I spent a great deal of my morning today reading about the depravity of mankind evidenced in crimes of sex enslavement and imprisonment by fathers of their own children and of the story of a young man who brutally murdered an elderly woman--just because.
The crimes were all detestable and difficult to read about. It was hard to grasp the kind of mind that allows people to be so brutal and cruel. Surely these individuals were social paths incapable of empathizing or caring about their victims.
With these kinds of crimes happening around us it makes me wonder how we can waste so much time as Christians not willing to work together to take back the Kingdom by force. I know I spend a great deal of time on the topic of Christians refusing to work together, but it is because we just don't get that this is a real warfare with very real dire consequences. Our focus is so distorted with issues that are unimportant. We can't empty ourselves, be open to God and get on one accord to fight the real enemy who is here to steal kill and destroy us all.
The resolution is so very simple lay aside the sin and the weight that does so easily beset us and run this race set before us with patience. Be patient and kind hearted toward each other. There is a bigger fight at hand that can't wait for all of us to grow up, stop holding grudges, stop the infighting and stop the back biting. We are losing a spiritual war trying to fight an insignificant tangible battle with people we are supposed to love and care for.
There is a song that says it best, "I need you. You need me. We're all a part of His body. Stand with me. Agree with me. We're all a part of His body. It is His will that every need be supplied. You are important to me. I need you to survive. I pray for you. You pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive. I won't harm you with words from my mouth. I love you. I need you to survive."
My prayer has turned into pleading with God to get us all past the nonsense and pettiness that lives and looms in our churches. We are vulnerable to an ambush because we can't stop obsessing over who gets to do what for Bishop and First Lady; who has what position in the church; who has the most friends and can entertain the most people on Sundays. Our sermons focus on God gave me this or that and everyone is jealous of me because I look so good. I often wonder how many times we have to hear that type of sermon over the pulpit? Who cares if someone is hating on you? At the end of the day what difference does it make? It only makes a difference because both parties involved have a problem. There is a perception problem. People think the world is jealous of them. No one is jealous of you and if they are so what! What does any of that have to do with God's people, God's business or God's kingdom? Focus. Wake up! There are lost souls who could care less about what you wear or don't wear on Sunday morning. People have real problems of drug addition, sex addition, abuse, depression, struggle. The enemy has a real hold on people's lives. People want to commit suicide. They don't want to even go near a church for help and don't believe the Church can address their needs. And they are sometimes right. We can't address their needs because we cannot see our own ineptness. We have become impotent and ineffective. The devil isn't even afraid of us.
Enough about who can dress or sing or who looks like whatever! What about who can pray? Who can heal? Who can do those greater things that Jesus discussed? What about who can repair relationships and encourage someone else? Who isn't focused on money and seeing God as Santa Claus? What about who is unselfish enough to move out of the way and not try to bully or boss other people because they think they know what's best? We are all learning and growing. We are all in a process. The Word comes to change each of us in our own lives for the purpose of bringing us together to make an impact for God and to terrorize the devil. How much time has to expire before we learn that we are not enemies to one another? There's no need to ignore me or lie on me. There's no need to try to leave me out or to wait for me to fail. I have too much work to do on myself to tell on you? Excuse me for saying this but that cracks me up. Why do people think you're going to tell on them? I don't have to tell anybody anything regarding what you have done. First of all I don't have time. I'm dealing with my own struggles, vices, temptations, and problems. Second, like He sees me, God saw you and that's more important that any Bishop, Pastor, Preacher or any one else for that matter. Many of us need to be outed so that we can receive correction, healing and have a credible testimony to reach into someone else's dark time of life and pull them into the light.
