I Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, My dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
With so much going on in our world today we must make sure that we are anchored int he Lord. We can't be unnerved by every little thing that threatens us. As a child we used to play a game when we were little called, "Made You Move." The object of the game was that one person would remain steady, staring straight ahead while the other person would act like they were going to hit the focused person in the face to see if they would move or flinch. If the person blinked or moved, the other perosn would say, "Ha Ha, made you move."
The devil's only job is to make you move out of position and miss your blessing. If he can get you disturbed over what somebody said about you, if he can get you hurt by something that happened at church, if he can use the economy to scare you away from your faith, then he has succeeded at his job. He made you move. You cannot afford to move from your position. You are too blessed to be stressed. No matter what it looks like:
1. Stand firm. Make sure your feet are set on solid ground. On Jesus Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.
2. Let nothing move you. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Jesus said, "Do not fear the person who can kill the body but fear God who can kill body and soul." Don't let idle threats and negative reports move you, whose report shall you believe God's or man's?
3. Give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. When you are busy doing God's work you don't have time to worry about the foolishness of the world. There is a peace that comes over you when you are doing the work of the Lord that doesn't allow you to be easily moved. Keep working for the Lord because your work is not in vain.
Dear God,
Keep me steadfast and unmovable. Help me to keep my eyes on the prize and hold on. Today, don't let any bad news or negativity phase me as i strive toward reaching my goals. I will not be moved by anything or anybody. I'm trusting you to see me through.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Monday, November 14, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Did I Do That?
I Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
In the hit sitcom, Family Matters, Steve Urkel always seemed to find a way to bumble and cause someone else to stumble. He was a loving little nerd but always seemed to be getting in the way and whenever he caused some kind of mishap, he would ask, "Did I dooo thaaaat?!"
How many times have we looked back on the mess we left in our tracks to ask, "Did I do that?" It's so much easier to keep going and blame others when they trip over our stuff instead of asking, "Did I do that?" At some point we have to take ownership in the influence that we have over other people.
As Christians, we have a moral obligation to make sure we don't do anything to cause those who are weaker in the faith to stumble. We've all had some blunders in our lives where we meant something good but like Steve Urkel we just made a mess out of things. Steve was smart he just didn't use common sense sometimes. As believers we have to use common sense to make sure that what we do is for the common good.
The more enlightened we get in terms of God's grace and lose the chains of traditon the more freedom we feel to live life unfettered by the opinions of narrow minded people. On the other hand, we have a responsibiilty to manage our freedom in such a way that it doesn't cause weaker people in the faith to stumble.
The Apostle Paul talked about eating meat sacrificed to idols as being theologically permissable for Christians. Prior to Jesus' liberating the Jews from man-made laws concerning what foods they could eat, the Jews had strict dietary regulations. Jesus said, "It's not what goes in the man that defiles him but what comes out." Paul believed this too but, he also believed that we should not use our freedom to cause somebody else to stumble, so if eating meat that was believed to have been sacrificed to some other god caused new believers to stumble then you shouldn't do that.
If having a glass of red wine for dinner offends your dinner guests because they just became a Christian and they thought that drinking was forbidden, then maybe you should have water that night even though there are health benefits for drinking red wine and you believe that it's okay to drink in moderation. You must exercise your freedom with responsibility.
We must be responsible with our freedom by:
1. Practicing Discretion. Just because you can doesn't mean that you should.
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
2. Practice Moderation. Too much of anything ain't good for you.
Ephesians 5:18
The Message (MSG)
18-20
Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.
3. Practice Consideration. Always think about how your actions will impact others. Make sure you do what you do out of love and concern for those that you influence.
1 Corinthians 8
1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that "We all possess knowledge." But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
Dear God,
Help me to use my freedom responsibly. I know you want me to enjoy life and life more abundantly but I also know that you want me to be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block. If I have said anything or done anything that caused someone weaker in the faith to stumble please forgive me and help them to recover. Today, use me to help someone see you in what I do. Today, I want to see somebody get closer to Jesus so I can look back and say, "Did I do that?"
