This chapter will not be an easy chapter to pen.
Righteousness, even in the Christian circle, seems to me a word that can easily, and in many ways be misconstrued. Defined incorrectly. Used wrongly. Without perspective, and a concrete Biblical foundation and understanding; applied in a manner such as Jesus and the apostles actions would properly provide an example, we will miss our mark.
The Oxford dictionary defines righteousness as "the quality of being morally right or justifiable." Merriam Webster defines the word this way - "acting in accord with divine or moral law."
Immorality runs rampant around the world. However, every culture seems to have a different set of rules, and therefore structure, for what is to be called, immoral. Sadly, immorality is sensationalized on every form of media in the United States. It's "a breaking news" or "top story" when politicians are found to be, or caught in the act of having an extramarital affair. We then see this same behavior portrayed on television shows. The mantra seems to be, "it happens, so it must be apart of our show to make it real."
Why would we want to continually validate behaviors that are not righteous?
In the next six subsections, I hope to provide focus, Biblically; a foundation, proper definition and exemplary examples; justifiable, for applying behaviors of righteousness.
Let's start with a Biblical definition.
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith" ," Romans 1:17.
In Proverbs 21:21 we find, "Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."
And Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:11, "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
I see a few words that appear twice in these 3 verses that will help us form a cornerstone: faith and love.
Paul's letters were written for his vast love in God's people, and to reach God's people. When his letters are read, we can also undoubtedly determine that Paul was a man of great faith. He had a life-altering change in his thinking toward why Jesus had come. He saw such an opposite belief by God's people, openly admitting that his original thinking was errant, that he took immediate action. He wasted not another second or another breath. And for the next twenty-plus years, he preached the gospel, unabashedly, "running his race" for Christ.
While I feel certain that we will find connected and supporting principles to add to faith and love over the next few days, let's start with faith and love, using them as a foundation.
I like to think of Proverbs as a book that provides "mini-principles." Short verses. We can easily find one each day that we can apply to our lives. Look back to Proverbs 21:21. "Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."
I feel sure that David was writing this verse with a "vertical," or heavenly mindset. At the same time, I also believe that it directly applies to our daily lives on earth. We are promised life, prosperity and honor. To accomplish this, we are called to act in a righteous manner, with love. The equation could be read and understood, numerically, as 1+1 = 3.
In his view, love is an essential component to righteousness.
The following is recorded in John 13:34-35. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Having love for Jesus, and God's people; and treating each of these relationship with love, will promote and provide to us, the ability to act and walk in a manner of righteousness.
Faith is also an essential component. Remember Romans 1:17. "The righteous will live by faith." Paul strongly encouraged Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith and love in his first letter to him, found in 1 Timothy 6:11.
We know that Paul had a strong faith, and that his love for Jesus was representative of his charge to reach the people for God by spreading the gospel story. He penned every letter with love; under the direction of his faith in Christ, and with a humble an righteous attitude; displayed by his actions on a daily basis. He was going to "run a good race."
Going back to our Oxford Dictionary definition, righteousness should be morally right, or justifiable. I would suggest that instead of "or," we must be both to be righteous in the eyes of God.
I'll leave you today with 3 verses; 2 from Psalms and 1 from Matthew:
"For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever." Psalms 37:28-29
"A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart." Proverbs 21:2
"Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever." Psalms 112:6
Begin with a "vertical" mindset. Have an understanding that faith and love will serve as guardrails in your search for righteous behavior. You will gain "life, prosperity and honor," Psalms 21:21. Try it today. Incorporate the following components to guide your steps, words and actions.
The promises for righteousness are vast and wide.
"You are loved, and you are sent;" credit fully given to Pastor Bruce Frank for those words.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Perseverance: Wrap-Up
We covered quite a bit of ground on this principle.
The equation laid out forms a basis and foundation for focus once we have a clear definition for how God will use us complete His mission, through us:
Faith + Belief + Opposition-resistance + No Doubt + an Unwavering Commitment
The equation laid out forms a basis and foundation for focus once we have a clear definition for how God will use us complete His mission, through us:
Faith + Belief + Opposition-resistance + No Doubt + an Unwavering Commitment
I challenged you and I to look at Paul's ministry as a strong representation of the principle of perseverance. And while the equation may seem easy enough to employ, the is an opposing force in the devil that with devise a plan and scheme meant to derail our deployment. Keep in mind, though, a strong and personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a requirement for any of the moving parts, and especially the sum of the parts, to work for you. Let's revisit the key points and verses so we can take the straight and narrow road.
In Part I we covered faith. We saw in Acts 18-9-11 how a connection to Christ is imperative. "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."
Even a quick study on Paul reveals how many times he was threatened with beatings, kidnapping, prison, stoning and death because of his faith in his mission, spreading the gospel and good news about Christ. Paul had faith in taking on the "mindset of Christ," Philippians 2:5-8. He paid strict attention to visions revealed to him, and this added clarity, strength and validation along his path.
Realizing that God's purpose is divine, following his instructions by taking a leadership position in His army requires humility and righteousness; allowing others to see Christ in us. Having faith in our mission is a critical component to our success.
In Part II, I covered belief. While the question of "the chicken or the egg" evolutionary theory may seem to apply, it is the combination of the two that make faith and belief incredibly powerful. In Acts 14:8-10 we see how God worked through Paul, allowing him to perform miracles. And people believed. It says, "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way since birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk." This man saw that Paul had faith and belief in what he was speaking, and therefore God used His power, through Paul's words, to heal this man in Lystra.
The story of the gospel begins in Genesis; literally meaning, "the beginning." Abraham believed in God, as we see in Genesis and recounted in Romans 4:3. "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him in righteousness." This stuff just doesn't happen. How was an impotent man at ninety, and a barren woman in Sarah father nations? Only by the belief, grace and will of God to be fulfilled.
If we have an unshakable faith and belief in God, anything is possible.
In Part III, I cover opposition-resistance. We will be met with this. It is like riders of motorcycles who will have an accident at some point in their "riding career." They can be careful, but the bike and the road will eventually conquer. It is not "if," it is "when."
Turn to Romans 8:31-32. "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Our mission was and is predestined. It is concrete. It will "be done." We can count on God's grace to "see us through," giving glory to God by pressing on against opposition. It is critical to employ the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18 reads, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
Opposing forces will always remain. It is our job to resist them, having faith and belief in God's direction and promises. His guidance is good and true. He will conquer.
Part IV: Have No Doubt! If we can resist opposition, we can be as bold as Paul was, as we preach the gospel story. A requirement, here, is "rooting" ourselves in our belief system. Like giant Redwood trees in the California forest, the roots are longer, stronger and wider than the gargantuan and massive structures that we see above ground. Being rooted below the surface, having the heart of Jesus, will allow the outside physical structure of our bodies to display God's love for others. These roots will become transparent in our outward representation of Christ for others.
Opposition will remain. Staying focused, and deploying a strong and effective resistance, calling on the Holy Spirit to intercede, will make the journey possible to conquer; undoubtedly.
Part V introduces the idea of having an Unwavering Commitment. This takes hard work! How can we make our charge strong? As the turtle "wins the race," a slow and steady approach is necessary along with having an emotional connection, being "attached at the hip," along our daily walk.
Jesus said in His last breath, "It is finished." Paul encourages us in Romans 12:1-2 to "offer our bodies as a living sacrifice," so that we may be "good, pleasing and perfect" while performing the will of God.
It is not humanly possible to gracefully deploy the will of God in the same way that Jesus did. We are sinners. And therefore scarred. Our approach, if we have an unwavering commitment will still conquer. We will be effective. We will "run the good race." And we will finish. It should be our desire to be able to lay the incontestable crowns at the foot of God. God will provide the skills and abilities necessary to do so, but an unwavering commitment in fulfilling His purpose is required.
Others will be introduced along the way to aid us. We can not do it alone, but in the communal body of Christians in your sphere of influence, it is possible. Many times I have heard that it is the "New Christians" that can be as prominent in their influence as our elders and more mature Christians are. As young believers, they are "Men on Fire."
