Christmas is a time of giving. And that means Christmas is a time of shopping. Ever since the wise men from the east showed up at the stable carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh, people have been exchanging gifts at Christmas. Of course, it’s much more complicated today than it was for the wise men. For one thing, they didn’t have to contend with shopping malls, all packed full of parents (AND grandparents) going from store to store to store, desperately searching for a Wii or a Ultimate LEGO Vehicle Building Set (the closest one I have found is in Warsaw, Poland). The magi didn’t have to worry about sizes, or colors, or return policies. There were no razor scooters in those days, no transformers, and definitely no life-like Barbies. Just plain old gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Well, this year, just like every year, millions of people, both children and adults, will open millions of gifts. Some won’t fit. Some will be the wrong color. Many will be returned or exchanged. But there’s one gift that meets everyone’s need, one gift that will never wear out, never break or need repairing. A gift that is appropriate for a small child, or a teenager, or an adult, or a senior adult. Boy or girl, man or woman, it makes no difference. It makes no difference what your social status is, what your race is, or what your income is. The gift we all need, the most valuable gift of all, is that baby in the manger. The one that this whole season is about. On Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God gave us the gift of His own Son, Jesus Christ, so that through faith in Him we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 (KJV)
Let’s look at three things about this gift, this incredible, priceless gift.First, the gift is Jesus Christ himself. The gift God offers us is to know Christ. To know Him as a friend, to have fellowship with Him, to have a relationship with Him. The gift God offers us is to be known and loved by Christ.
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3
Have you received this gift? Do you have this kind of relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you know Him as a friend? Is He someone you can talk with, confide in, seek counsel from? Do you feel at ease in His presence, like you would with a close friend, or do you feel like you have to rush around cleaning up your spiritual “house” before you can welcome him in? If the answer is “no,” if you don’t have this kind of relationship with Christ, the good news is that you can. All you have to do is ask. Come to him in prayer; confess your sins, ask His forgiveness, ask Him into your heart. That’s all you have to do.
Maybe you’ve never heard the Christian life described in this way before. Perhaps it sounds a little strange to talk about spending time with Jesus Christ, as if He were a flesh and blood person, someone you could see and hear and touch. Well, no it isn’t like that. We may not see visions or hear voices. But that doesn’t make our fellowship with him any less real. Christ is present with us. His Spirit lives in us. He speaks to us through the Bible. And we speak with him through prayer.
“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” – 1 John 1:3
People sometimes think of Christianity as nothing but a set of burdensome responsibilities. Doing things you’d rather not do. Like going to church, when you’d rather be home reading the Sunday paper. Some people see the Christian life as a lot of rules, a lot of “do’s” and “don’ts” (mainly “don’ts”). Or if they view Christianity more positively, they might see it primarily in terms of the benefits it can bring – improved relationships; stronger marriages; guidance in raising children; emotional strength to deal with difficult circumstances. And that’s true, but even this misses the mark. The essence of Christianity isn’t rules, or “do’s and don’t’s”, or even blessings. The essence of Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Yes, the Christian life brings many benefits – joy, peace, hope. But they all come through Christ, they all flow from our relationship with Him.
Your greatest gift to your children isn’t a few boxes wrapped in colored paper, on Christmas or their birthday. The most valuable thing you can offer them is a relationship; your love and care, your time and attention, your commitment to always be there when they need you. Right? Everything else flows from that. In the same way, God’s greatest gift to us is a relationship with Jesus Christ, and a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
The second thing is that this gift has great value. Although there is truly nothing more desirable than knowing Christ, many people just can’t see it. Their eyes haven’t been opened. They look into the manger, and they don’t see a king. They don’t see the Savior of the World. They don’t see “the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace,” -- to list just some of His names. They don’t see anything special at all, because they don’t have eyes of faith. All they can see is an ordinary human being. And so, they pass by the child in the manger and instead seek after the gold, and the frankincense, and the myrrh sitting at the side. They don’t want the baby, they want the presents. Which do you value more, the toys and trinkets of this life that will all eventually crumble into dust, or a relationship with Jesus Christ that will last forever?
"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field. Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.” Matt. 13:44-46 (MSG)
Knowing Christ is worth more than anything else in this world; in fact, knowing Christ is worth more than everything else in this world. We will never be disappointed by Him. He is that treasure; He’s that pearl of great value. God’s gift to us, this child in the manger, is worth more than anything else we could ever possess. Does your life reflect that truth? Do you know Him? Are you seeking Him?
“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Finally, the gift must be received. It’s available to everyone, but God doesn’t force it on anyone. We have to receive it. We have to take the package, and open the box, and accept it as our own. We each have to make the decision to receive Jesus Christ into our lives. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Not all who heard about him, or agreed with his teachings. Not all who attended church. Not all who tried to follow the golden rule. But all who received him. Some people imagine that God’s love has to be earned; that we have to do something to deserve His forgiveness, that we have to somehow be good enough to merit His acceptance. But a gift you have to pay for is no gift at all.
Now, maybe you opened that gift years ago, but lately it’s been sitting on the shelf. You’ve been too busy, or too distracted, or too hurting to give Christ the time and attention you know He deserves. Or maybe for you that gift is still under the tree, wrapped and ready to be opened. Here’s the point of the lesson: Don’t leave Christ on the shelf; don’t leave Him under the tree. Take him into your heart and into your life, even today. That gift from God has a tag with your name on it. What better day than Christmas to renew your commitment to Christ; or what better day than Christmas to begin a new life of fellowship with Jesus Christ, a new life of joy and peace and love?
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Why Did Jesus Christ Come as a Baby?
In those first speechless moments, new parents (and grandparents) gaze with fascination. They lovingly examine every inch of their newborn child's face.
No matter how we prepare ourselves, the reality of new birth astounds us. Here, nestled in our arms, is a brand-new member of the human race. Here is the future in flesh; our legacy to the world. We check eyes, mouth, ears for telltale family resemblances; we marvel at the delicate pink skin. Most of all, we silently thank the Lord over and over for a gift so unimaginably wonderful.
