"Go and Help!"
Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30
Luke 9:51-10:12
Psalm 74:1-23
Proverbs 12:11
It's so easy to get caught up in our own world of schedules, to-do lists, and concerns that we lose sight of the whole "Relationships Devoted to Unity" thing. Because it's in our human nature to be self-centered, we can very easily slip into the trap of independence, and forget that God has created his people for "interdependence".
It's a simple verse that brought this to mind today. "If you see someone trying to get an ox or donkey onto its feet when it has slipped beneath its load, don't look the other way. Go and help!" (Deut. 22:4)
This verse is in the middle of some pretty heavy stuff. In the chapter before and the verses following there are guidelines that carry the penalty of death if not followed. What we need to understand from that is that it is REALLY important to God that we look out for one another.
Have you ever been in that place where you "look the other way"? You may be in a hurry to get somewhere. You may be "on a mission", and you pass someone who is crying or has a flat tire. There are many things that we can "look the other way" to. There are "good" things. We have kids. We have family time. We have ministry. But we also have unity. We must take the time to serve the needs of one another.
What does it take to help someone out? It takes submission. Sometimes you submit your agenda to the need, other times it may be a submission of resources to help another through a difficult time.
Whatever the case, we have to understand the value of unity. We cannot live the Balanced Christian Life without it. We may be walking in obedience, studying the word, and very busy in ministry, but if we are not living out unity, we are out of balance. This needs to be on our priority list.
Look for opportunities to help someone today. Go out and help!
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, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
4.1.11 "One of those Days!"
"One of those Days!"
Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
Luke 9:28-50
Psalm 73:1-28
Proverbs 12:10
There are days when it seems like there's nothing the devil throws at you can touch you. The storm rages around, but you're joyful, filled with peace, and faith, and excited about what God is doing.
Then there are those "other" days! There are those days where we just about slide off the edge into the "pit of despair". I don't really need to describe them any better than the Psalmist did:
"How good God is to Israel -- to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping and I was almost gone. For I was envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked. Yes, all through life their road is smooth! They grow sleek and fat. They aren't always in trouble and plagued with problems like everyone else, so their pride sparkles like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty! These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff at God and threaten his people. How proudly they speak! They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut through the earth.
"And so God's people are dismayed and confused, and drink it all in. 'Does God realize what is going on?' they ask. 'Look at these men of arrogance; they never have to lift a finger - theirs is a life of ease; and all the time their riches multiply.'" (Ps 73:1-12)
Have ya been there?
"Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? All I get out of it is trouble and woe - everyday and all day long! If I had really said that, I would have been a traitor to your people. Yet it is so hard to explain it - this prosperity of those who hate the Lord." (v.13-16)
If you're like me, I feel really guilty when I'm having one of "those" days. It is like a trap. When you start thinking like that, you get snared by self-pity. There's a draw to it. Why take the trouble to be pure?
Listen to where the healthy perspective comes from:
"Then one day I went into God's sanctuary to meditate, and thought about the future of these evil men. What a slippery path they are on - suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their destruction: an instant end to all their happiness, an eternity of terror. Their present life is only a dream! They will awaken to the truth as one awakens from a dream of things that never really were! " (vs. 17-20)
The importance of meditating in God's sanctuary cannot be overstated. We gain understanding, truth and balance from spending time with God. He gives us the perspective we need. Often when we do that we see things as they really are.
"When I saw this, what turmoil filled my heart! I saw myself so stupid and so ignorant; I must seem like an animal to you, O God. But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel; and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! Whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you! My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! he is the strength of my heart he is mine forever!
"But those refusing to worship God will perish, for he destroys those serving other gods.
"But as for me, I get as close to him as I can! I have chosen him and I will tell everyone about the wonderful ways he rescues me." (vs.21-28)
It doesn't make a difference how the wicked prosper. God's truth remains. His love for us is ever-abounding in spite of our moments of ignorance.
Gain the proper perspective by spending time with him today! Be Empowered through Biblical Training! Walk in Obedience and live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, and do it all with your purpose in mind: Mission to Reach our World for Christ!
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
Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
Luke 9:28-50
Psalm 73:1-28
Proverbs 12:10
There are days when it seems like there's nothing the devil throws at you can touch you. The storm rages around, but you're joyful, filled with peace, and faith, and excited about what God is doing.
