In a Fighting Mood
Published on Mar 5, 2010 - In: Faith
This post is from my “What’s the Word” Column found in the Brunswick News every Saturday.
I have been in a fighting mood lately. I am feeling a little feistier each day. Don’t worry. This preacher is not looking to slug someone. No, I am looking for a different kind of fight. This year, I feel more called to help people fight for their marriage and family like never before. Over the last year, I have seen more people struggling in their marriages. There are also many parents who are struggling with how to raise their children. For that reason, we have declared 2010 as the Year of the Family at St. Simons Community Church. We are going to seek to fight for the marriages and families in our community. And we are also going to call people to fight for their own marriages and family. Too often we fight with our spouse, or we fight with our children. Maybe it is time to fight for them. Are you ready to fight?
Over the next several weeks, I want to give you 5 reasons to fight for your marriage and family. Read More »
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Tension – More from Haiti
Published on Mar 1, 2010 - In: Faith
Yesterday in church I spoke about the tension I felt in returning to Haiti. I think the tension is a good thing, something I and every true follower of Christ must deal with. There is the tension of having a closet full of clothes with more choices than I can imagine while realizing that some have no clothes to cover their nakedness. There is a tension in having a hot shower with plenty of water while some have no water fresh water to drink everyday. There is the tension of having a very nice home while entire families in Haiti can sometimes live in a one room dwelling that is smaller than my bathroom. As believers we are called to live in this tension. How will we live out our faith in light of this tension? Worship! Gratitude! Humility! And sacrificial giving to meet the needs of others. Lord, help us to embrace the tension and live kingdom lives for your glory. Can you feel the tension people?
Just got back from Haiti. I visited Port Au Prince and Gonaives. This has to have been one of the most powerful trips I have ever experienced. God really showed up in some powerful ways.
Haiti is a land devastated by poverty as well as the recent earthquakes. There is something deeply disturbing and moving when you are in such close proximity to this kind of poverty. I will be processing it for quite a while. Come join me this week and I will post a little bit more.
One sight that stirred me deeply while I was there. On Sunday morning, the churches were meeting in the streets. Many of their church buildings had collapsed so they gathered on sidewalks and worshipped. Every time we turned a corner, people were dressed up nicely carrying their chairs to church. Every corner was filled with praying, preaching and singing to Jesus. It was awesome. Church in the streets. I remember hearing that the church should have no roof and no walls. This means that we should pray the roof off and have an open atmosphere of worship and connection with God. And the walls should come down so that everyone is welcome and we are out serving in the community.
I pray that SSCC will be a church with no roof and no walls. May we hit the streets in Jesus name to love and serve Him. Thank God for my trip to Haiti, and I thank him for a safe return.
DY
21 Day Journey – Day 18, Phil. 3,4 and Col. 1,
Published on Jan 27, 2010 - In: Faith| Life at SSCC| Personal
Hey, Starting Feb. 7, I will be preaching from the Book of Colossians. So please share your insights as God speaks to you from Colossians. I would lvoe to hear from you.
Phil. 3:3,4
– It is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh… Paul means that we Christians have had our flesh stripped away – not physical flesh – but our fleshly desires. Christ changes us and gives us new desires for Him and not the world. We worship God by His Spirit and we do not glory or “take pride” in our flesh, human efforts, or human attainments. We glory in Christ Jesus who gave everything for us. Where do you place your confidence today? In self? In what you can do? Or in Christ?
Phil. 3:7-11 – Everything else is a loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ. Nothing compares to just knowing Christ. As humans, we like to puff ourselves up through human achievement and success. We like to count our successes as our gain. Paul says, “No. It is all a loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ.” It is not about what you can do, or even what you can do for Christ. There is nothing greater than knowing the One who gave his life for you. That is the greatest gain. Everything else pales in significance.