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
In the hit sitcom, Family Matters, Steve Urkel always seemed to find a way to bumble and cause someone else to stumble. He was a loving little nerd but always seemed to be getting in the way and whenever he caused some kind of mishap, he would ask, "Did I dooo thaaaat?!"
How many times have we looked back on the mess we left in our tracks to ask, "Did I do that?" It's so much easier to keep going and blame others when they trip over our stuff instead of asking, "Did I do that?" At some point we have to take ownership in the influence that we have over other people.
As Christians, we have a moral obligation to make sure we don't do anything to cause those who are weaker in the faith to stumble. We've all had some blunders in our lives where we meant something good but like Steve Urkel we just made a mess out of things. Steve was smart he just didn't use common sense sometimes. As believers we have to use common sense to make sure that what we do is for the common good.
The more enlightened we get in terms of God's grace and lose the chains of traditon the more freedom we feel to live life unfettered by the opinions of narrow minded people. On the other hand, we have a responsibiilty to manage our freedom in such a way that it doesn't cause weaker people in the faith to stumble.
The Apostle Paul talked about eating meat sacrificed to idols as being theologically permissable for Christians. Prior to Jesus' liberating the Jews from man-made laws concerning what foods they could eat, the Jews had strict dietary regulations. Jesus said, "It's not what goes in the man that defiles him but what comes out." Paul believed this too but, he also believed that we should not use our freedom to cause somebody else to stumble, so if eating meat that was believed to have been sacrificed to some other god caused new believers to stumble then you shouldn't do that.
If having a glass of red wine for dinner offends your dinner guests because they just became a Christian and they thought that drinking was forbidden, then maybe you should have water that night even though there are health benefits for drinking red wine and you believe that it's okay to drink in moderation. You must exercise your freedom with responsibility.
We must be responsible with our freedom by:
1. Practicing Discretion. Just because you can doesn't mean that you should.
1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
2. Practice Moderation. Too much of anything ain't good for you.
Ephesians 5:18
The Message (MSG)
18-20
Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.
3. Practice Consideration. Always think about how your actions will impact others. Make sure you do what you do out of love and concern for those that you influence.
1 Corinthians 8
1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that "We all possess knowledge." But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
Dear God,
Help me to use my freedom responsibly. I know you want me to enjoy life and life more abundantly but I also know that you want me to be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block. If I have said anything or done anything that caused someone weaker in the faith to stumble please forgive me and help them to recover. Today, use me to help someone see you in what I do. Today, I want to see somebody get closer to Jesus so I can look back and say, "Did I do that?"
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Is It Good for You?
I Corinthians 6:12
Someone will say, "I am allowed to do anything," yes but not everything is good for you. I could say that I am allowed to do anything, but I am not going to let anything make me its slave.
The late, great Heavy D had a song that asked, "Is it good to you?" It was a love song where the overweight lover Heavy D kept asking his love interest, 'Is it good to you?' It's an important question that every husband ought to ask his wife but it's not a great question to ask yourself. Too many people are stuck on this question and it seems to be the prevailing question of this generation who seem to be driven by pleasure, 'Is it good to you?" But if you are drven by purpose the question ought to be, "Is it good for you?" Because what's good to you may not be good for you.
America is the land of the free and the home of the slave. We are free to do whatever we want to do but in doing so we have become a slave to our compulsivity. I found out yesterday that 89% of HIV cases in Memphis, TN are African Americans, and 27% of those are black women. We are one of the most unhealhtiest cities with sedentary lifestyles and obesity. We have good food but many times it just ain't good for you. We are also one of the higest cities who have a high incident of bankruptcy. Some of us have made some good money but we haven't done good with our money.
Sex, food and money are not bad in themselves but it's what and how we use them that determines if they are good for us.