Can you imagine how intently Joseph and Mary must have studied the Child who came to them in Bethlehem? His coming had been foretold not by doctors but by angels. If those angels were right - and how could they not be? - here in that winter night was born a Messiah who had been the subject of poems, songs, and dreams for a thousand years. Messiah: Perhaps the couple stammered when they tried to speak the M-word aloud. It was just so hard to imagine such a magnificent personification when they looked at the sleeping infant.
After all, everyone knew (or thought they knew) that the Messiah would be the ultimate military commander. He would come storming in on horseback, with sword held high, crying out for vengeance and redemption in the name of the Lord and his favored nation. The Chosen One would have the wisdom of Solomon, the charisma of David, the godliness of Moses, and the military genius of Joshua.
Yet here He was coming into the world as - just a baby. Joseph and Mary had to admit that here was a baby who seemed, at first glance, like any other newborn child. He cried in the middle of the night. He hungered for milk. He needed fresh "swaddling clothes" every now and then. If this was just an ordinary child like cousin Elizabeth's new addition, how could he be the one foretold by all the prophets? How could an infant be the Son of God?
Or for that matter, why would the Son of God be an infant? The need of crumbling, dying Israel was urgent. First the Greek and now the Roman influence was wiping away a bit more of the legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each day. They needed someone to come in like a hurricane to wipe out all this “outside” influence. But no, he came in softly and quietly, like a falling snow at night. Like we had last night! But Praise God, He lasted longer, like forever!
Why, indeed? Why did Jesus come as a child?
Jesus is the One like no other, for he was fully human and fully God – at the same time. Nothing about his humanity could detract from his godliness; nothing about his godliness could detract from his humanity. Only because this is true can he reconcile the Father in heaven with his children on earth. He is the Man of both worlds; he is the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven.
In that regard, we have seen that the Virgin Birth is the sign of his divinity. He comes to the earth from outside, pure and clean, and he is in no way a product of this world. Now we see that, in the same way, the infancy of the Child is the sign of his humanity. He is one of us in every way. He arrives from heaven with perfection and godliness of which no man or woman is capable - yet he takes the full human journey, which even God in heaven had not taken. How could we follow his footsteps as a man if we hadn't seen him crawl as a child? How could we believe he had undergone all the temptation we have faced if he had bypassed the most difficult years in which we struggle to earn our adulthood?
To make the full sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus had to make the full commitment. It would have meant very little to us if he had sprung from heaven fully formed, bathed in heavenly glory, saying, "Here are my hands and my feet - place me upon the cross, for I am willing to die."
Instead, we see him as a child in a manger. We see him at the Temple as a boy on the verge of maturity, already about his Father's business. We see Mary and Joseph wondering at him, trying to understand, as he grew "in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people" (Luke 2:52).
Finally, we see him as a young man, quietly beginning a ministry that will change all of human history. We overhear the whispers from his neighbors: "He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers - James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us" (Matthew 13:55-56).
We see him in the desert, wrestling with temptation and the matter of his destiny, and we know he is fully human. We see his love for children, and we can believe it because he, too, has been a child. And then, when those crude spikes are driven through his wrists and his ankles, we know he feels the pain that any man would feel. We know the price of our sins is on the table, being paid in full with no credit plans or easy payment schedules, but by every last drop of blood and every brutal slash of the whip. We are bought with a price that could never have been paid without Jesus accepting the role as being fully human.
If he had been God only, his sacrifice would not have been very convincing. After all God wouldn’t feel pain and suffering like we would! If he had been man only, his sacrifice would have had no power; he would have been a martyr like ten thousand others before Him.
But he was man and he was God, and therefore he was all in all. He came as a child to confront and conquer every challenge and every temptation common to humanity. We trust him with our lives because he was God. We love him with our hearts because we know that once he was, “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12b
I heard this song by Audrey Assad for the first time at the Chris Tomlin concert. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg
Winter Snow
Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forest fire
With the power of heaven in Your flame
But You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below
You could've swept in like a tidal wave
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could have come through like a roaring flood
To wipe away the things we've scarred
But You came like a winter snow
(Yes, You did)
You were quiet You were soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning
No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
It was still It was small
It was hidden To the earth below
You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below
Falling
(Oh, yeah)
To the earth below
You came falling
From the sky in the night To the earth below
No matter how we prepare ourselves, the reality of new birth astounds us. Here, nestled in our arms, is a brand-new member of the human race. Here is the future in flesh; our legacy to the world. We check eyes, mouth, ears for telltale family resemblances; we marvel at the delicate pink skin. Most of all, we silently thank the Lord over and over for a gift so unimaginably wonderful.
Can you imagine how intently Joseph and Mary must have studied the Child who came to them in Bethlehem? His coming had been foretold not by doctors but by angels. If those angels were right - and how could they not be? - here in that winter night was born a Messiah who had been the subject of poems, songs, and dreams for a thousand years. Messiah: Perhaps the couple stammered when they tried to speak the M-word aloud. It was just so hard to imagine such a magnificent personification when they looked at the sleeping infant.
After all, everyone knew (or thought they knew) that the Messiah would be the ultimate military commander. He would come storming in on horseback, with sword held high, crying out for vengeance and redemption in the name of the Lord and his favored nation. The Chosen One would have the wisdom of Solomon, the charisma of David, the godliness of Moses, and the military genius of Joshua.
Yet here He was coming into the world as - just a baby. Joseph and Mary had to admit that here was a baby who seemed, at first glance, like any other newborn child. He cried in the middle of the night. He hungered for milk. He needed fresh "swaddling clothes" every now and then. If this was just an ordinary child like cousin Elizabeth's new addition, how could he be the one foretold by all the prophets? How could an infant be the Son of God?
Or for that matter, why would the Son of God be an infant? The need of crumbling, dying Israel was urgent. First the Greek and now the Roman influence was wiping away a bit more of the legacy of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob each day. They needed someone to come in like a hurricane to wipe out all this “outside” influence. But no, he came in softly and quietly, like a falling snow at night. Like we had last night! But Praise God, He lasted longer, like forever!
Why, indeed? Why did Jesus come as a child?
Jesus is the One like no other, for he was fully human and fully God – at the same time. Nothing about his humanity could detract from his godliness; nothing about his godliness could detract from his humanity. Only because this is true can he reconcile the Father in heaven with his children on earth. He is the Man of both worlds; he is the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven.
