September 29

September 29, 2013

 

Philippians 1:26   So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow.

Have you ever thought what it takes to make joy overflow in someone's life? This weekend we had our two grandsons for a sleepover. They have very little formal training in comedy because they are only 1 and 2, yet they can cause joy to overflow in Kathie's and my life like nothing else. We have developed this little ritual that causes joy to fill to the top and then overflow. It doesn't cost anything. It doesn't require any special talents or gifts. The ritual is after dinner to pump up the music and dance like crazy!!   For 10 minutes we jump around the room with the energy of a highly caffeinated energizer bunny and do crazy free-style Zumba dancing.  Then we collapse on the floor in sheer joy.

Do you think that God is pleased with this crazy ritual? Does God ever laugh? The Eternal one, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God, does he ever crack up at some of the stuff we do down here?  I am convinced he does.   God wants us to have his joy. The Bible indicates one of his highest goals for Christians is to be joyful.

John 15:10, 11  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

God wants us to experience two things: His love and His joy.

The book of Philippians is about joy. Of the 104 verses in this book, 19 mention joy, rejoicing or gladness. The unusual thing about this letter is this: Paul's situation was such that there appeared to be no reason for him to be joyful. Paul was in jail when he wrote these words of joy to the Philippians.

So what is his secret to having this overflowing joy? Notice just two characteristics of overflowing joy. First, Paul was serving others. When you aim at bringing joy to others, you experience joy yourself.

Second, this joy is found in Jesus. It is not found in any earthly possession. It is found by possessing Jesus.

So this week set your sails toward joy. Look to Jesus and get filled up with joy and then boldly, lavishly and extravagantly share that joy with others.

 

 

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

September 28: Parental exasperation

Isaiah 51:1-57:13

Ephesians 6:1-24

Psalm 70:1-5

Proverbs 24:8

I admit, I exasperate my children.  A lot.  Feel free to ask my daughter, particularly when it comes to her studies; or my middle child, my son, when it comes to being nice to his younger brother.  Or the youngest one, my second son, when I tell him to listen to me and his mother.  I've exasperated them all their lives in the pursuit of worldly goals, goals I imbibed growing up despite my parents' best efforts, values I continue to cling to despite the relationship I profess to seek with God.  How difficult to "bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" when the parent continues to struggle to develop that relationship himself.  It is sometimes so frustrating, I wonder why God would have granted my children, whom He loves more than I ever could, so large a handicap in the search for Him as a parent who himself struggles to find the way?

What a relief it is to read His own words of reassurance amidst the uncertainty.  When I do not understand, He reminds me that "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways; As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."  And when He chose me to be my children's father - indeed when He chose anyone to be parent to a child - He did so with full knowledge and love for both parent and child. . And He reminds me that, when I need help, I can "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests", with the "full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" - these schemes to plant and nurture doubt in my heart and mind, to question the love, the provision, even the very existence of our Lord.  How nice that when overwhelmed by the world and its assault, I can cry out to God to save me, to "come quickly, Lord, to help me."  And He will not delay.  

I exasperate my children, and will likely continue to do so, despite my best efforts, for as long as I live.  Thank God He is there to save them despite my best efforts at their salvation.

sept 27

Isaiah 53

The prophets account of how The Messiah would suffer is incredible.  Jesus bore our sins so we don't have to.  Pastor Scott was explaining to the Gyro kids yesterday that right now Satan is standing in front of God accusing us and Jesus is standing before God saying "No, Father, this one's mine".  Last year, one of the Gyro kids said that sin must be really bad if God had to come down Himself and only He could take it away.  Jesus was unrecognizable because that's the only way we can be recognizable before God.  Jesus was a humble servant and that's what God wants us to be.  I was thinking today in school, if all of my sin is gone, all that's left is humility.  I tried to keep this in mind as I spoke to my special needs kids and the other kids who needed reminders of how to be kind to each other.  The ancient Israelites looked towards the future for the coming of the Messiah and just were blinded to the fact that the lambs they were sacrificing represented Jesus, The Messiah.  When He came, they rejected Him.  As we read through the bible and all the pieces of History (His Story) fit together and we see the love behind the sacrifice and the salvation it brings.  How can we do anything less than praise, worship, and give our lives to Him as our Savior?  The song 10,000 Reasons has been my praise song all day.  What was your praise song today?