Then there are those "other" days! There are those days where we just about slide off the edge into the "pit of despair". I don't really need to describe them any better than the Psalmist did:
"How good God is to Israel -- to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping and I was almost gone. For I was envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked. Yes, all through life their road is smooth! They grow sleek and fat. They aren't always in trouble and plagued with problems like everyone else, so their pride sparkles like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty! These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff at God and threaten his people. How proudly they speak! They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut through the earth.
"And so God's people are dismayed and confused, and drink it all in. 'Does God realize what is going on?' they ask. 'Look at these men of arrogance; they never have to lift a finger - theirs is a life of ease; and all the time their riches multiply.'" (Ps 73:1-12)
Have ya been there?
"Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? All I get out of it is trouble and woe - everyday and all day long! If I had really said that, I would have been a traitor to your people. Yet it is so hard to explain it - this prosperity of those who hate the Lord." (v.13-16)
If you're like me, I feel really guilty when I'm having one of "those" days. It is like a trap. When you start thinking like that, you get snared by self-pity. There's a draw to it. Why take the trouble to be pure?
Listen to where the healthy perspective comes from:
"Then one day I went into God's sanctuary to meditate, and thought about the future of these evil men. What a slippery path they are on - suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their destruction: an instant end to all their happiness, an eternity of terror. Their present life is only a dream! They will awaken to the truth as one awakens from a dream of things that never really were! " (vs. 17-20)
The importance of meditating in God's sanctuary cannot be overstated. We gain understanding, truth and balance from spending time with God. He gives us the perspective we need. Often when we do that we see things as they really are.
"When I saw this, what turmoil filled my heart! I saw myself so stupid and so ignorant; I must seem like an animal to you, O God. But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel; and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! Whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you! My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! he is the strength of my heart he is mine forever!
"But those refusing to worship God will perish, for he destroys those serving other gods.
"But as for me, I get as close to him as I can! I have chosen him and I will tell everyone about the wonderful ways he rescues me." (vs.21-28)
It doesn't make a difference how the wicked prosper. God's truth remains. His love for us is ever-abounding in spite of our moments of ignorance.
Gain the proper perspective by spending time with him today! Be Empowered through Biblical Training! Walk in Obedience and live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, and do it all with your purpose in mind: Mission to Reach our World for Christ!
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, March 31, 2011
3.31.11 "Keep Close to Me!"
"Keep Close to Me!"
Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20
Luke 9:7-27
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 12:8-9
"Keep Close to Me!" In what situations have you heard that phrase? When my daughter was old enough to walk in stores we began to practice obedience. If Lisa or I would say "close" Annalese was supposed to see how fast she could get to us. She was supposed to drop whatever she was doing and RUN to us. We would also do it when we were out for walks. She'd get ahead of us or something and we'd say, "Annalese, close!" She would turn and run back to us.
Why did we teach her that? We were teaching her that right next to us is a safe place to be. We were making practice of an important principle.
Jesus says "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it; and what profit is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one's self?" (Luke 9:23-25)
Why does Jesus say "Keep close to me"? Because next to him is the safest place to be.
What does it take to be close to him? We have to drop everything and run to him. We have to put aside our own desires and conveniences. It's those desires left unchecked that will bring us to harm.
What does it mean to take up your cross? It means that we live at all times with an understanding that we are dying to flesh. "Dead Man Walking". Every step I take down the road of life must be a step that is not directed by self, but by the Spirit. It must be a part of being close to him.
There's something within that cries out, "But think of all the things you miss out on if you die to flesh! Think of all the things YOU want to do!" The world's understanding is that the only way to find fulfillment is if I chase my own wants and needs, but the truth is, If I lose my life for the sake of following Christ, I will actually find the fulfillment of the all of the desires. This happens for a number of reasons, the main one being that knowing Christ transforms our desires into what he wants them to be. They work for his glory.
When we live to serve the flesh, we ultimately lose out not only on the fulfillment, but can eventually lose our soul because we are living for self.
What steps are you taking today? Are they for your desire and convenience, or are they for walking in step with Christ? Stay close to him 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
Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20
Luke 9:7-27
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 12:8-9
"Keep Close to Me!" In what situations have you heard that phrase? When my daughter was old enough to walk in stores we began to practice obedience. If Lisa or I would say "close" Annalese was supposed to see how fast she could get to us. She was supposed to drop whatever she was doing and RUN to us. We would also do it when we were out for walks. She'd get ahead of us or something and we'd say, "Annalese, close!" She would turn and run back to us.
