“So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
-James 4:7
There are some verses in the Bible that at first glance don’t seem like much. But look a little closer and the verse becomes something entirely different. It becomes profound and weighty in the battle over sin in our lives. First I need to establish the ‘fact’ we all battle sin, even if you don’t you sin and are liar according to 1 John. “If you know what is good and choose not to do it, you sin”, says James 4:17. So I believe all Christians battle sin in their lives and many times we are in a losing battle. It seems like many today, learn to live with the sin and guilt….it just seems easier.
But here is the problem with this idea, defeat. Once you reach this point, you are defeated. The problem is the bible says we are victorious,
Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!” So what is the solution? James comes back to me, “So submit to God”…before I do anything else I must submit to God. So if I try to resist the devil without submitting to God, I am in big trouble, the devil will not be the one fleeing, it will be me!
How many of us try to take on our own sin, without submitting to God at all. “I don’t need any help; I can handle this myself…only to burn up in a fiery crash, that if we are lucky doesn’t kill those closest to us. Humility, humbling ourselves before a loving and gracious Lord and telling him we need help….
It is from this position we can resist the devil, it is from this position, we can resist the devil and he will flee from us. I don’t know about you, I hate walking around in defeat. I hate losing period; I want victory in my life. And I love the word flee…it’s like his hair is on fire or something…great sense of urgency…I like that…run, run you rascal…does the devil have hair? Not sure if it matters…but I like the idea of him RUNNING….
-ps
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Bible in a Year
For the first time in my life I can say I have read the Bible all the way through. Now don’t get me wrong I have studied the Bible for many years…I even went through it chapter by chapter, which took me three years to accomplish. But I had never just read the Bible a few chapters a day for a year. I have to tell you it open my eyes to several things…For starters it reminded me about how much I still have to learn…very humbling. It opened my eyes to the big picture, seeing God lay out the grand plan for us all. Most of all it gave me things to think about every day that help shape my attitude. It took me too those great Bible stories and I got to see Abraham, Jacob and Joseph again. I got to see Moses and the exodus…David and Solomon…and all the very interesting Kings. I got to hear the Psalms…and lived with the Prophets. Saw Jesus and the disciples…listen to Paul tell his tale and still thinking about John and his Revelations.
I have read so many books, but there is nothing like the Bible…it’s not a science book, or a history book. But it is God’s story…and how he has chosen to interact with us. I thank God for the Bible and its impact on my daily life…I hope you will take the time this year and read through it.
-ps
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Sermon: The Greatest Gift Christmas 2007
Merry Christmas! I cannot believe it’s here…in a two short days we will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year we celebrate the greatest gift given to mankind. Once a year, each Christmas, for a few fleeting days we and millions of our neighbors turn aside from our preoccupations and join together in community of wonder.
Eugene Peterson says, “If in the general festive round of singing and decorating, giving and receiving, cooking meals and family gatherings, we ask what is behind all this and what keeps it going all over the world, among all classes of people quite regardless of whether they believe or not, the answer is simply "a birth." Not just "birth" in general, but a particular birth in a small Middle Eastern village in datable time—a baby, named Jesus—a birth that soon had people talking and singing about God, indeed, worshiping God.”
This wasn’t an ordinary birth…there are births all around us and we know from our own personal experience. Birth means that a new person is alive in the world. A miracle in it’s self…that soon is obscured by late-night feedings, diapers, fevers, and inconvenient irruptions of fussiness and squalling. It doesn’t take long or a genius to figure out as parents you are in for the long haul…years and years of the child’s growing up time that will stretch our stamina and patience…sometimes to the breaking point.
How is it that the birth of Jesus has managed to set us back, how is that this birth was something special, something unique…and it continues to do so century after century…
This wasn’t just any birth. The baby’s parents and the first witness were convinced that God was entering human history in human form. Their convictions were confirmed by angels and the Magi and Shepherds …This new and exteriorly life now was before their eyes, right in their neighborhood. Men, women and children from all over the world continue to be convinced right up to the present moment.
