Throw Up - Sometimes It's the Best Thing

“You must also rid yourself of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Col. 3:8

Notice the word RID here. In the original language it means to put away from, throw away, be rid of, divest yourself of, PURGE! That’s strong language.  It has the same connotation as your stomach throwing up something that is sour, spoiled or poison.  Now notice what Paul says to throw up from your life as a Godly person. Anger, Rage, Malice, Slander, Filthy Language.

We all have a certain amount of emotional energy. In conversations involving conflict, you can use the energy to fix blame or to resolve the problem.  One, looks for an excuse, ANY excuse not to have to deal with the issue.  It will always be someone else, something else and never what I can do. It will never look for a solution because it is too busy trying feel important, blame others, blame things, blame situations – never look for ways to resolve or reconcile issues. So you've got to ask yourself what’s more important, to blame the other person or to resolve the conflict. Too often we choose the former because we feel it is easier.  It is a product of our society today – why fix something? Just go get a new one. However, that is not so easy when others feelings, emotions, - SOULS are at stake

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So, let’s consider Paul’s advice.  As a Christian, especially in conflicts there are things I need to throw away from me.

1. ANGER – the word here is the word from which we get passion, however here it is violent passion.  The idea is that we all know what it takes to set us off, or set something off. When in conversations with others that we know are going to be emotional – GET RID of anger before the conversation starts, or reschedule the conversation for another time when you can keep things under control.  Prov.17:14, “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.”
2. RAGE – the word here again is passion, but it is used in the sense of the fierceness of a bull.  Other places in the Bible this is called “Gnashing of Teeth” when used in proximity to anger. Here Paul is using it in connection with anger as the two are cousins. When anger is chronic in your life, RAGE is not far behind. Rage is the out of control part of anger, and has no place in someone who seeks peace. To be a peacemaker you have to have the mind of God, and you can’t have that if you are given to rage.  Mat 5:9  "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
3. MALICE - is the vice which lies below anger and wrath, as a root or spring.  That is because this word rather than emotion, is directly associated with my intent.  It is one thing to be angry, another to fly into a fit of rage on an occasion. But to deliberately do either is malice and speaks to forethought. It is what leads to murder.  It has NO good in it and if you are harboring it, you are harboring Satan in your heart and not God.
4. SLANDER – The word here in the original language is blasphemy, as used in the since of vilifying someone. Saying things to make the other person look bad, lay blame, fault etc. Its brother is malice, because to do this involves forethought. Gossip is the 2^nd cousin as is backbiting. They all hang around together. This and its cousins were what drove the nails in Jesus’ hands.
5. FILTHY LANGUAGE - “abusive conversation.” This involves quite a few things, especially as borrowed from the above. The emphasis is that the language is intended to “abuse” rather than just be polluting. This is made likely by the words in context, anger, rage, malice, et.al. It is the same thing that Peter does in the courtyard while Jesus is undergoing his trial. He allows his language and oaths to become base and abusive so as to sound like the crowd and not be associated with Jesus. When we do it, it is the same.

The reason we need to focus ridding our lives and hearts of these things, is that they are all a form of judging. You’re not the judge. You can’t figure out anybody else’s motivation on anything, we don’t know our own motivations most of the time! Only God knows and only He can be the judge. We need to “..work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Ph’p.2:12)” and work on getting ungodly habits and things out of our own lives before we try to get something out of someone else’s. 

Jim

Sucking Sour Persimmons

“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” 

Rom.14:17

Have you ever noticed in the lives of most “believers” the one thing that seems missing is joy? We start off life as a believer as a new being, free from sin, forgiven and alive in Christ. But, what happens to that joy that we started with? Why is it that when you talk to many believers – especially about coming to God's house regularly or for some just getting through a day, you would do better to suck on a sour persimmon?

The easiest thing for us to lose as believers is our joy.  AND – it can be lost in the simplest of ways and with the simplest of things. You can lose it with one phone call or email, a letter or conversation. And there are a lot of people who are conspiring to rob it from you. Jeremiah the prophet said in Lamentations 5:15, “There is no joy left in our hearts”  Cranky Christians are a bad witness and look like they've been baptized in vinegar because they’re never really smiling, have no happiness and rather than give reason for the hope that is in them have people avoiding them because the feel like they are going to get their head chewed off. 

