Sunday Recap 9-30-12

Morning: The sermon, "A Solid Foundation," focused on Luke 6:46-49. Jesus had already been doing amazing things in his ministry. Crowds were flocking to hear him speak. So Jesus concludesd an extended time of teaching by asking a question that is both, profoundly theological and profoundly practical: "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" In other words, Jesus was asking them, "What right do you have to call me Lord?" Jesus then goes on to explain that obedience is the mark of a true disciple.

1. Those who come, hear, and obey. Jesus likens them to a man who builds his house upon solid rock. End result = deliverance. The flood here can be any thing: persecution, tribulation, hardship, or judgment. It could be divine or satanic in nature (see Rev. 12:15-17).

2. Those who come, hear, and go their own way. Jesus likens them to a man who doesn't lay a foundation. End result = ruin

Notice:

Both hear the same message. Both claim allegiance. Both face the flood. However, one takes the message to heart and orders his life around it, and withstands the flood. The other goes on with life on his own terms and suffers ruin.

What do we do with this?

Seek the Lord while he may be found

Obey

build our life upon the Word of Christ

Evening: Movie night.

God Our Helper

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let you foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

 Psalm 121:1-4

The Importance of Work

"In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: 'If anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat'" (2 Thes. 3:10).

Paul is addressing an ongoing struggle within the church at Thessalonica. Some among them had refused to take responsibility and were living off their hardworking neighbors. Paul was encouraging the church to exercise tough love. It is important to help those in need, but we must make sure our help isn't enabling sinful behavior.

Work shouldn't be a nasty word or even a bad concept for Christians. As we work, we are imaging the Creator. God considers work a good thing, and so should we.

Let me make one point clear: not liking your job, may not be the same as not liking to work. You may have a job with a terrible work environment and lousy compensation. Look for a job more suited to your interests and abilities (God's totally okay with that). However, if you don't like to do anything, you have a bigger problem.

Notice Paul says that people who weren't "willing to work." This expression implies that there is a distinction between willingness and ability. There are some people who aren't able to hold a job, but then there are others who are unwilling.

When we work we imitate God. When we make something, we reflect our connection to our Creator. When we organize and categorize, we imitate the God who forms and fills.

Work is good because it keeps us from keeping other people from working. I like to goof off as much as the next person (and sometimes a bit more than the next person). But if I'm not careful, my failure to work, might mean someone else is distracted.

Work helps us provide for our loved ones. We have a responsibility, as believers, to care for our families. Work is a big part of meeting that responsibility.

Work also enables us to help other people. There are those who cannot help themselves, for one reason or another. We can't help them if we don't have some means.

Without work life lacks purpose. We weren't created to do nothing. We were created to do something.

The key is attitude. What sort of jobs to you enjoy? Do you feel content after a hard day's work? Or are you mad that you have to work at all? Paul, under the authority and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says, "No work, no eat!" Do what you can for the glory of God, and rejoice in the opportunity that work gives you.

Thursday Humor: Refrigerators

Brian Regan is pretty funny. Here is a clip on buying a refrigerator.

Names of the Son of God: King of kings and Lord of Lords

Revelation 19:11-16 paints a terrifying, yet encouraging picture of Jesus. We see Jesus as the conquering king in his return. He sits upon his white horse ready to bring just judgment. It this passage, John gives us several names for Jesus, but I just want to focus on the terms King of kings and Lord of lords.

If someone is the King of kings, it means that they are king over a vast domain. The King of kings means that He has leadership over other kings. It demonstrates Christ complete sovereignty over all. I think it also point to our roles as co-heirs with Christ, and the promise that believers will reign with Christ in his kingdom.

As Lord of lords, he is absolutely in control. He is in charge. He is the master above every master. It is to Christ that our first allegiance belongs.

When we worship Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, we worship him as he is. We worship him in his sovereignty.

The Seasons of Faith

The cool somber gray of autumn has started to descend. The damp morning air clings to body and soul. Once proud leaves droop as greens fade to orange, yellow, red, and eventually, brown. The gentle breeze no longer offers its sweet relief, but sterner warnings of winter's coming. Things are changing, always changing.

Life, like the world it lives in, is always changing. Seasons come and seasons go. The seasons are life are no different. Some have equated the developmental stages of life to seasons: birth (spring), youth (summer), middle age (autumn), old age and death (winter). Yet even in those stages of life we go through cycles of seasons.

