1 John 4: Love Wins

Love Wins

Being genuinely loving is another mark of a true Christian. If you read yesterday's Wednesday Wake Up #42 you see that the passion for serving is one way to tell who is a true Christian. Another way to tell is by seeing who is being loving and who is not. This is not the love like you love ice cream but the true love like serve someone you don't know and forgive someone who has hurt you. Love you fellow brothers and sister in Christ. Be loving to your family. 1 John 4:7-8 says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." If you are not being loving then you do not know God. How can you say you know God if you are not being loving? One another is everyone, not a select few. If you want to win people to Jesus and share with them who God is, just know that love wins.

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Wednesday Wake Up #42

Keep on Keepin' On

In reading Romans 12:11 it is one mark of a true Christian. Yes, there are others, but let's just focus on the regarding your zeal, your passion, your energy in serving God. Paul writes that the passion shouldn't be lacking when serving the Lord. The spiritual fervor is also part of that passion in serving the Lord. When you read the word, share with or teach others, feeding the homeless, whatever it is, do it with passion. Let that Holy Spirit work through you be the fire that fuels you to serve the Lord. You will know a true Christian by one who is serving the Lord with passion and intensity.

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2 Peter 3: Unstable Twist vs. Stability

Unstable Twist vs. Stability

When reading through 2 Peter 3, I saw verses 16-17 and shook my head and gave an affirmative "mmmhmm" which signified my solidarity with what was written. Here was have Peter (yes that Peter) writing about the letters that Paul had written. Peter says that some things Paul wrote/writes are hard to understand and those that do not understand them and those that are unstable (not solid in their faith) will use them and twist the meanings to mean what they want them to say. He continues on and warns them to not get carried away (figuratively) with the lawlessness of the ignorant and unstable who twist the words of Paul as they have done with other scriptures. When I communicate with other be they believers or not, I see the same issue. People will use scripture to fuel their own sin and validate its existence in their life. We need to be careful not to fall prey as those people do and not let them whisk us away with them into those lifestyles and areas of thinking.

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1 Peter 4: Suffer and Glorify

Suffer and Glorify

When someone murders, steals, meddles in others business or generally does evil and gets caught it can be very shameful. No one feels good after getting caught in doing something wrong. They suffer from the shame. But, if someone is to suffer as 1 Peter 4:16 points out for being a Christian, then do not be ashamed. Why would you be ashamed for being a Christian/Christ follower? instead of being ashamed, glorify God's name as the rest of 1 Peter 4:16 says. That is our focus in our life. Yes we slip, stumble and fall, but overall, where are we centered and where and to what are we grounded? Let the Lord be glorified.

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1 Timothy 5: Caring for Family and Maturity

Caring for Family and Maturity

Paul gives instruction for how the church ought to operate. There are things in here that I have seen people try to burden the church with, but the family should be the first to tend to a family member's needs before the church. Paul says those that do not provide for their family are worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:8). Paul refers to true widows. Upon further reading from Dave Guzik, true widow meant a widow without children. If she had children, then they should help their mother out. And the part comes up that some may consider sexist, but I think it speaks more to a generalization of younger women during this time than an application for all young women at all times. But on the flip side, I know many people who say in their later years that they had to grow up from who they were when they were younger, which is what it seems like Paul is referring to here in verses 11-15. He says not to enroll/take financial care of younger widows as they have the opportunity to get married again and won't need the help as much as older widows would. But in verse 13 Paul basically calls out the young women for going from house to house (sleeping around), gossiping and being nosy. Paul wants what's best in God's eyes that shows the church to be in good standing.
 

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1 Timothy 1: Thank Him for Strength

Thank Him for Strength

Paul's strength to do his ministries were not of his own accord. He knew that. We should know that our strength to do God's work does not come from our own reserve either. In 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul says " I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service..." We can do the same. While we are not Paul, we do know that God has, does and will continue to appoint those He chooses to do His work. What has he called you to do?

Another note, if we look at Paul's life in whole and not in part we will see that verse 15 that speaks of Paul being the worst sinner is not a verse that many can apply to themselves. I personally, due to my guilt of my own sin, used to wear a t shirt that displayed my guilt as if referenced that verse and being the worst sinner. But, in fact that verse that Paul wrote was in literal reference to himself in regard to him being personally responsible for the death of Christians because they were Christian. So, before you go quoting scripture and applying it to you, make sure it is not one that is specific to just one person and can only or primarily apply to them. 

