Habakkuk 2:2 says write the vision, make it plain so that he may run who reads it. If you hang around me much at all you know I consider this to be a spiritual principal not just some words on a page. I teach this as a mandate, a playbook, a road map to seeing your dreams come true. The funny thing is that inside or outside the Kingdom of God truth is truth, and it's just a fact of life that if you write down your goals, and dreams and visions, read them, share them you are much more likely to see those things become reality in your life.
However one thing we often leave out is EVALUATION. Where am I? How am I doing? In this process of reaching my goals weather it be in your ministry, personal life, or business it important to write down your goal, keep the goal in front of you consistently by reading it, and share it with others who will support you. I believe it's important also to evaluate your progress. Give yourself a report card...not everyday that's too much pressure, but periodically. Weather that mean monthly, quarterly, or whatever have a plan in place to evaluate your progress....hold yourself accountable! It's the old business adage of "inspect what you expect".
I evaluated myself on my yearly goals the other day and to be honest with you based on my own grading of myself (Im probably harder on myself than anyone) I was ranking a solid B- overall. What does that tell me? Well it tells me that I need to make some adjustments if I truly want these goals to be more than words on paper. Don't be afraid to evaluate your progress as it relates to your goals. It takes 5 minuets and a little courage! I believe it's important and will help you acheive what you are believing for! Faith without action is dead.......Let's breathe life into our faith today!
Have a great weekend all!
Chad
Friday, February 5, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The greatest love of all.....
"I believe that children are our future....teach them well and let them lead the way...give them a sense of pride..." OK depending on your age and your music taste you may or may not already be familiar with the Whitney Houston classic "The greatest love of all" I've got know idea how many weeks that song spent at #1 back in the day, but I'm pretty sure it was a lengthy stint. The essence of the message of the song is that self love is the greatest love of all. I remember singing that song in a school program in the second grade. Wow! That was a long time ago. Whitneys' getting old...come to think of it...so am I!! So what's the point here Chad...Okay I'll get to it eventually.
As Christians, Jesus Lovers, God Chasers, I think we could all agree that "Self Love" is not the greatest love of all. However I believe it is important to love one's self. The important matter is perspective and the filter through which that love flows. Our filter of self love or how we view ourself can flow through one of two avenues. The love that comes from the world and/or our own flesh, which if you know Whitney Houston's story at all let to a road marked with terrible addiction, and heartache. Or a love of self can flow through the filter of the love of God.
If our self perspective and self worth is filtered through the world and our flesh it becomes tainted. Many, many people struggle with self-worth issues, depression, even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Why? Because the filter through which they view themselves is the world and their flesh. When this is the case we are looking at the media, friends, those we consider to be cool, family members, ect to give us our sense of self worth. This is a loosing battle. I know because I've been there. Proverbs 27:20 tells us death and destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a man are never satisfied. The proverb likens the eyes of man to death and destruction. Sin = Death. Romans 6:23 says the wages (or reward, or secondary consequence)of sin is death. We are born into sin as a result of the sin of the first man Adam as the Bible tells us in the book of Genesis. If we never change the filter of our self perspective it's naturally a filter of sin and death and flesh....therefore according to Proverbs it will never satisfy. We will never feel complete, we will always be searching for something we can never find through the filter of the world. This is why we often look to relationships to satisfy and they never do. Some people turn to drugs, or sex, or money to give them a sense of self worth. But what is received from those avenues lasts only momentarily and always leaves us wanting more...eventually resulting in tragic circumstances for you and those around you. So what do we have to do? Change the filter! The one we've got is dirty! It doesn't work right!!
The only way to truly be able to love ourselves or view ourselves in a healthy way that will satisfy is to know that there is a God that loves us with an amazing love. The bible says that this love reaches to the Heavens Psalm 36:5....that's a lot of love! That love is waiting to be poured out on you! It's a love that satisfies...and you can always come back for more without it ruining your life. You can be addicted to the love of God with no possibility of winding up on the TV show "Intervention", and it will take you higher every time you go to God to get your fix! It won't drain you dry, it will fill you up! The love of dudes and chicks outside of the love of God will never satisfy you...because people will fail you, and when they do you'll be a lost soul once again if their love is what was fulfilling you. Sex...well outside of God's love will just turn you into a sick perv, and quite possibly leave you with some nasty diseases or the responsibility of a child you aren't ready for. Drugs...we all know...the high last for moments and only leaves you needing another fix or another hit. The wife of the youth pastor at my church Holly Begneston says "there's a God shaped hole in each one of our hearts and He's the only one that can fill it." I believe that. We are born into a spiritual condition that causes death to our soul. We can try to fill that hole in our heart with any number of things...but anything we fill it with never fits correctly because it was designed for God. It's like a puzzle that you can't find the last piece to. It's never going to be complete until you find that piece. I don't like cheesy plays on words but you could say that God is the "peace" that you are missing. When you respond to his Love you become whole. The missing piece and peace is found...you can be at peace with yourself and who you are because you know that God loves you! You can be an authentic YOU and not a cheap imitation of someone else!
Here are some good scriptures to meditate on about a God who passionately love YOU!
Psalm 36:5, John 3:16, 1st John 4:19, 1st John 4:7, 1st John 3:1............And there are many more throughout scripture. The "Greatest Love of All" is Gods love for you! The scripture says in 1st John 4:19 we love him because he first loved us. It all starts with him! Our ability to love him, others, and ourselves.........starts one place. With the love of God!
I pray that every reader begins today to grow in a greater revelation of God's love for them....in Jesus Name!
Alright peace the heck out homies.....have a great day!
Chad
As Christians, Jesus Lovers, God Chasers, I think we could all agree that "Self Love" is not the greatest love of all. However I believe it is important to love one's self. The important matter is perspective and the filter through which that love flows. Our filter of self love or how we view ourself can flow through one of two avenues. The love that comes from the world and/or our own flesh, which if you know Whitney Houston's story at all let to a road marked with terrible addiction, and heartache. Or a love of self can flow through the filter of the love of God.
