"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."
1 Corinthians 4:2
We often hear the encouragement that God doesn't want us to be successful, he wants us to be faithful. In one sense that is certainly true. However, I think that we can look at it as either or when success and faithfulness in God's dictionary are really one in the same. As believers we don't have to choose success or faithfulness because with the Lord faithfulness is success!
The scripture reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that God's perspective is so different from ours, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, " says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts."
The world's definition of success is wealth, position, power, influence. In the kingdom of God, success is found in faithfulness - faithfulness in being generous, compassionate, loving, hardworking, honest, loyal and the list goes on. If we get off on the world's definition we will always be lacking in genuine purpose therefore we will never feel we have succeeded. If we stay faithful to God's desires and His direction for our lives, we will embrace such a sense of fulfillment and purpose that even in the hard times we will know that we know that He is accomplishing His greater plan for us.
Some of the most honored and beloved believers who have gone before us and blazed mighty trails for the gospel were not successful in the eyes of the world. They were often lacking in material possessions and of little power or influence. Yet we still read about their lives today because they were faithful.
Faithfulness equals success in the kingdom of God.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
Authentic
"For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:17
Webster's dictionary defines the word "knockoff" as a cheap or inferior copy of something.
If you've ever been to New York City or any other major metropolitan city, you know that there are certain place to go if you want to purchase genuine designer label items like clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc... You likely also are aware that there are often places to go if you want the look and feel of designer labels but aren't willing to pay the price--the part of town where there are smooth talking characters who are more than willing to sell you a "knockoff".
When you step out into the world of "knockoffs, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
First of all, the "peddler" selling the knockoff knows he (or she) isn't offering you the real thing. He just hopes you don't know it. Not a quality individual you are dealing with here.
Secondly, you either know you're getting a fake and just hope that everyone else will think it's real or you are so gullible that you "take the bait" because someone is telling you what you want to hear.
Neither of the above look too good for you.
Sadly, "business" in our current christian culture isn't much different. How heartbreaking that the gospel is so often reduced to marketing techniques and emotional manipulation by crafty "peddlers" in order to suck the cash right out of our hands. In our culture of cheap grace and blessings on clearance, authenticity is often hard to find and even harder to maintain.
So called "peddlers" of God's word are everywhere-especially on television. Scroll down the channels on much of christian TV or stroll down the aisles of many American churches and it's as though the peddlers can't wait to grab the lapels of their suit coats and fling them open to reveal an array of "Spiritual Knockoffs". Sow your seed, claim your blessing, declare this, stand on that, stand on this, stand on your head! Give me a break! Give all of us a break! Don't insult me or my Lord by asking me to help you buy your own personal jet or build your million dollar mansion. I WANT AUTHENTIC. I NEED AUTHENTIC. THIS HURTING WORLD IS BEGGING FOR AUTHENTIC.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
What has happened to us? When did we decide that the peddlers should be exalted and represent who we are as believers in Christ?
Lord, forgive us for cheapening the greatest gift the world has ever known.
Webster's dictionary defines the word "knockoff" as a cheap or inferior copy of something.
If you've ever been to New York City or any other major metropolitan city, you know that there are certain place to go if you want to purchase genuine designer label items like clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc... You likely also are aware that there are often places to go if you want the look and feel of designer labels but aren't willing to pay the price--the part of town where there are smooth talking characters who are more than willing to sell you a "knockoff".
When you step out into the world of "knockoffs, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
First of all, the "peddler" selling the knockoff knows he (or she) isn't offering you the real thing. He just hopes you don't know it. Not a quality individual you are dealing with here.
Secondly, you either know you're getting a fake and just hope that everyone else will think it's real or you are so gullible that you "take the bait" because someone is telling you what you want to hear.
Neither of the above look too good for you.
Sadly, "business" in our current christian culture isn't much different. How heartbreaking that the gospel is so often reduced to marketing techniques and emotional manipulation by crafty "peddlers" in order to suck the cash right out of our hands. In our culture of cheap grace and blessings on clearance, authenticity is often hard to find and even harder to maintain.
So called "peddlers" of God's word are everywhere-especially on television. Scroll down the channels on much of christian TV or stroll down the aisles of many American churches and it's as though the peddlers can't wait to grab the lapels of their suit coats and fling them open to reveal an array of "Spiritual Knockoffs". Sow your seed, claim your blessing, declare this, stand on that, stand on this, stand on your head! Give me a break! Give all of us a break! Don't insult me or my Lord by asking me to help you buy your own personal jet or build your million dollar mansion. I WANT AUTHENTIC. I NEED AUTHENTIC. THIS HURTING WORLD IS BEGGING FOR AUTHENTIC.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
What has happened to us? When did we decide that the peddlers should be exalted and represent who we are as believers in Christ?
