Come to the House

Last night I had the incredible experience of worshipping with a group of around 11,000 Jesus-followers at the O'Connell Center at the University of Florida.  Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio were in town and it was a great concert, a phenomenal message of encouragement, and a call to salvation through the sufficiency of the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  Although this was the case, one of the things that impacted me the most was the power in the gathering of God's people.  Here was a collection of Christians from all around our area and our state where the true focus was simply about lifting up the name of Jesus and hearing what He has to say for our lives.  The encouragement that followed in the life of each person in attendance was off the charts!  This morning after I had some time to meditate on what I experienced and the words that were shared, I realized that Hebrews 10:24-25 is a passage that we need desperately in our times:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

With so much darkness, deception and division in our society right now, the people of God need to meet, meet often and value that meeting.  As that scripture tells us, we shouldn't neglect 'to meet together.'  With that in mind, I have to tell you all that watching your favorite sermon online or TV isn't good enough.  Watching your church's live stream when you CAN attend in person isn't good enough.  Saying 'it's just me and Jesus', isn't good enough.  You need to be in the house of God when His people come together.  In that place you will be encouraged, equipped for the purpose of God, enlarged in your perspective to see like the Father, and more convinced of our need for the word of God and Jesus' finished work on the cross, as you're spurred on to tell others of this great news.

So, in short, do what you need to do in order to always keep your attendance in the house of God a high priority.  Whether it's tonight, Saturday, this Sunday or whenever, be sure that with passion, vision and expectation, you always come to the house.

Honorology

Here's a link to a powerful two-part sermon by Pastor Steven Furtick about honor.  Enjoy it:  http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/honorology.

Jesus Turned Around - Judah Smith

Jentezen Franklin - Stay Out of the Woods

Steven Furtick - Cancel the Audition...

Building the House of God on a Good Report - Pastor Steve Kelly

Ready, Get Set, Go - Judah Smith

Living the Life

In the book of Colossians, Chapter 1, we are encouraged by the apostle Paul to recognize the preeminence of Christ in all things.  "Whether thrones, dominions or rulers or authorities -  all things were created through Him and for Him" (v. 16). In other words, Christ is #1 no matter who or what is involved! Paul's encouragement is of particular significance when we look at our lives as believers. The conclusion that must be drawn about how we live is that Christ is to be at the top of the list in everything we do. Every endeavor, every plan, every thought, every desire or ambition must be held in light of Christ's preeminence. This will have a significant impact on how we go about our daily activities and cause us to seriously seek to pursue exemplary lives of holiness. 1 Peter 1:13-15 tells us this:

"Therefore,  preparing your minds for action,  and  being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children,  do not be conformed to the passions  of your former ignorance,  but  as he who called you is holy, you also be holy  in all your conduct..." (1 Peter 1:13-15 ESV)

Our calling is to be set apart and distinct, like God, in all of our conduct. Wherever the road of life takes us, our character and the lifestyle we live should be consistent. Purity, holiness, faithfulness and the other fruits of the Spirit should always be foundational throughout our entire existence. This is the life that glorifies our God and gives others something worth following, thus loving the Lord and our neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40).

So whether we are in front of the masses or all alone, let us seek to continually acknowledge Christ as having first place in everything as we live the life He's called us to.

Humility?

(by Sarah Pridgen)

Matthew 18:1-6

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

OK, here it comes…  Once and for all (even if only in my own mind) I have to set something straight that I have heard misinterpreted my whole life…  When discussing the question the disciples posed about greatness in Matthew 18, I have heard many people dive into a discourse about the humility of children and how we need to mirror it.  And then I became a parent of children.  (Enter theme music here: Dum-du-dum-dum-dummmmm!)  Now, unless my children (and the 20 or so children of close friends around me) are unique in the entire world, I can tell you with CERTAINTY that humility is not an innate feature of these little jewels…  In fact, to say so would allude to the belief that children are born without sin which is completely contrary to what the Bible teaches.  I’m not really going there now, but just in case a question mark went off in your brain just then, here’s a Scripture: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 8:23.  There is never an age distinction in the Word of God for the total depravity of man without the Savior.  Every heart is amiss without Jesus, EVERY ONE.  So there…  Moving on…