If our self perspective and self worth is filtered through the world and our flesh it becomes tainted. Many, many people struggle with self-worth issues, depression, even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Why? Because the filter through which they view themselves is the world and their flesh. When this is the case we are looking at the media, friends, those we consider to be cool, family members, ect to give us our sense of self worth. This is a loosing battle. I know because I've been there. Proverbs 27:20 tells us death and destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a man are never satisfied. The proverb likens the eyes of man to death and destruction. Sin = Death. Romans 6:23 says the wages (or reward, or secondary consequence)of sin is death. We are born into sin as a result of the sin of the first man Adam as the Bible tells us in the book of Genesis. If we never change the filter of our self perspective it's naturally a filter of sin and death and flesh....therefore according to Proverbs it will never satisfy. We will never feel complete, we will always be searching for something we can never find through the filter of the world. This is why we often look to relationships to satisfy and they never do. Some people turn to drugs, or sex, or money to give them a sense of self worth. But what is received from those avenues lasts only momentarily and always leaves us wanting more...eventually resulting in tragic circumstances for you and those around you. So what do we have to do? Change the filter! The one we've got is dirty! It doesn't work right!!
The only way to truly be able to love ourselves or view ourselves in a healthy way that will satisfy is to know that there is a God that loves us with an amazing love. The bible says that this love reaches to the Heavens Psalm 36:5....that's a lot of love! That love is waiting to be poured out on you! It's a love that satisfies...and you can always come back for more without it ruining your life. You can be addicted to the love of God with no possibility of winding up on the TV show "Intervention", and it will take you higher every time you go to God to get your fix! It won't drain you dry, it will fill you up! The love of dudes and chicks outside of the love of God will never satisfy you...because people will fail you, and when they do you'll be a lost soul once again if their love is what was fulfilling you. Sex...well outside of God's love will just turn you into a sick perv, and quite possibly leave you with some nasty diseases or the responsibility of a child you aren't ready for. Drugs...we all know...the high last for moments and only leaves you needing another fix or another hit. The wife of the youth pastor at my church Holly Begneston says "there's a God shaped hole in each one of our hearts and He's the only one that can fill it." I believe that. We are born into a spiritual condition that causes death to our soul. We can try to fill that hole in our heart with any number of things...but anything we fill it with never fits correctly because it was designed for God. It's like a puzzle that you can't find the last piece to. It's never going to be complete until you find that piece. I don't like cheesy plays on words but you could say that God is the "peace" that you are missing. When you respond to his Love you become whole. The missing piece and peace is found...you can be at peace with yourself and who you are because you know that God loves you! You can be an authentic YOU and not a cheap imitation of someone else!
Here are some good scriptures to meditate on about a God who passionately love YOU!
Psalm 36:5, John 3:16, 1st John 4:19, 1st John 4:7, 1st John 3:1............And there are many more throughout scripture. The "Greatest Love of All" is Gods love for you! The scripture says in 1st John 4:19 we love him because he first loved us. It all starts with him! Our ability to love him, others, and ourselves.........starts one place. With the love of God!
I pray that every reader begins today to grow in a greater revelation of God's love for them....in Jesus Name!
Alright peace the heck out homies.....have a great day!
Chad
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The blessed year!
Psalm 5:12 – For you Lord will bless the righteous; with favor, you will surround him as a shield.
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
What is 2010 going to look like for you? If you are like me you are believing God for the greatest year of your life! I found out by reading the Bible that blessing comes as a result of righteousness. Are you righteous? I didn't ask if you were perfect...nobody can live up to that standard. But are you righteous? Three times in God's word we are reminded of the model for righteousness from the thoughts inception in Genesis 15:6; Galatians3:6; James 2:23 we read this statement regarding the Father of our faith Abraham. "He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." So we see here that faith is the model to be accounted by God as righteous, which simply means in right standing with God. God isn't looking for perfection he's looking for people who will believe him and have a Godward attitude all the time. The Bible tells us all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard which is perfection but if we will make it and act of our will to have faith in God we will be declared as righteous. Which as we see in Psalms places a demand upon the blessing of God for our lives! However we've got to understand that true faith always produces action that backs up the fact that we truly believe what we say we believe. James 2:20 says "faith without corresponding action is dead" or it's not really faith at all. We can say we believe for a healing, or believe that a bad situation is going to turn around, or believe that God wants to prosper us, but if we do nothing about it then we never release that faith we say we have and it stays relegated to the realm of nice words. Words are good and words are powerful, BUT that's only because they generally lead to actions. Knowledge is not power...action is. So when you break down the Psalm that tells us the righteous will be blessed and surrounded with favor from God...you can really break it down to the point of righteous action...are you doing what God says to do in his word? Because that's what qualifies you for blessing...not a prayer you repeated five years ago, or the fact that you attend church regularly, OR even the fact that you read the Bible daily....all those things are good but if it never produces action on your part, then it never really produces the results of blessing on your life.
That's why I like Matthew 6:33 so much - What you do first is important!!! Why is seeking the kingdom important? Because without the knowledge of the Kingdom, you can't get the results of the blessing of the Kingdom. My Pastor is discussing the Kingdom of God on Sunday mornings at our church...I love it. The culture of Christianity needs a dynamic shift from a culture that is very much currently made up of the traditions of men, and traditions of denominations, and the opinions of the board of elders to a culture that is truly Kingdom! It's important to give a legitimate definition to Kingdom...or else it just becomes another christian cliche' that holds no weight, and induces no real change in the hearts and minds of people. Jesus constantly throughout the gospels makes this statement "the kingdom of God is like..." then he goes on to give an allegorical (story like) definition of how God's world operates. The most simple and basic definition I can give to the Kingdom of God that I think holds true however your mind may operate is this: GODS WAY OF DOING THINGS. The kingdom of God is God's way of doing things. Doing things the way God instructs ALWAYS produces good long term results...Now and in eternity!