In that regard, we have seen that the Virgin Birth is the sign of his divinity. He comes to the earth from outside, pure and clean, and he is in no way a product of this world. Now we see that, in the same way, the infancy of the Child is the sign of his humanity. He is one of us in every way. He arrives from heaven with perfection and godliness of which no man or woman is capable - yet he takes the full human journey, which even God in heaven had not taken. How could we follow his footsteps as a man if we hadn't seen him crawl as a child? How could we believe he had undergone all the temptation we have faced if he had bypassed the most difficult years in which we struggle to earn our adulthood?
To make the full sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus had to make the full commitment. It would have meant very little to us if he had sprung from heaven fully formed, bathed in heavenly glory, saying, "Here are my hands and my feet - place me upon the cross, for I am willing to die."
Instead, we see him as a child in a manger. We see him at the Temple as a boy on the verge of maturity, already about his Father's business. We see Mary and Joseph wondering at him, trying to understand, as he grew "in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people" (Luke 2:52).
Finally, we see him as a young man, quietly beginning a ministry that will change all of human history. We overhear the whispers from his neighbors: "He's just a carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers - James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us" (Matthew 13:55-56).
We see him in the desert, wrestling with temptation and the matter of his destiny, and we know he is fully human. We see his love for children, and we can believe it because he, too, has been a child. And then, when those crude spikes are driven through his wrists and his ankles, we know he feels the pain that any man would feel. We know the price of our sins is on the table, being paid in full with no credit plans or easy payment schedules, but by every last drop of blood and every brutal slash of the whip. We are bought with a price that could never have been paid without Jesus accepting the role as being fully human.
If he had been God only, his sacrifice would not have been very convincing. After all God wouldn’t feel pain and suffering like we would! If he had been man only, his sacrifice would have had no power; he would have been a martyr like ten thousand others before Him.
But he was man and he was God, and therefore he was all in all. He came as a child to confront and conquer every challenge and every temptation common to humanity. We trust him with our lives because he was God. We love him with our hearts because we know that once he was, “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12b
I heard this song by Audrey Assad for the first time at the Chris Tomlin concert. Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg
Winter Snow
Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forest fire
With the power of heaven in Your flame
But You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below
You could've swept in like a tidal wave
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could have come through like a roaring flood
To wipe away the things we've scarred
But You came like a winter snow
(Yes, You did)
You were quiet You were soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning
No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
It was still It was small
It was hidden To the earth below
You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below
Falling
(Oh, yeah)
To the earth below
You came falling
From the sky in the night To the earth below
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Known by Our Fruit
A little boy went over to a pastor's house, where the pastor was doing some carpentry in his garage. The boy simply stood there and watched him for quite a long time. After a while, the preacher wondered why this boy was watching him and was finally so curious that he stopped and said, "Son, are you trying to pick up some pointers on how to build something?"
The little boy replied, "No. I am just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer."
Often, we will find out what we are made of by what comes out of our mouths in both good and bad circumstances. When we have a change in conduct and character in our lives, it is a type of spiritual fruit.
Galatians 5:22 says, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness" (NLT). A Christian's life should be characterized by these things.
Some people think it’s just their testimony – what they say. But that’s not true. If somebody just says they are a Christian, it doesn’t mean necessarily that they’re a Christian. Just because you say “I know the way to Montgomery”, doesn’t mean that you’re in Montgomery right now. In the same way a person can say “I’m a Christian” even know the way to be a Christian, but this doesn’t mean necessarily that they’re a Christian. So what are the things that can identify a person as really being truly a Christ follower?
Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-6.
So Jesus says essentially two things: Remain in Him. The person that hangs in there with Jesus, having faith, believing in Him and staying attached to the vine – that’s a mark of a Christian. And then the second one is bearing fruit.
The "fruit" the Bible talks about is the "fruit of the Spirit," character qualities that the Holy Spirit wants to develop in your life. He will not force you to have the qualities, but when you accept Jesus as a Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you. Only He has the power to put your old nature to death, giving you a new nature that produces good fruit, or good character traits. Your life will continue to bear good fruit only when you stay connected to the source of growth.
So these are two markers that you can recognize in a Christian. In your life, you can recognize that you truly are a Christian if you have abiding faith and you are bearing fruit. Not perfectly. Not necessarily all the time, but on an ever-increasing basis as your life unfolds over time, you are bearing more and more fruit as you grow up into Jesus Christ. You become mature in Jesus. So Are you producing fruit? Or is the opposite true?
Instead of love, is there hatred, bitterness, or even prejudice in your life? Instead of joy, is there constant gloom? Instead of peace, is there turmoil? Instead of gentleness, is there a short temper? Instead of faith, is there endless worry? Instead of meekness, is there pride and arrogance? Instead of self-control, are you a victim of your own passions?
If so, then either you don't know God at all or a recommitment to Christ would be in order.
If you are a Christian, then people should be able to look for-and find-fruit in your life. Why? Because a disciple of Jesus Christ will produce spiritual fruit.
Jesus said, "When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father." (John 15:8). Jesus also said, “... just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (Matthew 7:20 ).
The metaphor of bearing fruit is used quite often in the Bible. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus spoke of seed that falls on different types of ground, representing different reactions to the truth of the gospel message. The final category He mentioned in Mark 4:20 was good ground: "And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"
In other words, those who have spiritual maturity are those who embrace this truth and produce fruit. The Bible tells us that we should bear fruit that shows we have repented. Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. (Matthew 3:8).
The Bible gives us different pictures as to what "bearing fruit" means. For example, praising and thanking God is a way of bearing fruit in our lives. Hebrews 13:15 says, " Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (NIV). When you praise God, that is bearing fruit.
We don't praise God only when we are in the mood. Rather, we praise God because He is worthy of our praise.
Therefore, we don't praise God because we feel like it. We praise God because He deserves our praise. When we do this, we are bearing fruit.
What we say is also a type of fruit in our lives. Jesus said, “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Luke 6:43-45 NLT).
When you are a true Christian, it will be reflected by what you say. This is bearing fruit as well.
Can others identify spiritual fruit in your life? Remember, people are watching you. They are listening to you. Hopefully you are pointing them to Jesus.
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Why Me, God?
