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The Secret to Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

You know those days when you just don’t have the joy of Jesus down in your heart? Things just haven’t been going your way and you’ve lost your usual optimism. Most of us can relate to those kind of days. However, in reality, we don’t have to go there. To rejoice is always and option. Everything doesn’t have to be going right for us to rejoice, and if you’re waiting for that to happen, don’t hold your breath.

St. Paul commands the people to rejoice! And, not only to rejoice at special times when they feel like it, but to rejoice always! But, how do we do that? Can we really rejoice even when things aren’t going the way we’d like? The answer is definitely yes, but not if we don’t understand what it takes to rejoice.

No this isn’t one of those pie in the sky, unrealistic devotions like, “smile God loves you”. It’s one of those real devotions that acknowledges we don’t always feel like rejoicing – but that doesn’t mean we can’t rejoice, if we know the secret. The secret to rejoicing is to understand that we’re not commanded to rejoice in ourselves at all times, but we we are commanded to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

Just because hard times come, we don’t have to lose our joy. The people of God, after returning to Jerusalem from bondage in Babylon, had to toil and strive to rebuild the city walls; life was difficult and dangerous for them. However, Nehemiah gathered them all together and reminded them of the plan of God in their lives as he had the Word read to them aloud in the city square. Then, he reminded them that their joy isn’t based in their circumstance. He said, “…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10)

The secret to rejoicing always is to understand that joy is not a feeling, it’s a disposition. As children of God with the resurrection power of Christ at work within us, we can determine to have attitudes of joy. No matter what happens we can choose joy. Yes we may still feel sad in our human emotions, but not a sadness that has no hope. We can know a joy-filled sadness.

So, no matter what you face, choose to rejoice in the Lord today and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to remember you are with me no matter what. Help me to know your joy as my strength, even when it looks like things are going wrong. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://seetheartinme27.deviantart.com/art/The-Joy-of-the-Lord-164771971

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The Path to Real Citizenship

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

Most places in the world, citizenship is a big deal. Countries put up walls, border fences and walls to keep non-citizens out and sometimes even to keep citizens in. America has been one of those few places in the world that many people have longed to come to. Why would people want to leave their homeland for a foreign country and start over? Probably because of the promise of freedom.

The United States has without a doubt been the freest nation to ever exist. But, we wouldn’t be who we are were it not for immigrants who came to settle this land and who sacrificed to make it what it is today. However, for all the care and concern being given to the borders and immigration today, especially in American politics, there is a much freer nation we need to be reminded of – the Kingdom of Heaven.

Throughout the history of the church St. Paul’s words about our citizenship have been echoed to every nation, tribe and tongue. We dare not forget them today. If we are in Christ, we are foreigners in a strange land no matter where we live. Heaven is the home for which we are to long. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m proud to be American and I love my country, however, I love God and Heaven more.

To be in Christ Jesus is to be resurrected by His power in our spirits to live in a new dimension, a Heavenly dimension, even though our bodies still live here on Earth. Paul told the Philippians they need to “eagerly wait for the Savior”. It takes the power of the resurrection to long eagerly for our true homeland, and to hold the things of this earth loosely. As we continue our sojourn on Earth we must keep in mind, in the words of an old gospel song:

This world is not my home, I’m just passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

So be careful how at home you feel here in whatever country you live, and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have grown too attached to this world and all that’s in it. Help me by your grace to long eagerly for Heaven and the day you transform my lowly body into your glory. Amen. Alleluia!

 

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Don’t Follow Them

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Philippians 3:18-19

If it’s true there are those whom we should follow in this faith, then it is equally true there are those we should not follow. St. Paul warns the Philippians there are those whose ways will lead to destruction, and sometimes they’re even part of the community of faith. Jesus warned of similar things. He said there will be many in the end of time who cry out to Him at the judgment that they did many miracles in His name, but He will declare He never knew them (Matt. 7:22-24).

Paul warns his readers that such people are actually “enemies of the cross”. He tells them there are two ways to spot them. First, their god is actually their own desire for power. And second, they’re shameful in how they call glory upon themselves rather than on Christ. Clearly these enemies have a certain charisma about them that makes people want to follow them, but in the end their way is always destruction.

