Our Kingdom or God's Kingdom?

In our kingdom we are very much like the rich man in Matthew 19.

The rich man didn't want to go all out for Jesus because he had too many possessions. With his wealth came honor and notoriety inside the community. The Bible doesn't tell us how the young man obtained his money. Unless he inherited it, he probably had a great career so he couldn't give God 100% of his time, energy or life.

The people in his community most likely thought he was a good follower of God. He didn't murder, steal or lie, he honored his mother and father and loved his neighbor. I am sure he was looked up to in the local synagogue and if the rich man went to church in America today he might be compared to many other average Christians who represent God:

He shows up every Sunday, goes to Bible study, tithes, is easy going, has high morals, lives with integrity and is like us in many ways.

Which is fine if you want your Christian walk to be ordinary.

When I was a youth pastor I had a favorite saying: "I'd rather die than follow mediocrity."

God has not called His followers to be common, but to make an impact - to leave a mark.

Eleven of the 12 disciples ended up giving 100% to God and we are all here today as His followers because of their dedication and choice to live above the norm. What if the rich man's commitment to God was considered the mark of a true disciple? How would his meager efforts have impacted our lives today?

So you may be asking, do I need to sell everything I have, give up my career, my job, go on the mission field or into ministry to be effective? Yes, if God asks you to then you need to follow His call, and many have. But consider the example of the Apostle Paul who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. He had a passion to disciple others and spread the Gospel, but he also had a second job as a tent maker. He was able to serve God and have a career...that can be true for us today as well.

I have said a million times, God has placed you where you are in life. Where you work, the neighborhood you live in, the friendships and relationships you have are all opportunities for you to live out His mission - to make disciples.

We read in Matthew 9:36-37, "When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few.'"

God sees inside every heart, collects every tear, feels every scar, sees every empty void in people's lives. So He sends you to a certain job, neighborhood or individual to share His love for them. He needs you to go and reap the harvest. But the workers are few because we either do nothing or live average American Christian lives. As long as we are more concerned about our image, bank account, toys, hobbies or career we are showing that our kingdom is more important than God's Kingdom and we are not following His call.

The harvest is ripe and people are ready to hear about God's love for them and we need to get over ourselves. Every situation we are in can be an opportunity for a harvest, but if we only wait for the church to put on an outreach we are missing many chances to make disciples.

If you have the attitude that you don't have a degree or a title or feel unqualified then you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you think you are too young and are waiting for the future, or feel too old then you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you live in fear or doubt you are more worried about your kingdom.

If you say you are too busy you are more worried about your kingdom - because you will always make time for what you want to do.

Even if you are in ministry - if you are concerned about numbers, ego, status, title or noteriety then you are more worried about your kingdom.

EVERYONE has a part in God's Kingdom.

1 Peter chapter 4 tells us that God gives you the gifts, strength and energy to do what He has called you to do. When you follow through with that task, using His gifting, then you bring glory to God.

In Romans chapter 12 we are encouraged to take whatever gift God has given us seriously, and use it effectively - to the best of our ability.

Everything we do should be about building up God's Kingdom - we ALL have a part.

When it is all said and done, Jesus will not ask you about how well you provided for your kids, your 401k or lack thereof, your high school diploma or college degree, how many clothes were in your closet, how many vehicles you owned, your status in society, how many times you attended church or how often you read the Bible. But He may ask you if you harvested where you were planted.

He has called you to harvest the ripe crop. He has already done all the work, all you need to do is pluck the fruit.

"May He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen." Hebrews 13:21

Be blessed,
Steve

The Light

"The Word [Jesus] gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:4-5

I used to live in a dark, dark world. Then a light came into my world and I will never be the same. I could not get enough of Jesus. I could not contain my excitement and boldly told everyone all the new things I was learning about God. I wanted to share what Jesus had done for me with everyone. Then what happened?

You remember what happened to the Israelites? God rescued them from slavery in Egypt and led them through the desert to the promised land, providing manna when there was no food, water from a rock when they were thirsty and parting the Red Sea to save them from their enemies...you know...minor things like that. And the Israelites complained. Doubt and fear crept in and they started hungering to go back to the slavery they had once known.