So how do we command the blessing of God on our own life in 2010? Praying for blessing is wonderful, but God is saying "I heard your prayer, start qualifying yourself". We command the blessing of God on our life by finding out what God's word says and operating in accordance with it! Hearing what God's word is saying to your spirit, and operating in accordance with it (as long as your ear is truly turned into God that is! God's spoken word will never contradict or go against the principals of his written word). So let's be doers of the word not just hearers...not just talkers...let's have the greatest year of our lives! Who's with me baby...Who's with me???!!!??? Glory follows order!
Chad
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
What is 2010 going to look like for you? If you are like me you are believing God for the greatest year of your life! I found out by reading the Bible that blessing comes as a result of righteousness. Are you righteous? I didn't ask if you were perfect...nobody can live up to that standard. But are you righteous? Three times in God's word we are reminded of the model for righteousness from the thoughts inception in Genesis 15:6; Galatians3:6; James 2:23 we read this statement regarding the Father of our faith Abraham. "He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." So we see here that faith is the model to be accounted by God as righteous, which simply means in right standing with God. God isn't looking for perfection he's looking for people who will believe him and have a Godward attitude all the time. The Bible tells us all have sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard which is perfection but if we will make it and act of our will to have faith in God we will be declared as righteous. Which as we see in Psalms places a demand upon the blessing of God for our lives! However we've got to understand that true faith always produces action that backs up the fact that we truly believe what we say we believe. James 2:20 says "faith without corresponding action is dead" or it's not really faith at all. We can say we believe for a healing, or believe that a bad situation is going to turn around, or believe that God wants to prosper us, but if we do nothing about it then we never release that faith we say we have and it stays relegated to the realm of nice words. Words are good and words are powerful, BUT that's only because they generally lead to actions. Knowledge is not power...action is. So when you break down the Psalm that tells us the righteous will be blessed and surrounded with favor from God...you can really break it down to the point of righteous action...are you doing what God says to do in his word? Because that's what qualifies you for blessing...not a prayer you repeated five years ago, or the fact that you attend church regularly, OR even the fact that you read the Bible daily....all those things are good but if it never produces action on your part, then it never really produces the results of blessing on your life.
That's why I like Matthew 6:33 so much - What you do first is important!!! Why is seeking the kingdom important? Because without the knowledge of the Kingdom, you can't get the results of the blessing of the Kingdom. My Pastor is discussing the Kingdom of God on Sunday mornings at our church...I love it. The culture of Christianity needs a dynamic shift from a culture that is very much currently made up of the traditions of men, and traditions of denominations, and the opinions of the board of elders to a culture that is truly Kingdom! It's important to give a legitimate definition to Kingdom...or else it just becomes another christian cliche' that holds no weight, and induces no real change in the hearts and minds of people. Jesus constantly throughout the gospels makes this statement "the kingdom of God is like..." then he goes on to give an allegorical (story like) definition of how God's world operates. The most simple and basic definition I can give to the Kingdom of God that I think holds true however your mind may operate is this: GODS WAY OF DOING THINGS. The kingdom of God is God's way of doing things. Doing things the way God instructs ALWAYS produces good long term results...Now and in eternity!
So how do we command the blessing of God on our own life in 2010? Praying for blessing is wonderful, but God is saying "I heard your prayer, start qualifying yourself". We command the blessing of God on our life by finding out what God's word says and operating in accordance with it! Hearing what God's word is saying to your spirit, and operating in accordance with it (as long as your ear is truly turned into God that is! God's spoken word will never contradict or go against the principals of his written word). So let's be doers of the word not just hearers...not just talkers...let's have the greatest year of our lives! Who's with me baby...Who's with me???!!!??? Glory follows order!
Chad
Sunday, December 27, 2009
What are you gonna do?
Christmas weekend is over...and New Years is upon us once again. What are you going to do? What am I going to do, what are we going to do about it? What are you goals, what are your dreams, and what are your desires for this New Year? Will we even take the time to consider what this New Year will bring. What we will accomplish, what we are believing for, what we are praying for? Or will this year look just like last year except your a little older and a little closer to death? Oops that wasn't very nice!
The Bible says Mark 9:23 "All things are possible to them that believe." What did Jesus mean here? I was taught growing up that if we believe in Jesus all things are possible. But if that were true there would not be so many people going to Heaven but living like hell during their time on earth. When the Bible says "All things" it means "All things". I think we make the mistake of thinking the Bible means all things or all kinds the way we use the term. "Bro you have to go check out the sale at Nordstrom they have all kinds of jeans on sale." But Nordstrom doesn't carry every brand of jean that there is out there and they don't carry every style of every brand of jean, therefore they don't really have "all kinds" of jeans on sale. It's just an expression. I think we make the mistake of integrating our modern vernacular into the Bible's teaching so we think that if you believe a bunch of stuff is potentially possible. But that's not what God's word says. It says all things. But if simply believing in Jesus made all things possible then why are so many people who believe that Jesus saved them from their sins and going to heaven sick, and broke, and depressed, ect? Beveling in Jesus and REALLY believing in Jesus is two different things. Every Christian believes that Jesus can take away their sin, but it's obvious that not every Christian believes that God can use them to heal another person, or help them be successful in life, or empower them to live out a lifestyle of holiness. Because if they believed REALLY believed it would be possible. The things that are possible are the things that YOU BELIEVE are possible!!!
So what does the New Year hold for you? I'll tell you what it holds for you...it holds what you believe is possible! Believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and MOST importantly believe that God is working in you to accomplish great things! Your success as a Christian brings God glory! How are we going to win the world and establish the Kingdom of God on the Earth with Churches, families, bodies, businesses, finances that are broke down as Christians? We aren't! We may be able to win a certain sect of people living like that but God's intent isn't that you are able to win the lower class and not the upper class of society. God cares about and loves everyone and wants his children to shine his light into every corner of society and transform the world for his glory. The thing about having the blessing of God on your life is that it sets you apart and makes you different in a good way. I think God intended Holiness to mean different I don't think he ever intended it to mean weird...the way some of us have made it. Our success is God's success when we live for him and give him glory for all he's blessed us with. Open up your mind, read the word of God, take God out of the box of the religion you grew up with and see that God is bigger than that. He has a great plan and purpose for all for his creation including you! What are you gonna do about it this year? All things are possible to them that believe! I'm believing God this is going to be a great year for you in Jesus Name!
