Eating Broccoli in a "Krispy Kreme" World - Part 2

Ephesians 4:17-24 (AMP)
17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].

Yesterday I was asked by a friend as we talked about the economy and politics: "What's wrong with this country?"
"Sin", I replied. My friend didn't want to accept that answer, rightly stating that sin has always been present, but things have never been this bad.
"O.K. Then it's the absence of God in people's lives", was my next reply. He agreed

Unfortunately I believe we have become a nation and a Christian people who more closely resemble the gentiles described in this passage. The admonition from Paul is that we "no longer live as the Gentiles". His accusation against them was that they were living from the "emptiness of their souls and the futility of their minds." I think that is a pretty good description of the church today. Paul further goes on to state that they are "estranged, self-banished from the life of God with no share in it because of their ignorance.

Paul is making the case that there were folks in the church who were living far below the potential that God intended for them. When I read about those times when God is actively moving in the hearts of a nation or group of people, there is great hope: not futility.

Paul further says that this spiritual dilemma is because of the hardness of their own hearts. It's not because of a some outside variable that we are the victims of. It is because of the hardness of our own hearts that we live beneath God's intended level of spiritual life.

Sometimes when I gain weight, I reach a point where I "just don't care" and say I'd rather be fat and happy! That's the physical equivalent of hardening my heart to the idea that there is a better way to live. But that better way takes discipline. I have to say yes to broccoli and no to Krispy Kreme and that's hard sometimes! In a physical sense, to experience God's best requires personal discipline on my part. Far more importantly, if I want to live at the level that God has for me spiritually, it takes discipline.

Paul said "Hard Hearts" was the cause. I'm not sure how to soften a hard heart, but I suppose you would soak it! Soak it in His Word! Soak it in His presence! Make Him my priority!

Father,
I am one who has allowed myself to live far beneath your provision for my life. I've allowed the cares of this world to take priority over your things, and have thus developed a hard heart. I ask your forgiveness and your help today that I could begin anew to soak my heart and allow you to soften it. I've allowed hurt and bitterness to build a wall around my heart and separate me from You and Your people. Help me to simply soak in you today. As I do, I pray you would soften my heart so that I can once again live where you called me to live. I cannot do it alone! Without your help I will fail. Please meet me where I am and take me to where You want me to be!

Eating Broccoli in a "Krispy Kreme" World

Ephesians 4:17-24 (AMP)
17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds.
18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].
19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
20 But you did not so learn Christ!
21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

It is so easy to gain weight! It is much easier to gain weight than it is to lose it. I know! I've lost an entire person in my lifetime and yet I'm as big as I've ever been! Gaining weight takes very little effort and no restraint. All I need to do to gain weight is to listen to my body and give it what it wants! But to lose weight, I can't give in to all those desires. I have to deliberately change my way of life to produce the desired outcome. I have to be aware of my weight. I have to constantly monitor it. If I gain a couple of pounds, I must immediately take steps to correct it and lose the weight, or slowly, a pound at a time, I lose the battle.


Paul writes in Ephesians 4 and tells the people that they are looking more like "their old fat selves" than the "healthy body" that they were born-again to be.

19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].

As I've read this passage and studied for the upcoming sermon, I am shamefully aware that Paul's words apply as much to me as to the Ephesians. Paul is genuinely concerned for the Ephesians because they are losing their first love and he is trying to "shake them up"! Later, in the book of Revelation, we find Christ talking to the same church and pronouncing judgment, saying "I have somewhat against you because you've lost your first love."


The instruction from Christ in Revelation and from Paul in Ephesians 4 is:

21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],
22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

I must return to the place of repentance from dead works and embrace, put on, the new life of holiness, righteousness and truth. I must determine to "lose the weight and the sin which so easily trips me up" and continually monitor my progress in becoming like Christ. Paul said "be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind". Through Satans deception, I have fallen woefully short of this instruction. I, we, must stop comparing ourselves to ourselves in order to feel good about ourselves, and start comparing ourselves to the "Author and Finisher of our faith" - Jesus Christ.


Using my weight analogy, my goal shouldn't be to be thinner than someone else. It should be to look like Jesus!

I Know My Redeemer Lives

Job 19:23-27 (ESV)
23 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!