Lord when will we learn? When will our sight be restored? Help us. We do not want to perish not living out your full will for our lives. Show us mercy and teach us to show mercy toward each other. Teach us that love is the only thing that endures. You are our example. Make your Word real for us. Lord when will we be delivered from laying traps acting disinterested and trying to embarrass one another? As we endure this process that you are bringing us through for your own glory show us how to truly forgive and love each other; to move past yesterday and old hurt; to bind together in brotherly unity; and most of all to lift you up so that you will draw all men unto yourself. I have hope that it is your will that we love and forgive. I have hope that I will see this happen and that it must start with me fervently refusing to give in to those who wish to hurt me by loving, praying, forgiving and move forward. You make all things new. Make us new Lord. Help us to see that you are coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle. Help us to want to impress you and through impressing you keep your commandments--the greatest of which are these, Love the Lord your God with all your soul, all your heart and all your might and love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Moving past past words
One thing we have difficulty doing in the church today is moving past the words that people have said. This inability to move past the past and stop holding a grudge leads to division, disunity, misunderstanding and an unwillingness to forgive and heal. This is judging plain and simple. The Bible warns that we do not judge for with the same judgment that we judge we shall be judged and with the same measuring stick that we measure we shall be measured. It is impossible for us to receive forgiveness when we refuse to forgive. Some of us think we have forgiven so let me share with you how you know you haven't. You haven't forgiven if when you see someone that you had an issue with you get the same feelings of anger and resentment that you had before. You haven't forgiven if you still can't speak to that person. You haven't forgiven and your life cannot move forward. You are in a holding pattern. You will continue to wonder why you can't prosper and why things seem to keep happening to you. God is not mocked and you cannot fool Him. His word is true. You cannot receive forgiveness if you don't forgive and how can you profess to love God--whom you cannot see--when you do not love your brother--whom you see daily. Love covers a multitude of sins. If you love me then you are willing to forgive me and to treat me as though we never had a problem.
There is a misconception in the church that people will like each other because they have a common goal. I have learned from my work experience that I am not going to like everyone that I work with, but that has never stopped me from completing my work and accomplishing company goals nor does it make me treat people unfairly or to be dishonest or to act without integrity. For some reason in the church we feel that we must like each other. We are on the same team and we MUST love each other and hopefully that love will generate friendship, closeness and trust, but in the case that it doesn't we must still work together in unity and solidarity to take back God's kingdom. That means that just because I'm not in your click doesn't mean that you get to treat me stank. I may not be in your click, but we are on the same team--the body of Christ. I am not going to stand for anyone trying to hurt you or treat you poorly and I am going to pray for you because I love my body and I wouldn't want anything to happen to any part of it. Seems like many church folk would amputate the parts that they can't stand.
Matthew 26:34 finds Jesus informing that Peter was going to deny him three times before the cock crowed. The story continues on to find Peter denying his close friend, his savior and his Lord, and not just denying Jesus, but cursing to make it clear that he was not with Jesus. Many modern day church people having heard Peter deny Jesus would have shunned him and stopped associating with him. What we fail to realize is that all of this was part of God's master plan. If Peter hadn't denied Jesus he would have surely perished with Jesus and he would not have become the rock on which the Church was built as Jesus had prophesied into his life.
The fact is we are human and in any given time and space of our misunderstanding or lack of ability to see the whole picture we may do and say regrettable things. I mean really we esteem Paul so very highly as the writer of much of the New Testament and we credit him as the Apostle that brought the word of salvation to the gentiles--us. But this man was a murderer. He pulled men, women and children out of their homes so that they could be executed for claiming Jesus Christ as Lord. It is so interesting how we are able to look over this in our hindsight and give him so much esteem yet we cannot even share simple information with our brothers and sisters so that we can all be on the same page. In fact we will purposefully withhold information so that we can feed our own selfish jealousy; driving a deeper wedge in the relationship.
When will it be over? When will you forgive me and move on from who you thought I used to be? Who will realize that my past is in the past. If Jesus isn't holding my past against me why are you? He said He threw it into a sea of forgetfulness so why are you diving in and getting it back out and throwing it in my face? That's a lot of effort when it's so much easier to love.
There is a misconception in the church that people will like each other because they have a common goal. I have learned from my work experience that I am not going to like everyone that I work with, but that has never stopped me from completing my work and accomplishing company goals nor does it make me treat people unfairly or to be dishonest or to act without integrity. For some reason in the church we feel that we must like each other. We are on the same team and we MUST love each other and hopefully that love will generate friendship, closeness and trust, but in the case that it doesn't we must still work together in unity and solidarity to take back God's kingdom. That means that just because I'm not in your click doesn't mean that you get to treat me stank. I may not be in your click, but we are on the same team--the body of Christ. I am not going to stand for anyone trying to hurt you or treat you poorly and I am going to pray for you because I love my body and I wouldn't want anything to happen to any part of it. Seems like many church folk would amputate the parts that they can't stand.