Remember the "Omni's?" God is omnipotent. God is omnipresent. God is omniscient. All powerful. All present. All knowing. Having God as our partner on our parallel journey will allow us to prevail. Our commitment must not waiver, however, if we want to finish well.
"At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen." - 2 Timothy 4:16-18
It was Easter morning when I wrote Part V. God will ask us to continually define and refine our work. It will not be easy to have an attitude that puts on display an unwavering commitment. But as I noted in the work of "Footprints," mentioned in Part VI; it is God who will carry us when we are not strong enough to walk on our own.
In Part VI, I mention that our mission will be "all for not," as Paul said, if we do not gain Christ. I used three verses from two chapters in Matthew to illustrate my running theme of perspective. Having perspective does not mean applying your own interpretation of scripture. It is the "infallible Word of God," and must be taken with strict understanding in it's instruction. However, our perspective will change as we grow in our faith, belief and unwavering commitment to God's mission for us; resisting opposition that will certainly come.
I used a class I had in college as an example. We can put on the "glasses of Christ." As we come back to our instruction manual (the Bible), time and time again God will reveal something different that will be both evident and paramount in a different way each time, that will be exactly what we need; at that exact moment in time, providing us with the exact "arrow from our quiver" to hit our target. Every time!
Realize that God is carrying you when you can go no further. Have and develop faith. Develop a belief system that is rooted in Biblical principle; gaining knowledge. Find effective ways to resist opposition, as it will invariably come. Stay committed. As a captain is on a boat in the sea, make your commitment to the journey, reaching the "home of God," with an attitude that is unwavering.
We cannot "finish our race" with the same grace that Jesus was able to. That possibility ended in the Garden of Eden. But if we have faith, believe, resist opposition, commit to our mission in a manner worthy of being called, "unwavering," we will win! It is not our battle to win. It has already been predestined. It began to be fulfilled the day Jesus said, "It is finished." Winning is not an option, it is a certainty!
The foundation has already been laid for us to persevere Therefore, we should not be wary of the twists and turns along our road; rather we can be confident that we will "reach the finish line," for God.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Perseverance: Part VI
Let's put our principle of perseverance in perspective.
Paul considered his mission as being, "all for not," if he did not gain Christ in the process. While he undoubtedly displays a model for perseverance, his mission was personal; but only successful if it had eternal value. Of course; the evidence speaks for itself. But his relationship with, and in Christ, is what caused it to be successful.
Because of his relationship with Christ, Paul was able to reach people. He had guidance in the form of visions. God allowed him to perform miracles so that others would believe. His attitude was righteous, his works, eternal and his mission was fulfilled. All in God's time, and with God's favor. We should remember that this was all done with Paul experiencing more hardship in twenty years than most of us will endure in a lifetime.
Matthew 17:20 provides a foundation going back to what I laid out in Parts I & II. "[Jesus] He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
We see in the verses just previous to this passage, where Matthew has recorded Jesus removing the spirit of the devil from a young boy who was demon-possessed. He was brought to the disciples by his father, but they were unable to drive the evil spirit from him.
There is unsurmountable power in faith. Having a belief and faith in Jesus brings to us a supernatural, eternally divine, place of power. You and I may never move a mountain by speaking to it, but is it possible? We see in Matthew 17:20 that it is.
Additional supporting evidence of faith, and having no doubt in the power that can be (provided we have a relationship with Christ and a belief in God the Father) bestowed on us by having an eternal mindset is found in Matthew 21:21. Jesus has cursed a fig tree along the road, and it will never again bear fruit. He reinforces what was recorded in Matthew 17:20.
Matthew 21:21-22 says, "Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In these three verses in Matthew, we see three of the five parts of the equation that I have laid out for employing the principle of perseverance: faith, belief and no doubt.
The question becomes, "How can I have a clear eternal view so that I can be more successful in my mission for God?"
Once again, we see a complex question which requires a "deep dive;" biblically speaking. So let's start with the basics.
I can make the claim that most all have heard of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The foundational requirement to having an eternal world view, begins with a belief in God. It then requires a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And finally, being able to acknowledge and learn to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, the eternal 3-in-1 Godhead is where belief and faith must start.
Personally, I believe that being able to recognize the importance of, and resources available by way of the Holy Spirit is the toughest part of the Trinity to harness. More on that in another chapter.
Having perspective within the principles being shared in this book is critical. With respect to perseverance, the fulfillment of our mission will not be riddled with going to-and-fro, back-and-forth along our proverbial road, if we can achieve an eternal view.
In one of my favorite classes in college, we were tasked with taking on the view of others. We first studied Freud, so we were ask to put on our "Freudian Glasses." All semester, we did this with not only Freud, but many other prominent figures that molded and shaped the foundation for the practice of psychology.
So how do we put on the "glasses" of Christ?
Start with belief and faith. To acquire someone else's view, it requires a parallel belief. Then, look for opportunities to see the world in the way that Jesus might see it. I realize that we cannot walk and talk with Him. We were not placed on earth two-thousand years ago in Jerusalem. But we can have Him with us as we walk, and talk with Him all day long as we go about our day.
My challenge for you today is to walk and talk with Jesus. As I write this morning, I am reminded to challenge myself. So we are in this together. Talk with Him. Let Him walk where you walk.
And finally, remember "Footprints." For those of you who are not familiar, it is a poem about how God walks with us. The picture behind is that of "footprints" on a beach. And when there is only one set of "Footprints" in the sand, that is when God is carrying us.
Try having a "running" discussion with Jesus today. Then sit back (rhetorically speaking) and see what unfolds, as you don "the Glasses of Christ."
Paul considered his mission as being, "all for not," if he did not gain Christ in the process. While he undoubtedly displays a model for perseverance, his mission was personal; but only successful if it had eternal value. Of course; the evidence speaks for itself. But his relationship with, and in Christ, is what caused it to be successful.
Because of his relationship with Christ, Paul was able to reach people. He had guidance in the form of visions. God allowed him to perform miracles so that others would believe. His attitude was righteous, his works, eternal and his mission was fulfilled. All in God's time, and with God's favor. We should remember that this was all done with Paul experiencing more hardship in twenty years than most of us will endure in a lifetime.
Matthew 17:20 provides a foundation going back to what I laid out in Parts I & II. "[Jesus] He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
We see in the verses just previous to this passage, where Matthew has recorded Jesus removing the spirit of the devil from a young boy who was demon-possessed. He was brought to the disciples by his father, but they were unable to drive the evil spirit from him.
There is unsurmountable power in faith. Having a belief and faith in Jesus brings to us a supernatural, eternally divine, place of power. You and I may never move a mountain by speaking to it, but is it possible? We see in Matthew 17:20 that it is.
Additional supporting evidence of faith, and having no doubt in the power that can be (provided we have a relationship with Christ and a belief in God the Father) bestowed on us by having an eternal mindset is found in Matthew 21:21. Jesus has cursed a fig tree along the road, and it will never again bear fruit. He reinforces what was recorded in Matthew 17:20.
Matthew 21:21-22 says, "Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In these three verses in Matthew, we see three of the five parts of the equation that I have laid out for employing the principle of perseverance: faith, belief and no doubt.
The question becomes, "How can I have a clear eternal view so that I can be more successful in my mission for God?"
Once again, we see a complex question which requires a "deep dive;" biblically speaking. So let's start with the basics.
I can make the claim that most all have heard of the Trinity. God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The foundational requirement to having an eternal world view, begins with a belief in God. It then requires a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And finally, being able to acknowledge and learn to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity, the eternal 3-in-1 Godhead is where belief and faith must start.
Personally, I believe that being able to recognize the importance of, and resources available by way of the Holy Spirit is the toughest part of the Trinity to harness. More on that in another chapter.
Having perspective within the principles being shared in this book is critical. With respect to perseverance, the fulfillment of our mission will not be riddled with going to-and-fro, back-and-forth along our proverbial road, if we can achieve an eternal view.
In one of my favorite classes in college, we were tasked with taking on the view of others. We first studied Freud, so we were ask to put on our "Freudian Glasses." All semester, we did this with not only Freud, but many other prominent figures that molded and shaped the foundation for the practice of psychology.
So how do we put on the "glasses" of Christ?
