This past Sunday we talked about living a pure life (100% milk, or your other favorite beverage). The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. Create in me a pure heart Lord! But "How can a young man keep his way pure, by living according to Your word." (Psalm 119) Seriously, lets be real though. How hard is it to live a pure life in this day in age? HARD! Not saying that I don't think it can be done or that God expects any less of us.
As I was pondering purity and my own life lately, I felt utterly discouraged and overwhelmed. That is when the Lord told me to start from square one. Go back to the basics. Jesus says in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Remember we must daily wear those shoes of peace: cleats with over 2000 promises grounding us from slipping and falling.
We must also remember where all those temptations come from. For we are not fighting about flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6). We are fighting against the devil himself. The world we live in today is filled with his traps: designed perfectly for us to slip and fall into. Among those snares are images, ideas, and idols of this world.
But let us not dwell on the negative. Let us be encouraged by some of God's promises: We already have victory in Jesus, because He did live a pure and perfect life, and by His blood we are washed white as snow. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. So there you go. Jesus is the key ingredient to purity. Yes he wants us to learn to recognizes Satan's specific traps for us, to lead us not into temptation, deliver us from the evil one, and to call on Jesus' name, ask for His forgiveness, grace and mercy when we do fall into those traps.
The last thing God wants is for us to live in Satan's bondage. Not only did He intend for us to live a life of peace, hope, and joy, but a life sharing that with others. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." If you fall into Satan's trap, not only do you loose your flavor or righteousness, but you are not preserving the Good News about Jesus. If you do fall, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 Thank you Jesus for making us salty ;o)
Jesus also says in Matthew 5: 14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Remember we live in a dark world. In a room full of 30 people, how many people do you think are truly following Jesus? My guess is 1 to 3. In that dark room, if only 1 person has a flashlight (and you are that person), how differently would you live? Why else aren't we in heaven yet? God left us here to love God and love others by sharing the good news about His Son Jesus our Lord and Savior from sin and death. How else can we better do that, than by being the only light in a dark room and leading others to Christ? Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Follow Jesus, be the light of life today!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Taste and See that the Lord is Good
This morning we read about Paul's testimony (Acts 22) and how he connected with the people he was telling it to by sharing his somewhat embarrassing past. If people didn't know us before we were Christians, sometimes they don't see our transformation. Paul told the Jews in Jerusalem that he was once just like them. Paul even stood by the clothes, in approval, of the martyrs who stoned Stephen, the very first Christian to be killed for his faith in Jesus. Paul hated Christians what seemed like even more than he loved God.
But Paul also said he was boldly converted to Christ. After going blind on the road to Damascus to persecute even more Christians, he decided to believe in and follow Jesus and The Way. He didn't have to though. He could have lived the rest of his life blind and without true peace, joy, and hope. Thankfully he didn't. He asked Jesus' Holy Spirit to come into his heart and transform him. Now Paul isn't persecuting Christians; the pendulum has shifted: he is the one being persecuted for his faith and walk with Jesus.
We were asked this morning if we would describe our own conversion to Christianity as well as Paul did. I said I wouldn't. Although, I believe that I can, however because the same Spirit lives in me. Let us learn from Paul and share our testimonies with humility, truth, and love.
Many of you know I didn't meet Jesus until I was in college, in what I thought was, my lonely sorority dorm room. I don't however always share the facts leading up to my rock bottom night. I was sitting in that dorm room on a Saturday night studying for an O-Chem test not because I needed to (although I did need to). I was studying by myself on a Saturday night because the weekend before I screwed up...big time. It was the beginning of my sophomore year at college and I was drinking and hanging out at a friend's house. The opportunity arose to smoke pot and I did. We soon left looking for another party (aka more trouble) when I was cornered by a cop with his flashlight shining into my eyes. The next thing I know, I'm sitting in his cop car telling him I'm 21 (I wasn't 21). He asked me for my I.D. and I said I could go get it (my fake I.D.) at my house. By the grace of God the cop ended up writing me an M.I.P. instead (not sure what happened, I either told him the truth or I'm a really bad liar).