Matthew 26:34 finds Jesus informing that Peter was going to deny him three times before the cock crowed. The story continues on to find Peter denying his close friend, his savior and his Lord, and not just denying Jesus, but cursing to make it clear that he was not with Jesus. Many modern day church people having heard Peter deny Jesus would have shunned him and stopped associating with him. What we fail to realize is that all of this was part of God's master plan. If Peter hadn't denied Jesus he would have surely perished with Jesus and he would not have become the rock on which the Church was built as Jesus had prophesied into his life.
The fact is we are human and in any given time and space of our misunderstanding or lack of ability to see the whole picture we may do and say regrettable things. I mean really we esteem Paul so very highly as the writer of much of the New Testament and we credit him as the Apostle that brought the word of salvation to the gentiles--us. But this man was a murderer. He pulled men, women and children out of their homes so that they could be executed for claiming Jesus Christ as Lord. It is so interesting how we are able to look over this in our hindsight and give him so much esteem yet we cannot even share simple information with our brothers and sisters so that we can all be on the same page. In fact we will purposefully withhold information so that we can feed our own selfish jealousy; driving a deeper wedge in the relationship.
When will it be over? When will you forgive me and move on from who you thought I used to be? Who will realize that my past is in the past. If Jesus isn't holding my past against me why are you? He said He threw it into a sea of forgetfulness so why are you diving in and getting it back out and throwing it in my face? That's a lot of effort when it's so much easier to love.
Friday, June 11, 2010
No-thing new under the Sun, but the Son makes all things new
Acts chapter 7 talks about how Moses was chosen to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. It also provides an example of how no matter how good God is to us we can sometimes reject Him by rejecting His leaders. God gave his chosen people leadership and they wanted idols. God provided for their needs and they rejected Him.
There is nothing new under the sun when it comes to how people can be toward leaders. It is as though people think God isn't looking so I can mistreat the man or woman of God. I can talk about them. I can reject them. I can disrespect them; after all they're no better than me. I'm just as holy. God speaks to me too. I have had to learn this lesson and I say to everyone please learn a lesson from the Children of Israel. It just isn't wise to put your mouth on God's chosen no matter what you think or how you feel. Surely if you just wait a little while you will see that God has given them their position, their anointing and their calling and it is best for us to acknowledge and respect His choice.
Moses had said from the beginning when he was chosen by God that he didn't feel he was the one. He didn't feel he could speak to people. He felt inadequate. Yet God worked wonders, signs and miracles through him--in spite of how he felt about himself or how others felt about him. God provided manna, safety and a Word to live by. But then like now the people began to question Moses' leadership ability and to assert themselves. People fail to realize that God provides and expects us to respect a hierarchy of authority. It is in our best interest to fall in line with humility and submission. It isn't about the person necessary, but it is about God's will and His way. We can size a person up and say to ourselves that they are inadequate, or we don't like them, why did God choose him or her; but when God chooses someone He alone provides that individual with all the qualifications needed to lead.
It is interesting how the people who questioned God's leader Moses never made it out of the wilderness. They died there--never experiencing the promised land. Their lives were always a struggle; always contentious. They never found satisfaction and contentment. They were constantly dissatisfied and unhappy; failing to see why they couldn't get ahead or do better. Bishop Freeman told us to stop looking for problems and imperfection because you will surely find it. If we keep picking at our Church leaders to see how they are inadequate we will stop developing, growing and changing and just get stuck at a point where everyone else's flaws are crystal clear to us.
Numbers 16 details how there were factions among the Children of Israel who felt that the leadership that God provided was doing too much and that they too could lead. They tried to convince the people that Moses and Aaron were just regular every day people like themselves. They tried to get others to stop following God's leadership by saying that Moses had lead them from plenty to lack so why was he even in charge anyway? Moses fell to his face in prayer for them immediately because He knew that they didn't understand and were speaking out of ignorance and he knew God's wrath. Unfortunately some people are not willing to learn and God has to make an example out of them. In Numbers 16:30 Moses informed that God was going to do a new thing. In verse 32 you see where the earth opened and swallowed up the trouble makers alive.