Randi

Thursday, September 26

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Isaiah 48:12–50:11

Ephesians 4:17–32

Psalm 69:1–18

Proverbs 25:5,6

 

 

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)

 

The readings from Ephesians 4 have imparted some fantastic principles for our daily walk with Christ and our interactions with other people.  Given that the combined influence of the evil one, the world, and our sinful natures, our human relationships naturally tend towards disorder and disharmony.  Only through the sustaining work of the Holy Spirit may we confidently find unity and joy in our relationships, but, even then, we must will our hearts to look to others’ interests above our own. (Philippians 2:1–4)

 

Please note the multi-faceted attitude required for unity:  humility, gentleness, and bearing with one another in love.  Humility allows us to view ourselves with the proper perspective and in the proper priority, while gentleness will become reflected in our attitude:  whether kindly or ornery.  “Bearing with one another in love” speaks to patience and longsuffering, treating others with the same long-term attitude that we sense in God Himself.

 

 

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15,16)

 

“Speaking the truth in love.”  These words echo a similar sentiment as found in John 1:14, which describes the Lord Jesus Christ:  “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  In Christ, we find a Savior Who spoke the truth in love.

 

If we err on the side of the truth without love, we find harshness and destructive criticism.  The recipients will “turn off” before the message has even come, and the message ultimately fails.

 

Likewise, a transmission failure emerges when we speak in love but not truth.  Many times, we avoid sharing an important truth for fear of hurting another person.  We may sugar-coat the message or avoid sharing it altogether.  Again, the recipient loses out because the truth remains veiled.

 

The middle-ground approach involves remembering the context and the recipient, reflecting on how best to present the message in love, and rigorously sticking to the truth.  It requires prayer, preparation, and grace – both from God and to oneself.  Sharing such important messages often proves emotionally and spiritually taxing.  Yet, if we shy away from these opportunities, we will miss out on providing a significant blessing.

 

 

“’In your anger do not sin.’  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26,27)

 

One great truism that has proven true in my experience:  “We often think that we hold a grudge, but we later realize that the grudge was holding us:  back from moving ahead and down from breathing freely.”

 

Two quotes on unforgiveness:

 

1.       “A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.” (William Arthur Ward)

2.       “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” (Anne Lamott)

 

 

Whom may you consider forgiving right now?  How would addressing your hurt through surrendering the situation to God bring release today?  How may you consistently apply this principle daily?  How may you become more intentional in approaching conflict resolution?  Please seek escape from the prison of unforgiveness!

 

 

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29–32)

 

Here again, Paul forwards the concept of others-mindedness, urging his readers to consider the recipient’s response to the message.  How often do we honestly weigh whether our words will “benefit those who listen”?  In our eagerness to “be heard,” we may fail to filter or assess the value of our words. 

 

A great lesson lies within these verses:  our interactions with others reflect strongly on our relationship with God.  Our sinfulness will “grieve the Holy Spirit of God,” pointing out that He shows emotions as with the Father and the Son and highlighting how we may thereby injure the Person of the Trinity Who has taken residence in the heart of each believer (“sealed for the day of redemption”).  Furthermore, we offer forgiveness to our brothers and sisters as a sign of our gratefulness and recognition of our ongoing need for grace.

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your intervention on our behalf.  We seek to honor You through our words, actions, and attitudes, particularly as displayed through our relationships with others.  Allow our conversation to be full of grace and truth, seasoned with salt.  Give us Your heart of compassion and the depth of Your compassion.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

 

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Wed blog

Divan and I are on one of out first ever family vacations. We have my parents from New Mexico and we have the Coetzees...both families together. I have always known that my husband is a stubborn man, but now times that by 3...D, brother and father. These are are great men,who love God and each other, but very hard headed. I stay out of it, and it helps they speak a language I don't understand. :) This morning while I was reading Isaiah, 46:12 jumped out at me. "Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness..." It was interesting to me that stubbornness was tied to the heart and not the head/mind. We all can be known for our stubbornness and hard heads (a common characteristic in my own household.) I have always heard of a hardened heart and to me a stubborn heart leads up to it. The similarities intrigued me.