Needless to say this was my blinding moment. I remember best sitting in that cop car and asking myself, "how did I get here?" Now mind you, I wasn't an angel in H.S. but my parents must not have done enough to blind me. Saul (later to become Paul) also had a rock bottom. I wonder if in those first moments of darkness he similarly asked himself "how did I get here?" That is where he met God. God spoke to him asking him, "why do you persecute me?" God spoke to me too. As I sat so lonely, lost, and sad in my room just days later, God told me "you're never really alone, I am always with you." Here is where my testimony differs from Saul's. Where Saul believed in Jesus, repented and wholeheartedly followed him the rest of his life, it took me longer. This part I have shared, but not in this way. If any of you are in this place, not having wholeheartedly made the decision to give God your best and your all, I hope my story will help change your mind.
After hitting rock bottom and having my biggest fear relieved by the words of my Almighty Creator, God and Father, I somehow managed to fall back into my normal routine, except now I knew the truth and that there was more to life than this. Imagine a drink you absolutely despise. Mine's Mt. Dew. Call me crazy but I never could catch on to "doing the Dew". Literally, you would have to pay me a supstantial amount of money to drink a whole can of Mt. Dew. What I learned that night in the cop car was this: I didn't like my life. I didn't like who I had become. Although I still continued to live that way, it was repulsive to me. I knew it was wrong. I continued to drink Mt. Dew. Although as much as I hate dew, by living my life of sin, I was constantly drinking it. Pursuing sex, drinking, and bad company...bad music, movies, books...the list went on and on.
Now imagine a drink you love, love, love! Mine's milk. I know I'm not you're average duck but what other drink can you pour over your cereal, add cocoa to, and saturate cookies with? Seriously, don't "do the dew", "got milk"! Although I didn't know a lot of truth about Jesus yet, the peace I experienced the night I hit rock bottom was unsurpassable. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. And even though milk doesn't make me feel that wonderful, it's the best analogy I can compare. When I first met Jesus, I knew He was who I wanted to be living for, I just couldn't figure out how to do what Paul did. Paul met Jesus, believed in Him, made a 180 degree turn and followed Him. He discovered milk, gave up Mt. Dew and drank milk for the rest of his life. I met Jesus, believed in Him whenever my life continued to fall flat, and asked Him to follow me. Instead of giving up Mt. Dew or my life of sin and drinking milk or living righteously, I tried to add milk to my dew. I pursued College ministry, Bible study, and Church. Trust me when I say, Mt. Dew + dashes of milk = worse than Mt. Dew.
I continued to do that for a long time, until my life became more milk than mt. dew. This is where most of us live. We're carnal Christians. We have enough world in us to be unhappy in Jesus. In other words, there's enough Dew in our milk to make it taste bad. Bottom line: don't mix any dew with milk! If dew is sin, every time we fall into temptation and give in to the desires of the flesh, we add dew to our milk. Although milk with just a little dew is better than 100% dew, 100% milk is better. Not only is it better, it's possible with our Helper, the Holy Spirit. He gives us wisdom and discernment to see the temptations of dew, and He will always provides a way out when we are tempted. The more and more we see this way out and take it, the less dew tempts us. But when we do succumb to mixing dew into our milk, be convicted of your sin, repent, and turn back to Jesus. He already paid the price for our sins: past, present, and future. Take His free gift, He paid a very high price indeed and to not accept it is a slap in His face.
If your life just doesn't taste right. Sin is robbing you of true peace and joy. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what sin is in your life. Don't become complacent living a somewhat tainted life. God intended you to live a pure and holy life. This kind of life is the most glorifying to Him because your focus isn't taken from Him and His will from your life. Live wholeheartedly for Jesus. Drink 100% milk. Once you do, nothing less than perfect tastes good. Taste and see that the Lord is Good.
But Paul also said he was boldly converted to Christ. After going blind on the road to Damascus to persecute even more Christians, he decided to believe in and follow Jesus and The Way. He didn't have to though. He could have lived the rest of his life blind and without true peace, joy, and hope. Thankfully he didn't. He asked Jesus' Holy Spirit to come into his heart and transform him. Now Paul isn't persecuting Christians; the pendulum has shifted: he is the one being persecuted for his faith and walk with Jesus.