1. Sex--Sexual Immorality is sex outside of marriage. Sexual integrity is when you are fulfilled by your spouse only. Sexual sin is the only sin that does damage to the body spiritually and physically. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Sprit and your spouse is the only high priest ordained to come in.
2. Food--food is not all about how good it taste but it's about how good it is for you. What is the nutritional value of what you're eating? What is the caloric intake you are supposed to eat everyday for maximum health benefits? How much exercise do you need to maintain good health.
3. Money--Money is not the root of all evil but the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. It's hard for the rich to enter into heaven. They are slaves to their money.
You are free to do whatever you want to do. You are a grown person but if you really want to live the abundant life that Jesus has for you then you have to change your question from, "Is it good to you?" to "Is it good for me?"
Dear God,
Thank you for helping me to change my question. I want to be pleasing and acceptable to you before I please myself. I would rather please you than be caught up trying to please people. Give me the discipline to do what is good for me and not just what is good to me. Lead me today into what is good for me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Someone will say, "I am allowed to do anything," yes but not everything is good for you. I could say that I am allowed to do anything, but I am not going to let anything make me its slave.
The late, great Heavy D had a song that asked, "Is it good to you?" It was a love song where the overweight lover Heavy D kept asking his love interest, 'Is it good to you?' It's an important question that every husband ought to ask his wife but it's not a great question to ask yourself. Too many people are stuck on this question and it seems to be the prevailing question of this generation who seem to be driven by pleasure, 'Is it good to you?" But if you are drven by purpose the question ought to be, "Is it good for you?" Because what's good to you may not be good for you.
America is the land of the free and the home of the slave. We are free to do whatever we want to do but in doing so we have become a slave to our compulsivity. I found out yesterday that 89% of HIV cases in Memphis, TN are African Americans, and 27% of those are black women. We are one of the most unhealhtiest cities with sedentary lifestyles and obesity. We have good food but many times it just ain't good for you. We are also one of the higest cities who have a high incident of bankruptcy. Some of us have made some good money but we haven't done good with our money.
Sex, food and money are not bad in themselves but it's what and how we use them that determines if they are good for us.
1. Sex--Sexual Immorality is sex outside of marriage. Sexual integrity is when you are fulfilled by your spouse only. Sexual sin is the only sin that does damage to the body spiritually and physically. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Sprit and your spouse is the only high priest ordained to come in.
2. Food--food is not all about how good it taste but it's about how good it is for you. What is the nutritional value of what you're eating? What is the caloric intake you are supposed to eat everyday for maximum health benefits? How much exercise do you need to maintain good health.
3. Money--Money is not the root of all evil but the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. It's hard for the rich to enter into heaven. They are slaves to their money.
You are free to do whatever you want to do. You are a grown person but if you really want to live the abundant life that Jesus has for you then you have to change your question from, "Is it good to you?" to "Is it good for me?"
Dear God,
Thank you for helping me to change my question. I want to be pleasing and acceptable to you before I please myself. I would rather please you than be caught up trying to please people. Give me the discipline to do what is good for me and not just what is good to me. Lead me today into what is good for me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Are You a Fool?!
I Cor. 1:26-27
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards…but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
I was in the Nike store the other week and I was looking at some shoes when a young man with a gold grill, braids and white T-shirt approached me and said, “Hey fool, you work here?” I calmly replied, “No man, I don’t work here.” He said, “Sorry about that, thanks.” For some reason I wasn’t offended. For one I knew that’s the greeting that most young men give each other in the streets and then secondly, I am a fool...for Christ.
The old folks used to say, “God watches over babies and fools.” When I think back on when I was first called to be used by God, I qualified for the fool category. I loved God but I was ignorant to his way and lost in my own way of doing things. I didn’t come from a long line of royalty or wealth; I was smart but not wise. I didn’t have any fans or followers, but God decided to put his hands on me anyway.