I am like Peter. I kinda deny God. When there is a non-Christian around I act differently - I don't even talk about God, but when there are Christians around then I will. It is such a shame that this is what I have become. I feel like I have hit so many road blocks. I get tired of forgetting His love for me. God can still do miracles and I am coming up with excuses in case He doesn't show up.

God has been dealing with me this week. He has been saying, "Steve, I need you to take Me as your refuge. When will you just trust Me? I'm going to take care of everything."

Jesus came as a human full of love and faithfulness. This is the only thing I have. This is the only thing that brought a permanent bright light to my world. I am never going to give this up!

Many of us are sleeping. For those of us who are Christians doubt has gripped us and put a stronghold on us. We have let too much of the world in and God has become 2nd best. We want to believe...we want God to bring us back to that childlike faith that we had at the beginning...that newness...that joy!

Jesus came to bring us abundant life. He sacrificed Himself and He didn't do it because He had nothing better to do. He loves you!! Sometimes you feel like He doesn't love you and it is a lie! His love is not a rule thing. When you love someone you will do whatever it takes to be with them. That is what Jesus did for you. He died for you, then He chose you to live for Him, to be His spokesman.

Jesus has not changed. We have changed our attitude. We are taking what we have for granted. People are hurting and living in that darkness and we have the light of the world! I like how Heidi Baker puts it, "there are a lot of fish flopping around with no oxygen and we are just letting them die."

This Jesus loves the heck out of you!! In Psalm 119 we are told that He knows our wounds and our pain. Just like He heard the Israelites when they cried out to Him in their distress in Exodus 3, He hears our cries. We are all the same...Romans 3 tells us that there is no one who is good. But when you start living for God it changes everything!

You will live what you believe, your life will reflect that. We need to get back to God and to the cross where our sins were forgiven. Strongholds of doubt and fear in your life are not of God. You need to let it go. You don't have to live that way anymore because Jesus set you free! You need to TRUST! Why do we keep trying to live life our own way like we think our way is better?

It is really pretty simple, if you want God come back. If you have never known Him then come for the first time. His light will extinguish the darkness in your life and you will never be the same!

Be blessed,
Steve

Authority

Have you ever dealt with a bully? They seem so tough but once you decide you have had enough and stand up to them it surprises them. They lose that power of intimidation they had over you.

Satan is a bully.

Are you tired of the things that are going on in your city, in your church, in your family? When are we going to stand up and say ENOUGH?

We try to control our circumstances thinking if we just change this or that things will be different. But we are not dealing with the source of our problems. Now, there is nothing wrong with going to doctors when you are sick, or to counselors to help you deal with issues, but there comes a time when all that time and effort give no results except to keep our mind and energy focused on ourselves and our problems.

2 Kings 22 tells us that at the age of 8 Josiah became King of Israel after 54 years of rulers who acted wickedly in God's sight. When he was 26 years old a worker found the scroll of God's Word that had been lost and forgotten by the people for so many years. When Josiah read God's Word he tore his robe in anguish. He said ENOUGH and Josiah cleaned house. He destroyed all the pagan temples and put an end to all the wicked practices that the Kings before him had instituted. He gathered the nation together and read the scroll and proclaimed that the nation would follow the One True God. And God was pleased and told Josiah that as long as he was King in Israel God would not punish the people for all the wrongs they had done. THEN things started to change politically, then Israel started to see victories. Josiah did not go out to make a better nation, he acknowledged God as the One True God and through his changed heart the nation was changed.

We need to give up control of our circumstances to God. Then we need to take back the authority that God has given us over that great bully Satan! In Luke chapter 10 Jesus tells his disciples that they have been given authority in the spiritual realm. That wasn't just for the people then. If you are a disciple of Jesus you have that same authority. You can stand up to the enemy and say ENOUGH!!

