Monday Morning (okay Tuesday) 10/13/2014

"And of some have compassion, making a difference" (Jude 22)

Last week I talked about being a “WELL” individual and how that would work in our relationship with a “WELL” church. Remember the church is not the building. The church is you and me. Are you “Worshipping (God honoring and Christ exalting),” “Evangelizing” (sharing), “Learning” (watching), and “Loving” (caring)?

All of that comes down to one word: Relationship. What is your relationship with Jesus? What is your relationship with others? If you stop and think about it, if you say you love Jesus or love someone else, it means you do one thing: care. If you say you don’t want anything to do Jesus or someone else because they offend you or something? It means you don’t care.

Acts chapter 3 is an interesting picture of this. A man who could not walk from birth would be carried (Someone cares enough to do this) to the temple every day for him to beg for money to live. People who passed by saw him, knew him by name and probably knew his mom and dad. But who would stop and just encourage this man? Who would stop and just chat with him? NOBODY would stop! People just acted like he was invisible.

How would that make you feel? If you knew he was there would you stop? We will all probably say we would. But in reality, we wouldn’t bother. It’s his problem. He is the government’s problem. He is someone else’s problem.

There are those who ask the question, “What is the opposite of knowledge?” It is NOT “Stupid,” “dumb,” “low functioning,” or “don’t know.” The opposite of knowledge is ignorance. Ignorance can be called “insensitive,” “indifference” “shallow,” or even “don’t care.” Not caring is an attitude. It shows coldness and hardness in our hearts.

But look what happens: Peter and John are on their way to temple. They notice the man who cannot walk. How many days had they passed by and NOT noticed him even though he was there every day and Peter and John probably went to temple every day too! Peter "fixed his eyes on" the man. No-one else would have anything to do with him. You see the Jews believed that such a man must be a sinner (or perhaps his parents were) to not be able to walk from birth. Some even thought this was a punishment of God. But as Peter saw him perhaps he remembered what Jesus had said another time and place, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." (John 9:3)

And so Peter reaches out and heals the man. It is immediate. It is total healing. The man jumps up and leaves jumping dancing and praising God! Tell me - is the hand that reaches out Peter’s or God’s? The answer is: YES! Yes, it’s Peter’s - because WE ARE HIS HANDS AND FEET - it’s also God’s. What does Colossians 1:27 say - "CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!"

The lame man was healed because GOD’S POWER FLOWS WHEREVER HE IS. If we would see the power we must secure the presence of Jesus. Jesus wants relationship with us because HE CARES! We should share Jesus’ heart and reach out to those around us that we pass everyday but do not see.

Ignorance is blindness. Do you care enough to open the eyes of your heart and care enough to look around you and see other's needs before your own? That is caring.

Someone once said that the only thing worse than hell is when you find out that no one is looking for you. Jesus said he came to seek and save what was lost. Jesus also said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Whatever is important to you is where your heart is. If wanting people to have life in Jesus is important to you then caring enough to make a difference in someone else’s life is where your heart is. And if your heart is there you really do care.

Remember, if you have faith to make a difference to someone else. You have more than enough faith to care. You have more than enough faith to care.

Monday Morning 10/6/2014

I am seeing more and more people who stop going to church because of their relationship with another person in the church. The church is not the building, nor is it a high school hallway. It is not a social club. Church is a body of believers put together with special skills to be used for the glory of God and for the spread of the Gospel. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, not you, not the Pastor. We all need a relationship with Jesus Christ and we need a relationship through Jesus with each other. If someone says they don’t want to go to church because some other person with whom they have some problem goes there is like saying we don’t go to church because we might hear about Jesus.

God’s original design for the church is found in the book of Acts. If there was ever a church growth plan that worked, it was the one used by those early followers. Talk about effectiveness. This church exploded. Why? Because the believers knew why they were there and what they were supposed to do.
If we were to do a side by side comparison of the early followers and their church and ourselves, I dare say that we would come up way short. As I look at the Acts church and I look at our church, I can’t help but notice that we have a long way to go. This should not discourage us, it should challenge us, and I would hope it challenges you. Every time I read this passage I see not only what we are not, but what we can be.