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Is it okay to get angry with God?
Yes.
Next question? (Or shall we go ahead and end the lesson?)
Yes, it is okay to get angry with God – but this is not the place where you want to stay for ever.
There are reasons about the okay-ness of getting angry – but several more about why we need to move beyond that anger.
One reason about the okay-ness with being angry has to do with the nature of God, Himself and the words of the scriptures, particularly the Psalms.
As to God, Himself: God is the Creator of all there is, was, or ever will be. That’s big. Bigger than we can possibly imagine. God is Creator of everything but because nothing can compare with that concept, we sound like babbling fools when we say it. Think about it: Creator of everything. Creator of everything.
The God who can create everything on earth and in all the many galaxies is certainly powerful enough to withstand a blast of our anger.
That is not to say that we cannot wound God with our anger. Look at what we did to His Son, Jesus of Nazareth! We mistreated, tortured and killed the God who was human – and if Christ Jesus is as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are said to be – then we certainly can wound God with our anger.
But we will not overcome God with our anger. (That doesn’t mean it is wise or noble or always useful to be angry with God, just that sometimes people do get angry and it is not the end of the world.)
And who ever said that life was nice anyway – so nice, and sweet and easy that there would never be reasons to get angry? Not the scriptures, that’s for sure, and most especially the Psalms.
Yes, the scriptures talk about blessing and love and hope and forgiveness and compassion and resurrection and the beauty of living – but that’s not the whole picture, is it? Part of the wondrous universality of the scripture is that it leaves nothing out. Its characters are often as not villains rather than saints, and the truth is unvarnished and often unflattering.
The Psalms are great, in part, because they catalogue every conceivable emotion. Frustration, reverence, gratitude, envy, disappointment, hopelessness, hopefulness, sorrow, vengefulness, forgiveness, anger. It’s all there.
Sometimes we just need to vent, to express all our feelings so that we could begin to move forward and get over it
The Bible is our holy book but it is not always a nice book because it is a mirror which reflects who we really are – and who we might be if we move closer or further away from God.
But that’s not the point: The point is that life is sometimes messy, sometimes painful, sometimes disappointing, sometimes tragic – and when bad things happen, we sometimes get angry – at ourselves, at our loved ones, at our God.
And let‘s note this about that: Our emotions are a powerful force.
Swallow them and they will probably make you sick.
Act on them thoughtlessly, and you’ll do loads of damage.
Let them out in appropriate ways, and you make within yourself a spiritual space in which healing is possible.
Who better to cry out to than the God who created and loves us! Listen to the psalmist:
I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens. I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said. I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me. Psalm 77:1-4 MSG
The psalmist goes on to say: Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him." (Verses 7-10). But then he kinda’ switches gears: O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— (Verses 13-15)
Here it’s not necessarily anger being expressed – but it is pouring out one’s complaint to the Lord. It is a lament: The writer is in pain. To whom can he turn but the Lord God Almighty? And what does the psalmist seek? Comfort. Relief. Healing. He doesn’t want to remain in this condition one single moment longer!
This takes us back to the beginning of this lesson: Yes, it is okay to get angry with God – but this is not the place where you want to stay for ever. Not too smart!
Pastor John Hagee did this devotional on subject: “You can get bitter – or you can get better!” He gets pretty harsh with us.
If you’re thrown in jail like Paul, write the book of Romans. If you’re beaten and chained in prison, sing in the midnight hour. If you’re knocked down, get up and get back in the fight. Quit whining about your circumstances. Take up your cross. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back. Put on the whole armor of God—and fight. Arise and do exploits in the name of our God.
He goes on to say that Satan throws a bunch of lies at us, one being this:
Life must be fair. That’s a joke. Life is not fair. Life never has been fair. Life never will be fair. Does that tear you up? Get over it. Some are born brilliant. Some don’t learn to wave bye-bye until they’re 18. What’s fair about that? Some are born beautiful. And then there are the rest of us.
It’s not what happens to you. It’s how you respond to what happens to you. You can get bitter or you can get better. You can wallow in your self-pity or you can get off your duff and turn the lemon that life has given you into lemonade. It is your choice. You can rise to the highest destiny God has for you or you can wallow in some cesspool of self-made agony. I’m saying to you in Jesus’ name, whatever your past, get over it. You can be a new creature in Christ Jesus. John Hagee
Whatever your fear, your hurt, your worry, your pain – if you feel cheated by life: Pour out your heart to God, who has the power to take it on the chin and the compassion to lift you back up again!
Let go of the pain, the anger, the hurt, and let God heal your life.
I’ve personally seen it. I’ve personally experienced it. I personally know it works!
Let God heal your life.
Is it okay to get angry with God?
Yes.
Next question? (Or shall we go ahead and end the lesson?)
Yes, it is okay to get angry with God – but this is not the place where you want to stay for ever.
There are reasons about the okay-ness of getting angry – but several more about why we need to move beyond that anger.
One reason about the okay-ness with being angry has to do with the nature of God, Himself and the words of the scriptures, particularly the Psalms.
As to God, Himself: God is the Creator of all there is, was, or ever will be. That’s big. Bigger than we can possibly imagine. God is Creator of everything but because nothing can compare with that concept, we sound like babbling fools when we say it. Think about it: Creator of everything. Creator of everything.
The God who can create everything on earth and in all the many galaxies is certainly powerful enough to withstand a blast of our anger.
That is not to say that we cannot wound God with our anger. Look at what we did to His Son, Jesus of Nazareth! We mistreated, tortured and killed the God who was human – and if Christ Jesus is as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are said to be – then we certainly can wound God with our anger.
But we will not overcome God with our anger. (That doesn’t mean it is wise or noble or always useful to be angry with God, just that sometimes people do get angry and it is not the end of the world.)
And who ever said that life was nice anyway – so nice, and sweet and easy that there would never be reasons to get angry? Not the scriptures, that’s for sure, and most especially the Psalms.
Yes, the scriptures talk about blessing and love and hope and forgiveness and compassion and resurrection and the beauty of living – but that’s not the whole picture, is it? Part of the wondrous universality of the scripture is that it leaves nothing out. Its characters are often as not villains rather than saints, and the truth is unvarnished and often unflattering.