We were asked this morning if we would describe our own conversion to Christianity as well as Paul did. I said I wouldn't. Although, I believe that I can, however because the same Spirit lives in me. Let us learn from Paul and share our testimonies with humility, truth, and love.
Many of you know I didn't meet Jesus until I was in college, in what I thought was, my lonely sorority dorm room. I don't however always share the facts leading up to my rock bottom night. I was sitting in that dorm room on a Saturday night studying for an O-Chem test not because I needed to (although I did need to). I was studying by myself on a Saturday night because the weekend before I screwed up...big time. It was the beginning of my sophomore year at college and I was drinking and hanging out at a friend's house. The opportunity arose to smoke pot and I did. We soon left looking for another party (aka more trouble) when I was cornered by a cop with his flashlight shining into my eyes. The next thing I know, I'm sitting in his cop car telling him I'm 21 (I wasn't 21). He asked me for my I.D. and I said I could go get it (my fake I.D.) at my house. By the grace of God the cop ended up writing me an M.I.P. instead (not sure what happened, I either told him the truth or I'm a really bad liar).
Needless to say this was my blinding moment. I remember best sitting in that cop car and asking myself, "how did I get here?" Now mind you, I wasn't an angel in H.S. but my parents must not have done enough to blind me. Saul (later to become Paul) also had a rock bottom. I wonder if in those first moments of darkness he similarly asked himself "how did I get here?" That is where he met God. God spoke to him asking him, "why do you persecute me?" God spoke to me too. As I sat so lonely, lost, and sad in my room just days later, God told me "you're never really alone, I am always with you." Here is where my testimony differs from Saul's. Where Saul believed in Jesus, repented and wholeheartedly followed him the rest of his life, it took me longer. This part I have shared, but not in this way. If any of you are in this place, not having wholeheartedly made the decision to give God your best and your all, I hope my story will help change your mind.
After hitting rock bottom and having my biggest fear relieved by the words of my Almighty Creator, God and Father, I somehow managed to fall back into my normal routine, except now I knew the truth and that there was more to life than this. Imagine a drink you absolutely despise. Mine's Mt. Dew. Call me crazy but I never could catch on to "doing the Dew". Literally, you would have to pay me a supstantial amount of money to drink a whole can of Mt. Dew. What I learned that night in the cop car was this: I didn't like my life. I didn't like who I had become. Although I still continued to live that way, it was repulsive to me. I knew it was wrong. I continued to drink Mt. Dew. Although as much as I hate dew, by living my life of sin, I was constantly drinking it. Pursuing sex, drinking, and bad company...bad music, movies, books...the list went on and on.
Now imagine a drink you love, love, love! Mine's milk. I know I'm not you're average duck but what other drink can you pour over your cereal, add cocoa to, and saturate cookies with? Seriously, don't "do the dew", "got milk"! Although I didn't know a lot of truth about Jesus yet, the peace I experienced the night I hit rock bottom was unsurpassable. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. And even though milk doesn't make me feel that wonderful, it's the best analogy I can compare. When I first met Jesus, I knew He was who I wanted to be living for, I just couldn't figure out how to do what Paul did. Paul met Jesus, believed in Him, made a 180 degree turn and followed Him. He discovered milk, gave up Mt. Dew and drank milk for the rest of his life. I met Jesus, believed in Him whenever my life continued to fall flat, and asked Him to follow me. Instead of giving up Mt. Dew or my life of sin and drinking milk or living righteously, I tried to add milk to my dew. I pursued College ministry, Bible study, and Church. Trust me when I say, Mt. Dew + dashes of milk = worse than Mt. Dew.