Start with belief and faith. To acquire someone else's view, it requires a parallel belief. Then, look for opportunities to see the world in the way that Jesus might see it. I realize that we cannot walk and talk with Him. We were not placed on earth two-thousand years ago in Jerusalem. But we can have Him with us as we walk, and talk with Him all day long as we go about our day.
My challenge for you today is to walk and talk with Jesus. As I write this morning, I am reminded to challenge myself. So we are in this together. Talk with Him. Let Him walk where you walk.
And finally, remember "Footprints." For those of you who are not familiar, it is a poem about how God walks with us. The picture behind is that of "footprints" on a beach. And when there is only one set of "Footprints" in the sand, that is when God is carrying us.
Try having a "running" discussion with Jesus today. Then sit back (rhetorically speaking) and see what unfolds, as you don "the Glasses of Christ."
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Perseverance: Part IV
It's Easter morning. My coffee seems to taste better, the birds that are singing outside my window seem more chipper and I would have to say that I feel grateful. Grateful to be alive, grateful to have been able to stand erect on two feet, able to walk and talk and I get the opportunity to sleep in a little later before getting up to write. Being able to write is a blessing beyond comprehension.
My text today is on having an unwavering commitment. So how are we to make our mission for God as strong a charge as possible? How can we be committed to His cause, which will have benefits that stand the test of time; both in our lives and in the legacy we leave behind? Let's define the words with the help of Mr. Webster, and go from there.
What is unwavering?
Webster's dictionary offers one definition:
a. continuing in a strong and steady way
What is commitment?
Webster's dictionary offers three forms for the definition of the word:
a. an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
b. something pledged
c: the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled
Unwavering is commonly used as an adverb. Commitment can be used in various forms of the English language. Adding the two together provides power.
Christ's entire walk on this earth, in the human form of Jesus, was entirely based on one final objective; making it to the cross. He was strong and steady, had an agreement between He and God to pledge his life for the sake of humanity, and as tough as the road to Golgotha became, he felt emotionally obligated and compelled to die on the cross.
Even his last words provide a classic and timeless representation of having an unwavering commitment. Jesus said in His final breath, "It is finished."
Using Jesus as the figure of the model of how we are to approach our mission for God, one question remains. How can I display an unwavering commitment in my mission; my walk with God?
Once again; not an easy question to answer. It's not an easy question to answer when we are seventeen, not at thirty, not at sixty-five and certainly not as we take our final breath.
When I think about the unwavering commitment of Jesus, I think about His grace. He spoke in parables. He fasted. He prayed in the wilderness. And eventually, He paid the ultimate price; for which all will benefit.
In Romans 12: 1-2, Paul writes "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God's will is simple. He desires that everyone who graces this earth to have a relationship with Him. It was He who put us here. He has laid out a defined, divine purpose, for each and every one of us, before we were even born. To accomplish this, Jesus died in our place. From the Garden of Eden, to Jesus' final words on the cross, the mission was purposely and perfectly etched in stone. Jesus bore the pain and suffering for the forgiveness of our sin.
So how to we respond?
None of us will fully embody the grace with which Jesus fulfilled His mission. In my humble opinion, it is not humanly possible. But, we can have an unwavering commitment in our attempt to reach others.
Just as Paul set out to do, discipleship is a mandatory and commandment from God. We cannot be satisfied with dipping a toe in the water. We are to be immersed in our mission. This will allow us to "run the race" for Jesus. This will allow us to be successful in reaching others. We are to "ask for grace" so that we might be effective. We are not only to run the race, but finish it!
To do that requires the unwavering commitment that I am writing about today. Harnessing grace, humility, defining and applying the path with which God's divine purpose for us can and will be accomplished, is both an ironhearted and compassionate journey. But it can be completed, with the aid of Jesus as a model, the Holy Spirit and God.
How can I say this? Because Jesus' work was not unfinished when he said, "It is finished." Two old hymns come to mind that many of you know; and certainly all Christians should. Here are a few stanzas:
"Up from the grave He arose!"
-and-
"And He walks with me,
And talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own"
On Easter, we are to be reminded and remember the 3rd day. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus joined God the Father in heaven. It is there, that we are to meet Him.
So let's return to the idea of having an unwavering commitment.
Two weeks ago, our pastor placed several "prayer boards" near the congregation. Before concluding the service, we were asked to write the names of two people who we would like to see come to know and have a relationship with Jesus. One after one, we took our names to the prayer boards and pasted them until they were completely filled. A conservative estimate for this exercise included 10,000 names.
The church leaders and staff were commissioned to pray for each and every name. We as the body of the church were also commissioned to participate in this incredibly powerful exercise. Many of these names, will come to have a relationship with Christ. Some this week, some next and some years from now, but our efforts will not be without completion. They will not fail. Why? Because it is in the name of Jesus that we have humbly asked to intervene on our behalf, for those that we casually know, those we influence, those we respect and those we will pray for a lifetime. To that end, an unwavering commitment in our efforts is required.
Jesus' last words were "It is finished."
Paul's closing remarks from a Roman prison cell can be found in 2 Timothy 4: 6-8. We read, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
And further in 2 Timothy 4: 16-18. "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will [has] rescue[d] me from every evil attack and will bring me [home] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
Our efforts will not go unnoticed. Our efforts not in vein. They will not fail. God's mission will be finished.
God is omniscient. God is omnipotent. God is omnipresent.
On this Easter morning, I am reminded of my own attempt, to complete my mission, for the glory of God. I challenge you to continually define and refine your own, having an attitude to embody your own unwavering commitment.
To God be the glory, forever and ever, Amen!
My text today is on having an unwavering commitment. So how are we to make our mission for God as strong a charge as possible? How can we be committed to His cause, which will have benefits that stand the test of time; both in our lives and in the legacy we leave behind? Let's define the words with the help of Mr. Webster, and go from there.
What is unwavering?
Webster's dictionary offers one definition:
a. continuing in a strong and steady way
What is commitment?
Webster's dictionary offers three forms for the definition of the word:
a. an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
b. something pledged
c: the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled
Unwavering is commonly used as an adverb. Commitment can be used in various forms of the English language. Adding the two together provides power.
Christ's entire walk on this earth, in the human form of Jesus, was entirely based on one final objective; making it to the cross. He was strong and steady, had an agreement between He and God to pledge his life for the sake of humanity, and as tough as the road to Golgotha became, he felt emotionally obligated and compelled to die on the cross.
Even his last words provide a classic and timeless representation of having an unwavering commitment. Jesus said in His final breath, "It is finished."
Using Jesus as the figure of the model of how we are to approach our mission for God, one question remains. How can I display an unwavering commitment in my mission; my walk with God?
Once again; not an easy question to answer. It's not an easy question to answer when we are seventeen, not at thirty, not at sixty-five and certainly not as we take our final breath.
When I think about the unwavering commitment of Jesus, I think about His grace. He spoke in parables. He fasted. He prayed in the wilderness. And eventually, He paid the ultimate price; for which all will benefit.
In Romans 12: 1-2, Paul writes "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God's will is simple. He desires that everyone who graces this earth to have a relationship with Him. It was He who put us here. He has laid out a defined, divine purpose, for each and every one of us, before we were even born. To accomplish this, Jesus died in our place. From the Garden of Eden, to Jesus' final words on the cross, the mission was purposely and perfectly etched in stone. Jesus bore the pain and suffering for the forgiveness of our sin.
So how to we respond?
None of us will fully embody the grace with which Jesus fulfilled His mission. In my humble opinion, it is not humanly possible. But, we can have an unwavering commitment in our attempt to reach others.
Just as Paul set out to do, discipleship is a mandatory and commandment from God. We cannot be satisfied with dipping a toe in the water. We are to be immersed in our mission. This will allow us to "run the race" for Jesus. This will allow us to be successful in reaching others. We are to "ask for grace" so that we might be effective. We are not only to run the race, but finish it!
To do that requires the unwavering commitment that I am writing about today. Harnessing grace, humility, defining and applying the path with which God's divine purpose for us can and will be accomplished, is both an ironhearted and compassionate journey. But it can be completed, with the aid of Jesus as a model, the Holy Spirit and God.