Why did we teach her that? We were teaching her that right next to us is a safe place to be. We were making practice of an important principle.
Jesus says "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it; and what profit is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one's self?" (Luke 9:23-25)
Why does Jesus say "Keep close to me"? Because next to him is the safest place to be.
What does it take to be close to him? We have to drop everything and run to him. We have to put aside our own desires and conveniences. It's those desires left unchecked that will bring us to harm.
What does it mean to take up your cross? It means that we live at all times with an understanding that we are dying to flesh. "Dead Man Walking". Every step I take down the road of life must be a step that is not directed by self, but by the Spirit. It must be a part of being close to him.
There's something within that cries out, "But think of all the things you miss out on if you die to flesh! Think of all the things YOU want to do!" The world's understanding is that the only way to find fulfillment is if I chase my own wants and needs, but the truth is, If I lose my life for the sake of following Christ, I will actually find the fulfillment of the all of the desires. This happens for a number of reasons, the main one being that knowing Christ transforms our desires into what he wants them to be. They work for his glory.
When we live to serve the flesh, we ultimately lose out not only on the fulfillment, but can eventually lose our soul because we are living for self.
What steps are you taking today? Are they for your desire and convenience, or are they for walking in step with Christ? Stay close to him 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, March 30, 2011
3.30.11 "Fruit for the Journey"
"Fruit for the Journey"
Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23
Luke 8:40-9:6
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 12:5-7
When I was a kid my neighbor had the first video game I had ever seen. It was Amazing! the fact that you could control something on your black and white TV screen! The skill required to play this game was intense. The game was called "Pong"!
My cousin had another type of video game on his Commodore 64. This game was page after page of text. It was basically a story of an adventure. You would walk from room to room and find things in each room. For example, you would come into a room and it would say there was a table in the corner. you would then type in "look at table". It would then say "On the table there is a blue key". Now here's what separated the good players from the amateurs. The amateurs would think, "Cool, but I don't need a blue key," and move on. The experts would type in "pick up key". Sure enough a little farther on in the journey they would encounter a "Blue Door". There were a few times a guy would say, "Man, I wish I would have picked up that key!"
So why the trip down memory lane? Well we are all on this adventure game of life. Thankfully, It's slightly more exciting and more intense than the old Commodore 64. We never know what we are going to encounter, and whether we realize it or not, there are little items that we discover that we need for the journey ahead.
"O Lord, you alone are my hope; I've trusted you from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly - no wonder I am always praising you!' (Ps. 71:5-6)
The experiences we have in life give us the ammunition to praise him. It is the fruit for our journey. Sometimes the best fruit grows in the darkest valleys. We will often cry out in the middle of sickness or times of mourning, "I don't need this!" But the truth is, we've got options when it comes to how we react to difficult times. We can just complain and "endure", or we can glean the fruit we need, pick it up and use it for the journey ahead. We will always find that when we've chosen to "pick up" the fruit, we will find a "blue door" down the road, and there's no way we could pass through without the experiences of that valley.
"I will keep on expecting you to help me. I praise you more and more. I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care. I walk in the strength of the Lord God. I tell everyone that you alone are just and good... I will talk to others all day long about your justice and your goodness." (vs. 14-16, 24)
The only way the fruit of the journey we've traveled does us any good is if we use it. We need to constantly tell of God's faithfulness. We need to tell of the way that he has delivered us and freed us, and sustained us through difficult times.
If you are in a difficult time right now, you need to type in, "use fruit", and begin to testify of the great things God has done for you in the past. This is the key to the victorious Christian life.
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
Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23
Luke 8:40-9:6
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 12:5-7
When I was a kid my neighbor had the first video game I had ever seen. It was Amazing! the fact that you could control something on your black and white TV screen! The skill required to play this game was intense. The game was called "Pong"!
My cousin had another type of video game on his Commodore 64. This game was page after page of text. It was basically a story of an adventure. You would walk from room to room and find things in each room. For example, you would come into a room and it would say there was a table in the corner. you would then type in "look at table". It would then say "On the table there is a blue key". Now here's what separated the good players from the amateurs. The amateurs would think, "Cool, but I don't need a blue key," and move on. The experts would type in "pick up key". Sure enough a little farther on in the journey they would encounter a "Blue Door". There were a few times a guy would say, "Man, I wish I would have picked up that key!"