Jesus’ birth was where God interceded; it is where God entered into human history personally…The Bible says in John 1:14 “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. He moved in…
And for thirty years or so, men and women saw God in speech and actions as a fully functioning human being, he was subject to the same conditions. He was under Jewish religion, Roman rule…God was made incarnate as a human baby is still not easy to believe, but people continue to do so. Many, even those who don't "believe," find themselves happy to participate in the giving and receiving, singing and celebrating of those who do. Incarnation, in-flesh-ment, God in human form in Jesus entering our history: this is what started Christmas. This is what keeps Christmas going, this is the greatest gift!
Why is this greatest gift?
Isaiah 53:2-6 gives us our first clue about Jesus, (Read)…He grew up ordinary, there wasn’t anything special about him …in fact many considered him ‘stricken by God”…why….because he carried our infirmities our sin and on the cross he was pierced for our transgressions…he was crushed for our iniquities…
Isa 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of glory of God”…We have all chosen a path for ourselves…Yet despite ourselves God intervened….”You see, at just the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly….God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we where still sinners Christ dies for us”.
We found ourselves enemies of God because of our sin, we found ourselves out of relationship with God…it is through the death of Jesus on the cross that we have ‘restored’ relationship with God, it through the blood of Christ we have the forgiveness of sin…
This morning we opened with a baptism, we herd a testimony about a changed life through Christ. Why is this so important…
Romans 6:3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Roman 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
See the greatest gift in Christ in the new life! We where lost sheep, each of us has gone there own way…but God intervened and entered the world, he was born and lived the sinless life and he suffered on the cross, but on the third day he rose again….
The Dominguez family set off Sunday afternoon, dressed in T-shirts, jeans, light jackets, and sneakers. Their plan was to drive into the mountains, find the perfect Christmas tree and head back home to Paradise. They found one tree and cut it down and started to drag it out to the pickup truck they left behind. It didn’t take long after a little snow had fallen to realize they where headed in the wrong direction.
Soon they knew they where lost, they dropped the tree and started looking for a road. After some time they found a road. The family split up, two head east the other two went west…as soon as started to get dark they met back together having found nothing. They spent that night huddled against a tree with limbs over the top of them. Fredrick the father realized to survive they where going to need better shelter.
They found a large concert pipe used for drainage and took refuge. For three days they stayed in the large pipe. During the day they sang songs and night they huddled together to stay off the freezing wind.
Mean while hundreds of volunteers where desperately combing the hillside looking for the family. There was approaching storm on the way. Authorities feared for the worst. CHP helicopters where grounded because of winds, but the weather broke for a thirty minute period. One CHP officer took advantage of the opportunity and made one more loop.
On the ground the family heard the approaching helicopter and Fredrick jumped out of the pipe barefoot and ran yelling and waving…he had earlier used branches and twigs to spell out the word “help”…which the CHP officer saw…he landed on the road near by and rescued the family.
I see this story and I can’t help but to think about Christ…many of us have found ourselves lost in this world, which is cold and many times ruthless. We all try to find shelter, which at best provides temporary relief to the impending storms. Who will rescue us? Thanks to Jesus Christ who enters our world and rescues us! He saves us and restores us, he gives us a new life in Him. The Dominguez family will not care so much about material gifts this Christmas…they will be celebrating the life, their new change at life. This morning you have the same opportunity…The Bible says…
Romans 10:9-10”and if confess with your month, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead you will be saved, for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”…
If you never have trusted in Christ then do it this morning…and if you have trusted in Christ…
Think about the gift of New Life he has given you…and celebrate!