In my experience, spiritual life has its cycles of seasons. It's rare to move to the renewal of spring without going through the "death" of winter. Think of it this way: when we come to faith in Christ we are in the "spring" of our faith. Life is new and eager, yet not fully matured. With the passing of time and testing of the individual, they blossom into the maturity. In the summer of faith, life grows and matures. The autumn of faith is harvest time. Even as the believer experiences productivity, things begin to slow down. Winter, then, is a time when things cool off.

In this analogy, spiritual winter is not death. Like actual winter, it is more of a time of hibernation. Spiritual passions cool. Growth appears nonexistent. However, life is below the surface awaiting the right moment to ignite renewal.

Maybe you have just come through a particularly difficult spiritual summer. Maybe you feel withered under the hot sun of persecution or tribulation. You have prematurely browned into the autumn of faith. You are tired and uncertain.

What do you do? You endure. This, too, will pass. The seasons of faith are not like the seasons of the year. They don't have regular time periods. They can be cycled through rapidly, like in a time lapse video, or they may stretch out over the course of years.

The Lord renews those who wait upon him. Isaiah said, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isa. 40:31, NIV).

Spiritual Songs: Days of Elijah

This song is kind of like a battle call. I hope it encourages you.

Sunday Recap 9-23-12

Morning: The sermon, "Expressing Gratitude," looked at Philemon 1:4-7. I this passage, Paul teaches us how to let people know that you appreciate them. He calls us to:

1. Express your gratitude to God first.

     Paul expresses two reasons for his gratitude:

     a. their faith in Christ Jesus

     b. their love for all the saints

2. Ask God to build them up. 

This verse is a difficult one to translate. 

The ESV says: "and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ"

The HCSB says: "I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ."

The NLT says: "You are generous because of your faith. And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ"

The KJV says: "that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

James Dunn, a commentator, says Paul is asking that Philemon's shared experience of  a common trust in Christ might become effective in the knowledge of all the good which was their common lot as Christians.

In other words, Paul's hope is that Philemon's faith will continue to deepen even as it widens. He is part of a story larger than himself, and the more he participate in that story, the more he will come to know the main character, Jesus Christ.

3. Tell them how they have impacted you.

Paul says Philemon gave him great joy and encouragement, but not personally. It was due to Philemon's work with other.

Application:

1. Thank God for the people he has put in your life.

2. Pray for them.

3.Let them know about it.

4. Do you have fellowship in the common Christian faith?

Evening: The lesson, "Weary and Worn Out," focused on Proverbs 30:1 (ESV). This passage reminds us that we need to look to the Lord to strengthen us through rest.

I recently read an article by Dr. Zach Eswine concerning being worn out. You can read it here. It has helped to shape this message. Fatigue is more than just feeling tired. It's a tiredness that won't go away, even when you try to rest. We can experience fatigue both physically and mentally. Some symptoms' include:

Irritability, Anger, despair, depression, sleeping too much, insomnia, hasty decisions, poor judgment, and cloudy thinking.

 Maybe you feel like the author. The key is to figure out what is causing the problem, so you can get things balanced again. Some questions to diagnose the cause:

Have you been working a lot lately?

Have you dealt with a lot of emotional stress lately?

Have you done a lot of good that has gone unnoticed?

Have you started something new?

Are you trying to take God's place?

What else is going on in your life

Application:

Rest--nap, sleep,

Exercise

Pray

Talk

Laugh

Fellowship

No Excuses

"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside!' or 'I will be murdered in the streets!'" (Prov. 22:13, NIV).

I find this proverb interesting. The point appears to be that a lazy person always has an excuse. They can always give you an explanation for why they can't get something done, even if when the explanation takes longer to deliver (and dream up) than task would have taken to complete.

It should cause us to think about the ways in which we excuse ourselves. Maybe this sluggard was telling the truth, and  lion did roam the streets. But why doesn't he get his hunting gear and take care of that problem? Maybe his streets are filled with dangerous criminals. But why doesn't he team up with his neighbors and make it a safer place.

Maybe all the excuses we have are true. Maybe we missed our deadline, because we were sick. Or maybe we missed it because the weeks leading up to the deadline were filled with idle play and fruitless business.

I want to get to a place in my life where I no longer need to make excuses. I realize that every plan I make will not come to fruition. But it's better to be active than reactive. It is better to do something and fail, than do nothing. It's time to stop fearing the lions, which may or may not exist, and start fearing the missed opportunities. Life to short for excuses.