God purposely looks out for fools to confuse the wise. He looks for the weak to mess up the strong. When it’s all said and done you and I can’t take any credit for what only God can do. I can’t really tell you how God took us from 60 people to 18,000 people in ten years of existence as a church. I think when we attempt to start explaining it and taking credit for it, that’s when God removes his hands off of it. The only thing I can truly say is that God loved me enough to use me and he can use you too.
Here are the criteria for being used by God:
1. Not very wise. Solomon says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. When Solomon became King after his father David, he told God, “I don’t know what I’m doing.” And he asked God for Wisdom. If you don’t know what you are doing but you get out of the way and let God use you, he can make you wise. Don’t use the excuse that you don’t know how to do it to stop God from using you to do it.
2. Not many were influential. Leadership is influence. If you are leading and no one is following, you’re just taking a long lonely walk. People follow you because they are influenced by God’s spirit in you. God gives charisma or gifts for people to lead. You can use those gifts for good or bad. How you use them determines if God continues to let you lead.
3. Not of Noble birth. God often chooses people of the smallest clan and tribes to lead his people. i.e. Gideon, David, Jesus. Despise not small beginnings. I was born in a town with a population smaller than the size of my church. I love God’s sense of humor. If you come from a small place or a lowly place, you are a good candidate for God to do something big through you.
So if you are going to do any bragging about what you’ve been able to accomplish, let me ask you something: “Hey Fool, do you work here? Hey fool, did you graduate because you were so smart? Hey fool, did you really do all this by yourself?” My reply is: “No, I didn’t and I’m not a fool! I am a fool for Christ.”
Dear God,
Thank you for choosing me to serve you and lead your people. You’ve made my stumbling look like steps and my guessing look like genius. I really don’t know how you did it or why you did it but I’m so glad that you did it. Even though the world may think that I’m a fool for serving Jesus, I will be the biggest fool I can and serve you all the more because I know too much about you for them to make me doubt you. I am a fool for Christ.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards…but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
I was in the Nike store the other week and I was looking at some shoes when a young man with a gold grill, braids and white T-shirt approached me and said, “Hey fool, you work here?” I calmly replied, “No man, I don’t work here.” He said, “Sorry about that, thanks.” For some reason I wasn’t offended. For one I knew that’s the greeting that most young men give each other in the streets and then secondly, I am a fool...for Christ.
The old folks used to say, “God watches over babies and fools.” When I think back on when I was first called to be used by God, I qualified for the fool category. I loved God but I was ignorant to his way and lost in my own way of doing things. I didn’t come from a long line of royalty or wealth; I was smart but not wise. I didn’t have any fans or followers, but God decided to put his hands on me anyway.
God purposely looks out for fools to confuse the wise. He looks for the weak to mess up the strong. When it’s all said and done you and I can’t take any credit for what only God can do. I can’t really tell you how God took us from 60 people to 18,000 people in ten years of existence as a church. I think when we attempt to start explaining it and taking credit for it, that’s when God removes his hands off of it. The only thing I can truly say is that God loved me enough to use me and he can use you too.
Here are the criteria for being used by God:
1. Not very wise. Solomon says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. When Solomon became King after his father David, he told God, “I don’t know what I’m doing.” And he asked God for Wisdom. If you don’t know what you are doing but you get out of the way and let God use you, he can make you wise. Don’t use the excuse that you don’t know how to do it to stop God from using you to do it.
2. Not many were influential. Leadership is influence. If you are leading and no one is following, you’re just taking a long lonely walk. People follow you because they are influenced by God’s spirit in you. God gives charisma or gifts for people to lead. You can use those gifts for good or bad. How you use them determines if God continues to let you lead.
3. Not of Noble birth. God often chooses people of the smallest clan and tribes to lead his people. i.e. Gideon, David, Jesus. Despise not small beginnings. I was born in a town with a population smaller than the size of my church. I love God’s sense of humor. If you come from a small place or a lowly place, you are a good candidate for God to do something big through you.