How can I say this? Because Jesus' work was not unfinished when he said, "It is finished." Two old hymns come to mind that many of you know; and certainly all Christians should. Here are a few stanzas:
"Up from the grave He arose!"
-and-
"And He walks with me,
And talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own"
On Easter, we are to be reminded and remember the 3rd day. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus joined God the Father in heaven. It is there, that we are to meet Him.
So let's return to the idea of having an unwavering commitment.
Two weeks ago, our pastor placed several "prayer boards" near the congregation. Before concluding the service, we were asked to write the names of two people who we would like to see come to know and have a relationship with Jesus. One after one, we took our names to the prayer boards and pasted them until they were completely filled. A conservative estimate for this exercise included 10,000 names.
The church leaders and staff were commissioned to pray for each and every name. We as the body of the church were also commissioned to participate in this incredibly powerful exercise. Many of these names, will come to have a relationship with Christ. Some this week, some next and some years from now, but our efforts will not be without completion. They will not fail. Why? Because it is in the name of Jesus that we have humbly asked to intervene on our behalf, for those that we casually know, those we influence, those we respect and those we will pray for a lifetime. To that end, an unwavering commitment in our efforts is required.
Jesus' last words were "It is finished."
Paul's closing remarks from a Roman prison cell can be found in 2 Timothy 4: 6-8. We read, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
And further in 2 Timothy 4: 16-18. "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will [has] rescue[d] me from every evil attack and will bring me [home] safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
Our efforts will not go unnoticed. Our efforts not in vein. They will not fail. God's mission will be finished.
God is omniscient. God is omnipotent. God is omnipresent.
On this Easter morning, I am reminded of my own attempt, to complete my mission, for the glory of God. I challenge you to continually define and refine your own, having an attitude to embody your own unwavering commitment.
To God be the glory, forever and ever, Amen!
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Perseverance: Part II
It seems like a belief would absolutely have to precede faith, but I see the two as working simultaneously; hand-in-hand. I hope to provide some instances, scripturally which can lay the foundation for my point. Faith requires belief; and belief, faith.
Luke, the physician, who wrote 1 of the 4 accounts of the Synoptic Gospels; a story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is also the author of the Book of Acts. Prior to writing about Paul beginning in Acts 9, we see the following passage in Acts 6:7, bringing together the ideas of faith and belief. "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith."
Barnabas was with Paul at the beginning following his transformation and his immediate call to action to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Luke writes of Barnabas in Acts 11:24, "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."
Continuing, he recounts in Acts 11:25-27, "The Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (Paul) and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
How can we, and how do we, put faith and belief together to become effective on our mission?
If you have never seen "the look" from one of your parents, you may not have an understanding of what I am about to write. My guess is; however, that most of us have, even if it was not from a parent in "discipline-mode."
Remember the man from Lystra? He was lame, but Paul healed him as God allowed a miracle to work through him. In Acts 14:8-10 we read, "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk."
This man had faith and belief. Paul could see it in him; and he in Paul.
I have noticed something uniquely special; almost supernatural, about the eyes of the pastor at my church. Several times I have had questions about one piece of the sermon or another. Sometimes they have been about the reference to, and meaning of, the underlying foundational for the Hebrew definitions for an English word in the Bible. But each time I get my answer, what I notice most about him is the gaze that comes from his eyes as he answers my question.
These are no normal eyes. It is said that "the eyes are the window to the soul." I find this to be an excellent definitive for what I see in Pastor Bruce.
They are not eyes of discipline. While he embodies a great deal of humility, it is not that. It is not stern, not impatient, not quiet. The strength in his gaze; however, is unparalleled. There is a river that flows, directly from the soul, and that "window to the soul" can only be defined as something coming from God himself. This is incredibly hard to explain, and would have to be experienced. God's river flows through him to the parishioners with whom he speaks. Perhaps you have experienced this in another; but I promise you if you have, it was from a man that was deeply and personally connected to God.
Let's travel back to belief and faith.
Acts 26:18, as written by Luke reads "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
God wants us to have faith in Him. And he wants us to Believe!
Paul refers to Abraham in Romans 4. Recently my pastor completed a series explaining and sharing how the Gospel story really began in Genesis. Romans 4:3 says, "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Abraham was told by God that he would be the "father of many nations, in verse 18." The next 2 verses as we read in Romans 4:19-21 says, "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he promised.
We who believe in God, can have faith in Him, and in His promises. For us to believe in this, one only needs to turn back to the beginning of the Bible to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 31:6 promises, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
When we have an unshakeable belief in Christ, others will have no choice to see that in us. And they in turn will believe.
Try it today. Believe that the eyes are the "window to the soul." Take on the eyes of God. He is ready to make believers in others, from your belief in Him.
Luke, the physician, who wrote 1 of the 4 accounts of the Synoptic Gospels; a story of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is also the author of the Book of Acts. Prior to writing about Paul beginning in Acts 9, we see the following passage in Acts 6:7, bringing together the ideas of faith and belief. "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith."
Barnabas was with Paul at the beginning following his transformation and his immediate call to action to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Luke writes of Barnabas in Acts 11:24, "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."
Continuing, he recounts in Acts 11:25-27, "The Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (Paul) and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
How can we, and how do we, put faith and belief together to become effective on our mission?
If you have never seen "the look" from one of your parents, you may not have an understanding of what I am about to write. My guess is; however, that most of us have, even if it was not from a parent in "discipline-mode."
Remember the man from Lystra? He was lame, but Paul healed him as God allowed a miracle to work through him. In Acts 14:8-10 we read, "In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk."
This man had faith and belief. Paul could see it in him; and he in Paul.
I have noticed something uniquely special; almost supernatural, about the eyes of the pastor at my church. Several times I have had questions about one piece of the sermon or another. Sometimes they have been about the reference to, and meaning of, the underlying foundational for the Hebrew definitions for an English word in the Bible. But each time I get my answer, what I notice most about him is the gaze that comes from his eyes as he answers my question.
These are no normal eyes. It is said that "the eyes are the window to the soul." I find this to be an excellent definitive for what I see in Pastor Bruce.
They are not eyes of discipline. While he embodies a great deal of humility, it is not that. It is not stern, not impatient, not quiet. The strength in his gaze; however, is unparalleled. There is a river that flows, directly from the soul, and that "window to the soul" can only be defined as something coming from God himself. This is incredibly hard to explain, and would have to be experienced. God's river flows through him to the parishioners with whom he speaks. Perhaps you have experienced this in another; but I promise you if you have, it was from a man that was deeply and personally connected to God.
Let's travel back to belief and faith.
Acts 26:18, as written by Luke reads "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
God wants us to have faith in Him. And he wants us to Believe!
Paul refers to Abraham in Romans 4. Recently my pastor completed a series explaining and sharing how the Gospel story really began in Genesis. Romans 4:3 says, "What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Abraham was told by God that he would be the "father of many nations, in verse 18." The next 2 verses as we read in Romans 4:19-21 says, "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he promised.
We who believe in God, can have faith in Him, and in His promises. For us to believe in this, one only needs to turn back to the beginning of the Bible to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 31:6 promises, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
When we have an unshakeable belief in Christ, others will have no choice to see that in us. And they in turn will believe.
Try it today. Believe that the eyes are the "window to the soul." Take on the eyes of God. He is ready to make believers in others, from your belief in Him.
Perseverance: Part I
I like to think that I am someone who embodies a little more perseverance than others.
I have not always been that way. I see this principle, or trait that one can grow into. My high school football coach taught me a two-word phrase, "intestinal fortitude." In college, I had a football coach that had much more perseverance, as he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a disease that without any care for life or limb. The body atrophies until you lose all muscle function. I never once heard him speak negatively about his condition. I played under him for 2 years, and he passed away before I graduated in 2000. Today there is a rock that bears his name just beyond the back, right corner of our end zone.
Paul was a man than internalized and provides for us a great example of the word. Going back to the "Man on Fire" chapter, we saw that he returned to Jerusalem fourteen years later, one of the very places that he started teaching the Gentiles about Jesus, to gauge his effectiveness.