The Psalms are great, in part, because they catalogue every conceivable emotion. Frustration, reverence, gratitude, envy, disappointment, hopelessness, hopefulness, sorrow, vengefulness, forgiveness, anger. It’s all there.
Sometimes we just need to vent, to express all our feelings so that we could begin to move forward and get over it
The Bible is our holy book but it is not always a nice book because it is a mirror which reflects who we really are – and who we might be if we move closer or further away from God.
But that’s not the point: The point is that life is sometimes messy, sometimes painful, sometimes disappointing, sometimes tragic – and when bad things happen, we sometimes get angry – at ourselves, at our loved ones, at our God.
And let‘s note this about that: Our emotions are a powerful force.
Swallow them and they will probably make you sick.
Act on them thoughtlessly, and you’ll do loads of damage.
Let them out in appropriate ways, and you make within yourself a spiritual space in which healing is possible.
Who better to cry out to than the God who created and loves us! Listen to the psalmist:
I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens. I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said. I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me. Psalm 77:1-4 MSG
The psalmist goes on to say: Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him." (Verses 7-10). But then he kinda’ switches gears: O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— (Verses 13-15)
Here it’s not necessarily anger being expressed – but it is pouring out one’s complaint to the Lord. It is a lament: The writer is in pain. To whom can he turn but the Lord God Almighty? And what does the psalmist seek? Comfort. Relief. Healing. He doesn’t want to remain in this condition one single moment longer!
This takes us back to the beginning of this lesson: Yes, it is okay to get angry with God – but this is not the place where you want to stay for ever. Not too smart!
Pastor John Hagee did this devotional on subject: “You can get bitter – or you can get better!” He gets pretty harsh with us.
If you’re thrown in jail like Paul, write the book of Romans. If you’re beaten and chained in prison, sing in the midnight hour. If you’re knocked down, get up and get back in the fight. Quit whining about your circumstances. Take up your cross. Put your hand to the plow and don’t look back. Put on the whole armor of God—and fight. Arise and do exploits in the name of our God.
He goes on to say that Satan throws a bunch of lies at us, one being this:
Life must be fair. That’s a joke. Life is not fair. Life never has been fair. Life never will be fair. Does that tear you up? Get over it. Some are born brilliant. Some don’t learn to wave bye-bye until they’re 18. What’s fair about that? Some are born beautiful. And then there are the rest of us.
It’s not what happens to you. It’s how you respond to what happens to you. You can get bitter or you can get better. You can wallow in your self-pity or you can get off your duff and turn the lemon that life has given you into lemonade. It is your choice. You can rise to the highest destiny God has for you or you can wallow in some cesspool of self-made agony. I’m saying to you in Jesus’ name, whatever your past, get over it. You can be a new creature in Christ Jesus. John Hagee
Whatever your fear, your hurt, your worry, your pain – if you feel cheated by life: Pour out your heart to God, who has the power to take it on the chin and the compassion to lift you back up again!
Let go of the pain, the anger, the hurt, and let God heal your life.
I’ve personally seen it. I’ve personally experienced it. I personally know it works!
Let God heal your life.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
He Is With You
Note: We had a little different style lesson this week. A few weeks ago a class member mentioned the song He Is With You by Mandisa. I had not heard the song. After “googling” for the lyrics, I read them and then checked out the video on You Tube. This stayed on my heart until I purchased the song and downloaded it. I believe God led me to make this into a WhoSoEver lesson. For you not in the class, we played the song by Mandisa and then discussed each verse. I didn’t know how God would use this but thanks to the class there was a lot of discussion and even some tears. Hey, tears are good! I wish each of you could have been a part of this discussion. But since you were not, after reading the brief introduction, please take the time to listen to the song on You Tube, read along with the included lyrics, and then “ponder” the verses and see where God leads you with this. God Bless.
Hayward
He Is With You
All our lives we have hopefully been taught about how important God is in our lives. People who love God want to live a Godly life. Why! They love him as their father and genuinely want to serve and obey him.
God is good. He’ll reward his people in due season if they walk the walk of faith each and every day. Walking a Godly life will come with its trials. These trials actually build courage within our soul. People will go through periods of doubt. God will be there when this happens to lift them up and carry them on his back so to speak.
Life would be scary if we people of God didn’t want to follow him. By living a Godly life we as Christians know that we have a giant standing beside us ready to take on all our battles until victory is won. He is always with us.
Let’s take a moment and feel the comfort that lies within us because of the love God offers us. Let’s listen to the song He is With You by Mandisa and then we will discuss!
You can view a video at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyy7K0e__x4
He Is With You - Mandisa
There's a time to live
And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry
There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of these
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still,
And your hearts a stone
Cryin' God, what'd You do that for
He is with you
There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There is a time to run
And a time to face it
There is love to see you
Through all of this
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
He is with you in the ICU
When the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you
We may weep for a time
But joy will come in the morning
The morning light
He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space
And you feel alone
And you're worried if you
got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you
when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you
When nothing else is left
And you take your final breath
He is with you
-------------------------------------------------------------
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.” Matthew 1:23 NLT
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org
Hayward
He Is With You
All our lives we have hopefully been taught about how important God is in our lives. People who love God want to live a Godly life. Why! They love him as their father and genuinely want to serve and obey him.
God is good. He’ll reward his people in due season if they walk the walk of faith each and every day. Walking a Godly life will come with its trials. These trials actually build courage within our soul. People will go through periods of doubt. God will be there when this happens to lift them up and carry them on his back so to speak.
Life would be scary if we people of God didn’t want to follow him. By living a Godly life we as Christians know that we have a giant standing beside us ready to take on all our battles until victory is won. He is always with us.
Let’s take a moment and feel the comfort that lies within us because of the love God offers us. Let’s listen to the song He is With You by Mandisa and then we will discuss!