So why the trip down memory lane? Well we are all on this adventure game of life. Thankfully, It's slightly more exciting and more intense than the old Commodore 64. We never know what we are going to encounter, and whether we realize it or not, there are little items that we discover that we need for the journey ahead.
"O Lord, you alone are my hope; I've trusted you from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly - no wonder I am always praising you!' (Ps. 71:5-6)
The experiences we have in life give us the ammunition to praise him. It is the fruit for our journey. Sometimes the best fruit grows in the darkest valleys. We will often cry out in the middle of sickness or times of mourning, "I don't need this!" But the truth is, we've got options when it comes to how we react to difficult times. We can just complain and "endure", or we can glean the fruit we need, pick it up and use it for the journey ahead. We will always find that when we've chosen to "pick up" the fruit, we will find a "blue door" down the road, and there's no way we could pass through without the experiences of that valley.
"I will keep on expecting you to help me. I praise you more and more. I cannot count the times when you have faithfully rescued me from danger. I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant, daily care. I walk in the strength of the Lord God. I tell everyone that you alone are just and good... I will talk to others all day long about your justice and your goodness." (vs. 14-16, 24)
The only way the fruit of the journey we've traveled does us any good is if we use it. We need to constantly tell of God's faithfulness. We need to tell of the way that he has delivered us and freed us, and sustained us through difficult times.
If you are in a difficult time right now, you need to type in, "use fruit", and begin to testify of the great things God has done for you in the past. This is the key to the victorious Christian life.
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, March 29, 2011
3.29.11 "Let's Make a Deal!"
"Let's Make a Deal!"
Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4
Does that title bring back memories? If so, it definitely dates you! Monte Hall used to give you the choice: Door number 1, Door number 2 or Door number 3! What amazing television that was! Now it's "Deal or No Deal!" That's another one of those shows that's the opposite of a microwave. Instead of making things go faster, it stretches 8 minutes of entertainment into an hour. Instead of 3 doors you have 25 suitcases. In that one, you're hoping that the choice you made was the one with the most cash. But you're not sure....
Well, God makes it a bit easier. There's just 2 doors: " I am giving you the choice today between God's blessing or God's curse!" (Deut. 11:26)
Um.... boy... I don't know.... I ah... blessing or curse... "we'll find out... right after this commercial break!"
"There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of these other nations." (v.27-28)
In this chapter Moses speaks of the family in verses 1-6. "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of his commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen his greatness and his awesome power. They weren't there to see the miracles he did in Egypt..." he goes on to list the many great things God has done.
"But you have seen these mighty miracles! how carefully, then, you should obey these commandments... so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land you are about to enter." (v.7-8)
My daughter has not had the path to Christ I have. She doesn't know about the godly home I grew up in. She doesn't know that I would find my dad praying in his office or my mom praying in her bedroom. She doesn't know that I had incredible altar experiences at camp. She doesn't know about the HUGE rapture scare I had when my parents went to dinner with the church board & I didn't know & when I called them all no one was home! (still makes me sweat to think about it!)
All she knows is what she sees in me.
I have found freedom in Christ. I have found blessing. "But beware that your hearts do not turn from God... So keep these commandments carefully in mind... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates, so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." (vs. 16-21)
It's up to me to put the option in front of my daughter. "Blessing, or curse". She wont choose just because I say it, she will choose based on what I live. She will be influenced and impacted by the world around her, but the power for her to live life will come as we sit around the breakfast table each morning.
Well Monte (or Howie) .... I'll take the blessing!
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
Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4
Does that title bring back memories? If so, it definitely dates you! Monte Hall used to give you the choice: Door number 1, Door number 2 or Door number 3! What amazing television that was! Now it's "Deal or No Deal!" That's another one of those shows that's the opposite of a microwave. Instead of making things go faster, it stretches 8 minutes of entertainment into an hour. Instead of 3 doors you have 25 suitcases. In that one, you're hoping that the choice you made was the one with the most cash. But you're not sure....
Well, God makes it a bit easier. There's just 2 doors: " I am giving you the choice today between God's blessing or God's curse!" (Deut. 11:26)
Um.... boy... I don't know.... I ah... blessing or curse... "we'll find out... right after this commercial break!"
"There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of these other nations." (v.27-28)
In this chapter Moses speaks of the family in verses 1-6. "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of his commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen his greatness and his awesome power. They weren't there to see the miracles he did in Egypt..." he goes on to list the many great things God has done.