So if you are going to do any bragging about what you’ve been able to accomplish, let me ask you something: “Hey Fool, do you work here? Hey fool, did you graduate because you were so smart? Hey fool, did you really do all this by yourself?” My reply is: “No, I didn’t and I’m not a fool! I am a fool for Christ.”
Dear God,
Thank you for choosing me to serve you and lead your people. You’ve made my stumbling look like steps and my guessing look like genius. I really don’t know how you did it or why you did it but I’m so glad that you did it. Even though the world may think that I’m a fool for serving Jesus, I will be the biggest fool I can and serve you all the more because I know too much about you for them to make me doubt you. I am a fool for Christ.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Have You Heard the Rooster?
.Mark 14:72
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
My Grandmother used to raise chickens. When the sun rose in the mornings the most alluring sound would be the trumpeting of the rooster alerting us of a new day. It was time to get up when you heard the rooster crow. A new day had dawned when the rooster crowed. There was no more sleeping when the rooster crowed.
Not many of us wake up anymore to the sound of a rooster breaking the silence of the night to introduce a new day but there is the alarm of our conscience that alerts us that we have betrayed Jesus somewhere in our lives. If you listen hard enough you can still hear the rooster crow.
Peter had good intentions. He told Jesus he would never leave him or betray him. Peter told Jesus he would die with Jesus if he had to. Jesus told Peter, “You will deny me three times before the Rooster crows twice.”
Sure enough Peter saw Jesus arrested and beaten. The severity of the beating and the trauma of seeing Jesus being manhandled caused Peter to fall back, follow at a distance, and forsake his allegiance. All this he did without even realizing that he was doing the exact opposite of what he told Jesus he would do.
Peter denied Jesus in three different instances before the rooster crowed:
1. He denied association. When times get hard many of us who used to be with Jesus, distance ourselves in hard times. Jesus and the church is taking a beating lately and many of his followers have fallen back. The church is the bride of Christ and to deny her is to deny him. Don’t fall back step up.
2. He denied confirmation. Other people recognized Peter had been with Jesus but he denied it. People have spoken over your life and confirmed what you know inside but fail to confess. Jesus is in you but you agree with the call on your life.
3. He denied validation. They said, “You talk like him.” They could hear Jesus in his dialect. We deny Jesus when we refuse to speak about him or deny that there is something distinct about our dialect.
After their third time of denying Jesus, the rooster crowed, then Peter remembered what Jesus said, and he broke down and wept. When was the last time you cried after you realized that you’ve been living in denial? Has the crow caught up with your conscience? Has God awakened you to the sound of your own denial? Do the people you associate with know that you are a follower of Jesus or are you just hanging out? Have you received confirmation that there’s a call on your life or are you still in denial? Have you been broken over the fact that your intentions to follow Jesus have led to the realization that by the way you live you have actually denied Jesus existence? Do you hear the rooster crowing?
If you hear the rooster crowing this morning, wake up and recommit yourself to truly representing Jesus. Jesus is calling!
Dear God,
Help me to live out my intentions to follow you even if it means dying for what I believe. Let your light shine in me for the world to see. I cannot deny that I belong to you. Forgive me of falling back when I should’ve stepped up. I’m awake now, I heard the rooster crow. Thanks for the wakeup call.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
My Grandmother used to raise chickens. When the sun rose in the mornings the most alluring sound would be the trumpeting of the rooster alerting us of a new day. It was time to get up when you heard the rooster crow. A new day had dawned when the rooster crowed. There was no more sleeping when the rooster crowed.
Not many of us wake up anymore to the sound of a rooster breaking the silence of the night to introduce a new day but there is the alarm of our conscience that alerts us that we have betrayed Jesus somewhere in our lives. If you listen hard enough you can still hear the rooster crow.