You can view a video at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyy7K0e__x4
He Is With You - Mandisa
There's a time to live
And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry
There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of these
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still,
And your hearts a stone
Cryin' God, what'd You do that for
He is with you
There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There is a time to run
And a time to face it
There is love to see you
Through all of this
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
He is with you in the ICU
When the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you
We may weep for a time
But joy will come in the morning
The morning light
He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space
And you feel alone
And you're worried if you
got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you
when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you
When nothing else is left
And you take your final breath
He is with you
-------------------------------------------------------------
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.” Matthew 1:23 NLT
For prayer requests, comments or to be included in our email ministry, email us at: whosoever@cottagehillbaptist.org
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
Whether it’s a struggling marriage, a mountain of debt, or a dead-end job, you never meant to be where you find yourself now. You had the best of intentions. So how did you end up in such a mess?
Decision by decision, you followed a certain path that ultimately led to your current destination. But the good news is that if you don’t like where you’ve ended up, you can change direction to start heading toward where you want to be.
Here’s how you can get from where you are to where you want to be:
Learn the principle of the path. The principle of the path says: "Direction – not intention – determines our destination." You’ll win or lose at life by the paths you choose, and each daily decision you make points you in a certain direction.
Identify the paths you’ve chosen so far. What decisions have you made that over time have led you to either right or wrong paths? When have you followed paths that have headed in the right direction for you to fulfill your values, goals, dreams, or commitments? When have you followed paths that led away from what’s most important and taken you to places that you didn’t want to go?
Make connections. You need to connect your desires with your direction in life. Ask yourself: “Are there disconnects in my life?”, “Are there discrepancies between what I desire in my heart and what I’m doing with my life?”, and “Is there alignment between my intentions and my direction?”.
Choose specific paths with specific destinations in mind. Since today and tomorrow are connected, look as far down the road as possible when making decisions. Ask yourself: “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?” Pray for God to help you see trouble coming before it arrives, the wisdom to know what to do when you see warning signs, and the courage to do it so you won’t have regrets later.
Tell yourself the truth. Simply following your heart is dangerous when making decisions, because your heart can’t be trusted. In this fallen world, you’ll always have the ability to lie to yourself, act on those lies, and defend the lies with excuses. Come clean with yourself about the uncomfortable truth behind your choices so you’ll be free to move from where you are to where you want to be. What’s the real reason you moved in with your boyfriend or girlfriend, filed for divorce, ran up credit card debt, drink so much alcohol, quit going to church, etc.? Keep your heart in check. Ask yourself: “Why am I doing this, really?”, “If someone in my circumstances came to me for advice, what course of action would I recommend?” and “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?”
Submit to the One who knows where each path leads. The key to finding the right path isn’t information; it’s submission to God, who sees the whole picture and knows what’s best for you. When considering options, trust God rather than your own understanding. When conventional wisdom conflicts with biblical truth, choose what the Bible has to say. When your emotions conflict with God’s law, harness your emotions and lean into God’s law. Acknowledge the limitations of your own knowledge, as well as the fact that God knows everything. When you wrestle with submitting all your decisions fully to God, ask yourself: “Why do I hesitate to give God full access to every part of my life?”, “What do I fear will happen on the other side of that decision?”, and “What is the most difficult area of my life to yield control?”
Consider the story your life will tell. What kind of legacy will you leave after you die? When people look back at your life, will it tell them a story you’re proud of, or one that you regret? As you face every decision, keep in mind that you can never accomplish God’s will by breaking His law, violating His principles, or ignoring His wisdom. Ask yourself whether or not God has already spoken on the matter you’re considering by searching the Scriptures about it. To figure out if the options you’re considering violate one of God’s principles, ask yourself: “What outcome am I expecting from this decision?” and “Does the option I’m considering now naturally lead to that outcome?”
Tap into the wisdom of others. You have certain limits to your own personal experiences and knowledge, but you can always learn something valuable from others. No one ever gets to the place where he or she no longer needs wise counsel. So find people you trust and admire – those who are good influences on your life. Who has the kind of marriage you’d like? Who seems to have done a good job of managing money? Who has a family life you’d like to enjoy yourself? Ask people for their advice, and heed it.
Pay attention. Whatever you give your attention to influences the direction of your life. So consider whether or not you’re giving your attention to the right people and situations. Is there something that’s distracting you by drawing your attention away from what matters most? Who or what do you need to start paying more attention to, instead of making excuses: your kids, your health, your spiritual growth, your savings account? Ask God to reveal what your priorities should be and to give you the strength you need to discipline yourself to keep those priorities in mind when making daily decisions. Pause before devoting your attention to anyone or anything; pray about your decision first. Then be sure to give your full attention to whoever and whatever deserves it most.
Deal with disappointment. Unfortunately, some destinations are unreachable because dreams won’t come true. If you find that you can’t get to the place you’d like to be, don’t despair or try to make something happen anyway, since that won’t lead you any closer to your desired destination. Instead, go ahead and mourn the loss of your dream. Then place your trust in God. Tell God that you want His will for your life rather than your own. Keep believing and keep following in the direction that God leads, which, even though you may not have chosen it, will ultimately lead you to the right destination.
Decision by decision, you followed a certain path that ultimately led to your current destination. But the good news is that if you don’t like where you’ve ended up, you can change direction to start heading toward where you want to be.
Here’s how you can get from where you are to where you want to be:
Learn the principle of the path. The principle of the path says: "Direction – not intention – determines our destination." You’ll win or lose at life by the paths you choose, and each daily decision you make points you in a certain direction.
Identify the paths you’ve chosen so far. What decisions have you made that over time have led you to either right or wrong paths? When have you followed paths that have headed in the right direction for you to fulfill your values, goals, dreams, or commitments? When have you followed paths that led away from what’s most important and taken you to places that you didn’t want to go?
Make connections. You need to connect your desires with your direction in life. Ask yourself: “Are there disconnects in my life?”, “Are there discrepancies between what I desire in my heart and what I’m doing with my life?”, and “Is there alignment between my intentions and my direction?”.
Choose specific paths with specific destinations in mind. Since today and tomorrow are connected, look as far down the road as possible when making decisions. Ask yourself: “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?” Pray for God to help you see trouble coming before it arrives, the wisdom to know what to do when you see warning signs, and the courage to do it so you won’t have regrets later.