"But you have seen these mighty miracles! how carefully, then, you should obey these commandments... so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land you are about to enter." (v.7-8)
My daughter has not had the path to Christ I have. She doesn't know about the godly home I grew up in. She doesn't know that I would find my dad praying in his office or my mom praying in her bedroom. She doesn't know that I had incredible altar experiences at camp. She doesn't know about the HUGE rapture scare I had when my parents went to dinner with the church board & I didn't know & when I called them all no one was home! (still makes me sweat to think about it!)
All she knows is what she sees in me.
I have found freedom in Christ. I have found blessing. "But beware that your hearts do not turn from God... So keep these commandments carefully in mind... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates, so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." (vs. 16-21)
It's up to me to put the option in front of my daughter. "Blessing, or curse". She wont choose just because I say it, she will choose based on what I live. She will be influenced and impacted by the world around her, but the power for her to live life will come as we sit around the breakfast table each morning.
Well Monte (or Howie) .... I'll take the blessing!
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, March 28, 2011
3.28.11 "You're Not Good Enough!"
"You're Not Good Enough!"
Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
Luke 8:4-21
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 12:2-3
Have you been in a situation where you've felt ill-equipped? It can be paralyzing. It may be that you see a need, but you know it's beyond you to meet it, or you know there's others who can do it better, or maybe it's something you've been assigned to do but the task is just too indimidating.
I've told this story several times, so forgive me if you've heard it before, but for me it was a significant moment in my life. I hadn't been on staff as the music pastor for long, and the worship leader was gone so I filled in to lead worship. Another piano player then played for me. We are now very good friends, but at that time I didn't know him very well. I had heard what a great player he was, but I was not prepared for what I heard. He was incredible!
I'll never forget that moment. I could go stand right where I was when this happened. It was during rehearsal, and as he was playing, and we were all singing, I was thinking, "I'll never be that good!". My thought process was one of feeling sorry for myself. I started thinking, "Why am I even in this job? I could never play like that!" I prayed, "Lord, why am I here, I'm not good enough!"
There aren't too many times in my life that the Lord has spoken to me in a way that I could actually quote him later, but this was definitely one of them! He said, "You're right! You will never be that good! But you are the one I've chosen!"
The thought "I'll never be that good!" kept cycling through my mind, but with a different tone. It was a tone of freedom. There was a revelation that how good I am is IRRELEVANT to what God had called me to if I am in a place he has assigned me.
In Deut. 9:1 Moses is speaking to Israel. "O Israel, listen! Today you are to cross the Jordan River and begin to dispossess the nations on the other side. Those nations are much greater and more powerful than you are!"
How's that for a pep-talk? How'd you like your coach to say, "alright let's go beat this team... They're a lot better than you!"
So often in our culture we are so concerned about self-esteem. Self-confidence is something that we highly value. A major reason for that is we errantly attach worth to ability. We don't understand that worth and ability are not connected. Value must come from an understanding of our Creator, and who he has made us to be, not from how we've "performed".
But since we don't understand that, we make a few mistakes. For one, we only step out in things we know we can accomplish. If God calls us to do something, we stop in our tracks because it's beyond our ability.
Another mistake is that we build false confidence in the flesh. "I'm not good enough..." "Oh yes you are! You're great! You're the best! Get out there and do it! Rah! Rah!" Because we've built the confidence in the flesh, we do go out there and some times fail, and then are hurt so we're never willing to do it again.
Now I'm not saying that we need to be brutal with one another, "Yeah, I'm thinking your low self-esteem is just good common sense!" If that's what you're getting from all this, you're missing the point! What it's taking me a LONG time to say is this: OBEDIENCE is not related to ability! In fact, God more often than not chooses to use the most "unlikely" people to do great things.
You may have experienced this at some level. God has done something great through you as a result of you stepping out in obedience. The irony of it all is, that we have to be careful on the other side, as well.
"Then, when the Lord has done this for you, don't say to yourselves, 'The Lord has helped us because we are so good!'" (v.4) We have to be careful that we don't allow God's faithfulness to us to become a pride issue. I can't stick my tongue out at my friend and say, "Nah, Nah! You can play better, but God picked me!"
Pride and insecurity are very similar! They are both self-focussed. They bring the attention away from God. I need to realize, "I am not Good Enough!" However, it's important that I only realize that to the point of FREEDOM, and not to the point of BONDAGE. If it's a point of paralysis, then I am not trusting God.