Happy New Year!
Chad
The Bible says Mark 9:23 "All things are possible to them that believe." What did Jesus mean here? I was taught growing up that if we believe in Jesus all things are possible. But if that were true there would not be so many people going to Heaven but living like hell during their time on earth. When the Bible says "All things" it means "All things". I think we make the mistake of thinking the Bible means all things or all kinds the way we use the term. "Bro you have to go check out the sale at Nordstrom they have all kinds of jeans on sale." But Nordstrom doesn't carry every brand of jean that there is out there and they don't carry every style of every brand of jean, therefore they don't really have "all kinds" of jeans on sale. It's just an expression. I think we make the mistake of integrating our modern vernacular into the Bible's teaching so we think that if you believe a bunch of stuff is potentially possible. But that's not what God's word says. It says all things. But if simply believing in Jesus made all things possible then why are so many people who believe that Jesus saved them from their sins and going to heaven sick, and broke, and depressed, ect? Beveling in Jesus and REALLY believing in Jesus is two different things. Every Christian believes that Jesus can take away their sin, but it's obvious that not every Christian believes that God can use them to heal another person, or help them be successful in life, or empower them to live out a lifestyle of holiness. Because if they believed REALLY believed it would be possible. The things that are possible are the things that YOU BELIEVE are possible!!!
So what does the New Year hold for you? I'll tell you what it holds for you...it holds what you believe is possible! Believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and MOST importantly believe that God is working in you to accomplish great things! Your success as a Christian brings God glory! How are we going to win the world and establish the Kingdom of God on the Earth with Churches, families, bodies, businesses, finances that are broke down as Christians? We aren't! We may be able to win a certain sect of people living like that but God's intent isn't that you are able to win the lower class and not the upper class of society. God cares about and loves everyone and wants his children to shine his light into every corner of society and transform the world for his glory. The thing about having the blessing of God on your life is that it sets you apart and makes you different in a good way. I think God intended Holiness to mean different I don't think he ever intended it to mean weird...the way some of us have made it. Our success is God's success when we live for him and give him glory for all he's blessed us with. Open up your mind, read the word of God, take God out of the box of the religion you grew up with and see that God is bigger than that. He has a great plan and purpose for all for his creation including you! What are you gonna do about it this year? All things are possible to them that believe! I'm believing God this is going to be a great year for you in Jesus Name!
Happy New Year!
Chad
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Empowered!!!
Philippians 2:12b-13 - Be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. - New Living Translation
...A great verse here! And just another example of how we as God's children, heirs of the promises of God, are co-workers with Jesus (2nd Corinthians 6:1). The statement the Holy Spirit gave me in regards to this concept of being partners with Christ is this: I have a part to play and God has a part to play in every aspect of my life. As Christians we often limit the concept to hearing from God so that we can do his bidding on the Earth. While this is absolutely true it's also incomplete. Because that's not true partnership. God is interested in your desires, your thoughts, your dreams too! When he created man in his image (Genesis 1:26) he didn't do so so he could have employees he did so so that he could have friends and partners. Now...I realize that this may be somewhat difficult to grasp, AND we run the risk with this truth of getting into the flesh, getting selfish, getting into the ME mentality that scripture is so clearly in opposition to. I also realize that this truth may seem to contradict teaching you've been taught in church...but hang in there. I understand and absolutely agree with the teaching of letting the spirit of God rule and reign in your life. Giving God full control over your thoughts and actions and will. Jesus prayed before his death "Father not my will but yours". When God gives specific instructions we are to follow them! Think of it like this...God's Kingdom is the longest running and most successful company in the history of existence! God the father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been running it since the inception. When you get saved or come into the kingdom you have permission and invitation to become a partner in the business. In fact you are a partner immediately. But you are new to the business. Before you start to get input you need to prove that you understand the business, you are a motivated/hard worker, ect. The business owner doesn't just let the new employee make decisions about the business his first day, week, or month on the job! But the owners goal is to get the new employee into a position where they understand the business, know how the owner thinks and would respond to various situations, and how to efficiently conduct the goings on of the business. So for a season it's I tell you what to do and you do it. So it is on the journey of being spirit led in the Kingdom. The first step in beginning to walk in partnership with Christ is learning his way of doing things, which is found in scripture and doing them. If you can't follow simple instructions from God's written word why would he ever give you more responsibility? Because he who is faithful over little will be made ruler over much. As we progress in maturity, show ourselves approved we begin to obtain more responsibility. God's final intent isn't for us to decrease so that he can increase. Although that statement is in scripture in John 3:30, and I think a lot of people quote it not understanding what it means. It's a condition of the heart. Is your heart that...I get noticed, I get complimented, I get attention, I get praise for the things I do for God? Well then you can quote that scripture all day, but your heart is still wrong. It also does not mean that we as Christians are to shrink back, be weak, hide from the world, or be lazy (because God hasn't told me to do anything and I'm spirit led. God has told you what to do....read the Bible!). It means living our life so that others see Jesus in us! It's our destiny Romans 8:29...to become the image of Christ on the Earth. SO just as with the business owner who doesn't want to spend the rest of their life babysitting employees it is with God. He wants you to become mature, he want you to constantly press for more understanding and knowledge and wisdom in him. He wants you to be transformed by renewing your mind to his word (Romans 12:2) so that your NATURAL response to life is what HIS NATURAL response to life is. Then he can begin to trust you to act as a partner....instead of an employee. I believe to get to this point it takes discipline, desire, and a lot of proactive action on our part. As we are faithful to do what we know and learn concerning God's order...we'll find ourselves in the same position Moses did at the Red Sea saying "God what are you going to do?" and having God's response be "What are you going to do?" you know how I think...do what I'd do and my power will be there to back you up!