God wants us to be witnesses with our countenance of the JOY that can be found in Him. Paul states in Rom.14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” The sad thing is that many “mature” Christians have lost their joy and don't even know it.  They've become so addicted to living the soured life that they can't see the unspeakable joy that God has right in front of them. And – like an addict, they will not admit that they have lost it.  Has there ever been a point in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? Has there ever been a point in your life when you were more joyful in the Lord than you are right now? If so, what caused you to lost that?

Did you know that it’s quite easy to get your joy back, too? The first step you need to do is admit you've lost it. Yes...you made a mistake, you didn't do EXACTLY what God wanted you to do or be how God wanted you to be – even though you made a good show of it. That said - Now is the time to make the change.  You can ask God about it; HE IS waiting to help you. David did this in Psalm 51:12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation”  Did you know that God will do that?  Do you know that if you ask, God will GIVE you the Holy Spirit if you are seeking for it and wiling to take the opportunity God will bring before you?  Jesus said in Lk.11:13, “As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.”

So, what has changed  about your spiritual walk and quiet time with God since you first heard His voice? What are the things that are robbing you of your joy in Christ?  This is always a season of change, a chance to begin anew again. But you don't have to wait for a New Year's Resolution to do this. You can start right now. 

Jim

Dying on The Vine

Many over the years, have misunderstood what "church" is. Unfortunately, through abuse of the term, the idea of the "church" as God planned it has become many things, from a philosophy, culture, civil government, and even a business. None of these are what God intended. God intended his church to be three things - 

1. The body of His Son (1 Cor.12:27; Col.1:13-18)  
2. His administrator and ambassador of His message to the world (Eph.3:1-11) 
3. A fellowship of believers, encouraging one another toward the prize in Christ (Eph.3:1-11; 1 Cor.1:9; Ph'p.1:5; 1 Jn.1:3)

This "fellowship" is a partnership, a union and joining to which we are connected by Christ. It is the one place where of all places we should see God's will being done. The fellowship of God's church is provided to encourage us to fulfill our calling to serve others in practical ways. This is what Paul told the Corinthians, "Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it  (1Cor 12:27 )." He informed the Ephesians, "from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph.4:16)."  

Your service, participation, being part of this fellowship is essential to the Body of Christ. Each of us has a role to play, and every role is important. There is no small service to God; it all matters - even the smallest part.  There are many things that are seen within the church, and just as many if not more that are hidden behind the scenes, but all are valuable and ALL important. 

What happens when one part of your body fails to function? You get sick and the rest of your body suffers, aches, hurts, or in some way misses what the other part supplied.  What happens if for instance your heart decided to start living for itself: -- “I’m tired! I don’t want to serve the body anymore! I want a year off just to be fed. I’ve got to do what’s best for me! Let some other part take over.”  What would happen? Your body would die.

Today churches are dying because of Christians who are either unwilling to serve, or are just plain stubborn and don't want to. They sit on the sidelines as spectators, and watch while the Body of CHRIST suffers. So, here are a couple of thoughts for us all to consider.

1. It is God who calls you to a service far beyond anything you could ever imagine. He created YOU for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for you to do (see Ephesians 2:10). If you're not listening to this call, it is to Him you shall have to answer, not to anyone else. Are you sure you want to do that?

2.) Whenever you serve others, you are serving God (Mt.25:40). If you are not....well you supply the answer.  (Hint - read vs.44,45)  Are you sure you want to be on that side of the fence?

3.) Withholding your fellowship and participation hurts only yourself. Heb.10:25 is often quoted in places like this, to remind us that every one's presence is a special and important thing ..to everyone, including God. Yes, the body does suffer because we withhold our fellowship and participation. But, God's Church will survive.  However, to abandon my fellowship, ignore participating, or neglect that...is to neglect God.  Is that something that you want to do?

Jim

Called By God

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 

Rom.7:4

In last week's newsletter, I wrote that all of us are called by God.  Not all of us hear, but we are all called. This week, consider that if you have heard that call and responded, that there is something special that you have been called to. Let's consider some scriptures:

1.) 1 Pt. 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

• We are chosen - to be royalty, to be holy, to be God's
• We are chosen in order that we might proclaim - to announce the wondrous excellency of the God who has called us out of darkness into light.

2,) 2 Ti 1:9  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

• Again, we are called to a holy calling
• This calling is according to God's purpose and Grace, made available in Christ

In Eph.4:1-16, Paul wrote extensively that each of us has abilities that God has given us for the benefit of the saints. Not to elite "clergy" or classes of people, but to everyone! He did this so that the body of His people might work together in love to accomplish His purposes in Christ. Something that every part supplies, not just a select few. Everyone working together in love to accomplish and proclaim the excellency of He who has called us out of darkness, so that people may see the wonder of Christ in us.