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2 Corinthians 13: Examination and Salutation

Examination and Salutation

Paul closes out 2nd Corinthians with a warning for the church. As we knew, they had not been doing what they should have been doing by allowing sinful ways to be accepted in their church. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul says something that I think all of us need to do. He tells the church to "examine" themselves. He wants them to see for themselves if they are really with the faith. He told them to test themselves to see that Jesus is really in them. We ought to test with scripture, the Word of God. We do not test by looking at ourselves by how the world sees us but as God sees us.

Paul sends them off similarly to 1 Corinthians. He signs off the letter with encouragement.  He wants to have "restoration," and encourages them to comfort and agree with one another living in peace. In verse 14, Paul says "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." May we all take some lessons from what Paul says and examine and test ourselves and also live in peace with others.

On another note, yet related, this young man Daniel says he is gay and goes to church. he says that he thinks it is okay to be Gay and be a Christian. I want to share a video I saw on Youtube from Ray Comfort as he shares the word in a very open and relaxing way. I respect the way that he did this and did not do what I have seen many do, which is openly condemn and insult people. That is not the way to win souls for Christ. Please watch 

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Friday Foucs #26

What is Love?

This may be a topic I have done before, but you know what, it's important. So let's go over this...again.

We have heard this section of verses on love at wedding and I'm sure we have heard it in church when pastors discuss relationships be they friendship, dating or marriage. But when it comes to love, so often we think of the feeling of it. It is that flutter in your heart when you see them. It is that bond you feel when you talk to them and are around them. Sadly, love can come with conditions. "I love you as long as you do 'x' for me and make me feel like 'y.'" People love as long as they are treated a certain way. I'm here to tell you, if your love has an ending condition, that isn't love my friend.  So, what is love?

Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians on what love is. You can apply this to Valentine's Day or just relationships. But you can also see this from God's perspective. God wants us to be loving. This section of text was in relation to spiritual gifts that without love are just loud clanging symbols. So, no matter what you do with your life, if you do not understand or reject God's love for you (us) and Christ's sacrifice then how will you know that love is patient, kind, is not envious nor boastful nor arrogant (1 Corinthians 13:4)? God is patient with us in our sins and is kind in bestowing talents to us to honor Him. We should not be envious of one another nor should we boast. When you envy another you forget what God gave you. And when you boast, you overwrite what God has done for someone else like your boasting and arrogance says you are superior.

Love is not rude. Love does not insist upon its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful (1 Corinthians 13:5). How many times are you rude to others or insist upon your own way? That is not being loving in those moments. Love does not allow for irritability or resentment. Being irritable is like being agitated with a little extra on it. We have seen resentment before. That feeling you have when someone does or says something hurtful and you hang on to that every time you see or think of them. It's like bitterness. Love does not give birth to these things.

Love does not rejoice in wrong doing but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). The wrong doing is not done in love. If you do wrong that cannot be done in love. Rejoicing in the truth is a way to show love as well. God is truth. God's word is truth. We rejoice in Him and His word. That is love.

Lastly, we must know that love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). This does not mean that we believe everything we ever hear from anyone or any random source. We are believing in the best of others. We are being optimists. Love hopes for the best and endures the trying times of life. Love keeps you going even when that friend, significant other or person has done you wrong. Love keeps pushing through and does not allow for that person to become an enemy. Love has no end date. 

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1 Corinthians 5: Corinthians and Sexual Immorality

Corinthians and Sexual Immorality

Paul also calls out another problem. Paul brings forth the issue of sexual immorality. He says even the Pagan don't practice this and here a church was welcoming a man who was engaged in sexual activity with his father's wife. Now, this could be a step mother or it could have been the man's birth mother, but either way, it was not his wife and was the wife of another man. Paul says that this person should be removed from the church. Many today would say "don't judge" and misquote Jesus and the meaning of what he was saying. We are to judge in the right spirit for those within the church.

Even though Paul wasn't there, he already passed judgement on the one who did this and said that person should be delivered to Satan. That does not mean that person needs to be a human sacrifice as per a ritual, but they need to be put out into the world which is Satan's domain. 

Paul calls them out for being boastful about their ignoring this man's sin. His point is that it is not loving to accept sin of this kind into the church. We are all sinners, sure, but we cannot collectively as a church just accept sin as a-ok and ignore it like it isn't there. Paul warns us about associating with fellow Christ followers who indulge in sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, etc (1 Corinthians 5:11). We are not to judge those outside the church, but those on the inside. 

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Acts 21: Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Once again we have an example of Paul being courageous and standing strong in the Holy Spirit. This man has had quite the journey from being one who arrested and killed Christians to now being arrested for being a Christian.