Deut. 10:12-13 puts it into perspective. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord you God require of you except to listen carefully to all he says to you, and to obey for your own good the commandments I am giving you today, and to love him, and to worship him with all you hearts and soul?"
That's all we need to worry about. Just love the Lord and walk in obedience.
God will never call us to do something without equipping us to accomplish it. However, He will always call us to accomplish more than we can in our own strength. That's how is name is made great among the people!
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
Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22
Luke 8:4-21
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 12:2-3
Have you been in a situation where you've felt ill-equipped? It can be paralyzing. It may be that you see a need, but you know it's beyond you to meet it, or you know there's others who can do it better, or maybe it's something you've been assigned to do but the task is just too indimidating.
I've told this story several times, so forgive me if you've heard it before, but for me it was a significant moment in my life. I hadn't been on staff as the music pastor for long, and the worship leader was gone so I filled in to lead worship. Another piano player then played for me. We are now very good friends, but at that time I didn't know him very well. I had heard what a great player he was, but I was not prepared for what I heard. He was incredible!
I'll never forget that moment. I could go stand right where I was when this happened. It was during rehearsal, and as he was playing, and we were all singing, I was thinking, "I'll never be that good!". My thought process was one of feeling sorry for myself. I started thinking, "Why am I even in this job? I could never play like that!" I prayed, "Lord, why am I here, I'm not good enough!"
There aren't too many times in my life that the Lord has spoken to me in a way that I could actually quote him later, but this was definitely one of them! He said, "You're right! You will never be that good! But you are the one I've chosen!"
The thought "I'll never be that good!" kept cycling through my mind, but with a different tone. It was a tone of freedom. There was a revelation that how good I am is IRRELEVANT to what God had called me to if I am in a place he has assigned me.
In Deut. 9:1 Moses is speaking to Israel. "O Israel, listen! Today you are to cross the Jordan River and begin to dispossess the nations on the other side. Those nations are much greater and more powerful than you are!"
How's that for a pep-talk? How'd you like your coach to say, "alright let's go beat this team... They're a lot better than you!"
So often in our culture we are so concerned about self-esteem. Self-confidence is something that we highly value. A major reason for that is we errantly attach worth to ability. We don't understand that worth and ability are not connected. Value must come from an understanding of our Creator, and who he has made us to be, not from how we've "performed".
But since we don't understand that, we make a few mistakes. For one, we only step out in things we know we can accomplish. If God calls us to do something, we stop in our tracks because it's beyond our ability.
Another mistake is that we build false confidence in the flesh. "I'm not good enough..." "Oh yes you are! You're great! You're the best! Get out there and do it! Rah! Rah!" Because we've built the confidence in the flesh, we do go out there and some times fail, and then are hurt so we're never willing to do it again.
Now I'm not saying that we need to be brutal with one another, "Yeah, I'm thinking your low self-esteem is just good common sense!" If that's what you're getting from all this, you're missing the point! What it's taking me a LONG time to say is this: OBEDIENCE is not related to ability! In fact, God more often than not chooses to use the most "unlikely" people to do great things.
You may have experienced this at some level. God has done something great through you as a result of you stepping out in obedience. The irony of it all is, that we have to be careful on the other side, as well.
"Then, when the Lord has done this for you, don't say to yourselves, 'The Lord has helped us because we are so good!'" (v.4) We have to be careful that we don't allow God's faithfulness to us to become a pride issue. I can't stick my tongue out at my friend and say, "Nah, Nah! You can play better, but God picked me!"
Pride and insecurity are very similar! They are both self-focussed. They bring the attention away from God. I need to realize, "I am not Good Enough!" However, it's important that I only realize that to the point of FREEDOM, and not to the point of BONDAGE. If it's a point of paralysis, then I am not trusting God.
Deut. 10:12-13 puts it into perspective. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord you God require of you except to listen carefully to all he says to you, and to obey for your own good the commandments I am giving you today, and to love him, and to worship him with all you hearts and soul?"
That's all we need to worry about. Just love the Lord and walk in obedience.
God will never call us to do something without equipping us to accomplish it. However, He will always call us to accomplish more than we can in our own strength. That's how is name is made great among the people!
