Matthew 5:14-16 it says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I don’t know about you .... But maybe you’ve been hiding your light under a basket? ...... There isn’t a Christian alive that hasn’t done this at one time or another ... Do you have any idea of the light that you could be to those around you? For example, you can decide that you are going to start a new trend in your family --- And it begins with you, there is going to be a commitment to Jesus Christ ... Wouldn’t it be cool if generations to come could look back to your faith in God and commitment to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus as the beginning of their faith heritage? -- Have you ever thought about that? --- The impact that your life could have on so many? Many people are counting on your “renovation”/”reconstruction” of the heart!
Your renovation/reconstruction goes beyond the salvation of your friends and family ... Your walk with Jesus affects all of life.
Jesus changes things, he brings the dead to life....He not only brings dead things to life, but he renovates hearts .... and when this happens – people notice!! They see visible evidence of an invisible God who is the light of the world – WHO IS JESUS!! ...
The more we are releasing the character of God into this world -------- The more friendships are changed, the more families are changed, the more lives that are changed, and the more society is changed and reorganized. --- God wants to drop students into schools, athletic teams, colleges, companies, communities, who are living containers of his presence, releasing what they are holding. And over time, the presence of God begins to spread ... and that is glory -- And that glory brings us satisfied joy!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Finish homework...take out trash...be sanctified? [thoughts on reconstruct]
I often start off each day by making a to-do list; maybe you’re the same way but as I was thinking about this message an having been involved in full time ministry for about 12 years I’ve observed that many people approach their relationship with Christ as they would a ‘to-do’ list. “Salvation?” “Check!” ... “Read the Bible?” “Check!” ... In fact, often it’s just Salvation? “Check and we’re good; I’m in the club, part of the team!” But we’ve missed it ... Salvation is just the beginning, because we didn’t join a club, but entered a relationship and when you don’t foster that relationship, the relationship dies. When we accept Christ it’s just the beginning of a life-long process of reconstruction that only happens in relationship.
Sanctification (Growing in Christ) is not a one-time event – It’s like, I accepted Christ and BAM – everything is good and our relationship with Christ is complete. -- Whatever radical conversion some of us may have had, it did not end our battle with sin but only began it (“Boy did the battle ever become more visible!”). --- Life is a continual battle of daily dying to self and being raised in newness of life … A continual repentance in the face of failures and struggle against sin.
This is the whole point of the Christian life. The spirit of God is empowering you and me from the inside to obediently live like Christ in every moment.
When it comes to spiritual growth … often times we may not be able to feel it … It’s just like growing – you didn’t feel yourself growing as a child. You didn’t lie in bed and say, “I’m growing. I’m getting so big that I have outgrown my bed.” You don’t feel yourself growing; you just end up at a certain height. ... Well, that’s how it works spiritually … you don’t always feel it … it just happens. ---- You don’t change yourself by changing your behavior and becoming moral …. You change yourself by placing yourself in relationship, not in religion.
So -- How do you know if you are beginning to look like Christ? You begin to have a desire to do what God wants you to do in the areas of your life where you once resisted his will. Some of the things in your life that never bothered you before now do. ---- Your conscience is pricked and your heart softens and comes under a healthy conviction because the spirit of God is working in you … Real change happens because it is coming from the inside out as opposed to the outside in -- Self-help can’t change the heart! ..... Your values begin to shift and change your thinking and your new thinking begins to change some of your behavior. The desire to do what God wants you to do begins to grow in you … This is obedience – And you don’t get it apart from the work of God in your life.
For so many people the Christian life is a technique, a nice little method for generating an outcome, a recipe to make life tasty ....
The hang up with a lot of believer’s including myself is this ... As long as we are trying to get something from God ... we’re gonna have a hard time surrendering our lives to Him. ... God wants what’s best for us because he is a good father and wants only the best for his children ... but He wants us to want him more than anything else.
Here is the major emphasis of what this message is about and why we are here: --- Just get close to Jesus …. The closer you get, the easier it is to focus and not be distracted ….. Your life becomes clearer.
So, what is it in your life that has your attention? ….. What is it for you that’s has you saying, “I have got to have this in my life? ….. And you know, each one of you has a different thing and your going, “this is it, this is the thing for me.”
And my question for you is this ……… Is it Jesus? ………. Is Jesus what makes you say, “my life is about this one thing, loving him and serving him, my life is about making him the center?”