Okay back to Philippians 2. Be careful to PUT INTO ACTION God's saving work! Too many Christians are saved and on their way to Heaven when they die but are living like hell while they are on earth...constantly facing crisis and sickness, depressed, broke, ect. I understand life is full of seasons. I've learned that especially in the past few years of my life. But God's desire is for our lives to show the world his power and glory, and for us to overcome the trials of life and come out victorious!! Where does it start? Philippians 2: end of verse 12 - Obeying God! If Christians would obey God's word and keep his word in front of their eyes and on their lips and DO what it says to do, I think we would avoid a lot of the disasters of life. And when those seasons of challenge come, we will win in life! I love verse 13 - For God is working IN you not falling on you. You don't need to pray for more of God you just need to position your heart to access what is already in you! It's a choice! Giving you the DESIRE The SPIRIT (the part of you that God resides within, the deepest part of you) is willing but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41---to obey him and the POWER we don't need more power...God is already in us working! The bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:19 my strength is made perfect in weakness. That means when our flesh is rising up we can still obey God. When we are beaten down and discouraged and life is hard we can still obey God. But it's a choice the bible says in Colossians 3:2 set your mind on things above. To set or position your mind is a choice...we are inundated with the messages of the world. It's a choice to set our minds on the realities of Heaven (NLT). Which doesn't mean thinking about what the angels look like or what your mansion in heaven is going to be like...you can do that but it's not going to do you much good right now. It means set your mind on God's word...meditate on what God says...and you will be empowered by his spirit living in you to do what pleases him.
Do you know why God gave us scripture? Do you know why God set his order in motion and asks us to follow that order? Because he has good plans for us, and he knows that his outline for life is going to produce the ultimate happiness, success, and fulfillment we could ever experience on the Earth and in Eternity. He isn't fascinated with seeing us struggle to do what he says, he's not interested in us asking "how high" when he says jump. He simply loves us, and want's the best for us, and knows how to get us to that place of fulfillment we all long for anyway! DECIDE to be a doer of the word...and you are on your way to success in life!
-Chad
...A great verse here! And just another example of how we as God's children, heirs of the promises of God, are co-workers with Jesus (2nd Corinthians 6:1). The statement the Holy Spirit gave me in regards to this concept of being partners with Christ is this: I have a part to play and God has a part to play in every aspect of my life. As Christians we often limit the concept to hearing from God so that we can do his bidding on the Earth. While this is absolutely true it's also incomplete. Because that's not true partnership. God is interested in your desires, your thoughts, your dreams too! When he created man in his image (Genesis 1:26) he didn't do so so he could have employees he did so so that he could have friends and partners. Now...I realize that this may be somewhat difficult to grasp, AND we run the risk with this truth of getting into the flesh, getting selfish, getting into the ME mentality that scripture is so clearly in opposition to. I also realize that this truth may seem to contradict teaching you've been taught in church...but hang in there. I understand and absolutely agree with the teaching of letting the spirit of God rule and reign in your life. Giving God full control over your thoughts and actions and will. Jesus prayed before his death "Father not my will but yours". When God gives specific instructions we are to follow them! Think of it like this...God's Kingdom is the longest running and most successful company in the history of existence! God the father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been running it since the inception. When you get saved or come into the kingdom you have permission and invitation to become a partner in the business. In fact you are a partner immediately. But you are new to the business. Before you start to get input you need to prove that you understand the business, you are a motivated/hard worker, ect. The business owner doesn't just let the new employee make decisions about the business his first day, week, or month on the job! But the owners goal is to get the new employee into a position where they understand the business, know how the owner thinks and would respond to various situations, and how to efficiently conduct the goings on of the business. So for a season it's I tell you what to do and you do it. So it is on the journey of being spirit led in the Kingdom. The first step in beginning to walk in partnership with Christ is learning his way of doing things, which is found in scripture and doing them. If you can't follow simple instructions from God's written word why would he ever give you more responsibility? Because he who is faithful over little will be made ruler over much. As we progress in maturity, show ourselves approved we begin to obtain more responsibility. God's final intent isn't for us to decrease so that he can increase. Although that statement is in scripture in John 3:30, and I think a lot of people quote it not understanding what it means. It's a condition of the heart. Is your heart that...I get noticed, I get complimented, I get attention, I get praise for the things I do for God? Well then you can quote that scripture all day, but your heart is still wrong. It also does not mean that we as Christians are to shrink back, be weak, hide from the world, or be lazy (because God hasn't told me to do anything and I'm spirit led. God has told you what to do....read the Bible!). It means living our life so that others see Jesus in us! It's our destiny Romans 8:29...to become the image of Christ on the Earth. SO just as with the business owner who doesn't want to spend the rest of their life babysitting employees it is with God. He wants you to become mature, he want you to constantly press for more understanding and knowledge and wisdom in him. He wants you to be transformed by renewing your mind to his word (Romans 12:2) so that your NATURAL response to life is what HIS NATURAL response to life is. Then he can begin to trust you to act as a partner....instead of an employee. I believe to get to this point it takes discipline, desire, and a lot of proactive action on our part. As we are faithful to do what we know and learn concerning God's order...we'll find ourselves in the same position Moses did at the Red Sea saying "God what are you going to do?" and having God's response be "What are you going to do?" you know how I think...do what I'd do and my power will be there to back you up!