Phil. 3:12-14 – Paul did not feel as though he had arrived, but wanted to continually press on to take hold of Christ. To forget what is behind involves a couple of things: One we can’t rest on our laurels. Do not let past victory or success cause you to become satisfied with your life and faith in Christ. Press on! You haven’t arrived either. Neither let your failures hold you back. Repent and receive God’s forgiveness, and do not let guilt hold you back. Press on. Press on in Christ. He has called you upward.
Phil 4:4-7 – Great section of scripture. Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything. Instead pray about everything. As you pray give thanks to God – remember, He is near. Present your requests to the Lord. And as you do this, God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds.
Phil. 4:8 – What are you thinking about these days. Paul warns about our thought life.
Phil. 4:10-13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Great verse that is often quoted. Look at the context. Paul is talking about learning to be content in all situations whether he has a little, or has a lot.
Phil 4:14-19 Philippians were great givers. They were sharing in the minisry of Paul through finances. We share in the kingdom when we give to the kingdom. Their gifts of faith were seen by God and credited to their “heavenly account.” (v. 17). God honors our giving. It stores up treasures in heaven for us. Paul believed that God would supply all of his needs and the needs of the Philippians as they were faithful to Him.
Colossians 1
Col. 1:4 How would you like to have a faith and a love that is “heard of” by others?
Col. 1:6 – May the Gospel bear fruit here in the Golden Isles – the fruit of changed lives and heart for the sake of Christ.
Col. 1:9- 13 – Great prayer to pray for yourself and others. 1. Ask God to fill you with knowledge of his will for you life as he gives you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 2. As you come to know his will, pray that you would live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him. This is not trying to earn your salvation, it is simply a desire to please the One who saved you. 3. How do we please Him? Pray that you would bear fruit for Him in everything you do. Ask to grow in intimacy and greater relationship with Him, and seek His power to fill and strengthen your life. God’s strength will give you endurance and patience. Again we do not earn our way with God, as Christ has qualified us for His kingdom and given us an inheritance (v. 12). For Jesus has rescued us from dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves in whom we have redemption for the forgiveness of sins.
Col. 1:15-20 Jesus is supreme and over all.
1. He is the image of invisible God. He reveals God to us. (v. 15)
2. First born over all creation. This means he is first, pre-eminent. He was not born. He is just over all. (v.15)
3. He is creator of all things, therefore over all things including every other throne or power in the universe. He reigns! (v. 16)
4. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. Again this is His pre-eminence. He has first place, and he sustains the universe. He not only created all things, but they only continue by his grace and his power. (v. 17)
5. He is the head of the body, the church. Jesus rules his church. We subject ourselves to Him.
6. He is the beginning and first born from the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. Jesus rose from the dead so that we one day might rise as well. He has begun a new race, a new breed of people who can be redeemed from sin and from death and rise up with Him. His defeat of death through his resurrection grants Him supremacy over all. (v. 18)
7. All of God lives in Jesus. He is fully God even though he was fully man. (v. 19)
8. Jesus has reconciled all things to himself through his shed blood. Peace is available through the blood of Christ.
21 Day Journey – Day13, Eph. 6, Phil. 1 & 2
Published on Jan 23, 2010 - In: Faith| Leadership| Life at SSCC| Personal
So how are you doing on your 21 Day journey? Are you drawing closer to the Lord? Are you hearing His voice? I have heard from so many that this has been a very special time for them. Keep seeking.
Ephesians 6:1-3 – 2 commands for children and then 2 promises from God. Obey your parents, and honor them. God is a God who delegates authority and believes in it. Parents serve as the authority in a child’s life and God promises blessing (it will go well with you) and long life for those who honor and submit to their authority. Showing honor to our elders and authorities should always be done. God blesses that heart.
Eph. 6:4 – Fathers (parents) are to consistently discipline their children in love, not over-react in anger. Ouch. Help me God.
Eph. 6:5-9 – Slaves and masters could be put into context of employers and employees. Employees should work hard, honor, and obey their bosses (even if their boss happens to be a jerk). Our ultimate goal is to serve and work as if God were our boss, and He truly is watching us even when our boss is not. Work as unto the Lord. The Employer is also to serve those under him/her. Do not get power hungry, because God is the Master of all. Employers should honor God in the way they treat those under them.