We live in a crazy, busy world! With all the things going on at work, at school and church, it is very easy to lose sight of the really important things in life. I/m somewhat of an adrenaline junkie, and seem to operate better when things are on the edge of disaster. If I have an assignment with a deadline, I will often wait till the last minute to get the thing done. It's like I enjoy the pressure.


But does God want us to live these out of control, on the edge lives? My answer is "I don't know!" God made us all unique so there probably isn't a "one size fits all" answer. I can learn something about handling life, though, from our friend Job. Job's world is totally crashing. Nothing is going his way. Everyone thinks he's a failure and that his failures have brought all this doom into his life. He doesn't have much to be cheery about! He wasa very wealthy and successful man who "lost it all". If I had been Job, I would have been determined to overcome all these obstacles and prove everyone wrong!


It's a good thing Job isn't like me, otherwise we wouldn't have this great example to learn from. Job didn't try to fix everything on his own. He examined himself, was honest with himself, and turned to God. He put his confidence in what he couldn't see with his eyes, but with spiritual eyes he knew the most important thing: "I know my redeemer lives! I know at the last He will stand upon the earth and in my flesh I will see God!"


Don't let the craziness of your life hide the truth that we should walk in as a child of God. If you feel things are spiraling downward, stop and asses your own life. Be honest. Am I pursuing my relationship with God or have I been too busy? Take a step back and realize that our only hope is in God and stand on His Word. Even though this life deals me hard stuff, I know my Redeemer lives!

I Press Toward the Mark

Philippians 3:14 (KJV)
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
September 8, 2009

We dismissed services Sunday night due to Labor Day Weekend and Jackie and I took the opportunity to jump on the Gold wing and head for Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It was a beautiful drive. God's creation is absolutely breath-taking. We didn't leave till around 4pm and had no real plans, but as we got down the road we began to talk about "The Great Passion Play". We thought if we made it in time, we would attend, as we hadn't seen it in years.

By the time we arrived in Eureka, it was after 8pm and we didn't know if they even had the play on Sunday. As it turns out, they don' normally have the play on Sunday night, but they had a special showing for Labor Day. We pulled into the parking lot about 5 minutes before the show was to start and had just parked our bike when another couple on a bike came walking up, stated they were tired from riding all day, and they were going to the motel. They proceeded to hand us their tickets and said "enjoy the show". I tried to pay them for the tickets but they insisted on making them a gift.

As it had gotten dark that evening, we rode right by the motel that we had chosen to stay in. It would have been easy to just pull in and call it a night. After we received the gift from two strangers, I thought about Philippians 3:14. Had we not pressed toward the mark, we wouldn’t have received the prize. We were blessed because we persevered.

In the same way, you and I may get tired at times on our Christian journey. Church may not be nearly as "fun" as it used to, or we may get tired of "always serving". But I want to encourage you that we run to receive a prize. We can't quit before the finish line. We must press toward the mark.

It always makes the journey easier if you have someone to "run" with you. Invite a friend to church this Sunday and pray for God to touch their heart. Then, teach them to run the race. Who knows, You may have a "running partner" for life!

Be blessed.


Pastor Scott

Why Does Easter Matter?

Why Does Easter Matter?
Genesis 4:3-5 (KJV) 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Christianity is different than other religious beliefs because it indicts everyone as sinners and provides no personal remedy for sin. The Christian faith says that redemption is only accomplished through Jesus and is not by "our works". This makes Christianity different than any other religion of man which all provide "our works" as the remedy.

God hates sin. His wrath ultimately must be poured out on sin as the true enemy of God. A few times in the Old Testament God has to control His anger against sinful people and not pour out His wrath on them. I believe He was able to do this by looking ahead to the cross and knowing that His wrath against sin would be poured out on that day, on His Son, and thus completely satisfy the penalty for sin.

As early as Abel, God made it clear that it was "the shedding of blood" that atoned for sin. Cain brought the "first fruits of the field" and Abel brought "the first born of the flock". God accepted Abel's offering and not Cain's because it is "the blood" that makes atonement for the soul. Leviticus 17:11 declares "11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." In Hebrews God says, "22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Hebrews 9:22. Abel's offering was accepted because it was a "blood sacrifice".