Tell yourself the truth. Simply following your heart is dangerous when making decisions, because your heart can’t be trusted. In this fallen world, you’ll always have the ability to lie to yourself, act on those lies, and defend the lies with excuses. Come clean with yourself about the uncomfortable truth behind your choices so you’ll be free to move from where you are to where you want to be. What’s the real reason you moved in with your boyfriend or girlfriend, filed for divorce, ran up credit card debt, drink so much alcohol, quit going to church, etc.? Keep your heart in check. Ask yourself: “Why am I doing this, really?”, “If someone in my circumstances came to me for advice, what course of action would I recommend?” and “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?”
Submit to the One who knows where each path leads. The key to finding the right path isn’t information; it’s submission to God, who sees the whole picture and knows what’s best for you. When considering options, trust God rather than your own understanding. When conventional wisdom conflicts with biblical truth, choose what the Bible has to say. When your emotions conflict with God’s law, harness your emotions and lean into God’s law. Acknowledge the limitations of your own knowledge, as well as the fact that God knows everything. When you wrestle with submitting all your decisions fully to God, ask yourself: “Why do I hesitate to give God full access to every part of my life?”, “What do I fear will happen on the other side of that decision?”, and “What is the most difficult area of my life to yield control?”
Consider the story your life will tell. What kind of legacy will you leave after you die? When people look back at your life, will it tell them a story you’re proud of, or one that you regret? As you face every decision, keep in mind that you can never accomplish God’s will by breaking His law, violating His principles, or ignoring His wisdom. Ask yourself whether or not God has already spoken on the matter you’re considering by searching the Scriptures about it. To figure out if the options you’re considering violate one of God’s principles, ask yourself: “What outcome am I expecting from this decision?” and “Does the option I’m considering now naturally lead to that outcome?”
Tap into the wisdom of others. You have certain limits to your own personal experiences and knowledge, but you can always learn something valuable from others. No one ever gets to the place where he or she no longer needs wise counsel. So find people you trust and admire – those who are good influences on your life. Who has the kind of marriage you’d like? Who seems to have done a good job of managing money? Who has a family life you’d like to enjoy yourself? Ask people for their advice, and heed it.
Pay attention. Whatever you give your attention to influences the direction of your life. So consider whether or not you’re giving your attention to the right people and situations. Is there something that’s distracting you by drawing your attention away from what matters most? Who or what do you need to start paying more attention to, instead of making excuses: your kids, your health, your spiritual growth, your savings account? Ask God to reveal what your priorities should be and to give you the strength you need to discipline yourself to keep those priorities in mind when making daily decisions. Pause before devoting your attention to anyone or anything; pray about your decision first. Then be sure to give your full attention to whoever and whatever deserves it most.
Deal with disappointment. Unfortunately, some destinations are unreachable because dreams won’t come true. If you find that you can’t get to the place you’d like to be, don’t despair or try to make something happen anyway, since that won’t lead you any closer to your desired destination. Instead, go ahead and mourn the loss of your dream. Then place your trust in God. Tell God that you want His will for your life rather than your own. Keep believing and keep following in the direction that God leads, which, even though you may not have chosen it, will ultimately lead you to the right destination.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
God Does Not Count Our Converts
He examines our faithfulness, and rewards our labors. The results are in His hands, not ours.
Tomorrow at 3:00 P.M. is your annual review. Sweat pops out on your forehead. Will you be able to sleep tonight? What's your boss going to say? Is he pleased or disappointed? There's reason for concern. This year hasn't been as productive as he expected. You think, I wish I were giving the evaluation, instead of the one being evaluated.
What does a boss look for in an employee? Results. Employees have to be worth their salaries. Otherwise, the people on the payroll cost more than they produce. Stated or unstated, the employer is saying, "I want to see results."
Many Christians think that God says the same thing about evangelism. The number of people whom we share Christ with doesn't matter because we think that God expects us to lead others to Him, not just tell about Him.
As a result, a couple of things can happen. Our approach becomes more high pressure. It doesn't matter whether non-Christians come to Christ of their own will or ours, just as long as they make the list. We can't afford the wasted time of sharing the gospel if we don't see a response. We think that God is keeping records. We need a yes from the lost, so we pressure and manipulate to get it. The problem is, that's not a Holy Spirit produced convert. It's a human spirit produced one, which is no convert at all.
Or the other thing that happens is we get discouraged. If we have few results, we think we haven't merited anything with God, so why keep trying? We're doomed to fail in evangelism, we think we're a disappointment to God.
What's the error in this thinking? Why is it a misconception?
Where do we get the idea that we're responsible for winning the lost? No such verse exists. Nor is there a hint that when we stand before God to be rewarded, He will ask, "How many have you led to Me?"
God holds us responsible for contact, not conversion.
What did Jesus commission His disciples to do? Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
A witness tells what he or she knows. The disciples were to tell what they knew, starting at Jerusalem, the local city—the very city where Christ was rejected and crucified. They were to go from there to the local area of Judea. With Samaria mentioned and Galilee implied, this meant the outer area of Palestine. They were then to go to "the ends of the earth," which to the apostles likely would have been Rome, the capital of the empire and the place where people congregated from every country.
The emphasis of the Great Commission is on the disciples' responsibility to bring Christ to non-Christians, not to bring non-Christians to Christ. Spreading the Good News was the issue here, not results. Beginning at home, they were to tell what they knew everywhere, starting at home!
Personal evangelism is impossible without personal contact. That's why Christ's own example stressed the need to be a friend of sinners (Luke 15:2). We can't speak to those whom we haven't contacted. We must go to them. We must be witnesses. What results from that contact is never the issue. Rather, the biblical emphasis is contact, not conversion.
God holds us responsible for faithfulness of sowing the seeds not whether they are fruitful or not!
Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthian church that he and Apollos were both used by the Lord in starting and growing the church:
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. (1 Cor. 3:5-8)
Paul planted the church. Apollos ministered after Paul left. Both were used of the Lord. Our responsibility is to be faithful in whatever we're doing, and God rewards our labors. Fruitfulness is God's responsibility.
Why is it important to understand that faithfulness is the issue? At times we will sow the seeds of the gospel, and someone else may reap the seeds we've sown. During His visit to Samaria, Christ said, “You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” (John 4:37-38). Although He was only in Samaria two days and did no miracles, Christ found a field ripe for harvest. Apparently, the ministry of the Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist had their results. Christ assured His disciples that both the sower and the reaper will have their reward.
