![[Facebook]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/facebook.png)
![[Twitter]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/twitter.png)
![[YouTube]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/youtube.png)
![[Amazing Life Church Home]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/church.png)
![[Mail]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/mail.png)
Tag: Hope
The Gift of God
The Gift of God
I have been wanting to do a post for a while on what seems to be a fixation on sin in much of the church.
I am aware that the religious community will not like this but I do pray that you read the entire post. I am not the type to judge and condemn others for their beliefs. I am, however the type that will passionately address what I believe is wrong.
Let me say unquestionably, that what the Bible says is sin, is sin. I didn’t write it, and I do not have the right to alter it. With that said, and this is probably for another post. I along with all of you have a responsibility to study, and pray, for understanding. As the Apostle Paul taught us our covenant has a spiritual concept, and must be understood with spiritual discernment.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
With all this said, Here I go!!
It seems to me that there is only one sin that the church world is concerned with. I have read many posts regarding homosexuality. All kinds of amazing topics that grab attention.
5 Reasons why the church must publicly denounce it, or you will be labeled as approving it. Does that mean if I don’t call out liars that I approve of their lies. Revelation 21:8 says all liars will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
What about people steeped in selfish pride and arrogance.
What about the seven abominations found in Proverbs. By the way, none are sexually related.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
If I don’t cry out against these, naming them, and publicly berating those involved. Does that mean I approve of it, or condone it.
The church uses homosexuality as the sole reason for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Take a look at this.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
50 Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it.
The word abominations comes from the Hebrew word, Tow’ebah, strongs #8441. It means, (a disgusting thing. In a ritual sense it means, unclean food idols, and mixed marriages. In a ethical sense it means, wickedness.)
However, if you read the book of Jasher you will find that every sort of sexual sin there is, was being committed in these cities. Along with many other despicable acts of rebellion and disobedience.
It seems to me, God speaking through the prophet, was concerned about the poor and the needy. INTERESTING ISN’T IT?
Jesus put an emphasis on unbelief when He commissioned the disciples to tell His story.
Matthew 10:13-15
13 If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
14 Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
15 Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Verse 15 Amplified
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].
Please understand, this is not an effort to condone or minimize anything. I am simply saying that there are many things that people are dealing with. Many of which affect the condition of the church and it’s message to the world.
I believe in being fair. If I started naming sins from the pulpit, I would have no time to share the story of Jesus, (The Gospel Message). Most people have something they are dealing with. Is one more dangerous than the other?
When did we as a church stop believing in the redemptive power of the Gospel. The message of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. When did the church stop trusting that message to change the lives of the hearers?
We as a church need to listen to the voices crying out in the world.
The people who are in desperate situations. Sexual addictions, drug addictions. Those in poverty and horrible living conditions. People being abused every day with no hope of having a normal life.
Do we in the church really believe that these folks don’t know their condition?
They need to hear a message of hope. Something that will build within them the faith to change their circumstance. Something that they can believe in. A friend that will walk with them every step as they transition from their past and become a follower of Christ.
They need to hear that someone loves them, not hates them.
Yes we hate sin, and the destruction that it causes in peoples lives and families. That is why the Apostle Peter wrote this.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I could go on for hours but I won’t. I will close with some words from an old Hymn. Words I have shared many times.
“Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word; Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.”
Be blessed and let me know what you think.
#lovewins #hopelives
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
Greater Love, The More Excellent Way
This is one of those days when all I could think about was the awesome love of God. His love was manifested throughout the Bible, but never more significantly than these words from our Lord.
John 15:12-13
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Verse 12 presents a problem from time to time.
“Don’t sit there with your smug religious attitude. Thinking that you haven’t had a problem loving someone in the way Christ loves you.” LOL
I say this with a humorous tone. I would suspect that all of us humans have met someone in our life that presented us with a challenge. The challenge being, how will I love this person, like Christ loved me.
Just so you know, God most likely puts these people in our lives from time to time, to teach us. He is teaching us to look beyond personalities and see people like He sees them.
Teaching us to forgive, as He forgives. “Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
In verse 13 our Lord really raised the bar. He loved us so much that He gave His life for us.
Love was never meant to be used as a tool to hurt and confuse people. I hear those 5 famous words, taken out of context all the time. People will say they have the right to condemn others because they are, “speaking the truth in love.”
This approach has turned more people away from Christ, than it has ever brought to Him.
Jesus also said this.