Eugene Peterson says, “If in the general festive round of singing and decorating, giving and receiving, cooking meals and family gatherings, we ask what is behind all this and what keeps it going all over the world, among all classes of people quite regardless of whether they believe or not, the answer is simply "a birth." Not just "birth" in general, but a particular birth in a small Middle Eastern village in datable time—a baby, named Jesus—a birth that soon had people talking and singing about God, indeed, worshiping God.”
This wasn’t an ordinary birth…there are births all around us and we know from our own personal experience. Birth means that a new person is alive in the world. A miracle in it’s self…that soon is obscured by late-night feedings, diapers, fevers, and inconvenient irruptions of fussiness and squalling. It doesn’t take long or a genius to figure out as parents you are in for the long haul…years and years of the child’s growing up time that will stretch our stamina and patience…sometimes to the breaking point.
How is it that the birth of Jesus has managed to set us back, how is that this birth was something special, something unique…and it continues to do so century after century…
This wasn’t just any birth. The baby’s parents and the first witness were convinced that God was entering human history in human form. Their convictions were confirmed by angels and the Magi and Shepherds …This new and exteriorly life now was before their eyes, right in their neighborhood. Men, women and children from all over the world continue to be convinced right up to the present moment.
Jesus’ birth was where God interceded; it is where God entered into human history personally…The Bible says in John 1:14 “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. He moved in…
And for thirty years or so, men and women saw God in speech and actions as a fully functioning human being, he was subject to the same conditions. He was under Jewish religion, Roman rule…God was made incarnate as a human baby is still not easy to believe, but people continue to do so. Many, even those who don't "believe," find themselves happy to participate in the giving and receiving, singing and celebrating of those who do. Incarnation, in-flesh-ment, God in human form in Jesus entering our history: this is what started Christmas. This is what keeps Christmas going, this is the greatest gift!
Why is this greatest gift?
Isaiah 53:2-6 gives us our first clue about Jesus, (Read)…He grew up ordinary, there wasn’t anything special about him …in fact many considered him ‘stricken by God”…why….because he carried our infirmities our sin and on the cross he was pierced for our transgressions…he was crushed for our iniquities…
Isa 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of glory of God”…We have all chosen a path for ourselves…Yet despite ourselves God intervened….”You see, at just the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly….God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we where still sinners Christ dies for us”.
We found ourselves enemies of God because of our sin, we found ourselves out of relationship with God…it is through the death of Jesus on the cross that we have ‘restored’ relationship with God, it through the blood of Christ we have the forgiveness of sin…
This morning we opened with a baptism, we herd a testimony about a changed life through Christ. Why is this so important…
Romans 6:3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Roman 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
See the greatest gift in Christ in the new life! We where lost sheep, each of us has gone there own way…but God intervened and entered the world, he was born and lived the sinless life and he suffered on the cross, but on the third day he rose again….
The Dominguez family set off Sunday afternoon, dressed in T-shirts, jeans, light jackets, and sneakers. Their plan was to drive into the mountains, find the perfect Christmas tree and head back home to Paradise. They found one tree and cut it down and started to drag it out to the pickup truck they left behind. It didn’t take long after a little snow had fallen to realize they where headed in the wrong direction.
Soon they knew they where lost, they dropped the tree and started looking for a road. After some time they found a road. The family split up, two head east the other two went west…as soon as started to get dark they met back together having found nothing. They spent that night huddled against a tree with limbs over the top of them. Fredrick the father realized to survive they where going to need better shelter.
They found a large concert pipe used for drainage and took refuge. For three days they stayed in the large pipe. During the day they sang songs and night they huddled together to stay off the freezing wind.
Mean while hundreds of volunteers where desperately combing the hillside looking for the family. There was approaching storm on the way. Authorities feared for the worst. CHP helicopters where grounded because of winds, but the weather broke for a thirty minute period. One CHP officer took advantage of the opportunity and made one more loop.
On the ground the family heard the approaching helicopter and Fredrick jumped out of the pipe barefoot and ran yelling and waving…he had earlier used branches and twigs to spell out the word “help”…which the CHP officer saw…he landed on the road near by and rescued the family.