I continued to do that for a long time, until my life became more milk than mt. dew. This is where most of us live. We're carnal Christians. We have enough world in us to be unhappy in Jesus. In other words, there's enough Dew in our milk to make it taste bad. Bottom line: don't mix any dew with milk! If dew is sin, every time we fall into temptation and give in to the desires of the flesh, we add dew to our milk. Although milk with just a little dew is better than 100% dew, 100% milk is better. Not only is it better, it's possible with our Helper, the Holy Spirit. He gives us wisdom and discernment to see the temptations of dew, and He will always provides a way out when we are tempted. The more and more we see this way out and take it, the less dew tempts us. But when we do succumb to mixing dew into our milk, be convicted of your sin, repent, and turn back to Jesus. He already paid the price for our sins: past, present, and future. Take His free gift, He paid a very high price indeed and to not accept it is a slap in His face.
If your life just doesn't taste right. Sin is robbing you of true peace and joy. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what sin is in your life. Don't become complacent living a somewhat tainted life. God intended you to live a pure and holy life. This kind of life is the most glorifying to Him because your focus isn't taken from Him and His will from your life. Live wholeheartedly for Jesus. Drink 100% milk. Once you do, nothing less than perfect tastes good. Taste and see that the Lord is Good.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Shoes of Peace
There are over 2000 promises written in the Bible. And when you make the decision to become a Christian, a little Christ, a follower of Jesus, God equips you with life-saving shoes of peace. If you can imagine a pair of cleets, these shoes also have pegs, each one representing a promise of God. With well over 2000, these shoes without a doubt ground you and keep you from slipping, stumbling, and falling when the enemy is inevitably after you in this game of life.
Some of these promises:
God loves you.
Jesus died for you.
Your sins are forgiven.
God is your ever-present help in trouble.
You are a new creation in Christ.
Jesus is the bread of life.
The Lord gives wisdom.
He heals the broken-hearted.
He will direct your paths.
He will swallow up death in victory.
The Lord upholds you with His hand.
God does not tempt you, but always provides a way out when you are.
He created you.
He puts His Spirit within you.
Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
All scripture is God-breathed.
Jesus was wounded for your transgressions.
If you believe in Him, you will have everlasting life.
You are without excuse.
No eye has seen the things which God has prepared for you who love Him.
And my favorite: Jesus is coming back for you.
If you're already a Christian, remember these promises and receive God's peace that surpasses all understanding. If you want these promises, become a follower of Jesus and they will be yours today!
Some of these promises:
God loves you.
Jesus died for you.
Your sins are forgiven.
God is your ever-present help in trouble.
You are a new creation in Christ.
Jesus is the bread of life.
The Lord gives wisdom.
He heals the broken-hearted.
He will direct your paths.
He will swallow up death in victory.
The Lord upholds you with His hand.
God does not tempt you, but always provides a way out when you are.
He created you.
He puts His Spirit within you.
Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
All scripture is God-breathed.
Jesus was wounded for your transgressions.
If you believe in Him, you will have everlasting life.
You are without excuse.
No eye has seen the things which God has prepared for you who love Him.
And my favorite: Jesus is coming back for you.
If you're already a Christian, remember these promises and receive God's peace that surpasses all understanding. If you want these promises, become a follower of Jesus and they will be yours today!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Encouragment from the Holy Spirit.
We talked last Sunday about all the encouragement Paul was always giving believers. So much one time (Acts 20), that he caused someone to fall asleep and fall out of a window to their death; where by the power of the Holy Spirit Paul raised the lad to life again. What did he talk about all night long we wondered?
Well we soon find out, without a doubt, in Luke's next chapter (Acts 21), that Paul's encouragement came from the Holy Spirit. It had to! Because even when Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, he never once showed fear or doubt, even though it was revealed to him that he would not see his friends again AND his friends provided the complete opposite of encouragement for his calling. Talk about an overflowing cup! Paul can encourage all night long AND be obedient even until death (mind you without human support). Sound like someone familiar? Does Jesus ring a bell. No wonder why Paul could follow in Jesus' footsteps; Paul was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit every step of God's will for his life.
May we do likewise. Not only listen for our calling, but be obedient to that calling, while drawing on the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and sharing that encouragement with others.
In Acts 21:19-22 Paul states, "I have served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."
He goes on to say in verse 25, "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom with ever see me again."
Then in verse 38 Luke tells us "What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again."