Mental Wanderings

Do you ever let you mind wander when you are doing chores? I do. My wanders a lot during some tasks. Today, I was pruning blackberry bushes early this afternoon. As I snipped off dead branches and pulled up weeds, some things occurred to me.

The first thing that occurred to me is that we also go through pruning. The dead branches on a blackberry bush only make it harder to harvest the fruit. If you aren't careful, that deadness can spread. Jesus said, "I am the vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit" (John 15:1-2, HCSB). When we get the dead branches out of our lives, we, most likely, will see an increase in fruitfulness. Dead branches are the people, activities, and private sins we allow to draw us away from God.

Another thing that occurred to me is that the presence of sin in the world means that we will have to work hard and endure pain, if we are to enjoy the fruit of a well lived life. I love blackberries. I have worked to maintain the wild bushes in my yard. I enjoy being able to go out, right behind my house and harvest blackberries in the summer. But I seriously doubt that many have ever harvested a large amount of blackberries without also having to doctor cuts and pick thorns out of their skin. The blackberry, in all its yummy goodness, does not come without some discomfort (even tame blackberries purchased in a store put a thorn in your wallet).

It also occurred to me that crabgrass is a violent, invasive killer.  Its roots grow deep and wide, and entangle themselves in the root systems of more useful plants. As I worked to uproot the crabgrass growing around my blackberry bushes, I couldn't keep from thinking about Jesus' parable about the wheat and the tares. The tares were weeds that an enemy had sown. Jesus warned against pulling them up, for fear it would damage the wheat. They were allowed to grow together until the harvest, and then the tares were gathered into bundles and burned. Some of my careless weeding cost me precious blackberry plants, so I adjusted my strategy. The plants that survive will be stronger in the long run, since they aren't competing with the crabgrass any more. It reminded me that discipline must be practiced wisely, carefully, and with a gentle hand.

What about you, where do your mental wanders take you? What truths are you confronted with? What wisdom is passed on? Let me know about it.

Thursday Humor: A Brother Jogging

Misunderstandings can be funny. Here is a clip from Michael Jr. that captures one of those moments.I hope you enjoy it.

Names of God the Son: Advocate

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2, NIV).

In this passage, John tells his "children" to put off sin. He states he is writing them so that they "will not sin." This expression sets the tone for all that follows. He wants them to understand that the norm is to actively avoid sin. But what about the anxiety that arises in the heart of a believer once they stumble into sin again (and again). John offers the cure.

He tells believers they have someone in their corner. Several translations use the term advocate in this verse. The NIV helps us to understand this particular term by saying "we have one who speaks to the Father on our behalf." Our Advocate speaks on our behalf.

Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. He brings us to the Father through his blood. His blood has put aside God's anger with our sins, and leaves us cleansed in the sight of God. Jesus stands before the Father, forever interceding for us.

We must keep in mind that Jesus is not the gentle Son speaking to a belligerent Father. No, it was the Father's will to save the world through the Son. The Son is the willing sacrifice, to a Father willing to honor his Son's gift. He loves us with an everlasting love.

When we fail in our struggle with sin, we have One who pleads on our behalf. He picks us up, cleans us off, and puts us back to work-all with the Father's blessing. So the next time you lose the battle against sin, remember that you have an advocate.

Loving Jesus

How does Jesus define love?

"If anyone loves Me he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. The one who doesn't love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me" (John 14:23-24, HCSB).

It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing love a warm, fuzzy feelings. But love is more than that. Love is accepting a person for who they are. It's about meeting them on their terms. If I approach someone with from the standpoint of self-interest (what they can do for me), I'm not loving them. I may be attracted to them. I may feel pity for them.  I may be genuinely concerned for them, but none of those things in love.

Jesus says, "Here I am. Love me." And we are to love him more than anything else. Why? Because he created us, and by his grace, he redeemed us. He is worthy of our utmost love. All of our life and desires should be prioritized beneath the Lord.

Yet, I find myself failing to keep his word, time and again. I struggle with some of the most basic things. I cling to him in faith. I am confident that his love is greater than mine, and greater than I can imagine. I try to remind myself of it often, not so I can do as I please, but so that I will be more apt to do as the Lord pleases.

How do we love Jesus? By trusting his promises, and pursing his will. May God bless you and keep you.

Spiritual Songs: Faith to be Strong

Some days it just feels like we're fighting an uphill battle. Here is a song that I hope will encourage you. It is "Faith to be Strong," by Andrew Peterson. I hope it lifts your spirits.