Any ministry that does not flow from humility and give all it’s glory to Christ is a false ministry, an enemy of the cross, and we must be discerning of such things. The power of the resurrection cannot be duplicated for evil, but it can be mimicked. Things can have an appearance of power, but when we look deeper we see it’s really a façade.

We need not fear those who truly live and lead in the power of the resurrection, for they will be humble servants. They will set their minds on heavenly things. Their ministry will draw us heavenward in Christ and not upward in ourselves. The true power of the resurrection is the power of Christ within us, to lead us into paths of righteousness for His names sake, and not anyone else.

So be careful who you follow and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be wise in discerning who to follow in your faith. Give me eyes of wisdom and fill me with your discerning, resurrection power. Amen. Alleluia!

 

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Follow Me?

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

Philippians 3:17

There’s an old saying, “If you put your faith in people, they’ll end up letting you down.” Perhaps that’s true to an extent, but not always. People who say they are followers of Jesus often fail to live up to a Christ like example. The excuse usually goes like this, “After all, we’re only human”. True, but there are some humans who have discovered life in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and are worthy examples for us to follow.

Five times in the New Testament St. Paul admonished those he ministered to by saying, “follow me” (1Cor 11:1; 1Cor 4:16; Phil 3:17; 1Thess 1:6; and 2Thess 3:7, 9,). Now, we can be sure Paul only meant to follow him in that he was confident he was following Jesus. In fact, he says so specifically in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

How could Paul be so confident in his example as to ask others to imitate him? Because he knew the power of the resurrection. Paul’s faith wasn’t a “said” faith, or a “head” faith, but rather a “heart” faith. He not only believed Jesus to be Messiah, his heart was cleansed by the blood of the cross. He knew a total conversion, for he had been crucified with Christ, such that Christ lived within him (Gal. 2:20).

The good news today is that you can know the same power as Paul. The power to completely transform lives didn’t end with Apostles and early saints of the Christian church. We can study their lives and follow their example as we all learn to imitate Jesus Christ. The believer who lives out such examples presents a life to the world that is truly winsome. Such resurrection living changed the world in the first century, and it will change our world today.

So remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be crucified with you, even as St. Paul did. Come and live within me such that others see you in me. Amen. Alleluia!

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We Got To Keep on Keepin On

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion says, “A body in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force.” I think that’s a great law for our spiritual lives. Once we are “in motion” as believers in Christ, we need to stay in motion. As R&B legendary singer Curtis Mayfield said, “We got to keep on keepin on”.

St. Paul definitely understood the Law of Motion. He knew that no matter what he had achieved in his spiritual life, there was always more of Christ’s nature to attain. In fact, Paul knew this motion to be a call from God, and “upward call”. God is calling all His children to continually grow in Christ.

Even as the Resurrection raised up Jesus in body, mind, and soul from the grave, so too this “upward call” is the power of the resurrection continually lifting us heavenward until one day, we are with Him in Paradise. But, just like Newton’s Law, outside forces can come against our momentum in Christ.

Satan and the spiritual forces of evil continually try to come against our spirit, trying to slow down and even stop our momentum, if possible. However, the good news is the resurrection power within us is greater than the powers of evil that come against us. We don’t have to stop. As the modern hymn “In Christ Alone” says:

“No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand  (Listen to the full song here)

To “stand” in Christ, is to be ever moving upward. Christ’s call is continuous, not static. So, “Keep on, keepin on”, and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Gracious Heaven Father, I hear your upward call. Help me by your grace to resist the forces forces of evil that come against me today, and to keep pressing onward and upward. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://www.faithmama.com/?p=325

 

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Jesus Is Not A Claim Jumper

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

Philippians 3:12

In the 1800’s tens of thousands of people moved west to the frontier lands of the United States in order to ‘stake their claim’. People would literally take a pointed stake and stick it into a piece of land they could legally call their own. Claim staking was made popular in the California gold rush of 1849, and the Oklahoma land rush of 1889, but it’s probably always been around in one form or another as people have marked their territory. Today it’s an idiomatic expression saying you have ownership of something.