But we need to remember we can't do anything in our own power. If we try to fight this battle on our own we will fail. Ephesians 6 reminds us to be strong in the Lord and in His power! This is not about us. It is about God. He is the one we are fighting for. Satan's stategy is to get us so focused on our issues and our problems that our mind is off of God. We need to change our relationship with God, put Him back in the center of our lives where He belongs, then He will release His power through us to fight the enemy.

Whatever is in your life that is holding you back from God needs to go. Whether it is sin or addictions or a wrong view of yourself it needs to go! Satan has planted these lies in our mind in hopes that we might curse God and turn away from Him. Yes he is attacking Christians because he already has control over those who don't know God. Stand up to him, using God's power. Realize that this is a battle and in a battle you must FIGHT!

Be blessed,
Steve

Without love it means nothing.

Are you patient?

When someone cuts you off in traffic - what is your first reaction? When someone hurts you or lets you down - how do you react? Do you think before you speak or act?

In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 the term for patient in the Greek is macros, which means long (in terms of time), and thymos which is the soul - the seat of feelings and passions. So this literally means being long on feeling or to delay one's anger.

Do you delay your anger, meaning - are you patient with people? It doesn't say put up with people's crap and be a floor mat - but do you allow for God to move in a situation?

Being around and in pentacostal churches since I was saved I have seen that they focus a lot on the giftings of the Spirit; things like tongues, laying on of hands, prophecy and healings; all of which are good, useful and needed. But I always thought to myself, what about love?

God has reminded me again that this is the most important thing of all to live and do - love others.We can get excited, dance, see miracles, scream or shout but if we don't have love it is all pointless.

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal."...just adding to the noise.

What about you? Insert your name into these blanks, If (______) had the gift of prophecy, and if (_____) understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if (_____) had such faith that (_____) could move mountains, but didn't love others, (_____) would be nothing.

Did you read that? Who cares if you can do all these amazing miracles, if you do not love it is considered nothing to God!

If (_____) gave EVERYTHING (_____) had to the poor and even sacrificed (_____'s) body, but did not love others, (_____) would have gained nothing.

You might have books written about you and a lot of followers on twitter, but Jesus would say, "I never knew you."We can accomplish a lot and God can and will use us, but if we lose our love for God and others it is pointless - Jesus will not even know who you are. That puts things into perspective.

'Love' is defined here as - agape - it encompasses the mind, emotions, and will of the individual because it comes from God. It is only by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that we can internalize and realize the love that God has for us. This type of godly love compels us to look for unmet needs among our fellow human beings. It is godly compulsion which brings us to a point where the world no longer sees us, but rather Christ in us. Further examination reveals an inseparable relationship between faith, hope and love, yet the apostle affirms the supremacy of love.

Ephesians 5:2 "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ."

Read again that familiar passage in 1 Corinthians 13 and examine your motives. Why do you live the way you do? Do you show love to others?

Can they see that you have a relationship with Jesus by the way you treat them?

Are you adding to the noise?

Does Jesus know your name?

Without love it means nothing.

Be blessed,
Steve

Just Shut Up!

We have all flapped our gums and said things that should never have been said, right?

We have all blabbed to others about someone else at sometime, maybe even on our way to church.

We wonder why non-believers or even believers don't want to step foot in our churches anymore. One of the reasons is because our actions are no different than people in the world. We have all slandered, gossiped, used cruel words, offensive stories, crude jokes and participated in foolish talk. We don't think before we speak.

What comes from your mouth is exactly what is in your heart...and no matter how much 'Febreeze' you use on the stinky garbage, the stench will come out; just like in our lives, the stench on the inside will eventually come out.

Do you realize how powerful our tongues are?

"In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself." James 3:5-6

Think about it, have you ever seen the forest fires on the news? The fire destroys everything in its path. That is our tongue if we don't control it. It is evil and full of deadly poison - it kills and destroys - both us and others. We praise God with our voices but then we wound people made in the image of God.

"And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!" James 3:10

We should be different, separate - people should be able to hear the evidence in how we speak. Don't excuse these sins! Don't participate when others are doing it! Read Ephesians 5...imitate God!

Seriously, just SHUT UP!!!