We may have thought, that being called by God was something only missionaries, pastors, preachers or the experienced. But the Bible says every Christian is called to the service of God(Ephesians 4:4 –14; 1:6–7; 8:28–30; 1 Cor.1:2, 9, 26; 7:17; Ph'p 3:14; 1 Pt. 2:9; 2 Pt.1:3). We take what God has given us, and use them to help others. In this, we fulfill our calling, we proclaim God's excellency in our lives, and we work to build the body. 

Are you using what God has given you? 

Jim

It's Your DESTINY!

It's Your DESTINY!

"Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life

— live wisely, not unwisely. Use your time well, for these are evil days"

Eph.5:15,16

Destiny is defined as "that to which any person or thing is destined; a predetermined state; a condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; an irresistible power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual." We seldom pause to think about reaching the end of something that is yet in our future. That's because we're alive today and we have it to get through. But this is a serious question. Whether by an untimely death, or natural causes, what am I doing to prepare for that day when I will meet destiny?

It is interesting that in the telling of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk.16) that both men had destiny to meet. It is also interesting that this destiny they were yet to meet, was based upon what they did and their conduct while alive here. Many of us though, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, come to points in our lives when we state, "So I came to hate life, because the activities done under the sun were loathsome to me, since everything is meaningless and feeding on wind (Ecc.2:17)." Yet, God's ultimate goal for our life is not comfort, but character development. Paul states, "but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ (Eph 4:15)."

In all of creation, only human beings, are made "in God's image." This is a great privilege and gives us dignity. We don't know all this phrase covers, but we do know some of the aspects it includes. The Bible says that all people, not just believers, possess part of the image of God (Genesis 6:9; Psalm 139:13-16; James 3:9). But that image has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus to restore the full image that we have lost. What does the full "image and likeness" of God look like? The Bible says Jesus is "the exact likeness of God," "the visible image of the invisible God," and "the exact representation of his being." (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3)

Many religions and New Age philosophers say that this is our destiny - to "become gods." That prideful lie is Satan's oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they followed his advice, "you shall be as gods." (Genesis 3:5) This desire to be "a god" shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and people around us.As creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn't want us to become "a god." He wants us to become GODLY - taking on HIS values, attitudes, and character. We are meant to take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life. Paul wrote, "God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so that he would be above all others. God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. Col.1:17-20"

Just like the Rich Man or Lazarus, we choose our destinies. God wants us to grow up spiritually and become like Christ, but, He does not force us to do so. "Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose; because those whom he knew in advance, he also determined in advance would be conformed to the pattern of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers; and those whom he thus determined in advance, he also called; and those whom he called, he also caused to be considered righteous; and those whom he caused to be considered righteous he also glorified! Rom.8:28-30" The question us, what do our lives, character, and actions say about what our destinies are? Are they with God, with Christ? or somewhere else that we don't want to go?

Luke16:28 "Let him warn my five brothers, so they won't come to this horrible place."

Jim

Missional Small Groups: Becoming a Community That Makes a Difference…

Missional Small Groups: Becoming a Community That Makes a Difference…

M.Scott Boren

BakerBooks

My story behind reading this book is interesting. I came across it reviewing my blogs one day and though eh...I'll order it. It wasn't that expensive and I've read other books like this one before. Like the author, I've been looking for ways to engage people more into being what God wants them to be. I had just gotten the book the day previous, and had skimmed through it. What I found peaked my interest even more. I intended giving the book a good reading more later in the day, but first I had a breakfast meeting to go to. When I got to the meeting, one of the guys couldn't make it, so it was just two of us. Low and behold, during the conversation, we began to speak about teaching those we were in contact with. Ah-ha, I thought. My chance to see if what I had learned so far would pay off. Wow - was I surprised. The discussion centered on the subject of this book. The more we talked, the more I thought, I wonder if he has read this book. I pulled the book out and he had not. So... I let him take the book.

A couple of days later, I was messaging with him, and asked him had he read it. He said not only that he had read it but that it was like he had always been reading it. It was affirming everything that he was thinking, and you could hear the excitement in his voice. So - I told him he could have it, and promptly ordered me another copy.

The book is well worth the money and time to read it! It will definitely enlighten you if you're into building small Christian groups and helping people better their lives. But be prepared to heat a different drum beat in this book.