Sanctification (Growing in Christ) is not a one-time event – It’s like, I accepted Christ and BAM – everything is good and our relationship with Christ is complete. -- Whatever radical conversion some of us may have had, it did not end our battle with sin but only began it (“Boy did the battle ever become more visible!”). --- Life is a continual battle of daily dying to self and being raised in newness of life … A continual repentance in the face of failures and struggle against sin.
This is the whole point of the Christian life. The spirit of God is empowering you and me from the inside to obediently live like Christ in every moment.
When it comes to spiritual growth … often times we may not be able to feel it … It’s just like growing – you didn’t feel yourself growing as a child. You didn’t lie in bed and say, “I’m growing. I’m getting so big that I have outgrown my bed.” You don’t feel yourself growing; you just end up at a certain height. ... Well, that’s how it works spiritually … you don’t always feel it … it just happens. ---- You don’t change yourself by changing your behavior and becoming moral …. You change yourself by placing yourself in relationship, not in religion.
So -- How do you know if you are beginning to look like Christ? You begin to have a desire to do what God wants you to do in the areas of your life where you once resisted his will. Some of the things in your life that never bothered you before now do. ---- Your conscience is pricked and your heart softens and comes under a healthy conviction because the spirit of God is working in you … Real change happens because it is coming from the inside out as opposed to the outside in -- Self-help can’t change the heart! ..... Your values begin to shift and change your thinking and your new thinking begins to change some of your behavior. The desire to do what God wants you to do begins to grow in you … This is obedience – And you don’t get it apart from the work of God in your life.
For so many people the Christian life is a technique, a nice little method for generating an outcome, a recipe to make life tasty ....
The hang up with a lot of believer’s including myself is this ... As long as we are trying to get something from God ... we’re gonna have a hard time surrendering our lives to Him. ... God wants what’s best for us because he is a good father and wants only the best for his children ... but He wants us to want him more than anything else.
Here is the major emphasis of what this message is about and why we are here: --- Just get close to Jesus …. The closer you get, the easier it is to focus and not be distracted ….. Your life becomes clearer.
So, what is it in your life that has your attention? ….. What is it for you that’s has you saying, “I have got to have this in my life? ….. And you know, each one of you has a different thing and your going, “this is it, this is the thing for me.”
And my question for you is this ……… Is it Jesus? ………. Is Jesus what makes you say, “my life is about this one thing, loving him and serving him, my life is about making him the center?”
Life in the Face of Death [further thoughts on resurrect]
Standing on the edge of death draws all of life into perspective doesn’t it? -- What really matters and what doesn’t are easily distinguished … When it comes to facing the reality of death no one is concerned about salaries or positions or all the great things you accomplished in high school .... No one asks about the car you drive, school you go to, do you start or sit the bench, what part of town you live in. --- As people age and death nears all the games and disguises of life seem pretty silly. --- As you grow older your birthday’s become less exciting because sub-consciously you now your one year, one day, one breath closer to your last.
Death is a frightening thing …. It’s kind of like when you were a little kid and were afraid of the dark. Dark wasn’t scary. “It’s what might be concealed in the dark that was/is frightening” … What might be there waiting for you.
Most of us do everything we can to extend our lives .... I love the title of David Crowder’s book – “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” It’s one thing to halt the process of decay and death; it is quite another to bring someone back to life. --- Jesus declares of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die ... DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?? (25-26). .......... You really need to understand what Jesus is asking in the context of John chapter 11 …. Jesus is not simply asking Martha to confess Lazarus will live --- but that those who trust in Jesus Christ – even though they die – will be raised to never die again! --- It’s no longer just about Lazarus ... but the “all who believe in Jesus.”
Martha responds and says, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the World”. (27) ... This right here was really the big event in Bethany on this day! ..... Martha didn’t know why God had allowed this or that temptation, trial, disaster, or pain, ------- but the CONFESSION was the main thing! – “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
We need to understand that we have something wrong inside us? That we have dead spirits without Christ!! ....
There is no way to appreciate the life of God until you have seen what life looks like without it. -- Many of us have not only seen it, we have lived it. And unless something is done and done quickly, we will live out the rest of our lives having the finality of death as our only hope. -- Which is no hope at all.
But real life -- Our resurrected life is born out of the character of Christ coming to live inside of us by his spirit. The conversion of our heart is the turning point. … If I were to paraphrase one of my favorite verses Romans 5:8 It would say “while we were still searching aimlessly - desperately in the dark Christ brings light into our dark souls.” … Like one candle igniting another, His life lights ours.