Isaiah has been sharing the word of The Lord to Israel and Judah, the chosen people of God and the message had been repeated and repeated in the last few chapters. They are a people who have been stubborn hearted... Not yet hardened but they are close. God has to remind and remind them that He is the only God. I haven't counted how many times this has been repeated, "I am The Lord, and there is no other," but it is a message that is said over and over again!

They are constantly reminded that the idols will fall and they are man made. Their idols did not make the universe, they did not put rivers in dry lands, nor will their idols bring hope and a Deliverer. Many times in pastor Scott's sermons he reminds us how God must be center or out lives. If there is something that is ahead of God, that is our idol. I'm constantly reminded about that and what is the center of my life. The readings from the last week or so have been great reminders that God is constant, eternal, creator, and that many things will fade away (the grass), but He will not. There was nothing before Him and there is no end with Him. There is none or nothing like Him.

September 24

Isaiah 43:14-45:10

Ephesians 3

Psalm 68:1-18

Proverbs 24:1-2

Isaiah 44:14-20

He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it's true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, "Ah, that fire feels good." Then he takes what's left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. "Rescue me!" he says. "You are my god!" Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?" The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, "Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?"

Ephesians 3:12, 20

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence... Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Yesterday, we heard from Keesha on how the idols that we turn to for comfort are nothing more than cheap impostors.

The reading today in Isaiah continues to rebuke the practice of idol worship. Think about the impostor "god" described in Isaiah 44: a piece of wood that cannot see or hear or think or do anything. How can we take a piece of wood, use some of it to make a fire to warm ourselves and cook our food, and then use the rest of it to make a god that we turn to in times of need? As Isaiah said, it's stupid and ignorant and foolish. We may think that we are better than this person described, because we are smart enough to know that a wooden idol has no power to save. But we're really not that smart at all. We've simply traded our idols in for different ones, making us just as foolish.

I couldn't help but think back to these idols when reading Ephesians 3. The real one true God deserves all glory. And because of Jesus, we are able to approach God directly and He will do amazing things through us beyond what our imaginations can conceive. Why would we settle for anything less when we have direct access to the Lord, our God, the Holy One of Israel, our Savior, our Redeemer, Creator and King? I can't think of a reason either.

Monday BlogPost (09/23/13) [Imposters]

Monday, September 21, 2013 [Imposters]

Written by Keesha Sullivan

 

"Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable."

Isaiah 41:22-24

 

     Isaiah asks the idols to do something to prove that they can help those that follow them. He knows that they are "less than nothing and [their] works are utterly worthless," because they cannot answer him. He knows that the idols that Judah and Jerusalem have been following are not only worthless, but that they are causing a rift between them and their Almighty God. He wants them to test the idols, so that they too can realize that these idols are less than nothing.

     Unfortunately, we look to idols every day to help us through life. Whether it is money, power, people, food, alcohol, or sex, these idols do not fill us. They are "less than nothing" when they are put in the place of God. An idol is anything that we look to fill us, satisfy us, or even help us that isn't God. Most idols are things that God gave us to be helpful and good, but that turn into something evil when used incorrectly. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary an idol is synonymous with a pretender or imposter. Money, power, people, food, alcohol, and sex "pretend" to fill us or help us for that moment. It seems as if it alleviates the pain, hurt, or desire for something more when it is "utterly worthless."

     For many decades when I was in any type of pain, I would eat to temper that feeling. The pretender/impostor, my idol, would dull the pain for a moment and then the intensity of the pain along with shame would come back. Food could not solve my problems. Only God can.

