Tag: Faith

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Raised from the Ashes: Tuesday – Day 6

Lent 2016 Daily Devotions-4

The Way of the Fool

“30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;”

I Corinthians 1:30

Read I Corinthians 1:18-31

 

Have you ever been called a fool? If so, chances are it hurt to hear it. As a kid, my mom always told me not to call anyone a fool, not matter how foolish they act. She was thinking of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:22 that says, if we call anyone a fool we are “in danger of hellfire”. I didn’t understand why I would go to Hell for using a simple word, but it worked. I stopped using the word fool. However, as I grew I always remained curious of what Jesus meant by such a damning sentence for the use of a simple word.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul talks a lot about fools. He speaks of how God used what the world calls foolishness, on which to build His kingdom. You, see the message of the gospel seems foolish to the those who are perishing, but the wisdom of God for those who believe (Vs 18).

In Lent, we often think we should focus on ourselves, and how we are trying to deny ourselves in order to become more like Christ. But, the focus of Lent is actually Christ himself, not us. When we turn our attention to meditating on the mystery of our faith, Jesus calls us deeper into the Spiritual life

Are Lenten Sacrifices Foolish?

In the wisdom of the world (an oxymoronic thought), Lenten sacrifice seems foolish. Denying our flesh in order to tame its cravings, concentrating on serving others through works of mercy, spending time in prayer, meditation, and study, such is folly to those who think they are wise already. Though their actions are indeed foolish, Jesus would not have us call anyone a fool, because a fool is one who thinks he/she is wise in their own eyes, and as such are lost. The one who thinks they don’t need God is as Jesus’ said, “in danger of hellfire”, and that is a label we don’t wish on anyone.

Have you ever felt foolish for your faith? Great! You should know it’s a hallmark of honor to be counted a fool for Jesus. God our Father is the source of all life. He is the fountain of all wisdom, and that wisdom is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone is the source of our redemption and sanctification. He alone is the hope of the world. If we are to be fools in anyone’s eyes, then let us be “fools for Christ” (1 Cor. 4:10), for we may look foolish now, but soon we will be raised from the ashes.

Grace & Peace for a Holy Lent,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

 

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Raised from the Ashes: Monday, Day 5

Lent – Monday, Day 5

 

“6 even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 1:6-8

Read I Corinthians 1:1-17

 Lent 2016 Daily Devotions-4

Waiting for the Revealing

As we begin the first full week of our Lenten journey, scripture reminds us that we need each other. Our journey isn’t a solitary one. We fast and pray, and practice self-denial as one body in Christ, not as individuals. Like all of life, we are called to live in community, not isolation. The truth is if I’m going to grow to be the best disciple I can be, I need you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord our God.

When we practice our faith together, worshiping, learning, and serving, we enter into the life of the most Holy Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit exist in a continual exchange of love. St. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that when the “testimony to Christ” is confirmed among them, they lack no spiritual gift. None of us have all spiritual gifts, but all of us have at least one, and together we form a unified whole of the body of Christ, lacking nothing. That is the true church. That is the church the world needs to see.

What is Our Testimony?

The testimony to Christ is the testimony to love. We know that God is love and in Him there is only love; He sent His only son to die for the saving of the world. If we’re to be His body, we too must have a testimony to love. St. John tells us to love one another, for only those who love are born of God (1 John 4:8). When we love each other, people see God in us, His body becomes manifest to the world

And So, We Wait

Lent is a microcosm of the whole of life. In it we journey together toward our ultimate end – life with Christ. At the end of Lent, we will celebrate the great mystery of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And, in His resurrection we too are raised to new life. At the end of our earthly lives we celebrate the mystery of our redemption, eternal life with Christ. However, until both the end of Lent and the end our earthly lives, we wait for the “revealing of Jesus Christ”. While we wait, He sustains us through His all Holy, and life-giving Spirit, guiltless until the end, guiltless until we are raised from the ashes.

Grace & Peace for a Holy Lent,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

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The Spirit-filled Life: It’s More Than Just Beleiving

Click here to read today’s scripture from Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2

fruits-of-the-spirit-love

When it comes to faith, we often ask the question, “How much do I need to get by?”. Many people often want to know how to live the Christian life just enough to get us into Heaven and escape Hell. If that sounds familiar to you, may I suggest that you’ve missed the whole point of the Christian faith?

Christianity isn’t about escaping something, it’s about entering something; that something is life in Spirit. Today’s verses from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians tell us what a spirit filled life looks like. Spirit filled lives area filled with love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control – but not always all at the same time (At least not for me). St. Paul tells us these characteristics are the “fruit” of the Spirit. In other words they are the noticeable byproducts of a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus.

What’s He Really Saying?

However, if we fail to carefully and deliberately read ALL the great Apostle is saying, we may be left with the misguided thought that a life committed to Jesus automatically grows this incredible fruit. Well, you don’t have to live as a Christian long before you realize you often live below these fruitful characteristics. You may even doubt your faith since you have such struggles with living out this ‘fruit of the Spirit’. But, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.