So, if Jesus wasn’t referring to innate humility in kids, what exactly did He mean?  Let’s think about this particular child in Jesus’ lap that day…  We don’t know anything about him.  Or do we?  We do know that he is a kid (under the age of autonomous responsibility for that day, so probably under 13).  Stay with me…  I don’t know what your kids like to spend their days doing, but chances are sitting on a hill and listening to an “old guy” with a beard speak about “the Kingdom of heaven” probably doesn’t rank at the top of the list…  My boy would probably be scouring the hillside for long sticks he could make into swords and then fight an invisible enemy while the guy Jesus carried on with his teaching…  He would not be sitting and listening quietly, unless his father or I required him to do so.  And there’s my simple point: the child attended the hillside meeting for one reason.  And that is his father required him to be there, and he obeyed.  His father was doing what all (or most) fathers of that day would’ve been doing: training the child.  Unlike the day we now live in, fathers of that day were acutely aware that “a child left to himself brings shame to his mother,” Prov. 29:15.  Even if only for economic purposes, parents of that day needed their children to learn wisdom young so that they could help with and then take over the family farm or business.  And so they took care to train the children all day every day until the job was done.  That boy on the hillside learned what his father deemed valuable that day: the teaching of a wise man “who spoke with authority.”  He learned that sometimes you need a day off from work to sit at Jesus’ feet.  The boy was in his process of being trained by his father.

Earlier in the ministry of Jesus, we are told a story about a teacher named Nicodemus who knew a whole lot.  He came to Jesus in the night to ask about divinity, and Jesus gave him a riddle that blew his trained brain…  “Unless a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus, dumbfounded by the image of a nursing, spitting-up, pooping-at-will, totally reliant newborn, presses Jesus further…  Jesus becomes incredulent and throws it back to him, prodding his heart as to whether or not he is qualified to teach the Jews if he can’t work out in his mind how to become small.  Jesus asks for a blank canvas, and Nicodemus brings his qualifications.  Don’t we all?  

I can hear the disciples in Matthew 18 now, name-dropping and throwing out individual accomplishments…  Peter: “I’ve owned a successful fishing business, so clearly I should lead this team.”  Matthew: “Oh, yeah?  Well I collected taxes for Ceasar, so I know how to run the books.”  Philip: “I’m pretty sure sound theology is what we need, here, I should lead.”  And John: “I’m Jesus’ best friend, so I should definitely be in charge.”  It’s almost comical until I think about all of the “assets” I bring into my prayers before the Lord (I know you would never pray these things)…  “Jesus, you know you gave me the ability to do this, shouldn’t I have this open door?  Lord, don’t you think I should have a little more favor in this area?  I mean, I have done some pretty hard yards…”  Funny, but the resounding theme between the disciples’ one-ups and mine is this: I.  Me.  Yours truly.  So Jesus basically gives them a living illustration and says “forget what you think you deserve and become like this kid who came here today out of simple obedience.”  That’s humility defined.  The little boy didn’t show up on the hillside to be seen with Jesus, he just followed his dad.  And to me, that’s Jesus’ point in saying “humble yourself like this child…”  He’s asking you to show up in your faith today without your list of accomplishments and letters of recommendation.  Show up before the Lord today and say “where are we going today, Lord?  Is there anything you want to teach me?  Are we going to the hillside or the workshop today, Jesus?  Whatever you say, I’m in.”  True humility is having no other agenda than to please your Father.  Be like a kid in training for life.  Be born again every day, so that your desire is no longer greatness but the security of an unbroken relationship with the only person whose opinion really matters.