Sunday Recap 9-16-12

Morning: The sermon, "Who You Are in Christ," focused on 1 Peter 2:9-10. In this passage, Peter reminds us that in Christ we are God's special possession. Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who were enduring hardship because of their faith. He wanted to remind them that destruction awaits those who reject the grace of God, but something better awaited them. If you are in Christ, the following is true of you.

1. You are part of a chosen people. The doctrine of election freaks people out. Usually, they either want to talk about it all the time or ignore it. The idea Peter is trying to convey is that God willing selected his people. It isn't an accident you were saved. God loved you, pursued you, and won you.

2. You are part of a royal priesthood. It isn't a mere priesthood. No it's royal. A kingdom. We are princes/princesses in the kingdom of God set to judge the angels (1 cor. 6:3) and reign with Jesus (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:20-21).

3. You are part of a holy nation. You are part of a unique group made up of diverse ethnicities. It has been set apart to God.

4. You are part of a people belonging to God. We are his prized possession. The apple of his eye.

5. You are part of God's people. Once foreigners, now children.

6. You are loved.

The express purpose of all this is that we might make known the glories of God's grace, because he has called us out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.

What do we do with this?

Embrace the Savior.

Get rid of everything that dishonors Christ.

Crave the milk of the Word.

Speak his praises.

Evening: The lesson, "Who do You Love?", focused on John 12:42-43. John reminds us that we should love praise from God, more than praise from men. Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, and enjoyed a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Multitudes were waiting to see the unveiling of his kingdom. However, the climate was ripe with hostility. The Jews were threatening to put anyone who said that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. Individuals would have to decide to join with Jesus and risk something, or go with the crowd and lose Jesus.

Why would people choose the praise of men over the praise of God? Here are some generalizations:

Praise of men                                      Praise of God

it's visible                                            it's usually invisible

it's immediate (nearly)                        it usually requires waiting

it feels good                                        it may hurt

It satisfies a human drive                   it goes against a human drive

it has a low upfront cost                     it often cost greatly up front

Problems with Loving the Praise of Men

1. The trouble with perceptions. Human beings aren't the best at measuring value.

2. Failure to understand motivation. We don't always understand why we do what we do.

Developing a taste for the Praise of God.

Focus on the cross

Put others first

Pray

Read Scripture

Count your blessings

Joy in Harmony

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony" (Ps. 133:1).

I was reminded of this verse today. I went to the first anniversary celebration of our local Hispanic Baptist Church, Luz y Vida. Although I don't speak much Spanish, I had wonderful time. The music was lively and festive and the food was wonderful. What struck me the most, was the fellowship. The members of Luz y Vida went out of their way to make us (my family and I) feel welcome, and to feel like we were a part of the celebration. I was amazed as this small congregation demonstrated great hospitality to its numerous guests.

Other Hispanic churches traveled from different places, some over an hour away. They wanted to celebrate this momentous occasion with the brothers and sisters at Luz y Vida. As I sat listening to the music, the prayers, and the preaching, I tried to piece together a picture from the words I understand. I don't speak Spanish. I have had nearly 15 years to learn it, but I haven't. It's fear I guess. I'm always afraid I am going to say something wrong, and people will laugh at me.

As I tried to understand the things going on around me, an image formed in my mind. I saw a great multitude gathered around the throne of God singing his praises. From somewhere in the midst of that multitude, I began to realize I didn't understand the words my neighbor's were singing, but I was singing along with them. I could feel the heart of their worship, and it resonated with my heart too. Maybe we'll all speak the same language in heaven. Delia thinks it will be Spanish. But maybe we will speak our different languages, yet understand each other in our own.

My heart if full as I think about joy and rejoicing I participated in today. David was right, it is pleasant when brothers dwell together in harmony. If you missed Luz y Vida's celebration this year, fear not. Lord willing you can make it next year. Pray that God will continue to bless their labors.

A Brief Look at the Gospel

Pastor and theologian, Mark Dever, offers a brief introduction the gospel in less than 2 minutes. It is worth listening to. I plan on discussing the gospel in greater detail sometime in the near future. But for now here is a good introduction.

Get up! Get Right!

"The Lord then said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why are you on the ground? Israel has sinned. They have violated My covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart.  They have stolen, deceived, and put the things with their own belongings. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from you what is set apart" (Josh. 7:10-12, HCSB).

The natural human response to tragedy is to blame God. After the amazing victory at Jericho, Joshua should have deduced a problem when his men lost against the small village, Ai. Yet, Joshua blamed God. In essence, he said, "Why have you brought us here just to let us be defeated?"