John 3:16-17
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Note. God sent His Son because He loved. The Son didn’t come to judge, He came to save. Why?
BECAUSE HE LOVED.
I have a passion for this. With all my heart I believe that when you reveal God’s love to a sinner it becomes a seed in their heart. It will grow as it is watered, and will reach a season where this soul can be harvested.
It is so much easier to embrace someone that loves you.
This is why 8000 souls came to Christ in the 1st few chapters of Acts.
Peter preached the story of Jesus. The sin He recognized was simply unbelief. All sin stems from that same principle today. People don’t believe that God loves them, because many times the message is one of judgment and condemnation.
It is not God’s anger, but His goodness, that leads men to repentance.
The Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church chapter 12 had some great instruction for the church. He taught on spiritual gifts and the function of the body of Christ. Ending with the function of ministry and spiritual gifts as well.
Then He made this statement.
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
That excellent is found in its’ entirety in Chapter 13. I will close with the first and last verse. Read the whole chapter when you get a chance.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Be blessed as you follow Christ and remember this.
#lovewins and #hopelives
Seasoned For Your Purpose
Seasoned For Your Purpose
God is a good God. It is His goodness that leads people to repentance. His goodness moves us to walk in His purpose for our lives.
Knowing that His love is everlasting and unconditional. This kind of assurance should propel us forward into a close, and even closer relationship with Him.
I love the Lord, and I love the church. This one, and everyone, that exists to further the Gospel and declare the wonders of God.
It is His story that drives me, not mine. I am not called to promote myself. I am called to shine His light.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Seasoned For Your Purpose”
Mark 9:38-42 NASB
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
40 For he who is not against us is for us.
41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
I think what stands out to me in these passages, is the Lord’s complete confidence in those who believe in Him.
Even declaring how important these little, unknown servants are, and the harsh rebuke those who offended them would receive.
In the next few verses, Mark 43-48 there comes a stern warning. I will summarize.
If you hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to stumble, pull it out. Better to enter into the Kingdom of God with one hand, or one foot, or one eye. Than to have both, and enter into hell.
Pretty tough. What is He really saying?
I believe that Jesus is emphasizing the importance of three things that occur in our lives, most everyday.
What we touch, where we go, and what we see.
When God gave instruction to Adam and Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He said this. In Genesis 3:3. “You shall not eat from it, or touch it, or you will die.”
He threw them out of the Garden. Commanded them to work the ground from which they came.
What you touch matters. Today it has a much broader meaning.
The Lord told Joshua this.
Joshua 1:3 NASB
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
Where you walk is your inheritance. Where you go matters.
Psalms 26:12 NASB
My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I shall bless the Lord.
Psalms 94:18 NASB
If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up.
Where your feet take you matters!!
It matters what you see. Jesus said this.
Matthew 6:22-23 NASB
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
What you touch,where you walk, and what you see.
I want to go back to Mark 9 and read the last two verses. The Lord shared these warnings for our good. Following these principles will strengthen our faith and our relationship with Him. Christ ended the chapter this way.
Mark 9:49-50 NASB
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.
50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
When we go through trials we are being salted in preservation. Not only for our lives. We are called to share this process with everyone.
When we follow Christ we begin a process. Our lives, thoughts, and actions are being refined. Changed, if you will to align with the will and purpose of God.
That process must also be the catalyst that makes us the light of the world. Sharing our story. The things we have conquered. The things that have preserved us for the Kingdom.
Don’t minimize your story. It will be the salt that changes another.
Our success generates success in others. That is the process of being salted.
Matthew 5:13 NASB
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Colossians 4:6 NASB
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
“What we touch, where we go, what we see, salts our world with the love and grace of God.”
We are seasoned for purpose.
What about your purpose?
#lovewins #hopelives
You Have To Be Kidding
You Have to be Kidding
Yesterday I posted a blog with some short thoughts on the condition of the church, and the message it shares. Of course I was speaking broadly, as I indicated in the post.
You will find no greater advocate for the church than me. Betty and I have fought for more than 14 years for the right of all people to find safety and love in the church. For some unknown reason to me, some people define the love of God for all people as flesh pleasing. Avoiding the truth of their sin filled lives.
There is nothing further from the truth. At Amazing Life Church we have seen many over the years come to Christ and be baptized, all because they were shown God’s love. They turned to Christ because they heard His story. The only thing that can redeem them is to believe in Christ as their Savior.