I think of perseverance as more than just continuing along a journey that you have set forth. It is a combination of belief, faith and staring opposition in the face; without doubt, not wavering from your goal. Faith + Belief + Opposition-resistance + No doubt + and unwavering commitment.
Over the next few days, I hope to deliver some scripturally-based examples, using Paul of course, that will help you redefine perseverance for yourself; gaining a strengthening in your vision and mission for the Lord, with clarity.
Paul had faith in his mission. Without having a personal understanding of the driving force; in our first example, faith, you are simply a bird that flies in the air without having a destination.
The first idea to "grab ahold of", is that God will give you faith; allowing you to be effective in your actions and purpose, when you embody faith.
Acts 18:9-11 shows us that if we remain connected to God and have faith in our mission, He will direct our path. It says, "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I a with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."
What we see here is God providing instructions. He validates Paul's actions. He tells Paul not to be afraid; that he will be free from harm. I also would like to point out what it says specifically in last part of the sentence spoken by God in verse 10, "because I have many people in this city."
In Paul's case, we know about the denial from the people in his sphere of influence regarding his transformation. The polar-opposite change in his belief in the goodness of Jesus Christ as our savior was immediate. We also know that in many cities there were mobs of people, banded together, to harm him. They wanted Paul dead. But the Lord would not allow this to happen, as he had already placed in motion Paul's steps, and would guide him as he spoke to the people and built the foundation for the early church.
We see Paul speak about perseverance to the elders in Ephesus. In Acts 20:20-24, Paul speaks. "You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task that the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying the good news of God's grace."
Having faith in the Holy Spirit and the Lord our God is extremely powerful. I often pray, as I heard James Walker of New Morgan Hill Baptist Church (Lake Hills Life, today) say each Sunday before preaching, "Surround me with the Holy Spirit. Place a hedge of protection around me. Send the devil into confusion that he may not come at me or my family in any way." There is power in that prayer, with a divine certainty.
But let's get back to our first component of perseverance, that being faith for a minute.
Perseverance requires faith within a divine purpose. I also believe that it requires humility.
In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he writes in chapter 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another. have the same mindset of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!
This passage is shared as verses being representative of servant-leadership. To become like Jesus, and imitating his value of purpose-driven leadership, we must submit to humility.
Just last week in church, my dear friend and pastor Scott Burgess spoke about having strength in what God allows us to endure; hardships we will undoubtedly face as Christians. Matthew provides an example in chapter 11:28-30. It says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn fro me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So we have got humility.
Now; faith in our divine purpose.
The best example of Paul's divine purpose, which we have already examined in this text, is in Philippians. In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul writes "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
So we see that perseverance first requires humility. Not passivity, not a defeatist or second-place ideal, but quiet strength. Faith in your divine purpose is the second component.
Over the next few days, we will examine the pieces of belief, resistance in opposition that would derail our mission, continuing to act without doubt and having an unwavering commitment to "running the race" that you are commanded to do to gain people for the Kingdom of God.
I have not always been that way. I see this principle, or trait that one can grow into. My high school football coach taught me a two-word phrase, "intestinal fortitude." In college, I had a football coach that had much more perseverance, as he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a disease that without any care for life or limb. The body atrophies until you lose all muscle function. I never once heard him speak negatively about his condition. I played under him for 2 years, and he passed away before I graduated in 2000. Today there is a rock that bears his name just beyond the back, right corner of our end zone.
Paul was a man than internalized and provides for us a great example of the word. Going back to the "Man on Fire" chapter, we saw that he returned to Jerusalem fourteen years later, one of the very places that he started teaching the Gentiles about Jesus, to gauge his effectiveness.
I think of perseverance as more than just continuing along a journey that you have set forth. It is a combination of belief, faith and staring opposition in the face; without doubt, not wavering from your goal. Faith + Belief + Opposition-resistance + No doubt + and unwavering commitment.
Over the next few days, I hope to deliver some scripturally-based examples, using Paul of course, that will help you redefine perseverance for yourself; gaining a strengthening in your vision and mission for the Lord, with clarity.
Paul had faith in his mission. Without having a personal understanding of the driving force; in our first example, faith, you are simply a bird that flies in the air without having a destination.
The first idea to "grab ahold of", is that God will give you faith; allowing you to be effective in your actions and purpose, when you embody faith.
Acts 18:9-11 shows us that if we remain connected to God and have faith in our mission, He will direct our path. It says, "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I a with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God."
What we see here is God providing instructions. He validates Paul's actions. He tells Paul not to be afraid; that he will be free from harm. I also would like to point out what it says specifically in last part of the sentence spoken by God in verse 10, "because I have many people in this city."
In Paul's case, we know about the denial from the people in his sphere of influence regarding his transformation. The polar-opposite change in his belief in the goodness of Jesus Christ as our savior was immediate. We also know that in many cities there were mobs of people, banded together, to harm him. They wanted Paul dead. But the Lord would not allow this to happen, as he had already placed in motion Paul's steps, and would guide him as he spoke to the people and built the foundation for the early church.
We see Paul speak about perseverance to the elders in Ephesus. In Acts 20:20-24, Paul speaks. "You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task that the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying the good news of God's grace."
Having faith in the Holy Spirit and the Lord our God is extremely powerful. I often pray, as I heard James Walker of New Morgan Hill Baptist Church (Lake Hills Life, today) say each Sunday before preaching, "Surround me with the Holy Spirit. Place a hedge of protection around me. Send the devil into confusion that he may not come at me or my family in any way." There is power in that prayer, with a divine certainty.
But let's get back to our first component of perseverance, that being faith for a minute.
Perseverance requires faith within a divine purpose. I also believe that it requires humility.
In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he writes in chapter 2:5-8 "In your relationships with one another. have the same mindset of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!
This passage is shared as verses being representative of servant-leadership. To become like Jesus, and imitating his value of purpose-driven leadership, we must submit to humility.
Just last week in church, my dear friend and pastor Scott Burgess spoke about having strength in what God allows us to endure; hardships we will undoubtedly face as Christians. Matthew provides an example in chapter 11:28-30. It says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn fro me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
So we have got humility.
Now; faith in our divine purpose.
The best example of Paul's divine purpose, which we have already examined in this text, is in Philippians. In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul writes "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
So we see that perseverance first requires humility. Not passivity, not a defeatist or second-place ideal, but quiet strength. Faith in your divine purpose is the second component.
Over the next few days, we will examine the pieces of belief, resistance in opposition that would derail our mission, continuing to act without doubt and having an unwavering commitment to "running the race" that you are commanded to do to gain people for the Kingdom of God.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Man on Fire: Wrap-Up
If we as Christians could use just 10 percent of the fire inside of us that Paul had for the people of his time, there would not be a single aborigine in the jungle or the ruler of any nation who would not know Jesus Christ. Plain and simple.
I wanted to highlight Paul's unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel on purpose. Paul had to see the light; literally, to be awakened. Most of us will not experience such a drastic circumstance, but should that not make us even more blessed?
God will come to you, and I, and all of us in different ways. What God desires for us to have is a belief in Christ and a personal relationship with Him. We are also then called to "Spread the Good News;" just as Paul did, with the gifts we have and those we can harness to glorify Him to reach others.
In Part I, I shared with you the complete one-hundred and eighty degree turn that Paul made in his thinking. His once self-proclaimed attitude and display as the "Chief of Sinners" then became a man that can easily and undoubtedly better be described as a "Man on Fire," for Christ.
Ananias went to him in Damascus as he was told, placed his hands on Paul's eyes and he could see. The Bible records that something resembling scales fell from Paul's eyes. But not unlike many passages in the Bible, we see time in prayer prior to God sending leaders out to the masses on their mission. For Paul it was 3 days.
In Part II, we witness Paul take immediate action. He begins to preach in the cities, squares and synagogues. To any group that would listen, Paul shares boldly that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We also see the initial disbelief, as they recognize Paul as Saul of Tarsus; a man who had taken hostage and promised to imprison any who believed in Jesus. Despite this view from the masses, he carried out his mission which the Lord had set forth.