Before I go any farther, I think I should make a few things clear. Every tragedy is a result of sin. However, that does not mean that every person who goes through tragedy is the cause of their own difficulty. Difficulty is not always (not even usually) the result of personal sin. But difficulty happens because of sin. Adam sinned and brought the human race into a fallen state. His sin impacted all of the created order, so that now creation groans for the appearing of Christ. All human beings, except Jesus, have been born with a sin nature. God is not the author of sin.

The sin of others affects us. Sometimes, difficulty is the result of someone's sin against us. For example, let's say I am driving down the road, in my lane, at the legal speed. All of the sudden, a drunk driver speeds through a red light and smashes into my car. Let's say that the experience paralyzes me. Should I assume that I did something wrong? Would the God who punished my sins in Christ, punish me in this way? I doubt it. The story of Job teaches us that not all who suffer are suffering because they have displeased God. Job pleased God very much. God permitted Job to suffer so that the world would know how pleased he was with Job.

Now back to our example. I'm in a wheel chair do to the sin of another (and not my own sin). Let's say the drunk driver is put in jail. Is he being punished for his sin? Yes, of course he is, but that doesn't mean he is beyond the reach of grace. However, that is a post for another day. What I want to point out is that just because one person suffers as a consequence of  their sin that doesn't mean everyone who suffers is personally responsible.

Back to Joshua and Israel. Instead of accusing God, Joshua should have been asking why the defeat happened. Maybe he should have began by asking if he did something that cost his men, but considering his close relationship to the Lord, Joshua would have known if he was the problem. He would have immediately asked for forgiveness. He should have said, "God, what went wrong?"

Two more things should be pointed out. First, the sin of one Israelite had an affect on all the other Israelites. God's people were held accountable for the sin of one of their own. Second, God was more concerned with the sin of his people than of the nations. The nations that dwelt in Canaan were all under the judgment of God. Their sin had reached its full measure, but God permitted the Amorites to have victory over Israel because of Israel's sin.

What's the point? Judgment begins at the house of God. Those who know God are held to a higher standard. To whom much is given, much is required. Israel floundered in its forward advance because their was sin in the camp. Maybe the church is floundering today because there is sin in the camp. We don't practice church discipline much any more.

God is still holy. He still demands holiness of his people. The author of Hebrews tells us that without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). We are called to live righteous lives. The church is called to maintain righteousness within the body. The enemies of Christ appear to be gain victory over the church in several places. It's tempting to believe that it is because the enemies possess greater power. Maybe it's because of the weakness of the Church. The Lord's solution for Joshua is our solution as well, "Get up! And get right!"

Names of the Son of God: Immanuel

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'--which means, 'God with us'" (Matt. 1:22-23, NIV).

What does it mean to be "with" someone? Even today we use the term with to express different things. There is a sense in which it express to be in the presence of it. It also means that to show support. Matthew wanted his readers to know that Jesus was "God with us."

To get a better picture of what God meant by saying the virgin's child would be called Immanuel, we have to understand the context from which the promise originated. Isaiah's prophecy comes out of the greater redemption story that is woven into the fabric of the Bible.

The hope of God with us started with broken fellowship. Adam and Eve were created to be image bearers for the glory of God. Adam's disobedience brought judgment and separation, and now all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. We don't bear the glory of God in the manner in which we were intended. In the fall, God is against us. We are by nature objects of wrath. Were it not for the grace of God, we wouldn't be able to approach him. In Christ, God is with us, for us.

What does it mean for us today? Paul says, "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). How is it that Christ is in us? John sheds some light on it. He states, "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us" (1 John 3:24). Again he said, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). Christ is with us by the presence of the Spirit.

Jesus as Immanuel also means we have a future hope. The broken fellowship between man and God has been restored in Christ. John paints a beautiful picture:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every teat from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for old order of things has passed away" (Rev. 21:3-4).

 There is coming a day when Immanuel, God with us, will be with us face to face. We will know as we are known. That is a glorious truth.

Look with Eyes of Faith

"In the year the King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple" (Isa. 6:1, HCSB).

The connection of Uzziah's passing and Isaiah's vision is easy to miss. Isaiah, like many in his day, thought the world of King Uzziah. His death might mean that his throne was left to lesser men. Isaiah, like many righteous people, shudder to think about what would happen to that empty throne.

In the midst of his grief, God gave Isaiah a vision. He reminded Isaiah that there is a greater throne than the one the king set upon. Although, Uzziah had died, Yahweh still sat enthroned. His control would not waiver. His strength would not wane.