Peter had good intentions. He told Jesus he would never leave him or betray him. Peter told Jesus he would die with Jesus if he had to. Jesus told Peter, “You will deny me three times before the Rooster crows twice.”
Sure enough Peter saw Jesus arrested and beaten. The severity of the beating and the trauma of seeing Jesus being manhandled caused Peter to fall back, follow at a distance, and forsake his allegiance. All this he did without even realizing that he was doing the exact opposite of what he told Jesus he would do.
Peter denied Jesus in three different instances before the rooster crowed:
1. He denied association. When times get hard many of us who used to be with Jesus, distance ourselves in hard times. Jesus and the church is taking a beating lately and many of his followers have fallen back. The church is the bride of Christ and to deny her is to deny him. Don’t fall back step up.
2. He denied confirmation. Other people recognized Peter had been with Jesus but he denied it. People have spoken over your life and confirmed what you know inside but fail to confess. Jesus is in you but you agree with the call on your life.
3. He denied validation. They said, “You talk like him.” They could hear Jesus in his dialect. We deny Jesus when we refuse to speak about him or deny that there is something distinct about our dialect.
After their third time of denying Jesus, the rooster crowed, then Peter remembered what Jesus said, and he broke down and wept. When was the last time you cried after you realized that you’ve been living in denial? Has the crow caught up with your conscience? Has God awakened you to the sound of your own denial? Do the people you associate with know that you are a follower of Jesus or are you just hanging out? Have you received confirmation that there’s a call on your life or are you still in denial? Have you been broken over the fact that your intentions to follow Jesus have led to the realization that by the way you live you have actually denied Jesus existence? Do you hear the rooster crowing?
If you hear the rooster crowing this morning, wake up and recommit yourself to truly representing Jesus. Jesus is calling!
Dear God,
Help me to live out my intentions to follow you even if it means dying for what I believe. Let your light shine in me for the world to see. I cannot deny that I belong to you. Forgive me of falling back when I should’ve stepped up. I’m awake now, I heard the rooster crow. Thanks for the wakeup call.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Poor Give More
Mark 12:43-44
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.
Growing up I can always remember fondly, how poor folks always took care of each other. Whether it was swapping vegetables from their gardens, or sharing fish they had caught in the river, or wild game they got from the hunt in the woods, we took care of each other. What little we did have, we shared with one another.
I’ve experienced this same kind of resurgence recently in our community of faith with the people in my congregation. Sunday when I asked all of the unemployed to come to the altar, half the congregation came down. We gave away gas cards, paid light bills, groceries, and signed people up for job interviews after church. One of the most moving experiences as pastor was when I had more people who needed groceries than we had grocery cards for. The members responded by giving more money right there on the spot to help people get food to eat. The members responded by giving more money to help out. With half the people in the church not working they still gave more!
God sees our hearts when we give. There is not a time that goes by when Jesus doesn’t notice what we put in. In this text a poor widow woman puts in her last two coins in the offering and Jesus said, “She put in more than anybody else because she put in all she had.” Now mind you there were wealthy people putting in larger amounts than this poor widow but she gave more. Her sacrifice was greater. Many of us give but we don’t sacrifice. When we give it ought to come from our hearts and be sacrificial. God doesn’t want equal giving but equal sacrifice. This woman was poor but she gave more. Are you giving God your best or just enough to look good?
In the movie, The Grapes of Wrath, there is a poor family that is surviving the great depression. I love the movie because it shows poor people persevering and overcoming one of our nation’s hardest financial crisis. The mother in the movie says to her son, “I’m Learning one thing good..If you’re in trouble or hurt or in need-go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help—the only ones.”
The poor give more because:
1. They have a better sense of where their help comes from. If his eye is on the sparrow surely he watches over me.
2. They know what it feels like to need help. Matthew 5:7 You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘careful,’ you find yourselves cared for.