I note what I believe are 5 crucial steps to an effective ministry:
1) Seek counsel
2) Take immediate action; do not delay
3) He adopted his new belief with conviction, and he took action
4) He did not waiver. Paul had a personal mission to fulfill
5) Paul received power. Be confident in the realization that God will take the lead and make you successful
Continuing in Part III, I point out that you will be persecuted for your faith. You may not die; as more than 100,000 Christians on the mission field do each year, but your personal persecution will come in a variety of forms.
Paul had to "run" many times to escape death. He knew it was better to be alive. Cheating death, time after time, was necessary for him to reach the masses. Paul explains the prize for "running the race for Christ. I shared with you about the "Imperishable Crown," 1 of the 5 that can become an offering when we meet Christ to lay at His feet, as a display of our belief, and the action taken thereof, to reach people in the name of Jesus Christ. It is our job, to run a good race.
The question I presented that relates directly to 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 is, "What can I sacrifice today and this week in my mission for the Lord?"
Each of our answers differ. The important thing is to do what we are called to do with the individual gifts that we possess. Opposition is a certainty. My challenge to you is to embrace opposition, define your audience, and take immediate action to begin and end your personal mission before your journey to meet the almighty God.
In Part IV, I begin that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This is undoubtedly and overarching thing throughout the Bible. Beginning in Genesis, we see God declare to Abraham, that a ninety-years old, that he will be the "Father of All Nations." He will even have to denounce Sarah as his wife, and lie that he is his sister, to pass by those who would harm her. Once again, we see God explain to Abraham what he is going to do. His message to Abraham is not known to others. Tis is an example of what Biblical scholars call "Theopology."
Many times God uses miracles performed by these ordinary disciples to validate that these actions or circumstance could only be valid as coming from the Lord. We still see disbelief and opposition, such as that described in Acts 14:8-11, (a miracle) and in Acts 14:15-20, disbelief, opposition and a "near death" experience for Paul. He is healed, and begins again on his journey.
Part V is about keeping a view of our vision, and taking long-term action as a display of our belief. Our personal mission for God cannot be completed in a day, two weeks, a month or even a year. It must be a process that is honed and refined and fulfilled. We must continue boldly on "our race."
God takes time in developing leaders. We see Paul return to Jerusalem, a place where he was fourteen years earlier at the beginning of his mission. For King David, his gestation period was nearly plus or minus a few; thirty years. Jesus's personal and the most important mission displayed in the Bible, took thirty-three ears; the totality of his existence on earth.
In Paul's case; his return to Jerusalem, pointed out to him in a vision, was to measure the "effectiveness" in his mission. He met with leaders to see how his early preaching's had impacted the Gentiles in Jerusalem. He had belief, commitment, conviction, desire, intestinal fortitude and took the necessary action; immediately, to reach God's people. He knew that those who came to believe would be eternally blessed.
Of particular note is my reference to Philippians 3:7-9. We should all be so lucky to be able to lay down our personal gains on earth, to obtain the gains in eternal form. Paul was willing to put it all on the line. Limb, body, wealth or no wealth, and life itself. All gains are worth losing, to gain Christ.
Finally in Part VI, we realize we have covered a lot of ground. Paul is a "Man on Fire" for God. I admit that I personally, and we as a body of Christians will struggle if we focus our aim on "winning the race" for God.
Acts 13:47 says that we are commanded to be disciples. We are not all called to be missionaries in the Congo, the Amazonian jungles, or even to the Eskimos in Antarctica. But we are all called.
Persecution is not an excuse for our mission to be derailed. Not opposition in any form; including death.
I used the "Prayer of Jabez" as only one of many that can help us to build our personal "missionary backbone." I finish by laying out a 7-step action plan.
1) Ask God to take your reigns; and be your light and your lead
2) Use the Bible as you "Guide-book" or "Workbook"
3) Pray! God will provide counsel, guidance and help you gain maturity to be effective on your mission
4) Have an "Accountability Partner"
5) Ask God to place the appropriate people as your path is defined and becomes more clear
6) Walk boldly as your path is defined over time and is revealed with clarity
7) Put in the work to mature
To sum up the parts that will make the whole would be the following: Be on Fire for God, immediately act and change and grow, know that you will face opposition and embrace it, realize that God will use what you believe are an ordinary skill-set to do extraordinary things, hone and perfect your craft for reaching God's people and finally take the 7-step action plan as your guide.
We should all be able to fulfill our mission. And in the process, if we can see us winning the race, we will be blessed beyond imagination. That, I promise you!
I wanted to highlight Paul's unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel on purpose. Paul had to see the light; literally, to be awakened. Most of us will not experience such a drastic circumstance, but should that not make us even more blessed?
God will come to you, and I, and all of us in different ways. What God desires for us to have is a belief in Christ and a personal relationship with Him. We are also then called to "Spread the Good News;" just as Paul did, with the gifts we have and those we can harness to glorify Him to reach others.
In Part I, I shared with you the complete one-hundred and eighty degree turn that Paul made in his thinking. His once self-proclaimed attitude and display as the "Chief of Sinners" then became a man that can easily and undoubtedly better be described as a "Man on Fire," for Christ.
Ananias went to him in Damascus as he was told, placed his hands on Paul's eyes and he could see. The Bible records that something resembling scales fell from Paul's eyes. But not unlike many passages in the Bible, we see time in prayer prior to God sending leaders out to the masses on their mission. For Paul it was 3 days.
In Part II, we witness Paul take immediate action. He begins to preach in the cities, squares and synagogues. To any group that would listen, Paul shares boldly that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We also see the initial disbelief, as they recognize Paul as Saul of Tarsus; a man who had taken hostage and promised to imprison any who believed in Jesus. Despite this view from the masses, he carried out his mission which the Lord had set forth.
I note what I believe are 5 crucial steps to an effective ministry:
1) Seek counsel
2) Take immediate action; do not delay
3) He adopted his new belief with conviction, and he took action
4) He did not waiver. Paul had a personal mission to fulfill
5) Paul received power. Be confident in the realization that God will take the lead and make you successful
Continuing in Part III, I point out that you will be persecuted for your faith. You may not die; as more than 100,000 Christians on the mission field do each year, but your personal persecution will come in a variety of forms.
Paul had to "run" many times to escape death. He knew it was better to be alive. Cheating death, time after time, was necessary for him to reach the masses. Paul explains the prize for "running the race for Christ. I shared with you about the "Imperishable Crown," 1 of the 5 that can become an offering when we meet Christ to lay at His feet, as a display of our belief, and the action taken thereof, to reach people in the name of Jesus Christ. It is our job, to run a good race.
The question I presented that relates directly to 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 is, "What can I sacrifice today and this week in my mission for the Lord?"
Each of our answers differ. The important thing is to do what we are called to do with the individual gifts that we possess. Opposition is a certainty. My challenge to you is to embrace opposition, define your audience, and take immediate action to begin and end your personal mission before your journey to meet the almighty God.
In Part IV, I begin that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This is undoubtedly and overarching thing throughout the Bible. Beginning in Genesis, we see God declare to Abraham, that a ninety-years old, that he will be the "Father of All Nations." He will even have to denounce Sarah as his wife, and lie that he is his sister, to pass by those who would harm her. Once again, we see God explain to Abraham what he is going to do. His message to Abraham is not known to others. Tis is an example of what Biblical scholars call "Theopology."
Many times God uses miracles performed by these ordinary disciples to validate that these actions or circumstance could only be valid as coming from the Lord. We still see disbelief and opposition, such as that described in Acts 14:8-11, (a miracle) and in Acts 14:15-20, disbelief, opposition and a "near death" experience for Paul. He is healed, and begins again on his journey.
Part V is about keeping a view of our vision, and taking long-term action as a display of our belief. Our personal mission for God cannot be completed in a day, two weeks, a month or even a year. It must be a process that is honed and refined and fulfilled. We must continue boldly on "our race."
God takes time in developing leaders. We see Paul return to Jerusalem, a place where he was fourteen years earlier at the beginning of his mission. For King David, his gestation period was nearly plus or minus a few; thirty years. Jesus's personal and the most important mission displayed in the Bible, took thirty-three ears; the totality of his existence on earth.