Isaiah 43:1-3 reads, "But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

     When I began praying to God when I was in pain, He wouldn't dull the pain for the moment; God would truly heal the pain. There was no shame afterwards, because I didn't go to an impostor. I went to the real Source. It makes sense to go back to the God that knows my past, my present, and my future and that knit me together in my mother's womb and redeemed me with the blood of His Son. God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I believe that it hurts Him when we run to impostors to help us. Why? Firstly, because He knows we are not going to get any help from them; and, secondly, because we are denying His power and giving it over to something He created.

     Lord, help us to understand that You are God. You have all the power and the might in Your hands, and You are always with us. Help us to not turn to idols that are pretenders/impostors, but to turn to You. Lord we love you and the only God we need is You. You are mighty to save – Our Only Savior.

Amen.

--

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

September 22

Ephesians 1 

Who are you?  It sounds likes a simple question, requiring a simple answer, but it really isn't. For example, if some asked me, "Who are you?" I might answer, "Scott Taylor."

No, that's my name.

Who are you?

I'm a pastor.... no, that what I do.

I'm an American.... That is where I live.

I'm evangelical ... That is my denomination.

I'm a 6'2," 214 pound man, slightly balding on top (well, that is an exaggeration). But that is my physical appearance, that is not me.

What if I lost a leg or an arm, would I still be me? Of course I would.  

Who I am is determined by who I know, who I am in relationship with. I believe wholeheartedly that our hope for spiritual growth, meaning, purpose and fulfillment in life is based solely on our relationship with the living God. Our understanding of our riches in Christ is the foundation for determining who we are.

If you don't know who God is, you don't know who you are.

I am very concerned about this because so many people in the church don't know who they are.

An African proverb says, "If you don't know who you are, anyone can name you, and if anyone can name you, you will answer to anything."

In Ephesians 1 we find out who we are. We have been chosen by God to be adopted into his family from the very creation of the world. We have been given every spiritual blessing that can be found in Christ. We have been set free from our sin, purchased off the slave market of sin by Jesus himself. We are forgiven of every sin, past, present and future. We have the emblem of the Holy Spirit stamped on us guaranteeing our future. And we have been told a secret by God Himself; we know how this story ends.

So in the end, Who am I? I am a son of God!!!  Whose son or daughter are you?

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Sep 21: What, me worry?

Isaiah 37:1-38:22

Galatians 6:1-18

Psalm 65:1-13

Proverbs 23:24

I wonder if anyone else remembers Mad Magazine?  Even growing up halfway around the world, Mad Magazine was good fun.  I loved Spy vs Spy, The Lighter Side and the Don Martin cartoons.  And I remember the face of Alfred E Neuman, the ultimate Mad Magazine logo, with the slogan "What, me worry?"  It's a funny slogan, because worry almost seems a necessary part of life.  After all, who wouldn't be concerned about the future, the present, even the implications and consequences of the past?  And yet, as it turns out, it is the right way to live.  

Hezekiah had reason to worry.  The Assyrians were coming, and they were relentless, merciless and always victorious.  Any man Hezekiah spoke with said as much, a message of "abandon hope!"  Unable to turn to man for help, he did what he first should have done - he turned to God.  And God saved him and his people,putting to death "a hundred and eighty five thousand in the Assyrian camp", and causing Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, to withdraw.  For perspective, that is equal to the population of Stamford and Greenwich combined, as per the 2010 census.  God killed them all in one night, in answer to Hezekiah's prayer for help.  

It is eerie how the NT reading seems to reaffirm the lesson the Assyrians should've heeded....that "God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  Sennacherib mocked God and reaped destruction.  Hezekiah sought God, and God saved him.  

I still worry a lot.  Just the last couple of days, I found myself worrying once again about my daughter, the effort she puts into her schoolwork, and what her future will hold - basically things over which I have absolutely no control.  How much better to do what Hezekiah did, and present these worries to the Lord, and have Him, who knows precisely what the future holds for my daughter, to handle the situation as He sees fit; how much better to think: "what, me worry?"  For ours is a God who, as the Psalm says, answers prayer, who forgives us even when we are overwhelmed by sins.