Many people in our culture find Christians and Christianity offensive, feeling that we are judgmental and self-righteous because we say "we are right and everyone else is wrong". I understand why those outside of Christianity would feel that way. But the real thing that makes Christianity offensive is Jesus. It goes against human nature to accept that I can't earn my redemption. 1 Peter 2 says that Jesus will be "offensive" for that very fact. People are destined to stumble over the idea that Jesus is their only hope of salvation because, according to scripture, they are disobedient to the law.

Jesus said in Matthew 26:28 that "his blood was being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." He made the claim that He was the Son of God and that He was dying for our sins.
Romans 5:9 states "9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." This scripture tells me that I have been justified by Christ and spared from God's wrath because of His sacrifice. So I receive forgiveness from my own sin because Jesus received my penalty for sin when He went to the cross. Easter matters because of the atoning death of Christ on the cross.

But Easter also matters because if Jesus didn't rise from the dead then we have no hope of eternal life either.
The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. The resurrection of Jesus is the key to the Christian faith. Why? (1) Just as he promised, Jesus rose from the dead. We can be confident, therefore, that he will accomplish all he has promised. (2) Jesus' bodily resurrection shows us that the living Christ is ruler of God's eternal kingdom, not a false prophet or impostor. (3) We can be certain of our resurrection because he was resurrected. Death is not the end—there is future life. (4) The power that brought Jesus back to life is available to us to bring our spiritually dead self back to life. (5) The Resurrection is the basis for the church's witness to the world. Jesus is more than just a human leader; he is the Son of God.
I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me—that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

The Resurrection is the decisive point of the Christian faith. There will always be people who say that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Paul assures us that many people saw Jesus after his resurrection: Peter, the disciples (the Twelve), more than five hundred Christian believers (most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this, although some had died), James (Jesus' brother), all the apostles, and finally Paul himself. The Resurrection is a historical fact. Don't be discouraged by doubters who deny the Resurrection. Be filled with hope because of the knowledge that one day you and they will see the living proof when Christ returns.
What does the Bible teach about our resurrection?

BIBLE READING: 1 Cor. 15:12-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? (1 Cor. 15:12)

Our resurrection includes body and soul. Most Greeks did not believe that people's bodies would be resurrected after death. They saw the afterlife as something only for the soul. According to Greek philosophers, the soul was the real person, imprisoned in a physical body, and at death the soul was released. There was no immortality for the body, but the soul entered an eternal state. Christianity, in contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be united after resurrection. The church at Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture. Thus many believers had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Paul wrote this part of his letter to clear up this confusion about the resurrection.

Our resurrection is certain because of Christ's resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead as he promised, we know that what he said is true—he is God. Because he rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven. Because he rose, he lives and represents us to God. Because he rose and defeated death, we know we will also be raised.

Our resurrection is our only hope for eternal life. Why does Paul say believers should be pitied if there were only earthly value to Christianity? In Paul's day, Christianity often brought a person persecution, ostracism from family, and, in many cases, poverty. There were few tangible benefits from being a Christian in that society. It was certainly not a step up the social or career ladder. Even more important, however, is the fact that if Christ had not been resurrected from death, Christians could not be forgiven for their sins and would have no hope of eternal life.

What will our resurrected body be like?

BIBLE READING: 1 Cor. 15:35-58
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. (1 Cor. 15:51-53)

Our resurrected body will be eternal. Paul launches into a discussion about what our resurrected body will be like. If you could select your own body, what kind would you choose—strong, athletic, beautiful? Paul explains that we will be recognized in our resurrected body, yet it will be better than we can imagine, for it will be made to live forever. We will still have our own personality and individuality, but these will be perfected through Christ's work. The Bible does not reveal everything that our resurrected body will be able to do, but we know it will be perfect, without sickness or disease (see Phil. 3:21).

Our resurrected body will be different than our present one. Paul compares the resurrection of our body with the growth in a garden. Seeds placed in the ground don't grow unless they "die" first. The plant that grows is very different looking from the seed because God gives it a new "body." There are different kinds of bodies—people, animals, fish, birds. Even the angels in heaven have bodies that are different in beauty and glory. Our resurrected body will be very different in some ways, but not all, from our earthly body.