Okay back to Philippians 2. Be careful to PUT INTO ACTION God's saving work! Too many Christians are saved and on their way to Heaven when they die but are living like hell while they are on earth...constantly facing crisis and sickness, depressed, broke, ect. I understand life is full of seasons. I've learned that especially in the past few years of my life. But God's desire is for our lives to show the world his power and glory, and for us to overcome the trials of life and come out victorious!! Where does it start? Philippians 2: end of verse 12 - Obeying God! If Christians would obey God's word and keep his word in front of their eyes and on their lips and DO what it says to do, I think we would avoid a lot of the disasters of life. And when those seasons of challenge come, we will win in life! I love verse 13 - For God is working IN you not falling on you. You don't need to pray for more of God you just need to position your heart to access what is already in you! It's a choice! Giving you the DESIRE The SPIRIT (the part of you that God resides within, the deepest part of you) is willing but the flesh is weak Matthew 26:41---to obey him and the POWER we don't need more power...God is already in us working! The bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:19 my strength is made perfect in weakness. That means when our flesh is rising up we can still obey God. When we are beaten down and discouraged and life is hard we can still obey God. But it's a choice the bible says in Colossians 3:2 set your mind on things above. To set or position your mind is a choice...we are inundated with the messages of the world. It's a choice to set our minds on the realities of Heaven (NLT). Which doesn't mean thinking about what the angels look like or what your mansion in heaven is going to be like...you can do that but it's not going to do you much good right now. It means set your mind on God's word...meditate on what God says...and you will be empowered by his spirit living in you to do what pleases him.
Do you know why God gave us scripture? Do you know why God set his order in motion and asks us to follow that order? Because he has good plans for us, and he knows that his outline for life is going to produce the ultimate happiness, success, and fulfillment we could ever experience on the Earth and in Eternity. He isn't fascinated with seeing us struggle to do what he says, he's not interested in us asking "how high" when he says jump. He simply loves us, and want's the best for us, and knows how to get us to that place of fulfillment we all long for anyway! DECIDE to be a doer of the word...and you are on your way to success in life!
-Chad
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Grow Up...
I felt like doing some writing today...it's been while. I was reading in Galatians 4 today...and that chapter in the Bible always gets my wheels turning. The beginning of the chapter talks about the inheritance we have as children of God. It speaks of how God is not only our master but our daddy or "abba" father. We are rightful heirs to all the blessings and promises of God because we are his loved children! What great news! A second great news is that we as God's heirs are no longer under the law of sin and death. We aren't made right with God by keeping tradition, doing enough good things, or sinning as little as possible. We are made right with God by believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Wow! If that's not something to be thankful for during this Thanksgiving holiday I don't know what is!!!
However...it concerns me that we may leave things at that and not understand or give attention to the very beginning of chapter 4 which in essence states that an heir as long as they are children are no different than slaves or employees...meaning they work for the father but have no access to the inheritance that belongs to them. We have to understand that the good news of being heirs to all of God's promises in unconditional, but actually receiving all that God has for us and wants to give us IS CONDITIONAL. To walk in the blessing of God to have access to an unlimited inheritance we've got to grow up.
The Lord wants to unlock the doors of inheritance to all his children. I believe this is what the bible is talking about when it says that the reaper will overtake the sower. Because inheritance is something you don't earn...it's given to you. You see you can't sow enough to receive the ability to heal the sick. You can't sow enough to see the wealth of the wicked turned over to the righteous. These type of things that will facilitate a true Godly change on the earth and begin to allow the changes that are on the Father's heart to take place on the earth are the inheritance God wants to give his children but he's got to see maturity in order to release what he wants to release. Otherwise you end up with a generation of prodigal sons and daughters that misuse their inheritance.
So how do we get mature? Wow if I fully knew the answer to that and was living it out that would certainly be great. But the truth is as much as I love God, and as much as I want to be a part of changing the Earth, and as much as I know I'm living for eternity I struggle with maturity issues as much as the next person. I make stupid choices at times...I grieve the Holy Spirit at times with my actions and attitudes...and I sacrifice what I know is right for the momentary pleasures of sin from time to time as well. While you or I may or may not struggle with overtly sinful lives we've got to understand that we all fall short of God's glorious standard daily (for the most part). You see we like to rank sin...which is where we get into a religious spirit. Because God doesn't rank sin...the homosexual is not a worse sinner than the liar, the drug user is not a worse sinner than the selfish person, the person who sleeps with someone outside of marriage is not a worse sinner than the person who just looks at inappropriate things...It's all sin to God. Even mature Christians should understand that the dispensation of grace released a higher standard into the earth. Jesus' finished work and Jesus himself set the bar higher when he paid the price for your sin once and for all. The Bible goes so far as to say anything that is not faith is sin(Romans 14:23). So the grace that offends you...should be the grace you are holding onto. Because if Romans 14:23 is true than worry, unbelief, lack of confidence in God to provide for your needs, fear, ect is all sin. And if the greatest commandment is to love God and love people...anything that done in selfish ambition is sin. So gossip, lying, putting your own needs ahead of others needs, conceit, insecurity, depression, selfishness, a "mine" mentality...that's all sin too. Get it??? Many of us think we don't live in sin...but we do. We simply don't see sin under the high bar that has been set. That's why the person who is offended that there is continuous grace for the person who keeps going back to drugs, or that keeps making the same mistakes may want to reconsider their position. Because we all need that same grace that forgives stupidity, repeat offenses, and a sinful lifestyle. HOWEVER!!!!!! That is never to say it's okay to settle into a lifestyle of sin on any level!!!!! I repeat GRACE never makes it OKAY to live in sin!
So back to maturity. Damon Thompson defines spiritual maturity this way: The consistent application of elementary things. Or in other words doing the basics consistently: Reading the word, praying, worshiping, fasting, ect. I love that definition. That is a great starting point for us! A couple more thing's I'd add to that to help the reader. We've got to understand that we are never going to completely figure God out, yet we must never stop trying. maturity has little to nothing to do with how much you know or think you know about God. It has to do with the way you think and live. The day you think you have it figured out is the day you stop growing in spiritual maturity. Therefore forfeit the remainder of your inheritance. I love what Craig Kinsley says "If you haven't challenged your theology on some level in the past year you probably haven't grown up spiritually in the last year." He's not talking about foundational spiritual truths...he's talking about how we relate to and think about God and YES even how we relate to think about and see much of God's word. Do we see it through religious eyes or eyes that are opened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit? The point here....never stop growing. Never stop reaching for more understanding and always be open to change your way of thinking. Because two truths about God can be opposite yet true. God is good he's also severe. God is love, he's also a mighty warrior. God's grace is sufficient to forgive any sin yet he detests sin and expects his children not to live in sin. Are you getting this? Are you picking up what I'm putting down? I hope so!