3. They know there is a greater reward coming. Blessed are the Poor for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20
4. The more you have the harder it is to let it go. It’s hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:25
5. They know God’s going to give it back. Luke 6:38
Dear God,
Help me to trust you like that poor widow. All that I have, I give it back to you, knowing that you will provide for me and my neighbor, because poor people help poor people. Thank you Jesus for becoming poor so that I could live abundantly. You blessed me to be a blessing and today I give myself away so that you can use me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.
Growing up I can always remember fondly, how poor folks always took care of each other. Whether it was swapping vegetables from their gardens, or sharing fish they had caught in the river, or wild game they got from the hunt in the woods, we took care of each other. What little we did have, we shared with one another.
I’ve experienced this same kind of resurgence recently in our community of faith with the people in my congregation. Sunday when I asked all of the unemployed to come to the altar, half the congregation came down. We gave away gas cards, paid light bills, groceries, and signed people up for job interviews after church. One of the most moving experiences as pastor was when I had more people who needed groceries than we had grocery cards for. The members responded by giving more money right there on the spot to help people get food to eat. The members responded by giving more money to help out. With half the people in the church not working they still gave more!
God sees our hearts when we give. There is not a time that goes by when Jesus doesn’t notice what we put in. In this text a poor widow woman puts in her last two coins in the offering and Jesus said, “She put in more than anybody else because she put in all she had.” Now mind you there were wealthy people putting in larger amounts than this poor widow but she gave more. Her sacrifice was greater. Many of us give but we don’t sacrifice. When we give it ought to come from our hearts and be sacrificial. God doesn’t want equal giving but equal sacrifice. This woman was poor but she gave more. Are you giving God your best or just enough to look good?
In the movie, The Grapes of Wrath, there is a poor family that is surviving the great depression. I love the movie because it shows poor people persevering and overcoming one of our nation’s hardest financial crisis. The mother in the movie says to her son, “I’m Learning one thing good..If you’re in trouble or hurt or in need-go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help—the only ones.”
The poor give more because:
1. They have a better sense of where their help comes from. If his eye is on the sparrow surely he watches over me.
2. They know what it feels like to need help. Matthew 5:7 You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘careful,’ you find yourselves cared for.
3. They know there is a greater reward coming. Blessed are the Poor for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20
4. The more you have the harder it is to let it go. It’s hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:25
5. They know God’s going to give it back. Luke 6:38
Dear God,
Help me to trust you like that poor widow. All that I have, I give it back to you, knowing that you will provide for me and my neighbor, because poor people help poor people. Thank you Jesus for becoming poor so that I could live abundantly. You blessed me to be a blessing and today I give myself away so that you can use me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mi Cloud
Mark 9:7
Then a Cloud appeared and enveloped them and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.'
iCloud is so much more than a hard drive in the sky. It makes it quick and effortless to access just about everything on the devices you use every day. iCloud automatically and securely stores your content so it's always available to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC. It gives you access to your music, apps, latest photos and more from whichever device you happen to be using. iCloud does it all for you.
This souds simple but also intimidating. This Cloud is going to have access to all my information. It's easy but can I trust this cloud to securely hold all my information and can I retreive it anytime I need it? I like the fact that it keeps all my devices in sync. I like the fact that it gives me storage space for my important documents. I like the fact that I have access at all times to my most important things. Everyitng I need is in iCloud.
When you stop to think about it we've always had iCloud. When God led the Children of Israel out of Egypt he was a Cloud by day and fire by night. Moses asked him what his name was. He said, "I am that I am." That makes him ICloud!
Psalm 121 says, "The Lord watches over you--The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. the Lord will keep you from all harm (secure) he will watch over your life.