I see this story and I can’t help but to think about Christ…many of us have found ourselves lost in this world, which is cold and many times ruthless. We all try to find shelter, which at best provides temporary relief to the impending storms. Who will rescue us? Thanks to Jesus Christ who enters our world and rescues us! He saves us and restores us, he gives us a new life in Him. The Dominguez family will not care so much about material gifts this Christmas…they will be celebrating the life, their new change at life. This morning you have the same opportunity…The Bible says…
Romans 10:9-10”and if confess with your month, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead you will be saved, for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”…
If you never have trusted in Christ then do it this morning…and if you have trusted in Christ…
Think about the gift of New Life he has given you…and celebrate!
Friday, November 23, 2007
James 1:5-8 “The Message”
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”
Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” hit home in unique ways. He can take a passage of Scripture and bring home, home where it hurts…or…home where it moves us.
How many times do we view hardship as a growth process? Paul and the Apostles seem to look forward to hard times…over the course of their ministries they came to conclusion. It’s the kind of lesson that can be only learned by suffering. So here we are two thousands years later and we are still the same frail human beings we have always been. How many of us hit hard time and the first thing we do is look for ‘options’. We pray only after we have exhausted all other means and you no where else to go…turn to God.
The problem is when we finally turn to him we are only “worrying our prayers”…we still keep all of our “options open”. In other words we don’t trust God to come through. I mean he is invisible. He doesn’t always answer prayers the way you would think…he gives us every reason not to trust or believe in him right? But do you see the failure in this line of thought?
Many of us struggle in hard times because we do not have a ‘daily’ relationship…we have never fully lived Christ. Oh on Sunday morning we might get as close as we can get for the week. But for most once the key touches the ignition switch of our car in the church parking lot the relationship ends until next Sunday morning.
Trust God means trusting God…it takes time to build…a lifetime for some. But it means we have to trust God with our lives, families, and our money…with everything. We have forgotten how to trust God in our nations…the giving of our time and money are at all times lows, and the same time we deeply desire a walk with God. So many people are without hope…without forgiveness….
So are you serious about your relationship….are you willing to start living the gospel, to start trusting in God. It’s starts with the small things…spending time with God in the morning…praying and reading your bible. It starts by taking your concerns to God and knowing he is listening and wants to help you. It’s all about trusting….In God we trust!
Start small and work up…you will not be disappointed.
-ps
Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” hit home in unique ways. He can take a passage of Scripture and bring home, home where it hurts…or…home where it moves us.
How many times do we view hardship as a growth process? Paul and the Apostles seem to look forward to hard times…over the course of their ministries they came to conclusion. It’s the kind of lesson that can be only learned by suffering. So here we are two thousands years later and we are still the same frail human beings we have always been. How many of us hit hard time and the first thing we do is look for ‘options’. We pray only after we have exhausted all other means and you no where else to go…turn to God.
The problem is when we finally turn to him we are only “worrying our prayers”…we still keep all of our “options open”. In other words we don’t trust God to come through. I mean he is invisible. He doesn’t always answer prayers the way you would think…he gives us every reason not to trust or believe in him right? But do you see the failure in this line of thought?
Many of us struggle in hard times because we do not have a ‘daily’ relationship…we have never fully lived Christ. Oh on Sunday morning we might get as close as we can get for the week. But for most once the key touches the ignition switch of our car in the church parking lot the relationship ends until next Sunday morning.
Trust God means trusting God…it takes time to build…a lifetime for some. But it means we have to trust God with our lives, families, and our money…with everything. We have forgotten how to trust God in our nations…the giving of our time and money are at all times lows, and the same time we deeply desire a walk with God. So many people are without hope…without forgiveness….
So are you serious about your relationship….are you willing to start living the gospel, to start trusting in God. It’s starts with the small things…spending time with God in the morning…praying and reading your bible. It starts by taking your concerns to God and knowing he is listening and wants to help you. It’s all about trusting….In God we trust!