Living ‘by the Spirit’ is not enough. What? That’s right. St. Paul knew as Christians we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe, after all, it is only by the power of the Spirit that we can turn from sin and repent in faith. So, in that sense we can be said to ‘live by the Spirit’. However, Paul says if we live by the Spirit, we must also “keep in step with the Spirit”. Keeping in step implies so much more than just a position of belief; it means we live under the complete control of the Holy Spirit. We live and move and have our very being in what He would have us do and say (Acts 17:28).

The Key to Bearing Fruit

If we want to live the fruit-filled life of the Spirit, we must come to a place of complete surrender of our will to God’s will. God has a will for each of us, but he won’t force it upon our lives. When our hearts recognize the true depth of love God gives to us through the sacrifice of His son Jesus, and through the indwelling power of His Holy Spirit, then surrender to His will and His way, becomes the pathway to transformation. In His power, walking step by step in His guidance, we are transformed into loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled people. The transformation doesn’t happen in an instant, but the surrender of our will does. Then, as we walk in His power, He lights our way through experiences that transform us, step by step, into His likeness.

This Week

As you prepare your hearts for worship on the Lord’s day tomorrow, won’t you spend some time thinking about your level of surrender to Jesus Christ? Are you living in faith because you’ve accepted Jesus as savior? If so, great, you’re partially surrendered. Or, are you still trying to figure out life on your own, making decisions in your own power and wisdom without knowing or considering what God’s will is. If so, won’t you consider surrendering everything to Jesus; every fear your still holding on to, every doubt you have about what the future will bring, yes even the unknown things of the future? To surrender completely to Jesus Christ and His will for your life brings the fruit of the Spirit. You can have peace in knowing the Lord of Life is Lord of ALL – including you.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

Image credit:  http://www.thinwithin.org/living-the-fruit-of-the-spirit/

 

 

 

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The One Thing We All Need…Is The One Thing We Least Beleive In

This Week’s Gospel: Click Here to read – Luke 8:26-39

Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

healing_web_series_graphic

Who would have believed that a man with multiple demons, a man no one could control, not even keep chained up, could ever be healed? You would think having witnessed the most incredible miracle of their lives, the people of the community where the possessed Gerasene man lived, would believe. How could they dispute the goodness of what was done? The man was released from his demons. He was made whole again. He was healed. Yet, the people asked Jesus to leave.

Before we get too surprised at their unbelief and their audacity of asking Jesus to leave their community, perhaps we should take a look at our own lives. All around us are hurting people who need the healing of Jesus, but do we even offer it to them? It seems the one thing we all need, is the one thing we least believe in.

Where in the Bible does it say that miraculous healing left our world when Jesus ascended into Heaven? Why do we seem to think that it was okay for Jesus to work such miracles because He is God? But, as for us, well we shouldn’t expect ourselves to do what he did. Or should we?

Jesus told his followers they would do even greater works than He: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.…” (John 14:12-13).

St. Peter raised a dead woman to life (Acts 9). St. Paul raised a man from the dead (Acts. 20). I would say those are greater works than Jesus did, just like He said. Why? Because Peter and Paul were men and not God. It is really quite remarkable when you think about it. The early church moved throughout the world with the miraculous power of God. Some have said that such “apostolic” power died out with the twelve apostles. But, did it?

In St. Matthew’s gospel, chapter 10, we read how Jesus commissioned the twelve to heal the sick and raise the dead. Paul was not even one of the original twelve disciples, yet the power was manifest in him. We know the twelve apostles ordained successors to their offices out of concern to pass on the apostolic ministry to the next generation (Acts 1). In fact, the ancient history of the church is filled with accounts of saints who worked great miracles, and even raised the dead.

So, why don’t we believe in such apostolic power filling the church of today? Is it because we have become too smart for such things? Have we become so sophisticated in our thinking and our ability to save lives through modern medicine that we don’t really believe in miracles anymore? Or do we even acknowledge the healing we bring in modern medicine is not from us at all, but from God? I wonder.

I look around our world today and see so many lost and hurting people, people in need of miracles. Yet, it seems the church offers little if any; most churches anyway. Again I ask, why? The very thing our world needs most, seems to be the very thing we believe the least – a church filled with apostolic power!

What miracles do you need? Is your life bound up with demons? Perhaps the common demons of today are not the possessive kind, but rather the kind we allow to plague us through our lack of faith. Jesus is still able to do through His church today, all the miracles He did then, but He won’t do them without the consent of our faith.

This Week:

As you go through this week, read the miracle stories of Jesus and His apostles. Consider your own life. Do you need a miracle? Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matt. 7:8). As a minister who stands in the line of apostolic ministry, I’m asking for faith to believe He wants to do miracles through me. Won’t you ask Him for your miracles too?

Feel free to comment or ask a question. We must build each other up to the fullness of faith as we journey together.  Until later in the week…

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Matthew 5:6

Image Credit: http://www.princetonalliance.org