I hate sin. The problem in many churches is there is only one or two sins preached. Heaven forbid you teach Proverbs six, or the rejection of Christ by the wealthy young ruler. The story of how we put things before Him. Jealousy, pride, or failure to forgive.
Who are you worried about offending when you will not acknowledge these sins?
There is not a person, in my belief, that does not see their sin,when in the church, you create an atmosphere of love and praise.
When this happens you allow God, and the Holy Spirit to do their job. (When He comes, He will convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.)
I have to say that I love it when religion is angered. It confirms the word from the Lord and its relevance to us today.
Some may take from my earlier post that I am criticizing the church. Once again, nothing is further from the truth. I call it like it is. I am a Pastor, not someone who just shows up. I Pastor a church, not just a group of people.
I love the church, and it is nothing more than arrogant hypocrisy to tell the world it needs to repent. All the while refusing to look at ourselves as members of His body, and acknowledge our faults and failures. Then repent ourselves.
In Romans 2 Paul was rebuking the church for passing judgment on others. Then He said this.
Romans 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? The Kindness of God!!!
Five different verses in Revelation show Jesus calling on His churches to repent.
The church at Ephesus, Revelation 2:5. The church at Pergamum, Revelation 2:16. The church at Thyatira, Revelation 2:21. The church at Sardis, Revelation 3:3.
I love the fifth one, it is the church at Laodicea.
Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
You see, I love the church, and when you find me challenging the church and its message, two things are going on.
First, I look at myself and the work we are building. Have I, or others within our church wandered off course. Is there something we need to improve. Something requiring repentance.
Secondly, because I love the church I will point out what I believe to be the danger that occurs when the church rejects the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
From the Greek, the word Gospel is defined as good news. Vines dictionary further defines the Gospel as the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
It is not Jesus plus, it is just Jesus.
Hope this clears things up for some of you who were confused.
As Paul said, let me show you a more excellent way.
I pray you are blessed and empowered by His love.
#lovewins #hopelives
Grace has Appeared
Grace has Appeared
There is an old Hymn that came to my mind as I embraced this word that God has given me for today.
There’s a name above all others,Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer. It’s the lovely name of Jesus,
Evermore the same, what a lovely name.
Chorus
What a lovely name, the name of Jesus. Reaching higher far, than the brightest star. Sweeter than the songs they sing in heaven. Let the world proclaim, what a lovely name.
There is no name more relevant for the times we live. For the season we are in. For the difficulties we face. The tragedies we endure. The joy we experience. The love that has embraced us. The blood that has cleansed us, and continues to cleanse all who follow Him.
What an awesome name, the name of Jesus.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Grace has Appeared” (little history before I get started)
Titus, or Saint Titus as he is known today was a Greek convert of Paul, and a recipient of one of three Paul’s Pastoral Epistles. He was installed as the first Bishop of the island of Crete by Paul. This letter to him was one of instruction and encouragement in the ministry.
Something interesting about Titus that followed him to today. He is the Patron Saint of the United States Army Chaplain Corps. The order of Titus award is the only award presented by the chief chaplain to recognize outstanding ministry by chaplains and their associates.
Titus 2:11-15 NASB
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Titus 2:14 Amplified
who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.
From the Apostles, to the Bishops, to the Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, and the prophets. There is no more faithful, and profound word of encouragement, than the story of Jesus.
The heart and soul of our Christian lives, ministries, and purpose, is Jesus and His story. Jesus said this to Thomas, when Thomas questioned how would we know the way.
John 14:6 NASB
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
There is only one door to walk through that leads to redemption, restoration, and eternal life.
That door is Jesus.
Chapter 2 of Titus ended with verse 15 but the exhortation of Paul continued in chapter 3
Titus 3:1-8 NASB
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
Titus 3:8 Amplified
This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people.
The word translated good in this passage has a very broad and inclusive meaning. It comes from the Greek word, kal-os’, and it means, “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, and admirable. Excellent in its nature and characteristics. Genuine and approved.
These passages are not referring to good deeds that earn salvation. “that’s impossible.”
It is referring to doing good deeds because of your salvation.
The church today must define its responsibility to the world. 1st,the world we live. 2nd , to our global community.
Why?
For the grace of God has appeared
#lovewins #hopelives
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s A Wonderful Life
It has been a long road back this week from the sickness I had dealt with. I do appreciate the prayers and well wishes for those who knew. If you didn’t know don’t worry, I didn’t do hour by hour postings on facebook.