These people were warned, warned and warned again, but failed to hear the voice of God and change or even want to change. God knows our hearts when you want to do better He will make a way for your life to be changed for the better. When you want forgiveness He will open the door of mercy and forgiveness, but when we totally reject Him and refused to heed the Word that He sends us we put ourselves in a place of grave danger. We all make mistakes. That's why Jesus asked the Father to forgive us--we couldn't see the bigger picture. We didn't know that our back biting, lying, excluding, talking about, hurting others was against God's will.
Fortunately our God is full of mercy and recognizes that we often say things and act out of ignorance when we are blind to His purpose for us. He is just and willing to forgive us and to redirect us if we are open to His correction. There should be no contention among the body of Christ because we should each understand that God has given us leadership that will assist us from the things that enslave us; comfort us during our wilderness time of confusion and guide us as we enter into what God has promised us.
Let's learn to love and respect each other and our leadership so that when God does a new thing in us through His Son it will be a total transformation and renewing of minds.
There is nothing new under the sun when it comes to how people can be toward leaders. It is as though people think God isn't looking so I can mistreat the man or woman of God. I can talk about them. I can reject them. I can disrespect them; after all they're no better than me. I'm just as holy. God speaks to me too. I have had to learn this lesson and I say to everyone please learn a lesson from the Children of Israel. It just isn't wise to put your mouth on God's chosen no matter what you think or how you feel. Surely if you just wait a little while you will see that God has given them their position, their anointing and their calling and it is best for us to acknowledge and respect His choice.
Moses had said from the beginning when he was chosen by God that he didn't feel he was the one. He didn't feel he could speak to people. He felt inadequate. Yet God worked wonders, signs and miracles through him--in spite of how he felt about himself or how others felt about him. God provided manna, safety and a Word to live by. But then like now the people began to question Moses' leadership ability and to assert themselves. People fail to realize that God provides and expects us to respect a hierarchy of authority. It is in our best interest to fall in line with humility and submission. It isn't about the person necessary, but it is about God's will and His way. We can size a person up and say to ourselves that they are inadequate, or we don't like them, why did God choose him or her; but when God chooses someone He alone provides that individual with all the qualifications needed to lead.
It is interesting how the people who questioned God's leader Moses never made it out of the wilderness. They died there--never experiencing the promised land. Their lives were always a struggle; always contentious. They never found satisfaction and contentment. They were constantly dissatisfied and unhappy; failing to see why they couldn't get ahead or do better. Bishop Freeman told us to stop looking for problems and imperfection because you will surely find it. If we keep picking at our Church leaders to see how they are inadequate we will stop developing, growing and changing and just get stuck at a point where everyone else's flaws are crystal clear to us.
Numbers 16 details how there were factions among the Children of Israel who felt that the leadership that God provided was doing too much and that they too could lead. They tried to convince the people that Moses and Aaron were just regular every day people like themselves. They tried to get others to stop following God's leadership by saying that Moses had lead them from plenty to lack so why was he even in charge anyway? Moses fell to his face in prayer for them immediately because He knew that they didn't understand and were speaking out of ignorance and he knew God's wrath. Unfortunately some people are not willing to learn and God has to make an example out of them. In Numbers 16:30 Moses informed that God was going to do a new thing. In verse 32 you see where the earth opened and swallowed up the trouble makers alive.
These people were warned, warned and warned again, but failed to hear the voice of God and change or even want to change. God knows our hearts when you want to do better He will make a way for your life to be changed for the better. When you want forgiveness He will open the door of mercy and forgiveness, but when we totally reject Him and refused to heed the Word that He sends us we put ourselves in a place of grave danger. We all make mistakes. That's why Jesus asked the Father to forgive us--we couldn't see the bigger picture. We didn't know that our back biting, lying, excluding, talking about, hurting others was against God's will.
Fortunately our God is full of mercy and recognizes that we often say things and act out of ignorance when we are blind to His purpose for us. He is just and willing to forgive us and to redirect us if we are open to His correction. There should be no contention among the body of Christ because we should each understand that God has given us leadership that will assist us from the things that enslave us; comfort us during our wilderness time of confusion and guide us as we enter into what God has promised us.