Now Paul is in a position to where he was told by others through the Holy Spirit to not go into Jerusalem. Through the Spirit he was warned but persisted to go on to Jerusalem anyway by saying in Acts 21:13 "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Some might say those words were foolish, but I think it takes a brave man to be ready to die for Jesus. Some may say that Paul felt guilty for having Stephen killed, but we don't know that at this time so it sounds like he is dedicated to doing God's will and being ready to endure whatever comes his way. I like the response that was given by those that were with him when they said in verse 14, "Let the will of the Lord be done." They could have yelled at him and called him names, but they did not. They realized they cannot control or persuade him to do something different than what he was dedicated to do. Paul took several men with him and participated in purification practices. After those seven days were up he was captured in the temple by Jews from Asia. The crowd was so angry and loud an physically vicious, Paul had to be carried into a separate barracks. He asked to speak to the people and in Acts 22, we will see what Paul said.

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Acts 15: The Two Splits and Fusion Attempt

The Two Splits and Fusion Attempt 

There were men telling the brothers of the church that only those who are circumcised can be saved. That completely overwrites what Christ did on the cross and what Paul and Barnabas had been teaching. Paul and Barnabas tried to persuade them through debate. That didn't work so they went to go speak with the elders and other apostles about the matter but they could not come to an agreement. There were those who were circumcised as the Pharisees were, but were also Christians and still believed that circumcision led to salvation. They were split (Acts 15:1-5).

During these debates, Peter spoke on the issues setting the focus on faith and not the acts of keeping the laws of Moses. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke up on the miracles they have seen and had done through God's will. The assembly fell silent and eventually James spoke and suggested to write to the Gentiles who had turned to God. The letters were to encourage them to flee sexual immorality and to abstain from anything polluted by false idols. The letters were also to create unity in that which was divided; the church (Acts 15:6-35).

Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement. They both wanted to visit the places where they preached the word of God and check up on the people. Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul did not want to because Mark had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia. This is where the disagreement ensued and they both went their separate ways with Paul taking Silas with him and Barnabas taking Mark (Acts 15:36-41).

It is okay when we disagree with one another. It is the manner in which we disagree. In other words, what did you say and how did you say it? Where was your heart? Did you listen to what they had to say? Did you ask for clarification when you were not sure of something? We don't always have to be right and in this disagreement between Paul and Barnabas those types of questions would need to be asked in hopes that the relationship remain in tact rather than split for good.

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Acts 13: Paul, Barnabas and The Message

Paul, Barnabas and The Message

Exit Saul and enter Paul (Acts 13:9). Saul was his real name but in another language names are used sound similar and maybe even have a different meaning. We know that Paul had been one to commit evil acts against Christians, but in verse 4 Paul, Barnabas and John (who was assisting) were led by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word of God in the synagogues. They encountered a false prophet named Bar-Jesus who was cursed by Paul via the Holy Spirit and stricken with blindness (Acts 13:6-11). 

Paul and Barnabas (now without John who had gone back to Jerusalem) were sent a message in a synagogue on Sabbath day. The synagogue needed a word of encouragement. Paul stood up and gave a very quick yet detailed account of how Christ came to be but also not forgetting Moses and prophecies from the Old Testament about the life of Christ (Acts 13:13-47). Paul also informed people that through Christ we are forgiven from our sins and that the law of Moses could not forgive us of all of our sins (Acts 13:38-39). When the gentiles heard all of this they began rejoicing, but the religious leaders drove Paul and Barnabas out of their district once the leaders caught wind of the word of God spreading through out the region. But, the disciples "shook the dust off their feet" and were filled with the Holy Spirit and joy (Acts 13:48-52).

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Acts 11- Further Development of the Church

Further Development of the Church

Peter met with the members of the church and told them about the Gentiles (non Jewish people) who had received the word of God. The brothers and sisters accused Peter of not being a faithful Christian Jew because he ate with Gentiles and they were uncircumcised at that. Peter tells them of the vision he had that allowed him to see that God had no distinction or partiality when it came to who could receive the word of God. Through this the church members were able to understand that everyone, including Gentiles, could receive the word of God. No partiality (Acts 11:1-18).

The Church in Antioch (which was far away) was growing. While there Barnabus and Saul met with other believers and taught for a year and it was also there at Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians. A prophet named Agaubus warned of a great famine that was coming to all the earth. he disciples determined to send relief to the brothers in Judea and they sent that relief by Barnabus and Saul., Everyone pitched in according to their ability (Acts 11:19-30). 