There is no crisis so great, that a true glimpse of God can't overcome. There is no darkness so deep, that God's light can't penetrate. If we will look with eyes of faith, and see Him seated on His high and lofty throne, we can find the strength to face the dark, difficult days ahead.

The Trouble with Unfulfilled Desire

"What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:1-2, HCSB).

James's questions penetrate deep into the heart. I have often asked myself in the midst of a fit, why I was so angry? Ninety percent of the time, maybe 99% of the time, my anger is rooted in a perception of slight. In those moments, it feels as if someone has denied my something I obviously deserved. But in reality, I realize that other people have wants and desires.

On an intellectual level, I comprehend that their wants and desires are as important to them as my desires are to me, and that they are probably as deserving of receiving what they desire as I am. Yet on an emotional level, I don't always feel like they deserve it as much as I do. They (probably) haven't worked as hard as I have.

When you combine the frustration that comes with an unmet desire with a deeply embedded emotional response, you get a fight. Maybe it is a fight with words thrown like hand grenades that rip through the flesh into the soul. Maybe you fight with silence and ice.  Maybe your fight is really a fight.

But why are we angry in the first place? Because we didn't get what we wanted. We would do well to remind ourselves that its okay to not get everything we ever wanted. We need to ask our own set of penetrating questions. Is it worth this kind of hostility? Have I put to much emphasis on the wrong thing? Will I still want it after I get it?

Think of something you didn't get, and were angry over. Are you still angry about it? Or have you discovered it was actually better not to have it?

Sunday Recap 9-9-12

Morning: The sermon, "Multiplying Ministry," focused on Acts 6:1-7. This passage reminds us that the church's health depends on its obedient application of biblical solutions. In other words, when we do what the Bible says, we please the Lord. This passage is subject of some debate. Some see it as the beginning of the deacon ministry. Others say that it isn't. I tend to agree with those who see it as how the deacon ministry got started.  What isn't debatable is that this passage demonstrates how a church should go about handling its problems: by applying sound biblical principles. The appointment of these men isn't that much different that Moses appointing judges in Exodus 18:13-27. Let's examine this passage:

1. Growth in ministry had created a service vacuum.

The Hellenist widows were being neglected (unintentionally).

2. A biblical solution was proposed.

The Twelve functioned as pastor/teachers (We could also call them elders, presbyters, overseers, bishops, or shepherds. These titles are used interchangeably both in the NT and the English language).

Notice: a. They viewed this task as an important task

             b. They understood assuming this role would cause them to neglect their primary duties.

             c. They viewed the congregation as a source of sound judgment.

             d. They knew the congregation could use guidelines. Nominees had to:

                 1.  have a good reputation "be known" (NIV)

                 2.  be full of the Holy Spirit.

                 3.  be wise. (Paul specifically addresses deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13)

             e. They would entrust this ministry to the new servants.

3. Obedient application of biblical solutions brings more growth.

This passage gives us a good picture of biblical congregationalism (that is pastor/elder lead congregationalism).

Notice: a. The congregation listened to their leaders.

             b. They selected men according to the guidelines.

             c. The apostles approved of the peoples' selection.

            d. These men where set apart for their task.

            e. The Word spread,  the number of disciples increased.  

What do we do with this?

We ask the question, "Is there a service vacuum?"

We seek the Lord in prayer and fasting.

We nominate men we feel are qualified for the task.

Men I ask you to search your hearts: are you a believer, are you qualified, are you willing?

Evening: The lesson, "Unpolluted Worship," focuses on Psalm 101. In this passage, we are reminded that holy living must undergird our worship. We can't call it worship if we aren't living right. James stated, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).  I want to focus on the part about keeping oneself from being polluted by the world. David had a good understanding of this truth. David knew that worship divorced from righteous living is worthless. Unpolluted worship requires:

1. A commitment to live blamelessly.

Here David focuses on God's love and justice. Our culture often pits these two concepts against each other. David sees their co-existence as a reason to worship from place of righteousness.

·         David promises to pursue righteousness with care.

·         He promises to pursue it in private.

·         He promise to pursue it in public. He promises to let his private religion affect his public policy, and commits to resisting the enemy.

2. A commitment to resist the enemy.

Paul was right, "Bad company corrupts good character."

·         David promises to rebuke slanders and ignore the arrogant.

·         David promises to surround himself with godly advisors.

·         David promises to get rid of liars and evildoers.