How you talk is a good indicator of where you are with Christ. His light within you only produces what is good and right, Ephesians 5:9.

We need to stop giving the enemy a foothold in our lives and in our churches. We are opening the doors to a liar and someone who just wants to cause division. When we talk about others we are allowing that to happen. If you hear someone gossiping or bashing others you have the power to keep the fire burning or to quench it - by walking away, saying something positive or just telling them to STOP!

Remember we are on the same team. I always say if you have breath you always have a chance.

Control your tongue. Speak what is encouraging. Live like you know the Savior!

Be blessed,
Steve

Making an Idol

People who truly serve God know their place in His Kingdom.

I understand how speakers, musicians, authors, pastors and those in leadership have inspired and influenced us. I can name a few that have helped and challenged me in my relationship with God.

The truth is most of us have not called these 'famous Christians' gods or tried to make bull sacrifices to them. But if we really think about it, many of us have straddled the fence in idol worship.

Musicians can sing, dance and play instruments better than the average person, but they did not create heaven or earth.

Authors may touch our heart with the power of the pen,
but they do not know the number of hairs on
your head nor really care.

Speakers may inspire us to do the impossible,
but they did not fill the universe with stars.

Pastors may motivate us in our relationship with God,
but they did not fill this barren land with water.

The danger in elevating people is when it causes them to think more highly of themselves than they should.

I came across a televangelist doing the typical money talk. But what this pastor offered took me by surprise. She said that if you gave $400 they would send you a leather bound study Bible personally signed by her.

I will give you a moment to puke...

The reality is when we clamour for their attention, and put them on unreachable pedestals, their heads can become swollen.I can blame this pastor for her ego trip (seriously...signing a Bible?), but we are not helping these fellow followers of Christ by even asking them for an autograph, photo etc...

Not many of us have John the Baptist's attitude when he said,

"He (Jesus) must become greater and greater,
and I must become less and less."
John 3:30

Let's remember to keep these humans and what they are doing in the Kingdom in proper perspective. Thank God for them, but don't put them where God should be in your life.

Be blessed,
Steve

Owning Your Faith

Recently, as I was studying the book of Judges, I kept shaking my head in disbelief because throughout the 21 chapters a terrible trend kept happening. This same thing actually happens many times in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, but this was getting out of control.

The people of Israel kept doing evil in God's sight. Then God would send leaders to straighten them out, then they would forget about God again. Over and over and over. Twice it says they abandoned God! And it made God mad! It actually says at one point He fought against the nation of Israel!

But how many times do we do the same thing? We cry out to God and He hears us and rescues us, then we continue to prostitute ourselves to the god of the moment. It may be money, anger, sports (teams), a relationship, or like me it may be mediocrity. Imagine if one of the disciples, maybe Paul, spent some time with us. He might say, "You know you got to man up, how quickly you turn away from God when things aren't going your way. You complain about what, freedom to worship God? Come on, get serious and stay focused, God is with you!!"

Just like God sent people to get the Israelites back on track God does the same thing for us. He sends people with a strong walk with Him to get us out of a rut and get us back on the right track, because God wants you to have a solid and joyful relationship with Him. But then we can start to depend too much on those people. We look to our leaders and their relationship with God instead of becoming disciples ourselves. We would rather let others fight our spiritual battles while we stay in sin, be stubborn, be a spectator and always say, "Man, I wish I could be like that," but we never do anything about it.

"I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready..." 1 Corinthians 3:2

We won't get off the milk and start eating the meat. Bible studies, small groups and worship nights are great, but we are relying on others for our walk with God. Yes, you should allow these people in your life to encourage and challenge you, but when are we going to take that step for ourselves? When are we going to stop the trend in our own lives, strong with God one day or two, then the next week wavering in our faith? When will we speak up and say to our self: "Self, WAKE UP!!! Get Serious!!!"

Our world is getting worse and our churches are complacent. We need to step up and be disciples - and then go make disciples. Stop taking God on this roller coaster ride and help others stand strong! He wants to be your God!!! We need to stop taking our relationship with God for granted. We wonder why we stay stagnant. We get ourselves into predicaments because we allow our sinful desires to control us. Don't let your sinful nature rule you, you must conquer it!