From this chapter I have pulled out that when it comes to the word of God and the life and resurrection of Christ, there is no partiality. It does not matter what you look like. You can receive the word of God regardless of the outside. The word will stick based on the inside. I also learned that this was the the first recorded relief effort from one group of people helping another group of people. That takes love and concern and selfless care for others. We need that when there is a national or worldwide disaster. We need that kind of selfless giving on weekdays, weekends and holidays. We need that more often. Love takes no days off.

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Acts 9: Saul's Turn of Faith

Saul's Turn of Faith

Saul is the same man who was imprisoning Christians and he is the same man who had an apostle stoned to death. You would not say that Saul was a man after God's heart. You would not say that Saul was a "good person." But, you also can't say Saul's story is over and he has no chance for redemption.

While he was still searching for more Christians to imprison, a light from Heaven shone down on him. A voice started speaking and asked why Saul was persecuting him. Saul did not know who it was and the voice revealed itself to be that of Jesus. The men Saul was with heard the voice too but did not see anyone just as Saul did not. Saul was blinded and could not eat or drink for three days (Acts 9:1-9).

A man named Ananias was told by God to go to Damascus (where Jesus sent Saul). Ananias was told to go there because Saul (whom Ananias knew of) was there praying and had a vision of a man named Ananias who was to lay hands on him and heal his sight. God said in verse 15, "he is a chosen instrument of mine." God also said that Saul would have to suffer in God's name. Ananias did as he was told and Saul's sight was restored, he was baptized and finally was able to eat and drink.

Saul began proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God to people in Damascus and the people plotted to kill him. He escaped out of Damascus and tried to join the disciple who of course did not believe him. Barnabas spoke up for Saul and told of the light being shone on him and of Saul spreading the word of Christ in Damascus (Acts 9:19-31). When God wants to use someone, he will not pick someone who is perfect, but He will choose those whom He sees as able, even one who had persecuted and murdered Christ followers.


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Luke 6:1-5- Lord of the Sabbath

Lord of the Sabbath

Many times I have heard that Christianity is about rules, regulations and religious rituals that have no meaning and make no sense. In many instances, Jesus thought similarly about being Jewish in his day.

In Luke 6:1-5, we have another example of the Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus into saying something that was wrong. Jesus often paid no attention to rules that were set forth by man's foolishness in order to supplant God's will. 

One of the Ten Commandments is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). Pharisees took that to an exponential level and literally would not even do what was right ion God's eyes because they thought they were doing the right thing. But often, Pharisees were not as concerned with God's will as they were their appearance to others and displaying their self-righteousness. They were trying to call out Jesus for rubbing in his hands the seeds he had picked to eat. Really? Seriously?! That is what you criticize??

The Pharisees made a list of what you could and could not do on the Sabbath. But, the will of God cannot be contained in do's and dont's. Yes, we have the Ten Commandments, but those are not the only commands God or Jesus gave through the entire Bible. Following God's will is bigger than a list.

Jesus said that he was "Lord of the Sabbath." This was one of his claims to being God in the flesh. As Jesus lived, we got to see his miracles and his heart through his actions. The great part about him saying that he was "Lord of the Sabbath" was that on another Sabbath, he healed a man with a withered hand (Luke 6:6-11). Would God really have you wait until the next day if you could serve Him or people on the Sabbath?

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Wednesday Wake Up #2

Proverbs 27:17 serves as more than just a cool little illustration, but a reminder that if you want to be strong you will need to be kept in check by someone who is also strong. the idea behind iron sharpens iron is that in order for the metal iron to be sharpened, it must be done so by another iron.

In your Christian walk, who is walking with you that is strong or even stronger in their walk than you? Do you have a mentor? Do you have someone who keeps you accountable? I can't grow as strong in my walk with Christ if I am never held accountable by someone who also follows Christ. we are not made to just exist on our own. Paul was a mentor to Timothy. The disciples walked with each other while following Christ. People have mentors in business, and coaches and partners. We are not made to exist on our own.

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Matthew 3:8

Matthew 3:8 "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." commentary- John the Baptist was quite upset with those  who worshiped Abraham over God himself. He warned them to bear fruit with repentance which meant that those who thought their Jewish heritage in Abraham was enough. It wasn't enough. They were getting baptized in preparation for a Messiah but still had not walked away from their sinful lives. We need to do the same as well. We can say we are Christians and Christ followers but the fruit of our repentance can show sin  that we are unwilling to give up.