When my head began to clear from the medicine I felt pain in my spirit. (still today) So many people feel like they have no value. Their life is insignificant.
When I thought on this it got worse, and I could not hold back tears.
I shared my thoughts with Betty and it brought to her mind one of our favorite Christmas movies. I want to share some thoughts titled, “It’s A Wonderful Life”
Before I really get into my message, I want to share some short stories about some folks in the Bible, that left a small historical footprint in Bible history.
You have probably hear of Jabez. Mentioned briefly in
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NASB
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.”
10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
The guy got in 2 scriptures and people are praying his prayer still today.
Josiah became king at 8 years old.
2 Kings 22:2 NASB
He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.
What about Shamgar?
Judges 3:31 NASB
After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.
There is really only three things we know about the thief on the cross. He was a criminal-He was crucified next to Jesus-When he died he entered paradise with Jesus.
Love this one. Who knows of Elishama? “el-ee-shaw-maw” It means, My God has heard. He was a scribe to the king in the book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36:12 NASB
he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber. And behold, all the officials were sitting there—Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Here is what interested me. In 1986 outside Jerusalem a clay seal was found that read, Elishama, servant of the king.
The passage was written approx 588 BC. The seal was dated to that time period proving that He was a scribe to the king.
My heart has been heavy this week. Burdened for the broken, the scattered, the hopeless. People who have found themselves slammed against a wall, with no way to get around it, and no heart to climb it.
“Used Up”
Paul was defining his Apostolic role in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 NASB
5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
“It’s a valuable treasure”
Your life has meaning. If you could only see the people you have touched. The people you are destined to touch. The used up person that you held the door open for with a smile. They decided to go one more day. “Nothing is insignificant in God’s purpose.”
(We have a treasure to give. It never runs out)
2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NASB
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
“This transformation is a process.”
Philippians 2 Is a great chapter. Read it when you can. I want to share 3 verses.
Philippians 2:8-10 NASB
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
All of this said comes to this.
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
(What a wonderful life awaits you)
#lovewins #hopelives
Living Hope Leadership 2
Living Hope Leadership 2
This is my second blog on leadership principles. Helping identify principles that will help you flourish in a ministry that is founded on the example that Christ gave us.
I will do so by taking up where we left off in the Gospel of John.
John 13:12-17 NASB
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
The message that immediately jumps out at us is service. There was a service that needed rendered and Christ took it upon Himself to do so. He did it as an example, a teaching example of how we must do the same.
I get another lesson from theses passages and the life of Christ.
No matter your calling or level of ministry. Whether you are part of the five fold ministry. “Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist” “or someone with specific gifts and callings in the body if something needs done and you have the means to do it. Then do it.”
Pride or position must not limit your service. He was the Son of God. He is our example of ministry.
His ability to do this came from His acceptance and realization of several things. I will share four for your consideration.
One
All things had been put in His hands.
Everything He would need to succeed was at His disposal. So it is with those whom He calls and anoints to lead. Putting in your heart a service to render to His people is nothing short of a Divine call to do so.
John 3:35 NASB
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
Romans 8:32 NASB
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Two
He understood His true identity.
John 10:38 NASB
but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”
Romans 8:14-15 NASB
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Understanding who you are goes a long way to help you do the things that Christ did. It is never about you. It is always about Him and rendering service to someone in need. That is what every form of ministry is. Meeting a need.
Your calling and your ministry will be a work of grace for the glory of God. Even though we have been given all things we must be willing to impart these things to others. “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Three
He knew He had a destiny.
John 18:4 NASB
So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
You also have a destiny
Psalm 139:13-16 NASB
13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
Has God spent so much thought on us that He would not have a plan for our lives. I will never believe that. He has planned good things for all His children. Some, like you that are here He has destined to serve in even greater measure than we all must serve.
Four
He had a profound security in His Father’s love. Let me read a passage I mentioned earlier again.
John 3:35 NASB
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.
We have also been given this security if we will believe His words.
John 15:9 NASB
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
John 16:27 NASB
for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.
This may sound like beginners class and in some ways it is. We need to understand that things are not always as complicated as people tend to make them seem.
The very foundation of becoming a leader and developing a ministry in service for the kingdom of God is following the example of Christ. What He taught us was not complicated.
If you will understand that He has given you all things to succeed. Know who you are in Christ. Trust in Him to move you forward in the destiny He has planned for you and remain unwavering in the love that He has for you, you will be strong in leadership and ministry.