Have any of you ever lost a close friend or family member, and it literally pained you to think you would never see that person face to face here on earth again? That's what Paul's friends are experiencing here. Except that Paul hasn't died yet. Can you imagine the kind of pressure he felt to stick around and not follow through with going to Jerusalem? Immense pressure I can imagine. Paul however, did not succumb to the pressure or let his emotions get the best of him. He was encouraged by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. And a short journey it was not. He didn't just take a jet plane there, which would have cut down on the time spent thinking about Jerusalem, as well as the people Paul came into contact with on his way there.
Luke says in Acts 21:3-5 "We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way."
Have you ever had someone tell you, "don't go" or "don't do this, I have a bad feeling about it?" What happens to you? I usually get a bad feeling about it too. But Paul didn't. At least he didn't show it. He was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit to keep on going. And just when discouraging words weren't enough, visually Paul was shown someone's prophesy. Remember when we talked last week about a pseudo hell, with heaters going in a dark room with eerie noises. The best part about this representation of hell: it wasn't real...you could leave the room at any time! Is it too late for Paul to do the same?
"After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done'" (Acts 21:10-14).
Paul still being on his journey to Jerusalem, could have stopped and turned around at any moment. But he didn't. Even after grieving, urging, and pleading from his friends, Paul would not be dissuaded. Obviously Paul didn't draw on his friends for encouragement to follow God's will for his life. And although I'm not Paul, after trying my very best to place myself in his shoes, I'm almost positive Paul couldn't draw on himself for encouragement to follow God's will for his life either. I will tell you exactly who I believe Paul was getting his encouragement from: Jesus' Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus went through an almost identical situation.
As read in the gospels, Jesus also predicted His death, and the events leading up to it. As soon as the disciples realized who He really was, "the Christ, the Son of the living God...Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 'Never Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to You!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling a block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:16-24)
Jesus also had a calling, a purpose. And unlike Paul, He did know the outcome. He also knew that anything that stood in the way of God's plan for His life, was a flaming arrow from the evil one, serving to dissuade and distract Jesus from focusing on God. Also unlike Paul, Jesus was perfect; He spent 40 days being tempted in the desert by Satan, who failed miserably. As we've said before, no we don't have Jesus walking with us as the disciples did. We have something even better! We have Jesus' Holy Spirit living in us! Like Paul, let us call on Jesus for encouragement. He has more wisdom and power than we could ever imagine.
Because if you thought Paul's journey to Jerusalem was inspiring, listen to his reaction once in Jerusalem. The Jews seized Paul, lied about him, beat him, arrested him, chained him, shouted at him, and questioned him. Let's be real. What would your response be to being treated that way? Me not being any angry person would probably cave and cry. Paul: he didn't get angry and he definitely didn't let his emotions get the best of him.
"As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, 'May I say something to you? Do you speak Greek?' he replied. 'Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?' Paul answered, 'I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.' Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 'Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.'" (Acts 21:37-Acts 22:1)
Does Paul's calm and collected response sound familiar? Jesus had much the same response.
Jesus replied "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him...The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, 'This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus. 'Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
Both Paul and Jesus told the truth because it's the easiest thing to remember. Just this morning Craig preached out of Philippians 4, a letter written by Paul when he is later sitting in prison. He said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know Paul really believed that because it was seen in his life: how he went through trial after trial, sometimes with his only encouragement being the Holy Spirit. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit is the only encouragement we need. And "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my (Paul's) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)
Paul's calling came from the Father, his path from Jesus, and his encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Where does yours come from? Because lets be honest, we all have moments when we try to force our own will, take our own path, and provide our own encouragement. But the reality is, there is more peace, joy, and hope in life when we call upon the Lord for help.
Well we soon find out, without a doubt, in Luke's next chapter (Acts 21), that Paul's encouragement came from the Holy Spirit. It had to! Because even when Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, he never once showed fear or doubt, even though it was revealed to him that he would not see his friends again AND his friends provided the complete opposite of encouragement for his calling. Talk about an overflowing cup! Paul can encourage all night long AND be obedient even until death (mind you without human support). Sound like someone familiar? Does Jesus ring a bell. No wonder why Paul could follow in Jesus' footsteps; Paul was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit every step of God's will for his life.