Start small and work up…you will not be disappointed.
-ps
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Dad is here…
Today I drove to San Francisco International Airport and picked up my father, who flew in from Atlanta. He is staying with us for the next three weeks. It’s good to have him here. I have never shared this on the blog…but the early part of my life, my father and I didn’t get along. In fact there was an eight year period in which we didn’t talk. But later in life through Christ we where able in mend our hearts and build a relationship.
It’s amazing how ‘forgiveness’ is so powerful in our lives. It starts with Christ…we forgive because Christ forgives us. The power of forgiveness is underestimated in our culture…the need to forgive and the need for forgiveness. For many years I carried the burden of ‘hating’ my father. I blamed him for all that had gone wrong in my life, later in life I stood face to face with him and he asked me to forgive him for what he had done.
I remember at first being shocked, and the same time relieved. It was a freeing experience that opened the door to a deeper relationship with God and my father. People ask me where are the ‘miracles’ pastor…how about the miracles of healing relationships, mending broken hearts and taking the burden of carrying the ‘unforgiving’.
I hope, if you’re reading this and God has tugged at your heart about someone you haven’t forgiven…that you would ask the Lord to help you forgive that person. No matter who the person is or what they have done…God can help you forgive. I’m speaking from experience; I have had to forgive some people in my life, whom many would consider ‘unforgivable’. But how am I the ‘chief’ of sinner, whom God forgave of all my sin…how can I not forgive those who have wronged me.
-ps
It’s amazing how ‘forgiveness’ is so powerful in our lives. It starts with Christ…we forgive because Christ forgives us. The power of forgiveness is underestimated in our culture…the need to forgive and the need for forgiveness. For many years I carried the burden of ‘hating’ my father. I blamed him for all that had gone wrong in my life, later in life I stood face to face with him and he asked me to forgive him for what he had done.
I remember at first being shocked, and the same time relieved. It was a freeing experience that opened the door to a deeper relationship with God and my father. People ask me where are the ‘miracles’ pastor…how about the miracles of healing relationships, mending broken hearts and taking the burden of carrying the ‘unforgiving’.
I hope, if you’re reading this and God has tugged at your heart about someone you haven’t forgiven…that you would ask the Lord to help you forgive that person. No matter who the person is or what they have done…God can help you forgive. I’m speaking from experience; I have had to forgive some people in my life, whom many would consider ‘unforgivable’. But how am I the ‘chief’ of sinner, whom God forgave of all my sin…how can I not forgive those who have wronged me.
-ps
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
So what’s been going on…
Let’s see…we started family night on Wednesday nights. We provide a meal and a Bible study for everyone….K-Living. I love it! Tonight we had 22 people show up for the very best ‘Spaghetti alla Bolognese’ I have ever had. The sauce of was made by Doris aka “Na-na”, mother of PJ and mother-in-law of Don. We followed-up the meal with a bible study class and prayer. Overall I would judge the last weeks as very exciting and I can’t wait to see how God plays this out.
What else, school, football…I am in a Biblical ethics class and it’s been very interesting I will have to share some of what I have learned as soon as I can digest it. It’s like ‘drive by learning’. Last week we had over three hundred pages to read and write on.
Football has been fun…I haven’t coached in years and I get to spend two days a week coaching my son. Who by the way is turned in a real ‘force’ to be dealt with. I love his attitude most of all he plays where you ask him and he gives 100%...and lights people up! I have to say I have enjoyed this year watching more than ever.