Let's learn to love and respect each other and our leadership so that when God does a new thing in us through His Son it will be a total transformation and renewing of minds.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Will Your Legacy Leave a Memorial to the Lord?
David had so longed to build a temple for the Lord--a place where God could be worshipped. David was unable to build his vision, but his son Solomon took up the cause with just as much passion and enthusiasm. He wanted to please God and honor his father.
When Solomon set out to build this dwelling place for the Lord he first contacted an old friend of his father's--King Hiram. Solomon realized that although he had the riches to accomplish what he needed to accomplish on his own, he stood to gain more personally and for the Lord by inviting others to help him. Including a friend of his father's, sealed the bond between those nations and forged a treaty for peace.
As a result of Solomon's drive to build a house for the Lord, other people began to celebrate and honor the Lord with him. Other leaders sent him resources to help him accomplish his goal. When we strive to build the Kingdom, God WILL send resources and grant favor with people to assist us.
When you read the text in 1 Kings chapters 5 & 6 you see Solomon's great wisdom. Solomon was genuine and selfless. He wasn't a taker. He was a thinker. He recognized that King Hiram had resources that could help him accomplish his goals so he offered to pay King Hiram's workers and he also complimented their expertise and offered his own servants. He didn't try to use this king by playing on their relationship nor did he try to exclude others and do everything on his own in an attempt to keep all the glory. He acknowledged that others had talents and skills. In the end Solomon got what he wanted--to build a memorial to the Lord. He made friends, made peace, and didn't have to struggle or use up his own resources in the process and guess what? He wound up with the glory anyway! He didn't have to take it or bully others to get it.
Every moment of everyday we are producing a legacy for others to remember when we are gone. We remember King Solomon as wise, rich and great. How will people remember us? Will they see that we lived our lives as a memorial to the Lord? Or will they see that we spent our time in selfish blindness and confusion never really experiencing God's true purpose for our lives? As long as we have breath it isn't too late to turn to God, acknowledge Him. Seek to please Him and leave a legacy that honors Him.
When Solomon set out to build this dwelling place for the Lord he first contacted an old friend of his father's--King Hiram. Solomon realized that although he had the riches to accomplish what he needed to accomplish on his own, he stood to gain more personally and for the Lord by inviting others to help him. Including a friend of his father's, sealed the bond between those nations and forged a treaty for peace.
As a result of Solomon's drive to build a house for the Lord, other people began to celebrate and honor the Lord with him. Other leaders sent him resources to help him accomplish his goal. When we strive to build the Kingdom, God WILL send resources and grant favor with people to assist us.
When you read the text in 1 Kings chapters 5 & 6 you see Solomon's great wisdom. Solomon was genuine and selfless. He wasn't a taker. He was a thinker. He recognized that King Hiram had resources that could help him accomplish his goals so he offered to pay King Hiram's workers and he also complimented their expertise and offered his own servants. He didn't try to use this king by playing on their relationship nor did he try to exclude others and do everything on his own in an attempt to keep all the glory. He acknowledged that others had talents and skills. In the end Solomon got what he wanted--to build a memorial to the Lord. He made friends, made peace, and didn't have to struggle or use up his own resources in the process and guess what? He wound up with the glory anyway! He didn't have to take it or bully others to get it.
Every moment of everyday we are producing a legacy for others to remember when we are gone. We remember King Solomon as wise, rich and great. How will people remember us? Will they see that we lived our lives as a memorial to the Lord? Or will they see that we spent our time in selfish blindness and confusion never really experiencing God's true purpose for our lives? As long as we have breath it isn't too late to turn to God, acknowledge Him. Seek to please Him and leave a legacy that honors Him.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Unintended Consequences
Sometimes we totally forget about deeds we have done. However, just because we receive God's forgiveness and we ourselves may forget about the seeds we've sewn, there are still consequences and repercussions and they are not always predictable.