God is good all the time! Let's be thankful for all he's done and made available to us this Holiday season and consistently strive to live a live that opens up the doors of the amazing inheritance God has made available to us!
Love ya'll....now go eat some food!HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Chad
However...it concerns me that we may leave things at that and not understand or give attention to the very beginning of chapter 4 which in essence states that an heir as long as they are children are no different than slaves or employees...meaning they work for the father but have no access to the inheritance that belongs to them. We have to understand that the good news of being heirs to all of God's promises in unconditional, but actually receiving all that God has for us and wants to give us IS CONDITIONAL. To walk in the blessing of God to have access to an unlimited inheritance we've got to grow up.
The Lord wants to unlock the doors of inheritance to all his children. I believe this is what the bible is talking about when it says that the reaper will overtake the sower. Because inheritance is something you don't earn...it's given to you. You see you can't sow enough to receive the ability to heal the sick. You can't sow enough to see the wealth of the wicked turned over to the righteous. These type of things that will facilitate a true Godly change on the earth and begin to allow the changes that are on the Father's heart to take place on the earth are the inheritance God wants to give his children but he's got to see maturity in order to release what he wants to release. Otherwise you end up with a generation of prodigal sons and daughters that misuse their inheritance.
So how do we get mature? Wow if I fully knew the answer to that and was living it out that would certainly be great. But the truth is as much as I love God, and as much as I want to be a part of changing the Earth, and as much as I know I'm living for eternity I struggle with maturity issues as much as the next person. I make stupid choices at times...I grieve the Holy Spirit at times with my actions and attitudes...and I sacrifice what I know is right for the momentary pleasures of sin from time to time as well. While you or I may or may not struggle with overtly sinful lives we've got to understand that we all fall short of God's glorious standard daily (for the most part). You see we like to rank sin...which is where we get into a religious spirit. Because God doesn't rank sin...the homosexual is not a worse sinner than the liar, the drug user is not a worse sinner than the selfish person, the person who sleeps with someone outside of marriage is not a worse sinner than the person who just looks at inappropriate things...It's all sin to God. Even mature Christians should understand that the dispensation of grace released a higher standard into the earth. Jesus' finished work and Jesus himself set the bar higher when he paid the price for your sin once and for all. The Bible goes so far as to say anything that is not faith is sin(Romans 14:23). So the grace that offends you...should be the grace you are holding onto. Because if Romans 14:23 is true than worry, unbelief, lack of confidence in God to provide for your needs, fear, ect is all sin. And if the greatest commandment is to love God and love people...anything that done in selfish ambition is sin. So gossip, lying, putting your own needs ahead of others needs, conceit, insecurity, depression, selfishness, a "mine" mentality...that's all sin too. Get it??? Many of us think we don't live in sin...but we do. We simply don't see sin under the high bar that has been set. That's why the person who is offended that there is continuous grace for the person who keeps going back to drugs, or that keeps making the same mistakes may want to reconsider their position. Because we all need that same grace that forgives stupidity, repeat offenses, and a sinful lifestyle. HOWEVER!!!!!! That is never to say it's okay to settle into a lifestyle of sin on any level!!!!! I repeat GRACE never makes it OKAY to live in sin!
So back to maturity. Damon Thompson defines spiritual maturity this way: The consistent application of elementary things. Or in other words doing the basics consistently: Reading the word, praying, worshiping, fasting, ect. I love that definition. That is a great starting point for us! A couple more thing's I'd add to that to help the reader. We've got to understand that we are never going to completely figure God out, yet we must never stop trying. maturity has little to nothing to do with how much you know or think you know about God. It has to do with the way you think and live. The day you think you have it figured out is the day you stop growing in spiritual maturity. Therefore forfeit the remainder of your inheritance. I love what Craig Kinsley says "If you haven't challenged your theology on some level in the past year you probably haven't grown up spiritually in the last year." He's not talking about foundational spiritual truths...he's talking about how we relate to and think about God and YES even how we relate to think about and see much of God's word. Do we see it through religious eyes or eyes that are opened and enlightened by the Holy Spirit? The point here....never stop growing. Never stop reaching for more understanding and always be open to change your way of thinking. Because two truths about God can be opposite yet true. God is good he's also severe. God is love, he's also a mighty warrior. God's grace is sufficient to forgive any sin yet he detests sin and expects his children not to live in sin. Are you getting this? Are you picking up what I'm putting down? I hope so!
God is good all the time! Let's be thankful for all he's done and made available to us this Holiday season and consistently strive to live a live that opens up the doors of the amazing inheritance God has made available to us!
Love ya'll....now go eat some food!HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Chad
Friday, October 23, 2009
Light it up!