Saturday morning I meet with my accountability ‘team’. I have learned to love these two men in way I have only started to understand. I say that because God has brought us together and we are bonded together by a common desire to know Christ deeper and to share that love with others. We all want the same thing and we are helping each other to accomplish that end. I have become so dependant, I need them in my life. I thank God for them…
Sunday morning I meet with the Deacons and the men in training, five of us right now. This group too has started to steal my heart…I have watched them grow spiritually and I have enjoyed watching them serve. All of this has been very humbling…I can see working all around me and I have to wonder why at times….I am so undeserving to have any part…yet that is what God does for all of us…we all don’t deserve his love or grace…and yet ‘while I was a sinner, Christ died for me’…It is too much for me to understand!
I love you Lord!
-ps
What else, school, football…I am in a Biblical ethics class and it’s been very interesting I will have to share some of what I have learned as soon as I can digest it. It’s like ‘drive by learning’. Last week we had over three hundred pages to read and write on.
Football has been fun…I haven’t coached in years and I get to spend two days a week coaching my son. Who by the way is turned in a real ‘force’ to be dealt with. I love his attitude most of all he plays where you ask him and he gives 100%...and lights people up! I have to say I have enjoyed this year watching more than ever.
Saturday morning I meet with my accountability ‘team’. I have learned to love these two men in way I have only started to understand. I say that because God has brought us together and we are bonded together by a common desire to know Christ deeper and to share that love with others. We all want the same thing and we are helping each other to accomplish that end. I have become so dependant, I need them in my life. I thank God for them…
Sunday morning I meet with the Deacons and the men in training, five of us right now. This group too has started to steal my heart…I have watched them grow spiritually and I have enjoyed watching them serve. All of this has been very humbling…I can see working all around me and I have to wonder why at times….I am so undeserving to have any part…yet that is what God does for all of us…we all don’t deserve his love or grace…and yet ‘while I was a sinner, Christ died for me’…It is too much for me to understand!
I love you Lord!
-ps
Monday, September 24, 2007
Book Review: The Character of Leadership
Let me say one thing to start things off...WOW!
I was getting ready to preach Sunday morning and my mentor Pastor Neely pressed this book into my hands and said, 'it's a must read'. He has never said that to me before and so I couldn't wait to get home and explore this "must read". I started reading and couldn't stop, until my body shut down...and I woke up this morning and finished it. It is only the second book I can remember in which this happened.
First let me say as a Pastor this is a 'must read'...he speaks clearly and from the heart. This is something I really appreciated…so many leadership books speak downward and I felt this was from the gut level, he was speaking from experience. Also in each chapter he gave particle advice that can be applied…it wasn’t something abstract or a twenty step process…, but reasonable attainable goals and exercises.
Secondly, this would be a good book for a pastor to go through with his leadership teams, deacons…anyone he is developing for future leadership positions. It gave a good picture of what is expected for all church leaders. It also helps those supporting pastors to better understand the pastor position and expectations (realized or not realized) demanded by the nature of the position.
It is an easy read, excellent....I want to recommend this book for several people…Dave, Bob….Cammille, Mike, Don, Dwight and John to name a few.
-ps
First let me say as a Pastor this is a 'must read'...he speaks clearly and from the heart. This is something I really appreciated…so many leadership books speak downward and I felt this was from the gut level, he was speaking from experience. Also in each chapter he gave particle advice that can be applied…it wasn’t something abstract or a twenty step process…, but reasonable attainable goals and exercises.
Secondly, this would be a good book for a pastor to go through with his leadership teams, deacons…anyone he is developing for future leadership positions. It gave a good picture of what is expected for all church leaders. It also helps those supporting pastors to better understand the pastor position and expectations (realized or not realized) demanded by the nature of the position.
It is an easy read, excellent....I want to recommend this book for several people…Dave, Bob….Cammille, Mike, Don, Dwight and John to name a few.
-ps
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Things have been busy..
Ok…I promise to post more this week. I was sick last week and got behind ‘stuff’…I also had finials due this last week…which are done. So all the excuses out of the way…
This morning we had about 60 in attendance and the message was about being thankful. I have been preaching out of Colossians…Col. 3:12-17…the last verse being
“and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
What I love about chapter 3, it builds to this point…you see in verse 1-3 our eyes are to be one Christ…our hearts and minds are to be set on things above. We have been raised with Christ (v.1), you have a new life, and you are a ‘new creation’…you get a new start with Christ…so set your eyes above.