St. Paul knew that just like a piece of land belonged to the one who laid claim to it, he belonged to Jesus Christ. Paul was no longer his own master; Jesus had “laid hold” of him. In other words, Jesus had “staked his claim” on Paul. And Paul knew Jesus had a rightful claim. Jesus bought him with a price, and the price was His life, paid for with His blood.

That price, paid for Paul, is the price paid for all who come to Christ. However, we must come to Him freely. Jesus is not a claim jumper. You see, each of us is born with a free will. But in our freedom we still are not our own master, for sin has mastery over us. We can’t break free of sin’s mastery without help, and the only one who can help us is Jesus. He paid our price, and will stake His claim on ours, if we let Him.

Who holds the claim to your life? How you live tells the story. Jesus wants to lay claim to your life. He wants to bring His resurrection power within you and bring victory to your life, but He only enters in where He’s invited. Remember, Jesus isn’t a claim jumper, and also remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I am your child, and I thank you for laying hold of me. Forgive me for the times I have acted like a claim jumper and tried to take back control of my life. Amen. Alleluia!

 

Image credit: https://goblinworks.com/blog/and-update-on-the-land-rush/

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With Suffering Comes Power

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 3:10-11

To join a fellowship usually brings prestige or social recognition, such as a fellowship of doctors or an educational society. We even call gatherings for eating together fellowship. However, there is one fellowship that is sure not to bring social ease or prestige – the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings.

But, while identifying with Jesus’ sufferings may not bring the praise of society, you can count on it bringing power, the power of the resurrection. What is it about suffering that caused St. Paul to be certain of such an alignment between power and suffering? Paul knew that if Satan was deprived of the greatest fear he could bring, the fear of dying, then he would have no power over humans.

By embracing the suffering of Jesus, a suffering that leads to death, we put Satan on notice that he can’t harm us. Not even the power of death can keep us from resurrection in Christ Jesus. With that confidence we can see why Paul said, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)

So what are your fears today? If you want the power to face your fears with strength, then realize that any suffering that may come your way from what you presently fear is already a victory. Christians need not fear. St. Peter tells us, “His divine power has given us everything we need…” (2 Peter 1:3) We have victory in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Death truly has lost it’s sting.

Always remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

 

Prayer

Almighty God, my Father,  help me to see Christ’s resurrecting power at work in my life bringing victory of suffering and fear. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://thepainteddoor.org/series/details/the-fellowship-of-his-sufferings

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Surrender to Win

“ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”

Philippians 3:7

One of the biggest challenges new followers of Jesus have is letting go of everything they’ve spent their life building. Oh, I don’t mean letting go as in throw it all away. I mean letting go as in surrendering ownership of everything to Jesus, every dream, every success, every plan. We must let him have all the plans we’ve committed our lives towards, so that He may either confirm or change our plans. To belong to Christ, we must let Him have complete control. How do find the power to let go and let God – resurrection!

Jesus had to let go of everything He’d known for 33 years in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had to trust His Father. And, as He did, He gained everything back and so much more in His resurrection to eternal life as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. At the very heart of the Christian experience is found the greatest paradox. If we give up everything…we gain everything.

I think many people struggle with such letting go because they haven’t learned to trust anyone but themselves. However, if there is anyone we can trust it’s our creator – Jesus Christ. In giving up everything, that is counting all as loss for Christ, we actually gain more than we can ever imagine. In Christ, we gain assurance that every need we ever have will always be met.

There will never come a time when Jesus will let us down, or forget to meet a need. We don’t even have to remind Him. One of my old supervisors in ministry used to always say, “Jesus has never let me down…He’s scared me to death a few times, but He’s never let me down.”

Jesus has a plan for our lives, and He always has. Yes, it can be scary at times. We have to learn to trust. We can hear His promise of assurance in the Lord’s words to his covenant people through Isaiah the prophet: “ For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11) Yet, even that was not a blanket promise without a contingency. If we read on we discover that God’s plans are realized when we seek Him with “all our heart”. (Vs 13)

Remember, if you want to win in this life, you have to surrender. And, on the other side of our surrender is resurrection power. Have you found it yet?