What up blog readers! It's been a min. since my last post...my bad. Life lately has been busy, challenging, fun, hard, and amazing all at the same time. That's the way I like it and I think that's the way God likes it as well! My little boy Jalen started first grade and he's doing awesome! I'm in the process of starting a new business...always fun...and always a challenge. I also started training mixed martial arts...it's only been a couple months. I seem to be picking it up well, although the drawback is...I'm pretty much sore all the time :)
In DVi8 on Thursdays we've been talking from the launching point of Luke 11:33-36 about the way we view life. Is our perception of life and all that goes on around us filtered through the light of God or the darkness of the world? Many Christians today are saved and going to be with the Father when they die, but aren't living the life they could be living on earth because they are living in darkness. Why? Because of how they view life...how they see things. They don't understand why they are depressed, sad, sick, angry, or frustrated. But the Bible says one reason may be because of your perception of life. If you're filter through which you perceive life's circumstances, events, challenges, ect. is dark (negative, pessimistic, scared, and so on) your whole body (or your whole life) is filled with darkness. Jesus also says in this scripture reference...and I love this..."Be careful that the light you THINK you have is not really darkness" or in other word's be careful that your religious background, the fact that you have attended church for 2,5,10, or 30 years, you read a lot of christian books, watch a lot of christian TV, can speak in Christianize and quote religious rhetoric give you the false notion that your life is full of light. Too many Christians today are living in darkness and don't even realize it. Why are so many Christians sick, depressed, living in poverty, having relational issues ect? Because the filter to their soul is dark or negative. It doesn't take all that much time of being around a person to learn if they see life through a light or a dark filter. The bible says in Luke 6:45 that "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Rhetoric and christian cliche's only last for so long eventually what is really in your heart comes out. Put a little pressure on a person, a little heat, and see what begins to manifest from their mouth! Now...I don't say this to imply that I or you are any one's judge. That's half the problem in Christianity today. We are always looking at everyone else and refuse to look at ourselves, when the fact is is that I'm the only person I have control of. I give this example of the tongue revealing the heart to encourage the reader to begin to evaluate what comes out of their mouth in the midst of challenge. What's your first response? Especially to challenges? Does your mind and your mouth go immediately to the worst possible result of the circumstance? If so, it's a good indication that your eye is bad. "but I've been a Christan for a long time" you say. I know...but you are a christian with a eye that filters the world through darkness and the Lord wants you to be a christian who filters the world through his eyes. Your life will be better, full of light (gladness, joy, happiness, power) and you will have positive impacts on the people around you!
How do I do it? Here are a few key's:
1. Decide you want to (Deuteronomy 30:19) - Life is basically a bunch of choices. Our choices determine everything. God sets life and death before us everyday. Choose...decide...you want the lamp to your soul to be filtered through a lens of light.
2. Get Knowledge (Hosea 4:6; Joshua 1:8) - Both of these scripture references teach us the importance of knowing God's word. The Christian lifestyle is meant by God to be a lifestyle of constant growth and adjustment. When you stop learning you stop growing.
3. Words (Luke 11:33-36) - Making a decision that you want to change, and beginning to get the knowledge of God into you will produce a change in the way you think and speak. The bible says that the words we say come from what's on the inside of us. Change what goes in and you change what goes out. But also remember this matter too is a choice it may take a great deal of disciple in the beginning, but you can do it. Speak the truth of God...not just what you feel!
3. Take action! (James 2:20) - Faith without action ain't faith at all.
Hope this helps break down seeing life "though the light lenz". Love ya!
For the Kingdom and the King,
Chad
In DVi8 on Thursdays we've been talking from the launching point of Luke 11:33-36 about the way we view life. Is our perception of life and all that goes on around us filtered through the light of God or the darkness of the world? Many Christians today are saved and going to be with the Father when they die, but aren't living the life they could be living on earth because they are living in darkness. Why? Because of how they view life...how they see things. They don't understand why they are depressed, sad, sick, angry, or frustrated. But the Bible says one reason may be because of your perception of life. If you're filter through which you perceive life's circumstances, events, challenges, ect. is dark (negative, pessimistic, scared, and so on) your whole body (or your whole life) is filled with darkness. Jesus also says in this scripture reference...and I love this..."Be careful that the light you THINK you have is not really darkness" or in other word's be careful that your religious background, the fact that you have attended church for 2,5,10, or 30 years, you read a lot of christian books, watch a lot of christian TV, can speak in Christianize and quote religious rhetoric give you the false notion that your life is full of light. Too many Christians today are living in darkness and don't even realize it. Why are so many Christians sick, depressed, living in poverty, having relational issues ect? Because the filter to their soul is dark or negative. It doesn't take all that much time of being around a person to learn if they see life through a light or a dark filter. The bible says in Luke 6:45 that "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Rhetoric and christian cliche's only last for so long eventually what is really in your heart comes out. Put a little pressure on a person, a little heat, and see what begins to manifest from their mouth! Now...I don't say this to imply that I or you are any one's judge. That's half the problem in Christianity today. We are always looking at everyone else and refuse to look at ourselves, when the fact is is that I'm the only person I have control of. I give this example of the tongue revealing the heart to encourage the reader to begin to evaluate what comes out of their mouth in the midst of challenge. What's your first response? Especially to challenges? Does your mind and your mouth go immediately to the worst possible result of the circumstance? If so, it's a good indication that your eye is bad. "but I've been a Christan for a long time" you say. I know...but you are a christian with a eye that filters the world through darkness and the Lord wants you to be a christian who filters the world through his eyes. Your life will be better, full of light (gladness, joy, happiness, power) and you will have positive impacts on the people around you!
How do I do it? Here are a few key's:
1. Decide you want to (Deuteronomy 30:19) - Life is basically a bunch of choices. Our choices determine everything. God sets life and death before us everyday. Choose...decide...you want the lamp to your soul to be filtered through a lens of light.
2. Get Knowledge (Hosea 4:6; Joshua 1:8) - Both of these scripture references teach us the importance of knowing God's word. The Christian lifestyle is meant by God to be a lifestyle of constant growth and adjustment. When you stop learning you stop growing.
3. Words (Luke 11:33-36) - Making a decision that you want to change, and beginning to get the knowledge of God into you will produce a change in the way you think and speak. The bible says that the words we say come from what's on the inside of us. Change what goes in and you change what goes out. But also remember this matter too is a choice it may take a great deal of disciple in the beginning, but you can do it. Speak the truth of God...not just what you feel!
3. Take action! (James 2:20) - Faith without action ain't faith at all.
Hope this helps break down seeing life "though the light lenz". Love ya!
For the Kingdom and the King,
Chad
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