“Put to death” v.5…notice it doesn’t say wound it and let live in your life, cowering in the corner…have no mercy on ‘sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed”…but you can only kill these if your heart and minds…your eyes are on Christ. He is the one who enables you to destroy these sins….
After these…’rid yourself’ of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language…do lie to each other….Paul is working down a list…it starts with Christ…look up…then look in to get rid of those things that keep you from looking up…
Now he is working on the relationships within the church…God representation on earth….’Christ is all, and is in all’ v.11
We are God’s chosen people…holy (set apart, for the glory of God) and dearly loved by the Lord v.12…we are to make every effort (clothe yourself) with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…with in the church (which should naturally carry outside the church)…but we have to work on these very things so we can “bear with one another…and forgive one another v.13. Have you every had to serve with some tough people in church…people in church can and will hurt you…but we have to forgive…because Christ forgave us. We cannot serve God and have hatred in our hearts…the two cannot co-exist with one another…you have to choose which one you want to keep…
But most of all you have put on ‘love’….without love the above will not work…love binds us and unites us…we love because Christ first loved us…and we are to love others…especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“let the peace of Christ rule in your heart" v.15…we all seek peace and only Christ can give us peace that surpasses all understanding…only Christ can take away our fears….but we have to submit…or allow him to rule in our lives…it’s like submitting to a umpire at a baseball game…the players submit to the umpires authority…he says who is safe and who is out…but the players have to agree to his authority…look what happens when we do submit…
We have peace and we can be ‘thankful’…then we can accept the word and the teaching of Christ and they will fill your life…your relationship with other believers starts to grow where you can spur one another on…you can teach and admonish one another…singing hymns and psalms will take on a new life…your hearts will be glad…filled with ‘gratitude’ v.16…
Finally you reach “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
So if you read through this and now I have to ask you question…what are you thankful for, is Christ in your life and are you truly thankful….are you thankful for your church family…right now pray a prayer of thanks giving…
Be thankful…
-ps
This morning we had about 60 in attendance and the message was about being thankful. I have been preaching out of Colossians…Col. 3:12-17…the last verse being
“and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
What I love about chapter 3, it builds to this point…you see in verse 1-3 our eyes are to be one Christ…our hearts and minds are to be set on things above. We have been raised with Christ (v.1), you have a new life, and you are a ‘new creation’…you get a new start with Christ…so set your eyes above.
“Put to death” v.5…notice it doesn’t say wound it and let live in your life, cowering in the corner…have no mercy on ‘sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed”…but you can only kill these if your heart and minds…your eyes are on Christ. He is the one who enables you to destroy these sins….
After these…’rid yourself’ of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language…do lie to each other….Paul is working down a list…it starts with Christ…look up…then look in to get rid of those things that keep you from looking up…
Now he is working on the relationships within the church…God representation on earth….’Christ is all, and is in all’ v.11
We are God’s chosen people…holy (set apart, for the glory of God) and dearly loved by the Lord v.12…we are to make every effort (clothe yourself) with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…with in the church (which should naturally carry outside the church)…but we have to work on these very things so we can “bear with one another…and forgive one another v.13. Have you every had to serve with some tough people in church…people in church can and will hurt you…but we have to forgive…because Christ forgave us. We cannot serve God and have hatred in our hearts…the two cannot co-exist with one another…you have to choose which one you want to keep…
But most of all you have put on ‘love’….without love the above will not work…love binds us and unites us…we love because Christ first loved us…and we are to love others…especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“let the peace of Christ rule in your heart" v.15…we all seek peace and only Christ can give us peace that surpasses all understanding…only Christ can take away our fears….but we have to submit…or allow him to rule in our lives…it’s like submitting to a umpire at a baseball game…the players submit to the umpires authority…he says who is safe and who is out…but the players have to agree to his authority…look what happens when we do submit…
We have peace and we can be ‘thankful’…then we can accept the word and the teaching of Christ and they will fill your life…your relationship with other believers starts to grow where you can spur one another on…you can teach and admonish one another…singing hymns and psalms will take on a new life…your hearts will be glad…filled with ‘gratitude’ v.16…
Finally you reach “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
So if you read through this and now I have to ask you question…what are you thankful for, is Christ in your life and are you truly thankful….are you thankful for your church family…right now pray a prayer of thanks giving…
Be thankful…
-ps
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Sick and the big thought....