But some will say I don’t know if I believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ … Because “I have lots of academic questions – I’ve read the latest book that claim Christianity is false – I have lots of questions, I took a philosophy class, I am very smart – and have many academic objections” …..
You know what, it’s not really academic objection to resist the resurrection of Jesus Christ ---- It is the hardness of heart that at then end of the day is truly the issue …. Most people who question the resurrection, are not denying it … Just questioning it --- Why? Because when it comes down to the brass tax of it all -- What are these people doing? -- Sinning …. And there left with a decision … If I believe in the resurrection of Christ then I need to repent of my sin and obey Jesus ---- But if I can convince myself that Jesus didn’t rise from the grave then I don’t need to worry, because nothing will happen when I die I’ll just be plant food …
This is logical outcome for those who don’t believe in eternal life … And what we need to come to realize is that eternity is a long time … and we will either be friends of God or his enemies …
Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says that it’s not that you are so smart … it’s not that the evidence isn’t there because Jesus life and death are historical fact both in religious and secular history … they are objective truths …
But some people look at those truths and say -- “Sorry, I just don’t believe them” …. But in reality what they are saying is “I don’t like them” … … Many will question Jesus resurrection and the reality of heaven and hell not because they don’t believe …. But because they don’t want to be held accountable to God!
It’s a rebellious heart that says, – “I don’t want to stop doing whatever I want, because I essentially want to be my own god.” … “And I don’t want any other god to judge me to sentence me, give me a set of rules to live by if they are not my own – I want to live according to my right and wrong, I will create my own truth …. I want to do what I please and I don’t want to have to pay any price for what I choose!” … That’s the issue ….
Paul says, “wake up, come to your senses” --- You would exchange Jesus FOR yourself? --- You would exchange heaven FOR hell? --- You would exchange freedom in Christ FOR slavery to sin? You would exchange holiness FOR disobedience? You would exchange life FOR death? Paul says, “are you that foolish?” …
Are you foolish enough to believe that just because you question the truth or object to the truth -- That truth no longer exists? ….. That if you play with fire you won’t get burned! .... Paul says if this is what you think … Then come to your senses … come to repentance, come to Jesus!
The issue is not that your smart and need to be convinced … the issue is that we’re evil and want to be God … It is not the unconvinced mind … but the hardened heart that resists the resurrection of Jesus and the eternal life that he gives through himself alone …
But here is the good news ….. Jesus Christ is alive … You can ask Jesus to forgive you today and he will … why? Because he’s alive …. Those of us who know him as Lord we can pray to him and he hears because he’s alive … We can go through hardship and difficult times knowing he is there to help us because he is alive … When thing are great and life is good we have some one to thank and praise because Christ is alive …
You know how else I know that Christ is alive? ….... Because Jesus has changed me!! …. He has transformed me from the inside out … making me new each day by the renewing of my mind on his word --- and as I’ve applied his word -- he’s cleaned up my life …..
… The only reason I’m not totally running after all this world has to offer -- doing my best to escape life and its pressures is because Jesus is alive and given me the best life possible ….. He has changed me! … Jesus has given me a great wife – an incredible little boy – he’s made me a far better husband than I ever could have been on my own … and he’s teaching me how to be a good father, daily – Because God is the greatest Father! ….. He’s giving me a forgiving spirit so that I don’t hang on to the hurt and become a bitter person … Not only that I’ve seen Jesus change many of you … Jesus kindness continually leads me to repentance …
I’ve seen Jesus provide for my needs and the needs of others … I’ve seen Jesus grow this church into the family of God that is today … HOW DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN? -- BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!!!
Death is a frightening thing …. It’s kind of like when you were a little kid and were afraid of the dark. Dark wasn’t scary. “It’s what might be concealed in the dark that was/is frightening” … What might be there waiting for you.
Most of us do everything we can to extend our lives .... I love the title of David Crowder’s book – “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” It’s one thing to halt the process of decay and death; it is quite another to bring someone back to life. --- Jesus declares of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die ... DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?? (25-26). .......... You really need to understand what Jesus is asking in the context of John chapter 11 …. Jesus is not simply asking Martha to confess Lazarus will live --- but that those who trust in Jesus Christ – even though they die – will be raised to never die again! --- It’s no longer just about Lazarus ... but the “all who believe in Jesus.”