May we do likewise. Not only listen for our calling, but be obedient to that calling, while drawing on the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and sharing that encouragement with others.
In Acts 21:19-22 Paul states, "I have served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."
He goes on to say in verse 25, "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom with ever see me again."
Then in verse 38 Luke tells us "What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again."
Have any of you ever lost a close friend or family member, and it literally pained you to think you would never see that person face to face here on earth again? That's what Paul's friends are experiencing here. Except that Paul hasn't died yet. Can you imagine the kind of pressure he felt to stick around and not follow through with going to Jerusalem? Immense pressure I can imagine. Paul however, did not succumb to the pressure or let his emotions get the best of him. He was encouraged by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. And a short journey it was not. He didn't just take a jet plane there, which would have cut down on the time spent thinking about Jerusalem, as well as the people Paul came into contact with on his way there.
Luke says in Acts 21:3-5 "We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way."
Have you ever had someone tell you, "don't go" or "don't do this, I have a bad feeling about it?" What happens to you? I usually get a bad feeling about it too. But Paul didn't. At least he didn't show it. He was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit to keep on going. And just when discouraging words weren't enough, visually Paul was shown someone's prophesy. Remember when we talked last week about a pseudo hell, with heaters going in a dark room with eerie noises. The best part about this representation of hell: it wasn't real...you could leave the room at any time! Is it too late for Paul to do the same?
"After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done'" (Acts 21:10-14).
Paul still being on his journey to Jerusalem, could have stopped and turned around at any moment. But he didn't. Even after grieving, urging, and pleading from his friends, Paul would not be dissuaded. Obviously Paul didn't draw on his friends for encouragement to follow God's will for his life. And although I'm not Paul, after trying my very best to place myself in his shoes, I'm almost positive Paul couldn't draw on himself for encouragement to follow God's will for his life either. I will tell you exactly who I believe Paul was getting his encouragement from: Jesus' Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus went through an almost identical situation.
As read in the gospels, Jesus also predicted His death, and the events leading up to it. As soon as the disciples realized who He really was, "the Christ, the Son of the living God...Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 'Never Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to You!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling a block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:16-24)
Jesus also had a calling, a purpose. And unlike Paul, He did know the outcome. He also knew that anything that stood in the way of God's plan for His life, was a flaming arrow from the evil one, serving to dissuade and distract Jesus from focusing on God. Also unlike Paul, Jesus was perfect; He spent 40 days being tempted in the desert by Satan, who failed miserably. As we've said before, no we don't have Jesus walking with us as the disciples did. We have something even better! We have Jesus' Holy Spirit living in us! Like Paul, let us call on Jesus for encouragement. He has more wisdom and power than we could ever imagine.
Because if you thought Paul's journey to Jerusalem was inspiring, listen to his reaction once in Jerusalem. The Jews seized Paul, lied about him, beat him, arrested him, chained him, shouted at him, and questioned him. Let's be real. What would your response be to being treated that way? Me not being any angry person would probably cave and cry. Paul: he didn't get angry and he definitely didn't let his emotions get the best of him.
"As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, 'May I say something to you? Do you speak Greek?' he replied. 'Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?' Paul answered, 'I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.' Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 'Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.'" (Acts 21:37-Acts 22:1)
Does Paul's calm and collected response sound familiar? Jesus had much the same response.
Jesus replied "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him...The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, 'This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus. 'Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
Both Paul and Jesus told the truth because it's the easiest thing to remember. Just this morning Craig preached out of Philippians 4, a letter written by Paul when he is later sitting in prison. He said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know Paul really believed that because it was seen in his life: how he went through trial after trial, sometimes with his only encouragement being the Holy Spirit. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit is the only encouragement we need. And "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my (Paul's) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)
Paul's calling came from the Father, his path from Jesus, and his encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Where does yours come from? Because lets be honest, we all have moments when we try to force our own will, take our own path, and provide our own encouragement. But the reality is, there is more peace, joy, and hope in life when we call upon the Lord for help.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Grow, flourish, and thrive
One of the hardest battles I believe teenagers face when they go off to college, is they don't know themselves well enough. For some of them, they have been sheltered, fed, and disciplined all their lives, never truly discovering what their strengths and weaknesses are.