In Paul's case; his return to Jerusalem, pointed out to him in a vision, was to measure the "effectiveness" in his mission. He met with leaders to see how his early preaching's had impacted the Gentiles in Jerusalem. He had belief, commitment, conviction, desire, intestinal fortitude and took the necessary action; immediately, to reach God's people. He knew that those who came to believe would be eternally blessed.
Of particular note is my reference to Philippians 3:7-9. We should all be so lucky to be able to lay down our personal gains on earth, to obtain the gains in eternal form. Paul was willing to put it all on the line. Limb, body, wealth or no wealth, and life itself. All gains are worth losing, to gain Christ.
Finally in Part VI, we realize we have covered a lot of ground. Paul is a "Man on Fire" for God. I admit that I personally, and we as a body of Christians will struggle if we focus our aim on "winning the race" for God.
Acts 13:47 says that we are commanded to be disciples. We are not all called to be missionaries in the Congo, the Amazonian jungles, or even to the Eskimos in Antarctica. But we are all called.
Persecution is not an excuse for our mission to be derailed. Not opposition in any form; including death.
I used the "Prayer of Jabez" as only one of many that can help us to build our personal "missionary backbone." I finish by laying out a 7-step action plan.
1) Ask God to take your reigns; and be your light and your lead
2) Use the Bible as you "Guide-book" or "Workbook"
3) Pray! God will provide counsel, guidance and help you gain maturity to be effective on your mission
4) Have an "Accountability Partner"
5) Ask God to place the appropriate people as your path is defined and becomes more clear
6) Walk boldly as your path is defined over time and is revealed with clarity
7) Put in the work to mature
To sum up the parts that will make the whole would be the following: Be on Fire for God, immediately act and change and grow, know that you will face opposition and embrace it, realize that God will use what you believe are an ordinary skill-set to do extraordinary things, hone and perfect your craft for reaching God's people and finally take the 7-step action plan as your guide.
We should all be able to fulfill our mission. And in the process, if we can see us winning the race, we will be blessed beyond imagination. That, I promise you!
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Man on Fire: Part VI
Having gone through the first 5 subsections of this chapter, we have witnessed Paul's "fire for God."
But what about ours?
Some of you who are reading this are without a doubt missionaries; perhaps in your hometown, but also likely in far away lands. At the end of the day, we are all required to be missionaries as part of our walk with Christ.
And each of us have a different skill-set. For some, it is singing in the choir. For others, to assist in the day care. How about leading a Sunday school class. Other religions even require that as young adults, that their parents send them out on the mission field as part of their spiritual development.
Most Christians will unabashedly and undoubtedly admit that this is an area where they struggle. Paul became an apostle, and his mission was to build churches, preach, teach, and ultimately gain one of the incontestable crowns for Jesus by bringing the message of the gospel, the "Good News," to the uncircumcised or unsaved. Not just Gentiles, but to all who would believe.
In Acts 13:47, we read, "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
In Romans 10:13-15 Paul declares, "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!" "
There are numerous verses in the bible that apply to us as parishioners, and to us as missionaries in our personal mission for God.
Here are just 3 examples:
1 Chronicles 16:24 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds to all peoples."
Nahum 1:15a "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of the one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!"
And in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, "On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts." Thessalonians 2:4.
I absolutely love how my pastor ends his services each and every Sunday morning. He says, "Church, you are dismissed. You are loved and you are sent."
Paul had a mission. He did not let imprisonment stop him, he evaded threats of death, he was shunned and many times he was to be stoned. Paul was not going to let anyone or anything derail his "fire for God."
God has given us all unique gifts, and they are to be used for His glory. It is also our responsibility to mature, nurture and use those gifts.
If you are not using the blessings that God has instilled in your heart for Him, ask? "Lord, what have you given me, in your divine power, that you would have me do to reach your people?" I would make a bold claim on two accounts: 1) that He will answer, and 2) over time you will be presented with new challenges; that in the maturity of your walk, you will be asked to strengthen your faith in different and perhaps uncomfortable areas to reach people for God's kingdom.
What we need to be doing as Christians is to ask ourselves, "What can I do today to advance the kingdom of God?"
Make this a daily exercise.
The Prayer of Jabez is an excellent start. A few years back, there was an entire book on this verse with four parts in this simple prayer. It is also close to my heart. As a board member to my publisher's foundation, we pray this prayer as an opening to our meetings. It goes like this:
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
Since I am focusing exclusively on the writings of Paul, I encourage you to seek out and read this book.
So what should be our action plan?
1) Ask God to lead you in your personal mission. He has divinely planned it; long before you were born, so ask Him to take the lead and give you specific instructions.
2) Use the Bible as your personal workbook. For example, on finance and financial management alone, there are over six-hundred verses alone that relate to finances and money. When you get your answer, seek out the verses that apply to you in what God has called you to do.
3) Pray for guidance. You cannot fulfill your mission alone. While God will reveal your mission to you, you will need the counsel of the Bible, first and foremost, and then go to others who are further in their maturity who can assist you.
4) Have an accountability partner. Ask a Christian who you can rely on to ask you hard and pointed questions; such as, "How did you advance in your mission today to spread the gospel so that His people can reach Him?"
5) Ask God to place people in your path. You not only want to find people in your path that you can reach, but to those who can assist.
6) Determine you war strategy and walk boldly. You are prepared with all the tools. The Bible, others, and those that God will divinely, and by no coincidence, place in your path.
7) Continue to mature. Find additional books and resources that will guide you. Chances are pretty good that someone that has gone before had a similar mission that they were called to do, for His glory.
So there you have it. 7 steps: Ask, Use the Bible as a lighthouse to direct your unique path, Pray, Be held Accountable, Ask for others to be placed divinely and directly in your path, Develop a War Strategy, Walk Boldly spreading your Mission, Mature.
Take these 7, and use every resource possible to place you in a position to reach people for the glory of God.
But what about ours?
Some of you who are reading this are without a doubt missionaries; perhaps in your hometown, but also likely in far away lands. At the end of the day, we are all required to be missionaries as part of our walk with Christ.
And each of us have a different skill-set. For some, it is singing in the choir. For others, to assist in the day care. How about leading a Sunday school class. Other religions even require that as young adults, that their parents send them out on the mission field as part of their spiritual development.
Most Christians will unabashedly and undoubtedly admit that this is an area where they struggle. Paul became an apostle, and his mission was to build churches, preach, teach, and ultimately gain one of the incontestable crowns for Jesus by bringing the message of the gospel, the "Good News," to the uncircumcised or unsaved. Not just Gentiles, but to all who would believe.
In Acts 13:47, we read, "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
In Romans 10:13-15 Paul declares, "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!" "
There are numerous verses in the bible that apply to us as parishioners, and to us as missionaries in our personal mission for God.
Here are just 3 examples:
1 Chronicles 16:24 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds to all peoples."
Nahum 1:15a "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of the one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!"
And in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, "On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts." Thessalonians 2:4.
I absolutely love how my pastor ends his services each and every Sunday morning. He says, "Church, you are dismissed. You are loved and you are sent."
Paul had a mission. He did not let imprisonment stop him, he evaded threats of death, he was shunned and many times he was to be stoned. Paul was not going to let anyone or anything derail his "fire for God."
God has given us all unique gifts, and they are to be used for His glory. It is also our responsibility to mature, nurture and use those gifts.
If you are not using the blessings that God has instilled in your heart for Him, ask? "Lord, what have you given me, in your divine power, that you would have me do to reach your people?" I would make a bold claim on two accounts: 1) that He will answer, and 2) over time you will be presented with new challenges; that in the maturity of your walk, you will be asked to strengthen your faith in different and perhaps uncomfortable areas to reach people for God's kingdom.
What we need to be doing as Christians is to ask ourselves, "What can I do today to advance the kingdom of God?"
Make this a daily exercise.
The Prayer of Jabez is an excellent start. A few years back, there was an entire book on this verse with four parts in this simple prayer. It is also close to my heart. As a board member to my publisher's foundation, we pray this prayer as an opening to our meetings. It goes like this:
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
Since I am focusing exclusively on the writings of Paul, I encourage you to seek out and read this book.