Think about the treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites. God instructed Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the promised land, but the Gibeonites tricked Israel into signing a treaty with them. Later when Saul was King of Israel he sought to utterly destroy the Gibeonites in conflict with the treaty. God did not bring wrath to Israel until well after Saul was dead and David was King. So the issue was long forgotten when Israel began to experience a famine. David sought the Lord and asked why the famine? God reminded David about the treaty and that Israel failed to keep its promise. David asked God what to do and God responded. David allowed seven of Saul's descendants to be put to death. These may have had nothing to do with breaking the treaty, but there is always a consequence. This story reveals that God is merciful. Once David obeyed the Word of God and provided restitution the famine was lifted.
David didn't start crying or complaining about what was fair. He asked God what to do and then he executed. David didn't say to himself, Hey none of this is my fault or I'm not responsible for this mess. Instead he just did what God wanted. When Israel made the treaty with the Gibeonites they had no idea what it would lead to. These are unintended consequences. As Christians let's begin to seek God to help us steer clear of unintended consequences in our lives. We won't have to worry about lack and want if we obey the voice of God without question. We can relax and know that He knows what's best for us when we stop holding grudges and judging others. There are consequences for every word that utters forth out of our mouths meant to harm someone else and boost our own egos. There are consequences for choosing our will over God's whether the enemy tricked us or not. Once we put action into motion we should recognize that there will be a response and a reaction.
Let's live our lives doing all we can to seek God's face and to please Him; to lift Him; to acknowledge that He is sovereign. Let's be careful to allow God to order our steps. Let's be thoughtful of the lives we affect; of our words and our deeds. Sometimes our worst enemy is inaction. Follow David's example. He asked God what to do. Then he acted based upon what God told him. God will do the rest. Our feelings are inconsequential.
Think about the treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites. God instructed Israel to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the promised land, but the Gibeonites tricked Israel into signing a treaty with them. Later when Saul was King of Israel he sought to utterly destroy the Gibeonites in conflict with the treaty. God did not bring wrath to Israel until well after Saul was dead and David was King. So the issue was long forgotten when Israel began to experience a famine. David sought the Lord and asked why the famine? God reminded David about the treaty and that Israel failed to keep its promise. David asked God what to do and God responded. David allowed seven of Saul's descendants to be put to death. These may have had nothing to do with breaking the treaty, but there is always a consequence. This story reveals that God is merciful. Once David obeyed the Word of God and provided restitution the famine was lifted.
David didn't start crying or complaining about what was fair. He asked God what to do and then he executed. David didn't say to himself, Hey none of this is my fault or I'm not responsible for this mess. Instead he just did what God wanted. When Israel made the treaty with the Gibeonites they had no idea what it would lead to. These are unintended consequences. As Christians let's begin to seek God to help us steer clear of unintended consequences in our lives. We won't have to worry about lack and want if we obey the voice of God without question. We can relax and know that He knows what's best for us when we stop holding grudges and judging others. There are consequences for every word that utters forth out of our mouths meant to harm someone else and boost our own egos. There are consequences for choosing our will over God's whether the enemy tricked us or not. Once we put action into motion we should recognize that there will be a response and a reaction.
Let's live our lives doing all we can to seek God's face and to please Him; to lift Him; to acknowledge that He is sovereign. Let's be careful to allow God to order our steps. Let's be thoughtful of the lives we affect; of our words and our deeds. Sometimes our worst enemy is inaction. Follow David's example. He asked God what to do. Then he acted based upon what God told him. God will do the rest. Our feelings are inconsequential.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Competition is a Spirit
We were recently at a powerful conference hosted by CECO--Christians Equipping Christians for Outreach. Several topics stood out at the conference. First that we each have a God given assignment--I'm going to deal with that topic in another blog--because while we may each have a God given assignment make no mistake, each assignment is not good. I know that sounds outrageous, but it is the truth--think of Judas.
The topic that I want to discuss at length--may take a couple of blogs--is the notion that Christian people in Christian churches strive to compete with each other. Our Presiding Prelate cast the spirit of competition away from our fellowship, and yes it is a spirit. Competition to me is a natural phenomena--a stressor that drives humans to do more and to try harder--some people thrive from competition. Darwin might call it a survival necessity. However, there is no place for competition in the Church. The reason can be explained through Matthew chapter 20 which lays out the story of how the Kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a vineyard who hired several individuals to work for him at the beginning of the day for a penny. Those individuals worked hard all day. As the day drew to an end the owner noted that there were not enough laborers to complete the work so he hired more workers at the same rate of a penny. The workers who had been hired at the beginning of the day became jealous and started complaining saying, "How can you pay these who have been hired at the end of the day the same amount of us when we've been working all day? We should get more!" The owner answered, "It is evil to think the way you do. I own the vineyard and it's none of your business what I do, and why are you upset because I'm a good person? I will pay the last person exactly what you agreed to!"