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
Sunday, March 27, 2011
3.27.11 "Radical Obedience"
"Radical Obedience"
Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 12:1
Do you ever order chicken "medium rare"? Of course not! You wouldn't even think if it. Even though it's "mostly cooked" it's a bad idea. Chicken needs to be thoroughly cooked. Why? Because it's unhealthy to do it any other way. You can get sick if you don't.
We need to be fully obedient to what the Lord calls us to. Why? It's unhealthy to do it any other way. In today's reading in Deuteronomy Moses is addressing the people.
"For you are a holy people, dedicated to the Lord your God. He has chosen you from all the people on the face of the whole earth to be his own chosen ones. He didn't choose you and pour out his love on you because you were a larger nation than any other, for you were the smallest of all! It was just because he loves you..." (Deut. 7:6-7)
God loves each one of us more than we can imagine. He desires relationship with us. To have that relationship we must be holy before him. We must be pure. We must rid our lives of things that separate us from him. He set us free, but it's our job to stay free.
"You must destroy all the nations which the Lord your God delivers into your hands. Have no pity, and do not worship other gods; if you do, it will be a sad day for you. (v. 16)
We must set ourselves apart from sinful ways. We must be radically obedient to what the Lord is directing us to do. If we don't "It will be a sad day."
Sometimes it seems overwhelming. "Perhaps you will think to yourself, 'hOw can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?' But don't be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God dug to Pharoah and to all the land of Egypt." (v.17-18)
You may be caught in sin in a way that seems you can't get out. Or, you may like some of the idols so much you don't want to get rid of them. No matter how difficult it seems, it's not impossible. Remember that grace gives us the power to do what truth demands of us. We can trust in the grace of God to strengthen us as we step out in obedience.
Obedience is a PROCESS of growth in us. "No, to not be afraid if those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and be us a great and awesome God. He will cast them out a little at a time; he will not do it all at once..." (v. 21-22)
We all wish the challenges before us would just disappear, but we must understand that God us doing a work in us, and we need to follow through in the steps as he shows us. We have to understand that partial obedience is disobedience, and delayed obedience us disobedience. I need to live a life of radical obedience. When God says something, I need to do it. When he asks me to get rid of something in my life, I just need to do it. That's living the dynamic lifestyle of worship.
Through the power of the Spirit,
live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to reach our World for Christ
Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 12:1
Do you ever order chicken "medium rare"? Of course not! You wouldn't even think if it. Even though it's "mostly cooked" it's a bad idea. Chicken needs to be thoroughly cooked. Why? Because it's unhealthy to do it any other way. You can get sick if you don't.
We need to be fully obedient to what the Lord calls us to. Why? It's unhealthy to do it any other way. In today's reading in Deuteronomy Moses is addressing the people.
"For you are a holy people, dedicated to the Lord your God. He has chosen you from all the people on the face of the whole earth to be his own chosen ones. He didn't choose you and pour out his love on you because you were a larger nation than any other, for you were the smallest of all! It was just because he loves you..." (Deut. 7:6-7)
God loves each one of us more than we can imagine. He desires relationship with us. To have that relationship we must be holy before him. We must be pure. We must rid our lives of things that separate us from him. He set us free, but it's our job to stay free.
"You must destroy all the nations which the Lord your God delivers into your hands. Have no pity, and do not worship other gods; if you do, it will be a sad day for you. (v. 16)
We must set ourselves apart from sinful ways. We must be radically obedient to what the Lord is directing us to do. If we don't "It will be a sad day."
Sometimes it seems overwhelming. "Perhaps you will think to yourself, 'hOw can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?' But don't be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God dug to Pharoah and to all the land of Egypt." (v.17-18)
You may be caught in sin in a way that seems you can't get out. Or, you may like some of the idols so much you don't want to get rid of them. No matter how difficult it seems, it's not impossible. Remember that grace gives us the power to do what truth demands of us. We can trust in the grace of God to strengthen us as we step out in obedience.
Obedience is a PROCESS of growth in us. "No, to not be afraid if those nations, for the Lord your God is among you, and be us a great and awesome God. He will cast them out a little at a time; he will not do it all at once..." (v. 21-22)
We all wish the challenges before us would just disappear, but we must understand that God us doing a work in us, and we need to follow through in the steps as he shows us. We have to understand that partial obedience is disobedience, and delayed obedience us disobedience. I need to live a life of radical obedience. When God says something, I need to do it. When he asks me to get rid of something in my life, I just need to do it. That's living the dynamic lifestyle of worship.
Through the power of the Spirit,
live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to reach our World for Christ
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