There is a good example of this that I read about. A church office received a call from a woman. She explained that a person had dropped a tract off at her house with the church’s name and phone #. As a result of reading it, she accepted Christ and she wanted to know how to get more copies. She was thrilled with what she now understood and wanted others to know. They had no idea who left the tract so there is no way the person who “sowed the seed” even knew what their efforts accomplished. The sower may not even know what his or her efforts accomplished, but the Bible says that everyone who had a part in her coming to Christ will be rewarded.
The responsibility of bringing the lost to Christ is on God's shoulders. It is not on the shoulders of His servants. Jesus explains in John 6:44, "For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead." Christ repeats that emphasis when He says, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me." (v.65). All we can do is bring them the message, we certainly can’t “save” them!
The pressure of bringing people to Christ is God's. We can only bring Christ to people. The only pressure we ought to feel is the pressure to make the gospel clear.
We can tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to people but only Christ through His Holy Spirit can bring about an understanding of the gospel. But God does use us to show the unsaved their condition, His remedy, and their need to trust Christ. As you evangelize, say to yourself, "I must be clear, be clear, be clear."
Remember, God holds us responsible for contact, not conversion. We have the privilege of introducing the lost to Christ, but the pressure for them to trust the Savior is upon Him, not us.
As we improve our skills we increase our effectiveness in reaching the lost. But even when multitudes respond, God brings them, not us. Any pressure we should feel is that of making the gospel clear to lost people with the intent of them trusting Christ. Whether or not they do is between them and God.
Tomorrow at 3:00 P.M. is your annual review. Sweat pops out on your forehead. Will you be able to sleep tonight? What's your boss going to say? Is he pleased or disappointed? There's reason for concern. This year hasn't been as productive as he expected. You think, I wish I were giving the evaluation, instead of the one being evaluated.
What does a boss look for in an employee? Results. Employees have to be worth their salaries. Otherwise, the people on the payroll cost more than they produce. Stated or unstated, the employer is saying, "I want to see results."
Many Christians think that God says the same thing about evangelism. The number of people whom we share Christ with doesn't matter because we think that God expects us to lead others to Him, not just tell about Him.
As a result, a couple of things can happen. Our approach becomes more high pressure. It doesn't matter whether non-Christians come to Christ of their own will or ours, just as long as they make the list. We can't afford the wasted time of sharing the gospel if we don't see a response. We think that God is keeping records. We need a yes from the lost, so we pressure and manipulate to get it. The problem is, that's not a Holy Spirit produced convert. It's a human spirit produced one, which is no convert at all.
Or the other thing that happens is we get discouraged. If we have few results, we think we haven't merited anything with God, so why keep trying? We're doomed to fail in evangelism, we think we're a disappointment to God.
What's the error in this thinking? Why is it a misconception?
Where do we get the idea that we're responsible for winning the lost? No such verse exists. Nor is there a hint that when we stand before God to be rewarded, He will ask, "How many have you led to Me?"
God holds us responsible for contact, not conversion.
What did Jesus commission His disciples to do? Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
A witness tells what he or she knows. The disciples were to tell what they knew, starting at Jerusalem, the local city—the very city where Christ was rejected and crucified. They were to go from there to the local area of Judea. With Samaria mentioned and Galilee implied, this meant the outer area of Palestine. They were then to go to "the ends of the earth," which to the apostles likely would have been Rome, the capital of the empire and the place where people congregated from every country.
The emphasis of the Great Commission is on the disciples' responsibility to bring Christ to non-Christians, not to bring non-Christians to Christ. Spreading the Good News was the issue here, not results. Beginning at home, they were to tell what they knew everywhere, starting at home!
Personal evangelism is impossible without personal contact. That's why Christ's own example stressed the need to be a friend of sinners (Luke 15:2). We can't speak to those whom we haven't contacted. We must go to them. We must be witnesses. What results from that contact is never the issue. Rather, the biblical emphasis is contact, not conversion.
God holds us responsible for faithfulness of sowing the seeds not whether they are fruitful or not!
Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthian church that he and Apollos were both used by the Lord in starting and growing the church:
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. (1 Cor. 3:5-8)
Paul planted the church. Apollos ministered after Paul left. Both were used of the Lord. Our responsibility is to be faithful in whatever we're doing, and God rewards our labors. Fruitfulness is God's responsibility.
Why is it important to understand that faithfulness is the issue? At times we will sow the seeds of the gospel, and someone else may reap the seeds we've sown. During His visit to Samaria, Christ said, “You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” (John 4:37-38). Although He was only in Samaria two days and did no miracles, Christ found a field ripe for harvest. Apparently, the ministry of the Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist had their results. Christ assured His disciples that both the sower and the reaper will have their reward.
There is a good example of this that I read about. A church office received a call from a woman. She explained that a person had dropped a tract off at her house with the church’s name and phone #. As a result of reading it, she accepted Christ and she wanted to know how to get more copies. She was thrilled with what she now understood and wanted others to know. They had no idea who left the tract so there is no way the person who “sowed the seed” even knew what their efforts accomplished. The sower may not even know what his or her efforts accomplished, but the Bible says that everyone who had a part in her coming to Christ will be rewarded.
The responsibility of bringing the lost to Christ is on God's shoulders. It is not on the shoulders of His servants. Jesus explains in John 6:44, "For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead." Christ repeats that emphasis when He says, "That is what I meant when I said that people can't come to me unless the Father brings them to me." (v.65). All we can do is bring them the message, we certainly can’t “save” them!
The pressure of bringing people to Christ is God's. We can only bring Christ to people. The only pressure we ought to feel is the pressure to make the gospel clear.
We can tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to people but only Christ through His Holy Spirit can bring about an understanding of the gospel. But God does use us to show the unsaved their condition, His remedy, and their need to trust Christ. As you evangelize, say to yourself, "I must be clear, be clear, be clear."
Remember, God holds us responsible for contact, not conversion. We have the privilege of introducing the lost to Christ, but the pressure for them to trust the Savior is upon Him, not us.
As we improve our skills we increase our effectiveness in reaching the lost. But even when multitudes respond, God brings them, not us. Any pressure we should feel is that of making the gospel clear to lost people with the intent of them trusting Christ. Whether or not they do is between them and God.
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