The more you lay hold of God’s riches, the more you will be capable of serving others.
Mark 9:33-37 NASB
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
I think it is interesting that He asked them what they were talking about and they would not answer. He knew the topic because he knew their hearts so He began to address greatness in His upside down theology.
If you want to be first you have to be last and you have to be servant to all.
Matthew recorded a similar discussion when the mother of the sons of Zebedee asked for her sons to sit in places of honor in His kingdom. Christ taught leadership and ministry in His response.
Matthew 20:26-28 NASB
26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
I want to close these foundational principles with an example of the upside down theology. Where we have to go down to come up and what happens when we faithfully serve as Christ did. Following His example.
Philippians 2:5-11 NASB
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You see when you follow His plan for leadership you will have to give up something now; so you can get something better in the future.
#lovewins #hopelives
Living Hope/Leadership Part 1
Living Hope/Leadership Part 1
I want to start these thoughts by defining three important principles that we must take to heart. They are leadership, ministry, and goals.
Leadership is defined this way; “The action of leading a group of people or an organization. A leader is a person who guides and inspires. WIKI says of leadership, a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others to accomplish a common task.”
Ministry is defined this way; “The act of serving. One that serves. Ministry comes from a Greek word which actually means to serve as a slave.”
Goals are defined this way; “An observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed time frame. A goal is a desired result a person or group of people envisions, plans and commits to achieve within a set time period.”
Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time targeted objectives.
I want to define leadership and ministry from the Biblical perspective. I will begin by sharing two passages from the Gospels that represent our example for leadership and ministry.
Matthew 20:28 NASB
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Mark felt it important to share as well.
Mark 10:45 NASB
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Now grant it the mission of Christ far exceeds anything that we have been called to accomplish. It will at times seem like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders but it is nothing close to what He accomplished by His service to us.
Let me make something clear from the onset. From time to time you may hear me share some aspects of ministry that will sound negative. It is because I want you to understand that there are things you will face that may discourage you or even hurt you. Christ being our example of this.
With that said I want you to know that serving the Lord and His people has been and will continue to be the greatest joy that I have ever experienced. Sharing my life with others has been an amazing journey.
If you dedicate your heart and life to ministry you will find out what I mean.
Let me get back to Biblical ministry. The type of servant leadership that Christ represented was embedded in Biblical tradition from Genesis to Revelation. It was clearly represented in the life of Christ.
Even leadership positions outside of the church recognize the importance of service. The famous NBA coach Pat Riley wrote in his book how easy it was to become selfish in a team environment. He wrote, “It becomes all about me.”
He wrote that you must give up something in the immediate present, to attract something better in the future.
The reality of ministry begins with servant hood to the people that God has already placed in your life. Ministry to God, is service to others.
Remember these passages from the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 25:31-40 NASB
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
You know how it ends for those who did not serve.
He doesn’t ask us to do something that He has not already done. We will look at this ministry concept from the record of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.
Normally at a house like this where a supper was being hosted there would have been a servant to carry out the customs of the times one of which was washing the guests feet. This was done for comfort because the roads traveled were dusty and the common shoe was a sandal.
To the disciples Jesus did the unthinkable when He took on the role of the servant. Just recently some of the disciples had argued who would be the greatest in the kingdom so they were having a huge problem understanding what Jesus was doing. Jesus was and had been trying to teach His followers what we call upside down values. In other words Kingdom living is totally counterintuitive.
“Contrary to what intuition or common sense would indicate.”
Jesus was teaching them and us that, “The way up is down”
You can’t really follow Christ unless you believe that what He calls us to pursue is better than what the world can give.
Ministry or leadership will not succeed until we believe that we are not just called to give up something but to actually gain something much better.
John 13:1-3 NASB
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,
This account begins with Christ acknowledging that His time had come. The Father had put all things under His power. He knew where He came from and where He was going.
Here is a ministry and leadership principle that you must never forget. It is simple in nature yet crucial for your success.
“You must be sure of your calling and you must be sure who you are!!”
Now I want you to play very close attention to the next two verses.
John 13:4-5 NASB
4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.
5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
You need to understand something. Jesus washed the feet of Judas.
Jesus washed the feet of the person that would betray Him to the High Priest.
The kingdom perspective of ministry is to die to your own ambitions and find your life by losing it in the service to others.
Part two coming later. Be blessed as you follow Christ.
#lovewins #hopelives