Father, forgive me when I doubt, when I take on the burden of worry, in essence saying I am better placed to handle the future than You are.  As the stakes get higher, as they did for Hezekiah, teach me to turn to You rather than to myself.  We pray this in Jesus's name.  Amen.

9/20/13

9/20/13

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:16-25 NLT)

I have to admit....I skipped ahead. On Sunday night I was drawn by something when I was starting to plan this coming Sunday's worship service. I was skimming through the readings for this week when I came across this passage. That little voice told me this was it. I emailed Scott with the suggestion of focussing on this passage. I believe it was the leading of the Spirit. Ever since Kenny told me that he wanted to introduce the song "Holy Spirit" by Brian and Katie Torwalt last week, I have not been able to get the Spirit of God off my mind. The Spirit has filled my thoughts. But I didn't realize this reading would land on my day to write. And so here we are.

When we think of the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, or Spirit of God, I would bet that most of our minds would jump to holy rollers, speaking in "tongues", being "slain in the spirit" and other things of the pentecostal movement. What some might call the "gifts of the spirit." that is where my mind first jumps to. But in this passage, Paul is not talking about the gifts, he is talking about living in the Spirit, and following the Spirit's guiding in the way we live our lives. He is talking about listening to that little voice that says to speak up when we see something wrong, maybe stopping the car and helping someone who is broke down on the side of the road, maybe saying something to build someone up, or letting someone go in front of you in line at the grocery store. But it is all about listening. Our human nature draws us in a certain way, but the calling of the Holy Spirit pushes against the flow. Again, we need to listen for the guidance of the Spirit. We need to be in the Word, and in communication with our triune God in prayer, so that we can hear His voice. Paul also talks about how the Spirit inside of people is self-evident, and it yields fruit. So we need to ask ourselves, can people see the fruit in my life? It is a pretty good self-reflecting question to ask. The outcome is pretty clear. People will see if the Spirit, the Ru'ach, the Pneuma, is working in your life. It is evident when you are listening and following his whisper.

Holy Spirit by Jesus Culture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUs8X9EPR78&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my iPad

Thursday, September 19

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

Isaiah 30:12–33:12

Galatians 5:1–12

Psalm 63:1–11

Proverbs 23:22

 

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  (Galatians 5:1)

 

In this passage, Paul wrestles further with the fallacious addition that the Judaizers had attempted to include within the Galatian church.  Reasoning that the Mosaic law prescribed circumcision, these Judaizers wished to bring Old Testament customs to the church.  By their direction, however, the Judiazers had declared the in­sufficiency of the basic Gospel, indicating that Jesus Himself had not brought complete salvation.  In short, the Judaizers believed that the work of mankind would complement and bring fulfillment to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Paul reacts strongly against this misdirection, however, recognizing that this error would cause significant problems.  Indeed, the church fathers frequently faced threats to the Gospel, either through addition or subtraction.  Spiritual warfare, as with physical warfare, often involves distortion and deception.  Knowing that the Gospel itself carries the hope of glory, the evil one wishes to mangle or confuse the Truth in favor of the Gospel plus or the Gospel minus.

 

As a counter, Paul urges the Galatian believers to welcome and embrace their freedom in Christ alone, by Christ alone, through Christ alone:  “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit for which we hope.  For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (vv. 5,6)  Paul explains that God will bring His righteousness into the believers’ lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Their hope lies in the certainty of God’s ability to complete this work, guaranteed through the character of God as demonstrated in Christ:  “… Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

 

Our hearts long to cling to outward signs or badges that we may wear through our performance.  Instead, we stand empty before our heavenly King, humble and expectant only because of His goodness, not ours.  This nakedness stirs our hearts to worship and thanksgiving.  How amazing that He has loved us and chosen us as His own!

 

 

“You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my soul thirsts for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

    and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

    my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;

    I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

    I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

    your right hand upholds me.

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;

    they will go down to the depths of the earth.