Lord, forgive us for cheapening the greatest gift the world has ever known.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Be My Witnesses
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
Ever tried to work without eating, or drive your car when the gauge is well past empty? Sound like silly questions, I know. Who would do those things and really expect to accomplish much? When your body is weak, not much work gets done. When the car is on empty, you will end up getting stranded and need someone to come and rescue you from your "not very well-planned" trip.
Often we hear or read Acts 1:8 in sermons or teachings on witnessing. We evangelicals are big on that--it's what we do. We are called to share Christ, to preach the gospel - to witness. None of us would ever deny that is most definitely our calling. But let's take a deeper look at this directive from Jesus himself that He knew would somehow find it's way into the very beginning of the book in the Bible that begins the narrative of the church - His Church.
First of all there's the power part. Notice it says, "But you will receive power..." The reason for the word "but" here is that Jesus is answering a question posed a couple of verses earlier by his disciples. They were asking him if this is the time that he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. His answer in today's terms was, "Don't worry about it. It's not your business." Then he turns the corner and says, "But you will receive power..." When? "When the Holy Spirit comes on you...". Do you see it? He doesn't even mention the being a witness part until he first points out the power part.
Although the Holy Spirit had not come to indwell believers yet in the Old Testament, there are plenty of examples of Old Testament powerhouses understanding the source of divine strength. Remember Moses in Exodus having a conversation with the Almighty about making sure God's presence was going to be with him? Exodus 33:14-15 says, "The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." Without the Presence (the Holy Spirit) there is no need to go forward. What was true back then is still true today. We could say with Moses, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."
When and where does the power come in? That's the waiting part. The early believers were hold up in that upper room doing what? They were waiting and praying. Waiting and praying for what? FOR THE POWER!!! They didn't demand it, they didn't claim it, they waited (and prayed) for it. And it came.
Waiting and praying are two disciplines that often don't come easy for me. I hate waiting and praying can become meaningless if my heart isn't in it. The more I'm meditating on the word and receiving, the easier the waiting and the praying part are for me. I have to stay connected or everything gets messed up. My focus gets off and then forget about the power!
Wait and pray. Keep focusing on him and the truth in his word and wait and pray. He will do the rest. He has to do the rest or it doesn't work. Then we won't need to try and witness, we will be witnesses. That's what he said.
Ever tried to work without eating, or drive your car when the gauge is well past empty? Sound like silly questions, I know. Who would do those things and really expect to accomplish much? When your body is weak, not much work gets done. When the car is on empty, you will end up getting stranded and need someone to come and rescue you from your "not very well-planned" trip.
Often we hear or read Acts 1:8 in sermons or teachings on witnessing. We evangelicals are big on that--it's what we do. We are called to share Christ, to preach the gospel - to witness. None of us would ever deny that is most definitely our calling. But let's take a deeper look at this directive from Jesus himself that He knew would somehow find it's way into the very beginning of the book in the Bible that begins the narrative of the church - His Church.
First of all there's the power part. Notice it says, "But you will receive power..." The reason for the word "but" here is that Jesus is answering a question posed a couple of verses earlier by his disciples. They were asking him if this is the time that he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. His answer in today's terms was, "Don't worry about it. It's not your business." Then he turns the corner and says, "But you will receive power..." When? "When the Holy Spirit comes on you...". Do you see it? He doesn't even mention the being a witness part until he first points out the power part.
Although the Holy Spirit had not come to indwell believers yet in the Old Testament, there are plenty of examples of Old Testament powerhouses understanding the source of divine strength. Remember Moses in Exodus having a conversation with the Almighty about making sure God's presence was going to be with him? Exodus 33:14-15 says, "The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." Without the Presence (the Holy Spirit) there is no need to go forward. What was true back then is still true today. We could say with Moses, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."
When and where does the power come in? That's the waiting part. The early believers were hold up in that upper room doing what? They were waiting and praying. Waiting and praying for what? FOR THE POWER!!! They didn't demand it, they didn't claim it, they waited (and prayed) for it. And it came.
Waiting and praying are two disciplines that often don't come easy for me. I hate waiting and praying can become meaningless if my heart isn't in it. The more I'm meditating on the word and receiving, the easier the waiting and the praying part are for me. I have to stay connected or everything gets messed up. My focus gets off and then forget about the power!
Wait and pray. Keep focusing on him and the truth in his word and wait and pray. He will do the rest. He has to do the rest or it doesn't work. Then we won't need to try and witness, we will be witnesses. That's what he said.
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