When Jesus was transformed on the Mountain he had three of his disciples or devices; Peter, James and John. Jesus was tyring to upgrade his mission by downloading a revelation while syncing with older versions Elijah and Moses to a newer version of the OT Lion of Judah. When his syncing was interrupted by Peter who suggested they set up 3 servers one for Elijah, Moses and Jesus. Just then ICloud showed up to simplify the process and download the Revelation to all three disciples at the same time. The Voice from the ICloud said, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him!" Afer the voice spoke the disciples looked around and there was no one there but Jesus, meaning that from now on everything they needed would be in him. Jesus is our Siri! With the new Iphone 4s, Siri is the voice that will help you access all the information in the cloud or on your device. All you have to do is ask Siri what you need and the voice is able to access the cloud to give you what you need through your device. You and I are the device that other people ought to be able to hear the voice and access the cloud.
God is the iCloud that has:
1. Access to all your information. Jesus knows all about our struggles. There is nothing hidden to God that will not be revealed. What is done in the darkness shall come to the light.
2. He's able to keep us in sync. Where two or three are gathered in Jesus Name there he will be in the midst. Whatsoever we touch and agree upon shall be done. Whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
3. Our information is secure in him. Psalm 121:8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever.
4. Don't move without the cloud. Exodus 40:37 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.
5. He will seperate you from your enemies. Exodus 14:20 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
6. The Cloud means it's time to worship! Exodus 33:10 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.
Dear God,
Sync me up with your will. Lead me with your Cloud. Let your Glory Cloud fill the Church. Let your Cloud watch over me all day. I'm listenting for your voice.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Then a Cloud appeared and enveloped them and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.'
iCloud is so much more than a hard drive in the sky. It makes it quick and effortless to access just about everything on the devices you use every day. iCloud automatically and securely stores your content so it's always available to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC. It gives you access to your music, apps, latest photos and more from whichever device you happen to be using. iCloud does it all for you.
This souds simple but also intimidating. This Cloud is going to have access to all my information. It's easy but can I trust this cloud to securely hold all my information and can I retreive it anytime I need it? I like the fact that it keeps all my devices in sync. I like the fact that it gives me storage space for my important documents. I like the fact that I have access at all times to my most important things. Everyitng I need is in iCloud.
When you stop to think about it we've always had iCloud. When God led the Children of Israel out of Egypt he was a Cloud by day and fire by night. Moses asked him what his name was. He said, "I am that I am." That makes him ICloud!
Psalm 121 says, "The Lord watches over you--The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. the Lord will keep you from all harm (secure) he will watch over your life.
When Jesus was transformed on the Mountain he had three of his disciples or devices; Peter, James and John. Jesus was tyring to upgrade his mission by downloading a revelation while syncing with older versions Elijah and Moses to a newer version of the OT Lion of Judah. When his syncing was interrupted by Peter who suggested they set up 3 servers one for Elijah, Moses and Jesus. Just then ICloud showed up to simplify the process and download the Revelation to all three disciples at the same time. The Voice from the ICloud said, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him!" Afer the voice spoke the disciples looked around and there was no one there but Jesus, meaning that from now on everything they needed would be in him. Jesus is our Siri! With the new Iphone 4s, Siri is the voice that will help you access all the information in the cloud or on your device. All you have to do is ask Siri what you need and the voice is able to access the cloud to give you what you need through your device. You and I are the device that other people ought to be able to hear the voice and access the cloud.
God is the iCloud that has:
1. Access to all your information. Jesus knows all about our struggles. There is nothing hidden to God that will not be revealed. What is done in the darkness shall come to the light.
2. He's able to keep us in sync. Where two or three are gathered in Jesus Name there he will be in the midst. Whatsoever we touch and agree upon shall be done. Whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatever we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
3. Our information is secure in him. Psalm 121:8 The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever.
4. Don't move without the cloud. Exodus 40:37 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.
5. He will seperate you from your enemies. Exodus 14:20 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
6. The Cloud means it's time to worship! Exodus 33:10 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.
Dear God,
Sync me up with your will. Lead me with your Cloud. Let your Glory Cloud fill the Church. Let your Cloud watch over me all day. I'm listenting for your voice.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