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Gracious Lord, you give generously to all who truly seek you. Help me to surrender ALL to you today, that you may raise me up in the power of the resurrection to the life You want me to live. Amen. Alleluia!

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Show What You Know

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

Philippians 2:14-15

This might be a bit controversial but hang with me. I think the most needed thing in our world today isn’t necessarily more people who know about Jesus…but more people who ‘show’ Jesus. Are you still with me? Let me explain.

Knowing Jesus is everything, but if it’s really everything to us we’ll show it in the way we live. St. Paul had already told the Philippians to “work out” their salvation, “with fear and trembling”. Then, he told them how to live as believers that make a difference in perverse world. We’re called to live holy lives that make a difference.

Christians, like it or not, are called to be different from the world. Complaining and arguing aren’t winsome in anyone, especially in people who are to be “blameless and harmless”. Sadly, churches are full of members who complain, grumble, and pretty much live like everyone else. It’s as if their faith makes no difference in their lives.

Right now you’re probably saying, “Yes Brad, but aren’t churches supposed to be hospitals for sinners? After all, we’re only human.” You’re right. But, there comes a time when we who follow Jesus must get serious about being intentional disciples who allow the power of the resurrection to transform us into lights that shine brightly in the darkness.

I told you this might be controversial. Right now you might be thinking that you’re not good enough, to be the kind of believer Paul describes. Don’t lose heart. Notice that he calls us to be “blameless”, not perfect. Blameless isn’t an excuse to not be transformed. Surrendering to Jesus’ transforming power shows how much we value His forgiveness. Here’s a link to a song by Dara McLean to help you think about what it means to be blameless, and forgiven: http://www.bing.com/search?q=Blameless+Dara+Maclean+Video&FORM=R5FD1

We can’t be as perfect as Jesus, but we can have hearts that perfectly love Him and are transformed by his resurrection power. And, the extent to which we live out of perfect hearts, our motives will be blameless. You see, the difference isn’t in what we know of Jesus, but in what we show of Jesus. Are you living in the power of His resurrection? It’s what makes all the difference.

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus, if there is anything in me that is not surrendered to you, let me give it to you now. Tune my heart to perfectly love you, that I may live as your light to a dark and lost world. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://www.daramaclean.com/updates/behind-song-blameless-62686

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Work, Work, Work

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13

My dad used to say, “If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for”. He would often say those words to me when I would talk about the things I wish I had when I was a boy. Back then, I thought it was a convenient excuse for why he wasn’t going to spend the money to get me what I wanted. But now, I see the wisdom in the “working”.

What my dad was trying to teach me was,  if I had everything I wanted given to me, I would not only not appreciate the items, I wouldn’t appreciate what it took to get them. Part of the reward of a job well done is the satisfaction of knowing you’ve accomplished something. Sometimes, that reward is to obtain something you’ve always wanted, knowing now you can now afford it.

Salvation, is the greatest gift anyone can receive. God gives salvation generously to all who ask, but do we appreciate it? St. Paul didn’t teach the Philippians they had to “work” for their salvation…but, he did teach them they had to work to keep it. And, not only that, but to work it out with, “fear and trembling”. If we don’t do something with this great gift, we won’t appreciate what it took God to give it to us – the death of His son.

What are you doing with your salvation? Have you sat it on a shelf like a trophy…maybe even dust it off once in a while? I hope not. But, just how do we work out our own salvation? By serving God as a “Thank You”, and serving each other as a proof that it’s real. Real salvation is a working thing; it proves itself. We obtain it through faith, but keep it through good works. St. James said it like this, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (Jas. 2:17)

Paul wants us to know that, we too must work to keep our faith alive. And, we work out our faith with fear and trembling because we respect what it took for God to give it to us. But, notice it’s God’s will at work in us through which we actually accomplish this great work. To do the will of God takes resurrection power, so even in our working we can say, “to God be the glory!”

So, what do you want? Then go work for it. But remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

 

Prayer

Father God, I help me to realize your resurrection power at work within me, and help me to work for your will to be accomplished in my life. Let me do only what you would have me do. Let your thoughts be my thoughts, and your work my work. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: https://www.td.org/Publications/Blogs/Science-of-Learning-Blog/2015/02/Work-Life-Fusion