Eph. 6:10-18 The armor of God. We are to be strong in the Lord’s power, not our own. Surrender so the Lord can fill you with his strength. Stand against the enemy and his schemes. Realize the enemy is seeking to trip you up. Do not fall for his tricks and traps. Stand your ground and fight. Put on the belt of truth by walking in truth. Ask God for discernment to know truth, and to realize lies and falsehood. You must commit to walking in truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Jesus is your righteousness as you stand before God. He makes you righteous, but you must also commit to doing what is right before the Lord. Walk in his righteousness. Let your feet be prepared with the Gospel. May God carry you to the people and places He wants you to share with. Be ready to give testimony of Christ in your life. Take up the shield of faith. What arrows will the enemy send you way today? By faith, claim victory over your struggles and temptations. Claim victory by faith over doubt, discouragement, lust, greed, etc. Raise up the shield of faith to extinguish the enemy’s arrows. Faith is the key. Faith in God and His promises. Believe! Place the helmet of salvation. Remember that you are saved. You have received grace. Thank Christ for it. Live in grace. Plead the blood of Christ over your mind. Take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Read it, believe it, hide it in your heart. When Satan comes at you… quote God’s work back at him, just as Jesus did. The bible is your offensive weapon to destroy Satan’s kingdom. Scripture is God’s truth. It declares truth about God and your relationship to Him. Do not let Satan rob you. Stand firm with the word. And pray. Pray in the Spirit at all times with all of your prayers. Come to God in prayer.
Eph. 6:19 – This verse is a great little prayer request… that “whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.
Eph. 6:24 May God give us all an undying love for the Lord Jesus.
Philipians 1:5 – We are partners in the gospel. Let us work together for the good of God’s kingdom.
Phil. 1:6 – The Father who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. He is committed to your growth and development. Trust your life into His hands so you can continue to grow in Christ. Believe Him to keep working in you.
Phil. 1:7-9 – Paul had a great love and affection for God’s people. I am asking the Lord for these same affections for his people.
Phil. 1:9 May our love at SSCC abound more and more.
Phil 1:12-14 – Paul could see his imprisonment as an opportunity to advance the kingdom of God. He had a chance to share Christ with the whole prison guard, many who were influential men the army. Also, his chains emboldened others to step up. Paul saw prison as a win, not a loss. Wow! May I trust God enough in every circumstance to see it as a win for the kingdom as long as I am seeking and trusting Him..
Phil. 1:21 – For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. This should be true of every believer. Is it true of you.
Phil 2:1-4 – If we have benefited from the love and comfort of Christ, we are called to pass it on. Do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit… I had to stop at this verse, reflect, and repent for pride and selfish. I pray God will give me the same humility and attitude of Jesus to put others first. OTHERS FIRST – this is the way of Jesus
Phil 2:5-11 – Great, well know “hymn” in teh scripture here that shows how Christ descended from the glory of heaven to become a man and die a horrible death. He went as low as humanly possible, but through His obedience and humility, the Father then elevated Jesus to the highest place above all and gave Him the name above every other name. So now at His Name, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. This is God’s model. Those who humble themselves before God will be lifted up for His sake (not ours). Those who elevate themselves will be brought low.
Phil 2:12-13 – Love this passage. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you. We do not work for our salvation. That is a gift. We work it out. We work out what God has worked in our hearts. It is not earned. It is a gift that we are to unwrap, discover, and truly flesh out in our lives. We do this not in our flesh, but in cooperation with God’s Spirit who is at work in us”to act according to his good purpose.”
Phil. 2:14-16 – No complaining or arguing. Live like a child of God in a crooked and depraved universe. We are called to shine like stars in the universe as we hold out words of life.
Phil 2:21 – Whose interests are you looking out for – yours or Christs?