They will be given over to the sword

    and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God;

    all who swear by God will glory in him,

    while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”

(Psalm 63)

 

Amen.  Please notice David’s heartbeat:  his eager pursuit of His King – at all hours of the days, in every place.  His trust in finding everything in God rings triumphant:  “My soul will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods…  I cling to you;/ your right hand upholds me.”

 

These words echo the truths of a beautiful song that I have been greatly enjoying this week:  “None But Jesus” by Hillsong United (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B63VGWMuYY).  These songs that declare the uniqueness and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ stir peace and worship within me.  They remind me of His sovereignty and true worthiness to receive honor, praise, and glory.  He is indeed the only King.

 

Lord Jesus, we praise You that You are more than enough.  You are everything that we should ever desire, and Your glory and goodness are unfathomably extravagant.  Take us into the Holy Place, where we may see You in all Your glory.  Bring us near to Your heart; change us from the inside out that we may place You first in all things.  Change our sights and senses to trust You and lift You above every other name in heaven and earth.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

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September 17

Isaiah 25-28

Galatians 3

Psalm 61

Proverbs 23:17:18

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law."    

~ Galatians 3:10

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing.

~ Galatians 3:13

When I read Galatians 3:10 today, it stopped me in my tracks. Those who depend on the law to save them are cursed because they cannot possibly keep the entire law and all who do not keep the entire law are cursed. I realize that this is what I do. I know it in my mind that I cannot achieve righteousness by my own actions. I know this is impossible. I know that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. But is this how I live my life? Why, then, do I focus so much on making sure everything I do is right and correct? Why do I feel so guilty and defeated when I screw up? Why to I feel as though God will love me less if I don't do everything perfectly?

If I depend on the law to save me, then I am indeed cursed. I choose to live a life where I am in constant anxiety of being good enough, while knowing full well that I can't ever be good enough.

The solution to this problem is in verse 13: Christ rescued us from the curse by placing it on himself. He already paid the price for my inability to keep the law, so I need to stopped acting like I can earn or lose favor with God based my actions.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I will stop acting as though Your love is not a given. I pray that I will have confidence knowing that You made it possible for me to share in Your righteous because of what Your Son Jesus did on the cross. I pray that I will live in peace knowing that there is nothing I can do to lose favor with You. I pray that I will put my hope and my trust in Your love and Your promises. I pray that all the people who read Galatians 3 today who maybe struggling with the same thing will experience freedom knowing that You rescued us from the curse of sin and death. Thank You for all that You've done and thank You for all the You will in us. Amen.

Monday BlogPost (9/16/13)

Monday, September 16, 2013 [A New Normal]

Galatians 2:17 – 3:9

 

I was very reflective yesterday after the message and this morning as I read the Scriptures.  I have been thinking and thinking about the "turning points" that Pastor Scott mentioned yesterday and how in a moment life can change and a new normal is birthed.  One example is the morning of my wedding.  One minute I was a single guy (an "I") and the next minute I was married (an "us").  It was a glorious day, the honeymoon was amazing, and about a week later I woke up one morning and realized the new normal – "I" had become an "us"!  There was another person to think about, to care for, to make decisions with, etc.  I wasn't prepared for this step – I was too used to only having to think of ME.  Now, I was going to have to pick up my underwear and leave the toilet seat down (among other things).  Everything was changing. I had to begin to think of how who I was and what I did would affect US.  My life as a single guy…died.  (Glory to God!!)  This was one of the great turning points in my life.

 

"I have been crucified WITH Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).  Paul is trying to persuade Jewish Christians in this particular community to no longer enforce the ritual of circumcision on new Gentile believers.  These Jewish believers were forcing their traditions on people who simply wanted Jesus. They were having a hard time letting go of their old life and ways.  I've been there before…many of us have…most of us still are, in one way or another.  The old ways are comfortable and familiar.  The question that we have to ask ourselves is this:  how is the old way working out for you?  Is it making you better or bitter?  Are you growing or are you groaning?  Is your life stellar or stagnant?