"You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding." Hebrews 5:12 - 6:3

We must start teaching others. Use your Bible studies and other activities to encourge and challenge one another. We must, must step up and stop crawling - get out of our diapers and be followers of Christ! You may be thinking, "But God is telling me to just get over the past and know that He loves me." The trouble is we know that and we stay there. Yeah, God loves you so...but don't stay still!! Use that love that was freely given to you and pour it out on others! You will grow and mature in your faith when you help others grow in theirs.

Be blessed,

Steve

Giving God Leftovers

Imagine you tell your spouse, “We are going on a date.” You get them all pumped and tell them this will be awesome. You both dress up, your spouse is like, “Where are we going?” “It will be awesome, just wait.” you say. Your spouse gets more excited and thinks of a candle lit dinner, if you’re my wife a juicy prime rib.

But you pull into McDonalds and say, “Okay, here is the thing, you can’t order a value meal, only off the dollar menu.” Can you imagine the disappointment on your spouse’s face? They ask you, “Why are we here?” Your response is, “Well earlier, I went to Outback and had a huge NY steak and then I saw these jeans, I had to have them, oh yeah, I needed to buy this video game, and I forgot I needed, you know, that new cell phone.”

None of us would really do this, and if you did then you deserve to eat alone. But don’t we do that to God? Cain sure did. We basically give God our leftovers from our bills and entertainment money. We give it to God and we say, “You know, You should be happy with that.”

How do you think God feels?

Be blessed,
Steve

Time To Face Your Giants

There are several vivid parallels between God's relationship with the nation of Israel and His relationship with us. God set Israel free from their captivity in Egypt and led them to the promise land. Yet they refused to enter the land because of their fear of the giants that were there. We are the same way. God has freed us from the bondage of our sin. Yet, when He shows us the freedom we are now allowed to live in we are scared to enter it. There are giants there, whether it be bills, health, relationships, addiction, emotion or yourself. There are battles to be fought and it is like we don't trust that God will fight for us, or not fail us. So we try to fight the battles ourselves and we end up licking our wounds just as the Israelites did when they didn't take God with them into the battle.

God is disappointed in us so He sends us into the wilderness, just like the nation of Israel. But God uses the wilderness to get us refocused and strengthen our spirit. We gain confidence in ourselves but more importantly we build our trust in God. We remember that He does fight with us and for us and we come back to our first love....God!!!

Author Gary Thomas says this about our struggles, "Beauty is often birthed in struggle. These struggles may not be 'fun' - in fact, they can make us feel like we're being ripped apart - but the process can make us stronger, build our character, and deepen our faith.

People leave Christianity because it is too hard! This tendency to avoid difficulty is a grave spiritual failing that can and often does keep us in Christian infancy. The desire for ease, comfort, and stress-free living is an indirect desire to remain an 'unseasoned' immature Christian. Struggle makes us stronger, it builds us up and deepens our faith. But this result is achieved only when we face the struggle head on, not when we run from it.

God doesn't protect Christians from their problems - He helps them walk victoriously through their problems."

If climbing Mount Everest was easy everyone would do it. It is the same with following Christ. If it was easy wouldn't everyone do it?

A teacher once told me to "think eternally". Look at what is behind the giants in your life - FREEDOM!!! God tells you what He told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1 - you have been here long enough, it is time to move on...you must face your giants!

He tells you the same thing He tells Joshua and the Israelites - I will not fail you or abandon you - Joshua 1:5. You need to be strong and courageous. Just read the rest of Joshua, the Israelites conquered, BIG TIME!!!

But the key is this - Praise. In Joshua 6 we see the fall of Jericho...a major fortified city...total collapse. We need to praise God - let Him go with us and before us. Just as He did for the Israelites He will do for us! We can face our giants head on - knowing that God is not only fighting for us - He is leading us! We just need to praise Him!!

It is time!!!

Be blessed,

Steve