There are people who feel in their hearts that this scenario is unfair. They may never say it because they are not honest. The fact of the matter is simply this, God's promises, judgement and salvation are not ranked by our assessment of what we think is fair. He created us. He made us who we are. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. It is His good pleasure to bless us and that should be enough.
Competition arises when we lose focus on who we are to please. Without argument all would say out of our mouths that we are to please God and would think in our own hearts that we do what we do to please Him, but there is a tale tale sign that your labor is in vain and that sign is the spirit of competition. Competition is a feeling that arises in you when you see someone else doing what you think you should do or you know how to do. Why weren't you chosen? After all everyone knows you do it and you are good at it. It is also the feeling that no one else can do anything so you purposefully leave people out and you try to do what you were not called to do. But what we fail to understand is that we cannot substitute our will for God's. This is why the scripture says obedience is better than sacrifice. There are people who would rather sacrifice then to allow others to do something in the Church. Competition comes from trying to please people not striving to please God. Think about it from the lives of two kings--Saul and David. We know these stories well.
King Saul was chosen by the people because of his stature and his appearance. He was popular and people liked him. He had an allure and charisma. He drew people in. Saul had it all. He had women, riches, popularity and favor, but Saul's fatal flaw was himself. His looked the part of the chosen. He sounded like the chosen. He "acted" like he was chosen, but one day his heart found him out. God gave Saul a command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. But Saul strayed from God's will and took up his own. He wasn't working to please God, but to please people and his own selfish desires. When confronted Saul lied about it and tried to blame others.
King David was chosen of God. He was short and young. He looked like he should be outside. He wasn't popular as a matter of fact when Samuel came to anoint the next king David wasn't even included in the line-up. He was alienated. He had been squeezed out. But the last shall be first and the first shall be last. David was God's choice and David wanted so much to please God. He was a man after God's own heart. He sought God for every decision and he admitted and repented when he was in error. He led a life that was pleasing to God because he put God first. As a result David who didn't have the charisma, wasn't popular and didn't have women and riches, gained all of that because when you seek the Kingdom of God first He adds richly to your life.
Eventually Saul was rejected by God and as a result he became jealous of David. He may not have even really known why he was jealous of David. Saul's focus was still off. Instead of turning to God, asking for forgiveness and pledging to do God's will, Saul lived out the remainder of his life in competition with a kid who would have given his very life. David adored Saul. He admired him. Saul's son became David's best friend. David married one of Saul's daughters. David played music to sooth Saul. David fought in Saul's army yet Saul hated David and wanted to kill him more and more. Isn't it interesting how instead of doing God's will we simply want to eliminate those who are doing God's will as if that would cause God to turn back to us? It won't! The only thing that will please God is obedience. The Bible says of God, "If you love me keep my commandments." We please God through focusing on Him and doing His will the way that He wants it done, when He wants it done and how He wants it done.
When you have people in the church who simply can't stand you it is most likely because of the spirit of competition. When you have people who can't seem to get over whatever it is that makes them hate you so, chances are there dwells the spirit of competition. This is why our Bishop rebuked this spirit and cast it out from among us. We are all needed in the body of Christ. No one is better or more desired or more depended on. These are weak human emotions that we devise to boost our own egos.
What good is it to think ill of someone? How does that help us be productive in the Kingdom? What good is it to get caught talking crazy about folks? How does that help save souls? Does it really feel that good to reject our Christian brothers and sisters? Is it that good to leave others out when we cook or have a gathering? Is it really necessary to talk sweet to folks in front of your Pastor and First Lady, and then snub them when those individuals are not around? Here's something for free, your Pastor and First Lady may not see what you are doing, but they have no heaven or hell to put you in or keep you from. God sees all and when we are judged our whole lives will be compelled of us as we stand before the throne. We will not be able to hide mistreating others and getting pleasure from it. Is it really going to further God's purpose for us as a whole to leave our co-laborers out of planned activities?