 

"Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (Gal. 3:6).  The way to align our lives with God is through faith, an active faith.  Abraham believed God to the point of leaving his peaceful homeland and traveling to an area where life would be difficult.  This was a place where Abraham would have to trust God for everything.  This is where God is calling us.  It's a new normal, a life of faith.  To get there we have to "die" to the old ways.  Holding on to the old ways is NOT faith in Jesus.  And, if it's not faith in Jesus, then what is it?

 

Lord God, every day and every moment of life that You give to us offers us an opportunity for a turning point.  Help us to turn in the right direction.

 

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"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

September 15

September 15, 2013

Galatians 2:20   I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

     During my freshman year at college I joined a fraternity. I joined Lambda Chi Alpha because it was the best party frat on campus. It lived up to its reputation and by the end of my first year I ended up on academic probation. Two weeks later I placed my faith in Jesus Christ. That summer I started the process of growing in my new-found faith. As the summer came to a close I remembered that I was moving into the frat house in a few weeks. The thought sent a cold tingle up my spine. One Christian in the midst of 24 party animals - I didn't have a chance of survival. This was almost the equivalent of Daniel going into the lion's den. What was I going to do? What I did was to make a big mistake.

     I decided to save my life and my reputation. I didn't want to be known as a Jesus freak and I didn't really know what to say. So I went back to the fraternity as a silent witness for Jesus. After 6 weeks of not getting high or engaging in the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night parties, the brothers started to become a bit nervous. Rumor was I had become a NARC.

     Finally they cornered me in the living room of the house and demanded that I tell them what had happened to me. The Lord graciously allowed me the opportunity to share with them for several hours the change Jesus had made in my life.

     The mistake I made was a common one but you can learn from it.  I was trying to save my life. The gospel tells me I must do just the opposite; I must lose it.

     When the Scripture says, "I have been crucified with Christ" it means we have already died. We are dead men on furlough. Here in the USA our fear is not physical death but a social one. We are afraid of rejection.  

The only way to overcome that fear is by love. We must believe that people's souls are in grave danger. They desperately need to hear the message we have. And because we love these people we will risk everything to tell them the truth. Love is the only motivation strong enough to overcome fear.

     So learn the lesson of one foolish freshman. There is great freedom when we lose our lives for the gospel. When we lose our lives we will actually find that we gain great freedom. Share the love of God boldly and freely with people today. You have nothing to lose.

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Sep 14 - Whose approval do I seek?

Is 15:1-18:7

Gal 1:1-24

Ps 58:1-11

Pro 23:12

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I admit it - after having given my life to God, after having experienced Him in my life, and having spoken about Him thrice before our congregation, I still try to please people, which confirms I am still not a servant of Christ.  It used to be easy to see how I was trying to please people - when I was single, trying to impress the girls; when I was in school, trying to look sharp for the teachers; when first in a tie after graduation, trying to win the approval of potential employers.  While I find I still care what my employer thinks of my work, I realize that isn't really where the problem is.  It is with where my heart is, and as a parent, my heart is now with my children, and their future.  And there is where I realize I am still most vulnerable to the allure of the world: because I believe the world appreciates and rewards certain types of people, I want them to work hard in school so they can get into a good college; I worry about their SATs and their grades, their extracurriculars and their social lives.  I want them to get into a good college, so they can find a good job, hopefully enjoy a life of abundance.  What could be wrong with any of that?  After all, none of this is for me, right?  

Leaving aside Pastor Scott's sermon last Sunday about how Solomon had tried it all, and found a life apart from God meaningless, upon reflection I realize that, regardless of my motivation, there is a lot that is seriously wrong with this thinking, not just for myself, but for my kids as well.  First, I am aspiring to this for my children pretending I know what the future holds for them, and where their happiness might lie.  I act as though my life experiences and my aspirations (which have often enough been cause for misery - both my own and my family's) give me the power to predict the future.  The truth is, the only thing certain about this course of action for my children is it is bound to be wrong, bound to cause them sadness and pain.  Besides the impact this might have on my children, I am collateral damage, because even without knowing it, I have continued to embrace what the world wants, to the detriment of my relationship with God.