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Acts 2:42-47 shows us they were a “WELL” church with four foundational qualities:
They were a Worshipping Church – God is exalted; Christ is the center.
They were an Evangelizing Church – They went to their communities sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
They were a Learning Church – They could not know enough about God’s love for them and His creation.

They were a Loving Church – They were in relationship with each other with One God, One Savior, and One faith.
Is God and Jesus the center of your worship? If not, you’re not “WELL.”

Do you share Jesus with your community? If you don’t, you’re not “WELL.”

Do you really know how much God loves you? If you don’t you’re not “WELL”

How much do you love your brothers and sisters? If you cannot put aside petty unimportant gossip and differences, you are not “WELL.”

I believe that when God set up the first church, HE DID IT RIGHT! So if we are going to do it right, we need to do it God’s way.

God’s church is a church family.

God’s church is brother and sister bound together in love; caring for one another, helping one another, serving one another. Not fighting with each other.
God’s church is a place where there is true fellowship & ministry.

Where is your heart focused? Is your heart “WELL?”

Monday Morning 6/3/2013

There are people who struggle with trust and faith. The Bible says faith can move mountains. But the reality is that we must trust the ones doing the moving.

Simply, trust is a decision we make. Trust means there is room for failure. If we are honest we say that we trust a friend, a spouse, our pastors, and we say that we trust God. But then something bad happens and all trust is gone out the window.

Faith says there is no failure. Did you ever wonder why, in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, Paul writes that three things will remain: “Faith, Hope, and Love?” Why didn’t Paul write “Trust” instead of “Faith?” Why not, “Three things remain: TRUST, Hope, and Love?”

Many people think trust and faith is the same thing. Trust is a step toward faith. Faith is the completion of trust. In John 14 Jesus said, “Trust God but also trust me.” That is the presence of trust. Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many mansions. If it’s not true, I would not tell you.” Jesus said, “I’m going ahead of you to unlock the door, then I’ll be back to get you and bring you with me.” That is the promise of trust. Finally Jesus said, “Trust in me.” Jesus is saying he is not only going to show us the way, or tell us the way, or write out the instructions on how to get there. He is saying He will come and take us by the hand to His Father’s house. Then we will be home. Faith demands action. Faith does not stay silent.

We trust Jesus when we read His words. We trust Jesus that He speaks absolute truth. And we trust Jesus will do what he says he will do. These are all parts of faith. Putting all these separate things together, truth, dependable, and action, we know with no doubt Jesus will do what He says He will do. That is faith.

Jesus says to not only have an “intellectual” faith as the result of trust, but to have an “active” faith. The book of James says to be “doers” of the Word not just “listeners.” What we learn about Jesus needs to be shown in our relationship with Him and others. Faith is trust in action. Trust is something that belongs to us. I can ask you to trust me, but until faith is established, there will always be that little piece of doubt, waiting to let us down.

Trust can be weak or solid. Trust can be gained or lost. Faith says no matter what is weak or solid, whatever is gained or lost, faith is what will stand clear being what will bring us through the best and the worst times of our life.

The book of James also says we will have troubles. He doesn’t say “if” troubles happen but “when” they happen, give thanks. Huh? The Book of 1 Peter follows up on this: “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1 6-7)

In other words, we have trusted and been disappointed, but this has only built and strengthened our faith. Peter says it will bring praise, glory and honor to us. But it’s not for what we have done but what faith in Jesus has done.

But check this out. Peter goes on: “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for this trust will be the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9) The reward of trust is faith. The reward of faith in Jesus Christ is eternal life.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”Confidence and assurance only happen with one thing: trust. Without trust there is no faith. Without faith there cannot be trust.

Let me end with this:

Character without faith is fake.
Knowledge without faith is useless information.
Self-control without faith is dangerous.

Endurance without faith is empty at the end.
Godliness without faith is mere religion.
Brotherly kindness without faith is self-serving.
Love without faith is not true love.