So what should be our action plan?
1) Ask God to lead you in your personal mission. He has divinely planned it; long before you were born, so ask Him to take the lead and give you specific instructions.
2) Use the Bible as your personal workbook. For example, on finance and financial management alone, there are over six-hundred verses alone that relate to finances and money. When you get your answer, seek out the verses that apply to you in what God has called you to do.
3) Pray for guidance. You cannot fulfill your mission alone. While God will reveal your mission to you, you will need the counsel of the Bible, first and foremost, and then go to others who are further in their maturity who can assist you.
4) Have an accountability partner. Ask a Christian who you can rely on to ask you hard and pointed questions; such as, "How did you advance in your mission today to spread the gospel so that His people can reach Him?"
5) Ask God to place people in your path. You not only want to find people in your path that you can reach, but to those who can assist.
6) Determine you war strategy and walk boldly. You are prepared with all the tools. The Bible, others, and those that God will divinely, and by no coincidence, place in your path.
7) Continue to mature. Find additional books and resources that will guide you. Chances are pretty good that someone that has gone before had a similar mission that they were called to do, for His glory.
So there you have it. 7 steps: Ask, Use the Bible as a lighthouse to direct your unique path, Pray, Be held Accountable, Ask for others to be placed divinely and directly in your path, Develop a War Strategy, Walk Boldly spreading your Mission, Mature.
Take these 7, and use every resource possible to place you in a position to reach people for the glory of God.
Monday, April 3, 2017
Man on Fire: Part V
Let's fast forward a bit to Galatians.
How many times have we gained an enormous amount of excitement for some idea or some project that we were working on, only to fizzle out and either delay, or quit all together on the thing we thought would be life-changing for ourselves and others?
Paul had a very different outlook as we see in Galatians.
Galatians is written well into Paul's ministry and we not only see his fire for Jesus, but his personal conviction for his mission strengthening. It is in his pure and unwavering "belief" in his own intestinal fortitude for his cause that we find Paul's fire.
Galatians provides an example of his commitment. We get a very clear picture of this in Galatians 2:1-2 as Paul begins by saying, "Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain."
Most of us in our careers work on "perfecting" our craft. We climb the corporate ladder. We work toward promotion after promotion. Management, not front-line employees. If we are in a partnership structure, being named as a partner is when we feel we have "arrived."
As is the case most times, there are exceptions. Research scientists provide us with an excellent example. There are those that will spend their entire careers working on a cure for a specific type of cancer. Or, how about those who will study a specific ecology, perhaps within a very remote part of the world, attempting to answer a question that has driven their hypotheses that they will stop at nothing to prove; in hopes of coming to an understanding, and thus provide meaning to their work.
Jerusalem was one of Paul's "first stops," on his personal mission to spread the gospel. And in Galatians 2:1-2, we see him return. Keep in mind that it has been fourteen years since he first "took up his sword" for Christ. We see that he has kept his commitment, not strayed from his belief or his commitment, and has returned for a divine and specific purpose.
Who does he come to? It says in verse 2 that Paul went immediately to the "esteemed leaders." I think that is something important to note. While God has time and time again used ordinary people to do extraordinary things, Paul went to the leaders.
It seems prudent to believe, although it does not say, that some of the leadership upon his return were there when Paul began his witness for Christ and the gospel story fourteen years earlier. Paul felt that it was extremely important to measure his impact. Was he running a solid race? Where was the impact, and was an impact, in fact, being made?
In Galatians 2:6-7, we see Paul's answer concerning his own "effectiveness" measure. "As for those who were held in high esteem - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism - they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the uncircumcised."
From this passage, we gather that Paul was there to retrace his steps with a purpose. Going back to verse 2, we read that Paul was there "in response to a revelation." We have all had our "a-ha" moments, but did we press on in continuation of our primary goal? Paul's was divine, but are our own revelations more often new, and then not too long afterward, fleeting?
Paul found that his message was clearly not as effective as he had hoped. He saw many turning back to their old ways.
Paul writes in Galatians 4:8-16, "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
I can see the fire in Paul's eyes as he is saying this. Belief. Conviction. Commitment. Desire. Intestinal fortitude. All of these attributes are present in the passage above. I love the representative personification in his personal belief of his mission when he writes in verse 15, stating, "if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me."
He desired that the people of Galatia not only hear his mission, his presentation of the gospel, but to take on his belief. Turn their eyes away from false prophets and gods. And if not, lend there eyes to Paul so they might have the proper perspective. Paul would help them see, and see for them if they were not able; blind to the truth of his teaching.
I think it appropriate to make a bold claim: Paul's mission as a "Man on Fire" for Christ is perhaps best represented in Philippians 3:7-9. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, "But whatever gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
We should all be so lucky, as to find something that we would forfeit all human gains in our belief in our personal mission; for Christ!
How many times have we gained an enormous amount of excitement for some idea or some project that we were working on, only to fizzle out and either delay, or quit all together on the thing we thought would be life-changing for ourselves and others?
Paul had a very different outlook as we see in Galatians.
Galatians is written well into Paul's ministry and we not only see his fire for Jesus, but his personal conviction for his mission strengthening. It is in his pure and unwavering "belief" in his own intestinal fortitude for his cause that we find Paul's fire.
Galatians provides an example of his commitment. We get a very clear picture of this in Galatians 2:1-2 as Paul begins by saying, "Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain."
Most of us in our careers work on "perfecting" our craft. We climb the corporate ladder. We work toward promotion after promotion. Management, not front-line employees. If we are in a partnership structure, being named as a partner is when we feel we have "arrived."
As is the case most times, there are exceptions. Research scientists provide us with an excellent example. There are those that will spend their entire careers working on a cure for a specific type of cancer. Or, how about those who will study a specific ecology, perhaps within a very remote part of the world, attempting to answer a question that has driven their hypotheses that they will stop at nothing to prove; in hopes of coming to an understanding, and thus provide meaning to their work.
Jerusalem was one of Paul's "first stops," on his personal mission to spread the gospel. And in Galatians 2:1-2, we see him return. Keep in mind that it has been fourteen years since he first "took up his sword" for Christ. We see that he has kept his commitment, not strayed from his belief or his commitment, and has returned for a divine and specific purpose.
Who does he come to? It says in verse 2 that Paul went immediately to the "esteemed leaders." I think that is something important to note. While God has time and time again used ordinary people to do extraordinary things, Paul went to the leaders.
It seems prudent to believe, although it does not say, that some of the leadership upon his return were there when Paul began his witness for Christ and the gospel story fourteen years earlier. Paul felt that it was extremely important to measure his impact. Was he running a solid race? Where was the impact, and was an impact, in fact, being made?
In Galatians 2:6-7, we see Paul's answer concerning his own "effectiveness" measure. "As for those who were held in high esteem - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism - they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognized I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the uncircumcised."
From this passage, we gather that Paul was there to retrace his steps with a purpose. Going back to verse 2, we read that Paul was there "in response to a revelation." We have all had our "a-ha" moments, but did we press on in continuation of our primary goal? Paul's was divine, but are our own revelations more often new, and then not too long afterward, fleeting?
Paul found that his message was clearly not as effective as he had hoped. He saw many turning back to their old ways.
Paul writes in Galatians 4:8-16, "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
I can see the fire in Paul's eyes as he is saying this. Belief. Conviction. Commitment. Desire. Intestinal fortitude. All of these attributes are present in the passage above. I love the representative personification in his personal belief of his mission when he writes in verse 15, stating, "if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me."
He desired that the people of Galatia not only hear his mission, his presentation of the gospel, but to take on his belief. Turn their eyes away from false prophets and gods. And if not, lend there eyes to Paul so they might have the proper perspective. Paul would help them see, and see for them if they were not able; blind to the truth of his teaching.
I think it appropriate to make a bold claim: Paul's mission as a "Man on Fire" for Christ is perhaps best represented in Philippians 3:7-9. Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians, "But whatever gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
We should all be so lucky, as to find something that we would forfeit all human gains in our belief in our personal mission; for Christ!
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