Our resurrected body will not experience present limitations. Our present body is perishable and prone to decay. Our resurrection body will be transformed. Our spiritual body will not be limited by the laws of nature. This does not necessarily mean we'll be superpeople, but our body will be different from and more capable than our present earthly one. Our spiritual body will not be weak, will never get sick, and will never die.

Passion for the Passion

Hello all,
As we move through Passion Week I wanted to remind you to focus on the reason for this week’s celebration. In Western Culture we seemingly put much more emphasis on Christmas than we do on Easter. I suppose it is only an opinion that would elevate one event over the other, but the Passion Week seems to be much more significant to me than the celebration of the birth. Perhaps we celebrate Christmas more enthusiastically and more readily because it is more universally accepted. Everyone likes births. New babies are sweet and cuddly, so the celebration of Jesus birth is somewhat a natural instinct. Besides, it gives us an excuse to rack up credit card debt to buy stuff……the biggest stuff we buy for ourselves! But Easter is a lot messier and much more controversial. The world stumbles, according to 1 Peter 2:8, over the figure of Jesus precisely because of what the bible says he purchased with His death: forgiveness of sin. Without Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross there would be no forgiveness for sin and no entrance to heaven. That claim sets the world at odds with Jesus and with Easter, because we don’t like being told we are sinners.
During this week in history, Jesus most likely was preaching sermons warning people of the wrath of God to come. He was preparing his disciples for his impending death. And, he was preparing his own heart and spirit for the awful fate that was ahead of Him: the wrath of God. Scripture teaches that He became sin for us who knew no sin. Because He became sin, and because He was offering Himself in our place, He had to suffer, as God poured out His wrath against sin – on Jesus. This was most probably what Jesus was referring to when he prayed “let this CUP pass from me”. The ‘cup’ in the Old Testament was representative of the wrath of God. Jesus took the punishment, not just the physical beating and death, but the true punishment from God, for our sin. He did so, because He loves us! That is absolutely, without a doubt, the most amazing love that has ever been seen!
This week is a reminder of the penalty that should have been ours and the amazing love that held Jesus on that cross! Those of us who are Christian have the great responsibility to be missionaries in our culture. We hold in our possession this vital information regarding God’s ultimate act of love and we need to be telling it to those with whom we work and play. When we forget the amazing graciousness of the gift, we stop talking about it. But when we are aware of this amazing love, we tell it to those who haven’t yet believed. God’s speed as you serve as missionaries of God’s grace and love in a graceless and loveless world.

Peace

The Dawning of a New Era

Today marks the beginning of a new era for America. President Obama's Inauguration speech was a classic and will long be remembered for its eloquence. As I listened, I felt a sense of hope that I haven't felt in our nation in a while. Even though I do not agree with many of President Obama's positions, it is my God-directed duty to lift him up in prayer and to support those things that scripture will allow.
He laid out his first 100 days for us:

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.
1. We will build …that feed our commerce and bind us
together.
a. the roads and bridges,
b. the electric grids and
c. digital lines
2. We will restore science to its rightful place, and
a. wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and
b. lower its cost.
3. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel
a. our cars and
b. run our factories.
4. And we will transform our schools and colleges and Universities to meet the demands of a new age.

All this we can do. And all this we will do.

The Main thing we must remember is that "unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it." We must collectively fall to our knees and cry out to the one who can change the circumstances of our present decline. We are tallest when on our knees.

God cannot honor or bless a nation who ignores His instruction or who denies His very existence. We, the God-fearing, God-trusting, God-believing few must earnestly pray. We must sincerely repent of our own sin, and the sins of a nation that has forgotten God. We must be willing to break with popular opinion and common practice to live lives that are holy and God-honoring. We must be willing to surrender our own passions and pleasures to the One who died for our salvation. He must become more than our "cosmic blesser" and take His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our personal lives.

We cannot change a country. We can only allow God to change us. But as we surrender ourselves to His will, one by one we change the climate and the culture or America. We didn't wake up one day to a massive exodus from God and His principles. We gradually, one by one, ignored His reign in our lives. The path back to Godliness and blessing will come in the same way. We will not "wake up" one day to a Godly nation. We must individually allow God to transform us.

Peace!