I have been sick now for about three days now…I have not enjoyed it at all. But I have started reading another book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines, Understanding How God Changes Lives” By Dallas Willard.
I had heard about this book originally written in 1988. The people I have talked to said this book changed their lives, so I thought I’d read it. I am on page 38 and this big thought has started to emerge. The cross…did you know the symbol of the cross wasn’t really used until much later in church history. Here is the idea…The cross wasn’t the central theme of the early church…today we focus on the cross because it represents the forgiveness of sins…which of course is important...(the cross became a symbol of choice when the church because responsible for dispersing forgiveness in the middle ages) But was the cross the focus of Christ life or was the resurrection. Was the early church focused on forgiveness and that was it or did they live a changed life, based on the thought of this new life in Christ? Where they fearless because of the forgiveness of their sins or because they knew they would rise again?
See here is where I am really starting to struggle…I read verses like ‘you are dead to sin’, “I come that you might have life more abundant”…I am a new creation the old is gone the new has come….and I think what am I missing? Have I set my sights too low…why do I still struggle with sin like I do…where is the new life Paul talks about.
I know I have talked this way before and I really want to understand and to know Christ more than anything. I read Paul’s writing and I think ‘no way’…but is that because I have taught this is something we will attain later. See I am beginning to think we sell our faith short.
Listen Christ lives in us “Even when we were dead through our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ, Ephesians 2:5. Did Christ intent for us to just live our faith for a few hours on Sunday morning and maybe Wednesday night…did he intent for us to live in defeat all week spiritually…or did he intend for us to live in victory, a changed person…a light…Christ in us…transformed by the resurrection. We died to the old ways and we walk in the newness of life!
I don’t know about you but I want to experience the life Christ talked about, the life he lived! The life the disciples lived…how do I get there, I’m not sure…But Scripture talks about a new life…being clothed in Christ…over and over we see this picture of new life.
All of this begs the question…should we live focused on the cross where we received forgiveness of sin…and leave it at that? Or should the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection spur us to be changed…to live our lives differently…to put our faith into action? I’ll keep reading…Dallas has my attention….
-ps
Monday, September 3, 2007
Book Review: 3 Seconds by Les Parrott
One of the very cool things that has happen to me since I started blogging is Zondervan has ask me to be a book reviewer. So they send me a book and I get the pleasure of reviewing it. Problem is I have so much to read with school and church.
The first book I am going to review is "3 Seconds" it's about giving your first impulses a second thought, before all your negitive thougts take over. At first glance of this book you really don't see anything new, but Dr. Parrot has packaged this little book with lots of motivation. Many times we sit on things or dismiss ideas out of hand...in 3 seconds he is saying wait and think again. In the first chapter he tackles our initial impulse to: Give up before trying....because we feel helpless, Shun a challenge....because it seems daunting....etc. There are loads of good quotes tucked along the pages with a self assessment at the end of each chapter. This book would be good to go through with a mentor or a friend.
So if your looking for a book that is an easy read, its clear with motivating illustrations....this is a good book for you. Maybe your stuck in life or your job and your looking for something to kick start your 'motivation' again this book is for you.
-ps
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