So if after 47 years, many of them after I'd given my life to God, I still don't get it, what is one to do?  Thankfully, we have a patient and instructive God...and we can take heart in today's proverb: Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.  

God, I confess I still do NOT get it, and I continue to find myself swept up by what the world values.  Teach me, teach my wife and my children to recognize when we are trying to please people, and give a hunger only to serve You.

9/13/13

9/13/13

I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them. I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God's power. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. (2 Corinthians 13:2-6 NLT)

Deal with it.
I think this is a good warning for Churches everywhere. Their sins had been pointed out to them, yet no change. They weren't becoming more righteous, they were wallowing in their sins. Paul was an agent of change. But in fact, it was Christ that was that agent. Paul was pleading for them to deal with it, to take care of it on their own. Now we don't know the outcome in Corinth, but we have a pretty clear vision of what we need to do, and what they needed to do. Self examination is key to our success in cleaning up our lives. The truth is, if we look close enough, if we really look at ourselves in the mirror, there is plenty to work on. The point is, we need to work on it, not just wallow in it. We cannot defeat sin if we are not intentional. We need to be intentional.

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Thursday, September 12

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Isaiah 10:1–11:16

2 Corinthians 12:11–21

Psalm 56:1–13

Proverbs 23:6–8

 

 

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—

    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and of might,

    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

    and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

    or decide by what he hears with his ears;

but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Righteousness will be his belt

    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb,

    the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling  together;

    and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

    their young will lie down together,

    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the cobra’s den,

    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy

    on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

    as the waters cover the sea.”

(Isaiah 11:1–9)

 

 

In Thursday’s reading, we encountered further Messianic prophecy in Isaiah.  These encouraging words speak of a coming Kingdom, whose fulfillment would come both in the first earthly coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and more fully in the Second Coming, with its attendant restoration.

 

As believers, we may rejoice in what God has already accomplished in Christ, revealing once-veiled mysteries and unlocking the promise of salvation through a humble trust in the Risen Jesus.  Yet, we also hope – not a flimsy fantasy, but a grounded assurance – that the further promises of the full-fledged Kingdom will bear fruit in the Second Coming.

 

Paul writes in Romans 8:18–24 about the creation’s longing for this entire fulfillment:

 

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

 

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

 

 

As with the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:10,11, we recognize that the contrast between the decaying world (entropy) and the eternal hunger within the human heart (eternity) – and the ultimate pain it causes.  May we who have received the Good News of Christ’s coming rejoice but also continue to hunger and thirst after righteousness.

 

Lord, we pray for pure hearts.  Help us to rejoice in Your goodness and to look warily towards the lying spirits of this world and the evil kingdom.  Give us wisdom from Your Holy Spirit to discern truth from lie.  Bring hope to those who suffer and mourn today:  a vision of Your present and coming glory.  Pour into us Your comfort that we may comfort those who are hurting.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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September 10

Isaiah 6-7

2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Psalm 54:1-7

Proverbs 23:1-3

Isaiah 7:6-9

"Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it." Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "'It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'"

Ahaz was king of Judah and he was afraid. Israel and Aram were joining forces with the intention of attacking Jerusalem. Isaiah was sent by God to comfort Ahaz, saying that He would not allow this to happen. These nations of Israel and Aram were ruled by kings who were merely human and they were not as powerful as they thought they were. In verse 4, God referred to them as "smoldering stubs of firewood." That doesn't sound too threatening, does it? Smoldering firewood compared to the Creator of the universe? I don't think so.

I found it interesting that God pointed out how weak these kings were and that was the reason that Ahaz shouldn't fear them. Then Isaiah gave a sign of the coming Immanuel, God With Us, the Messiah, Jesus. With Immanuel on your side, there will never be anything to fear. Immanuel is the King of kings. If Ahaz was not to fear Israel and Aram because their kings were weak, then how was he suppose to view Immanuel? With awe and reverence and trust. Even when there are armies against you, look to the One is more powerful and the One who is on your side.