Acts 8:1-4 (Click on reference to read text)
In Acts 1:8 the Lord gave the early church a charge, a purpose and a promise: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Sounds great right? Little did they know that they would be scattered throughout the regions because of great persecution.
We all know that when God calls us to do something, He will give us everything we need to accomplish that purpose (2 Peter 1:3, Psalm 119:105, Acts 17:25). But what if it works out differently than we thought? What if we don't like the way God goes about it? The disciples and apostles were being faithful to preach the gospel in Jerusalem. However, great persecution broke out, their homes were broken into and they were dragged off to prison. Were they experiencing hardship because they were being disobedient? No! But it forced them to leave and scatter.
This scenario was probably not how they imagined the Gospel going forth to the remotest parts of the earth... through stonings, imprisonment and martydom. However, that is the key: the Gospel still went forth. Acts 8 actually says, "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (vs. 4).
God may call you to do things and you may not always like the way it turns out, or the way He accomplishes His purpose. Like Moses and Abraham, and many other "Heroes of the Faith", you may never actually see the fruition of that call, but nevertheless you played an important part if you obeyed the voice of God (Hebrews 11:13, 39-40).
Acts 8 began with the stoning of the great servant of God, Stephen. He never saw the church preach the Gospel to the remotest parts of the earth. He died at the cusp of God moving. Yet 2000 years later we see that he played a vital role in fulfilling that purpose and no believer would ever count his life worthless.
Follwer of Jesus, take heart. Sometimes things on this side of Heaven do not make sense. Sometimes we feel like death is premature. Sometimes we don't see the promises of God fulfilled and we begin to doubt His call. Don't. Stop doubting. He is always working and accomplishing His purposes, even when it doesn't make sense to us (Isaiah 46:9-10).
If you are struggling with this truth, I invite you to pray the words the conflicted father spoke to Jesus in Mark 9, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief."
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Are You Walking with Christ or Indwelt with Christ?
Acts 3:11-19 (Click on reference to read text)
I love Peter. He is so real, he often acts and speaks before he thinks, and you will almost always find him with at least part of his foot in his mouth. However, the Peter in Acts is completely different. In Acts he speaks with wisdom and elegance, he is full of grace yet bold as a lion, he is eloquent and sees thousands come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... what happened?
Isn't it interesting that when Peter walked alongside Christ he was rash and rough, yet when he became indwelt with the Holy Spirit he speaks with wisdom and eloquence. You see, it is not good enough to simply walk alongside Christ. It is not good enough to have Christian friends, go to church and live a religious life, or try harder. In order to see real change and spiritual growth we must receive His salvation and become indwelt with Christ! It is only through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that we truly see lasting change that makes us more like Christ.
Finally, Peter allowed himself to be reinstated. He messed up... big time! He denied Christ three times in one night when hours before he swore complete allegiance to Christ unto death. He denied Jesus Christ the last night of Jesus's life. However, the story does not end there. He is one of the first to rush to Jesus's tomb when he hears of the resurrection (Luke 24:9-12) and when Jesus offers Him forgiveness and restoration, he takes it (John 21:15-19). Peter believes him and he moves on. This is where so many of us fail. We mess up, but instead of accepting Jesus's forgiveness and grace, we tell ourselves we have fallen too far, we could never be used, we have messed up beyond His grace. We refuse to believe that "when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
So... which Peter are you? Are you just walking the Christian life, alongside other believers and simply trying harder, or are you indwelt with the Holy Spirit, walking in His power and accepting His forgiveness and grace? If you have never witnessed a changed life, maybe it is time to see who really lives and reigns in your heart. If you have experienced that change, go out and be bold! You have the power of Heaven on your side and God wants to use YOU to glorify His name!
I love Peter. He is so real, he often acts and speaks before he thinks, and you will almost always find him with at least part of his foot in his mouth. However, the Peter in Acts is completely different. In Acts he speaks with wisdom and elegance, he is full of grace yet bold as a lion, he is eloquent and sees thousands come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... what happened?
Isn't it interesting that when Peter walked alongside Christ he was rash and rough, yet when he became indwelt with the Holy Spirit he speaks with wisdom and eloquence. You see, it is not good enough to simply walk alongside Christ. It is not good enough to have Christian friends, go to church and live a religious life, or try harder. In order to see real change and spiritual growth we must receive His salvation and become indwelt with Christ! It is only through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that we truly see lasting change that makes us more like Christ.
Finally, Peter allowed himself to be reinstated. He messed up... big time! He denied Christ three times in one night when hours before he swore complete allegiance to Christ unto death. He denied Jesus Christ the last night of Jesus's life. However, the story does not end there. He is one of the first to rush to Jesus's tomb when he hears of the resurrection (Luke 24:9-12) and when Jesus offers Him forgiveness and restoration, he takes it (John 21:15-19). Peter believes him and he moves on. This is where so many of us fail. We mess up, but instead of accepting Jesus's forgiveness and grace, we tell ourselves we have fallen too far, we could never be used, we have messed up beyond His grace. We refuse to believe that "when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
So... which Peter are you? Are you just walking the Christian life, alongside other believers and simply trying harder, or are you indwelt with the Holy Spirit, walking in His power and accepting His forgiveness and grace? If you have never witnessed a changed life, maybe it is time to see who really lives and reigns in your heart. If you have experienced that change, go out and be bold! You have the power of Heaven on your side and God wants to use YOU to glorify His name!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Staying the Course... Do You Even Know the Course?
Acts 20:18-24 (Please click on reference to read text)
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
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