different shape, This puzzle piece stops the process. it's no longer available.
Another piece is going through the shaping process just fine, but isn't happy with the piece that it's connected with. That piece said something it didn't like. This one actually disconnected itself and decided to be part of a different puzzle.
All the while I imagine God's excitement for this masterpiece waning as he watches each piece trying to "understand everything that happens along the way."
It's a good thing God isn't like me. There have been times I would have thrown the puzzle on the floor. His patience and his mercy are unfathomable. I've worked on some interesting projects.... built a deck... finished a basement... tried to replace an ignition cylinder in my truck... All of these projects were tough enough in their own right. I can't imagine if my materials and tools began to develop a mind of their own... Any problems I have in those projects I know are a result of my own workmanship. With God, the only thing keeping him from completing his work is his people who think they've got it figured out, and just begin to do their own thing. We need to just be pliable.
Do you love the Lord? Then walk in obedience. Don't question the shaping process, don't try to figure out why the difficulties have to be the way they are. Just know that God's plan is more than you could ever imagine. Trust Him to complete it. Be the puzzle piece that is available, moldable, and completely devoted to do his will.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, August 5, 2010
8.5.10
"Who's Making You Who You Are?"
Ezra 1:1-2:70
I Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Psalm 27:7-14
Proverbs 20:22-23
"For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God's plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. As it says in the Scriptures, "If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done."" I Cor. 1:30-31
Can you remember this past January's New Year's resolution? How are you doing on that? It's not often we're asked that in August. Why do resolutions rarely work? I think it's because at some level, Our resolutions are our attempt to mold our character. Yes, most of them have to do with our conduct, but most of the time that conduct is a result of a character issue. Changing our character is not something we can do in our own strength.
Are you maturing in Christ? If you're not, why not? If you are, how are you doing it?
If we're not maturing in Christ, it may be a result of trying to do it in our own strength. We're trying to fix ourselves before coming to God. As we mature in Christ, sometimes we can too easily and unintentionally slip into thinking that it's something we've done. We don't mean for this to happen, it's just natural for our human nature to be bent that way. There is a sense of accomplishment in the steps of maturity, and it's difficult at times to keep the progress in perspective.
It's like we've got the spiritual equivalent of our Girl Scout sashes & Boy Scout uniforms on, and we get these patches, these steps of accomplishment. (don't worry, I support the badges!) And we forget where the progress comes from.
As verse 30 says, "...it is from God alone that you have your life..." We need to consistently acknowledge the source of our strength and progress in the Christian walk. It is only through the power of the Spirit. The personal stake in this process is getting out of the way to let the Spirit do his work. The "bragging" is in doing nothing, which is of course, nothing to brag about.
I'm a person who enjoys puzzles, so I like to "solve" things. When situations arise, and even when I sense God working in my life, I want to "figure it out". I want to "find the solution", and sometimes I find myself attempting to manipulate the hand of God. When the Spirit convicts me, I try to fix myself before allowing him to change me. In essence, I'm trying to "get cleaned up before taking a bath". Sometimes I think that that's how we "grow weary in doing good." We try to work the plan of God in our own strength.
The formula should be this simple: The Spirit moves, we get out of the way, God completes his work.
This habit of getting out of the way, this posture of humility, this life of dependance.... THAT'S maturing in Christ. Then, what do we have to boast about? "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Todays Psalm 27:8 says, "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me, O my people.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'" That's what it's all about.
We must have an encounter with God. Sitting in His presence will change us. He's not desiring to sit us down and scold us, He wants to love on us.
Lord, I feel your Spirit calling me. Forgive me for trying to fix things in my own strength. My heart hears you, and it responds by saying "do your work in me!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezra 1:1-2:70
I Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Psalm 27:7-14
Proverbs 20:22-23
"For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God's plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. As it says in the Scriptures, "If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done."" I Cor. 1:30-31
Can you remember this past January's New Year's resolution? How are you doing on that? It's not often we're asked that in August. Why do resolutions rarely work? I think it's because at some level, Our resolutions are our attempt to mold our character. Yes, most of them have to do with our conduct, but most of the time that conduct is a result of a character issue. Changing our character is not something we can do in our own strength.
Are you maturing in Christ? If you're not, why not? If you are, how are you doing it?
If we're not maturing in Christ, it may be a result of trying to do it in our own strength. We're trying to fix ourselves before coming to God. As we mature in Christ, sometimes we can too easily and unintentionally slip into thinking that it's something we've done. We don't mean for this to happen, it's just natural for our human nature to be bent that way. There is a sense of accomplishment in the steps of maturity, and it's difficult at times to keep the progress in perspective.
It's like we've got the spiritual equivalent of our Girl Scout sashes & Boy Scout uniforms on, and we get these patches, these steps of accomplishment. (don't worry, I support the badges!) And we forget where the progress comes from.
As verse 30 says, "...it is from God alone that you have your life..." We need to consistently acknowledge the source of our strength and progress in the Christian walk. It is only through the power of the Spirit. The personal stake in this process is getting out of the way to let the Spirit do his work. The "bragging" is in doing nothing, which is of course, nothing to brag about.
I'm a person who enjoys puzzles, so I like to "solve" things. When situations arise, and even when I sense God working in my life, I want to "figure it out". I want to "find the solution", and sometimes I find myself attempting to manipulate the hand of God. When the Spirit convicts me, I try to fix myself before allowing him to change me. In essence, I'm trying to "get cleaned up before taking a bath". Sometimes I think that that's how we "grow weary in doing good." We try to work the plan of God in our own strength.
The formula should be this simple: The Spirit moves, we get out of the way, God completes his work.
This habit of getting out of the way, this posture of humility, this life of dependance.... THAT'S maturing in Christ. Then, what do we have to boast about? "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Todays Psalm 27:8 says, "My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me, O my people.' And my heart responds, 'Lord, I am coming.'" That's what it's all about.
We must have an encounter with God. Sitting in His presence will change us. He's not desiring to sit us down and scold us, He wants to love on us.
Lord, I feel your Spirit calling me. Forgive me for trying to fix things in my own strength. My heart hears you, and it responds by saying "do your work in me!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P 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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