Martha responds and says, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the World”. (27) ... This right here was really the big event in Bethany on this day! ..... Martha didn’t know why God had allowed this or that temptation, trial, disaster, or pain, ------- but the CONFESSION was the main thing! – “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
We need to understand that we have something wrong inside us? That we have dead spirits without Christ!! ....
There is no way to appreciate the life of God until you have seen what life looks like without it. -- Many of us have not only seen it, we have lived it. And unless something is done and done quickly, we will live out the rest of our lives having the finality of death as our only hope. -- Which is no hope at all.
But real life -- Our resurrected life is born out of the character of Christ coming to live inside of us by his spirit. The conversion of our heart is the turning point. … If I were to paraphrase one of my favorite verses Romans 5:8 It would say “while we were still searching aimlessly - desperately in the dark Christ brings light into our dark souls.” … Like one candle igniting another, His life lights ours.
But some will say I don’t know if I believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ … Because “I have lots of academic questions – I’ve read the latest book that claim Christianity is false – I have lots of questions, I took a philosophy class, I am very smart – and have many academic objections” …..
You know what, it’s not really academic objection to resist the resurrection of Jesus Christ ---- It is the hardness of heart that at then end of the day is truly the issue …. Most people who question the resurrection, are not denying it … Just questioning it --- Why? Because when it comes down to the brass tax of it all -- What are these people doing? -- Sinning …. And there left with a decision … If I believe in the resurrection of Christ then I need to repent of my sin and obey Jesus ---- But if I can convince myself that Jesus didn’t rise from the grave then I don’t need to worry, because nothing will happen when I die I’ll just be plant food …
This is logical outcome for those who don’t believe in eternal life … And what we need to come to realize is that eternity is a long time … and we will either be friends of God or his enemies …
Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says that it’s not that you are so smart … it’s not that the evidence isn’t there because Jesus life and death are historical fact both in religious and secular history … they are objective truths …
But some people look at those truths and say -- “Sorry, I just don’t believe them” …. But in reality what they are saying is “I don’t like them” … … Many will question Jesus resurrection and the reality of heaven and hell not because they don’t believe …. But because they don’t want to be held accountable to God!
It’s a rebellious heart that says, – “I don’t want to stop doing whatever I want, because I essentially want to be my own god.” … “And I don’t want any other god to judge me to sentence me, give me a set of rules to live by if they are not my own – I want to live according to my right and wrong, I will create my own truth …. I want to do what I please and I don’t want to have to pay any price for what I choose!” … That’s the issue ….
Paul says, “wake up, come to your senses” --- You would exchange Jesus FOR yourself? --- You would exchange heaven FOR hell? --- You would exchange freedom in Christ FOR slavery to sin? You would exchange holiness FOR disobedience? You would exchange life FOR death? Paul says, “are you that foolish?” …
Are you foolish enough to believe that just because you question the truth or object to the truth -- That truth no longer exists? ….. That if you play with fire you won’t get burned! .... Paul says if this is what you think … Then come to your senses … come to repentance, come to Jesus!
The issue is not that your smart and need to be convinced … the issue is that we’re evil and want to be God … It is not the unconvinced mind … but the hardened heart that resists the resurrection of Jesus and the eternal life that he gives through himself alone …
But here is the good news ….. Jesus Christ is alive … You can ask Jesus to forgive you today and he will … why? Because he’s alive …. Those of us who know him as Lord we can pray to him and he hears because he’s alive … We can go through hardship and difficult times knowing he is there to help us because he is alive … When thing are great and life is good we have some one to thank and praise because Christ is alive …
You know how else I know that Christ is alive? ….... Because Jesus has changed me!! …. He has transformed me from the inside out … making me new each day by the renewing of my mind on his word --- and as I’ve applied his word -- he’s cleaned up my life …..
… The only reason I’m not totally running after all this world has to offer -- doing my best to escape life and its pressures is because Jesus is alive and given me the best life possible ….. He has changed me! … Jesus has given me a great wife – an incredible little boy – he’s made me a far better husband than I ever could have been on my own … and he’s teaching me how to be a good father, daily – Because God is the greatest Father! ….. He’s giving me a forgiving spirit so that I don’t hang on to the hurt and become a bitter person … Not only that I’ve seen Jesus change many of you … Jesus kindness continually leads me to repentance …
I’ve seen Jesus provide for my needs and the needs of others … I’ve seen Jesus grow this church into the family of God that is today … HOW DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN? -- BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!!!
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