In High School, most teenagers are like a baby trees in Wheatland, Wyoming. This town's nickname is Windy Wheatland so you can imagine the kind of nurturing a tree must have in order to thrive here. When our trees are babies, not only do we have to add things to the soil in order for it to hold moisture, but we have to put up wind barriers, drip systems, use herbicides, pesticides, and vitamins! Seriously, I have a hard time imagining when the Bible talks about the cedars being so thick.
As teenagers we are much like these baby trees in Wheatland. We are nurtured so much by our parents that once we finally have to fend for ourselves, not only do we sometimes stop growing, we often backtrack and even die (to sin that is). My challenge to all teenagers is to figure out who they are before they leave the nest. Recognize your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Chances are these are traits that will follow you throughout your lifetime. Mine have. Ask God to start revealing these to you. Bless others with your strengths and ask God to strengthen what is a weakness in your life. Think of some lifelong habits you want to possess and start working on those, now. Have a vision for what your life will look like during and after college. Look at the logistics of these goals and start working on them, today. Once you're in High School, as tedious, tiresome, and long it might seem, college really is just around the corner.
The reason I am sharing this with you all is because college was tough for me: academically, socially, and more than anything spiritually. Academically, I didn't manage my time or talents well. I got pretty good grades, but I believe it could have been done in a much less stressful way. Socially, I hung out with the wrong crowd, leading to a lot of corruption, guilt, and regret. Spiritually, I didn't have true hope, peace, and joy, because of my selfish pride and disobedience. Did my college career help shape me into who I am today? Absolutely. But because I now see the incredible opportunities that are offered academically, socially, and spiritually in college, I feel the need to share my testimony with youth, in hopes that they might better prepare themselves for college.
As a baby tree, learn to shelter, feed, and discipline your own roots. If you do, chances of you drying up, being choked out, or even dying are very unlikely. In fact, you will be more likely to grow, flourish, and thrive.
In High School, most teenagers are like a baby trees in Wheatland, Wyoming. This town's nickname is Windy Wheatland so you can imagine the kind of nurturing a tree must have in order to thrive here. When our trees are babies, not only do we have to add things to the soil in order for it to hold moisture, but we have to put up wind barriers, drip systems, use herbicides, pesticides, and vitamins! Seriously, I have a hard time imagining when the Bible talks about the cedars being so thick.
As teenagers we are much like these baby trees in Wheatland. We are nurtured so much by our parents that once we finally have to fend for ourselves, not only do we sometimes stop growing, we often backtrack and even die (to sin that is). My challenge to all teenagers is to figure out who they are before they leave the nest. Recognize your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Chances are these are traits that will follow you throughout your lifetime. Mine have. Ask God to start revealing these to you. Bless others with your strengths and ask God to strengthen what is a weakness in your life. Think of some lifelong habits you want to possess and start working on those, now. Have a vision for what your life will look like during and after college. Look at the logistics of these goals and start working on them, today. Once you're in High School, as tedious, tiresome, and long it might seem, college really is just around the corner.
The reason I am sharing this with you all is because college was tough for me: academically, socially, and more than anything spiritually. Academically, I didn't manage my time or talents well. I got pretty good grades, but I believe it could have been done in a much less stressful way. Socially, I hung out with the wrong crowd, leading to a lot of corruption, guilt, and regret. Spiritually, I didn't have true hope, peace, and joy, because of my selfish pride and disobedience. Did my college career help shape me into who I am today? Absolutely. But because I now see the incredible opportunities that are offered academically, socially, and spiritually in college, I feel the need to share my testimony with youth, in hopes that they might better prepare themselves for college.
As a baby tree, learn to shelter, feed, and discipline your own roots. If you do, chances of you drying up, being choked out, or even dying are very unlikely. In fact, you will be more likely to grow, flourish, and thrive.
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