Competition brings these behaviors on. We have to mature. There's no rule that you have to like everyone that you work with. Yet there is a rule that you must love. Love causes you to put away competition and to choose God's will over the good feeling that you get by squeezing others out. The reward is the penny. You may have gotten there first and have worked hard all day, but because God chose me I'm going to get the same reward.
The topic that I want to discuss at length--may take a couple of blogs--is the notion that Christian people in Christian churches strive to compete with each other. Our Presiding Prelate cast the spirit of competition away from our fellowship, and yes it is a spirit. Competition to me is a natural phenomena--a stressor that drives humans to do more and to try harder--some people thrive from competition. Darwin might call it a survival necessity. However, there is no place for competition in the Church. The reason can be explained through Matthew chapter 20 which lays out the story of how the Kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a vineyard who hired several individuals to work for him at the beginning of the day for a penny. Those individuals worked hard all day. As the day drew to an end the owner noted that there were not enough laborers to complete the work so he hired more workers at the same rate of a penny. The workers who had been hired at the beginning of the day became jealous and started complaining saying, "How can you pay these who have been hired at the end of the day the same amount of us when we've been working all day? We should get more!" The owner answered, "It is evil to think the way you do. I own the vineyard and it's none of your business what I do, and why are you upset because I'm a good person? I will pay the last person exactly what you agreed to!"
There are people who feel in their hearts that this scenario is unfair. They may never say it because they are not honest. The fact of the matter is simply this, God's promises, judgement and salvation are not ranked by our assessment of what we think is fair. He created us. He made us who we are. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. It is His good pleasure to bless us and that should be enough.
Competition arises when we lose focus on who we are to please. Without argument all would say out of our mouths that we are to please God and would think in our own hearts that we do what we do to please Him, but there is a tale tale sign that your labor is in vain and that sign is the spirit of competition. Competition is a feeling that arises in you when you see someone else doing what you think you should do or you know how to do. Why weren't you chosen? After all everyone knows you do it and you are good at it. It is also the feeling that no one else can do anything so you purposefully leave people out and you try to do what you were not called to do. But what we fail to understand is that we cannot substitute our will for God's. This is why the scripture says obedience is better than sacrifice. There are people who would rather sacrifice then to allow others to do something in the Church. Competition comes from trying to please people not striving to please God. Think about it from the lives of two kings--Saul and David. We know these stories well.
King Saul was chosen by the people because of his stature and his appearance. He was popular and people liked him. He had an allure and charisma. He drew people in. Saul had it all. He had women, riches, popularity and favor, but Saul's fatal flaw was himself. His looked the part of the chosen. He sounded like the chosen. He "acted" like he was chosen, but one day his heart found him out. God gave Saul a command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. But Saul strayed from God's will and took up his own. He wasn't working to please God, but to please people and his own selfish desires. When confronted Saul lied about it and tried to blame others.
King David was chosen of God. He was short and young. He looked like he should be outside. He wasn't popular as a matter of fact when Samuel came to anoint the next king David wasn't even included in the line-up. He was alienated. He had been squeezed out. But the last shall be first and the first shall be last. David was God's choice and David wanted so much to please God. He was a man after God's own heart. He sought God for every decision and he admitted and repented when he was in error. He led a life that was pleasing to God because he put God first. As a result David who didn't have the charisma, wasn't popular and didn't have women and riches, gained all of that because when you seek the Kingdom of God first He adds richly to your life.
Eventually Saul was rejected by God and as a result he became jealous of David. He may not have even really known why he was jealous of David. Saul's focus was still off. Instead of turning to God, asking for forgiveness and pledging to do God's will, Saul lived out the remainder of his life in competition with a kid who would have given his very life. David adored Saul. He admired him. Saul's son became David's best friend. David married one of Saul's daughters. David played music to sooth Saul. David fought in Saul's army yet Saul hated David and wanted to kill him more and more. Isn't it interesting how instead of doing God's will we simply want to eliminate those who are doing God's will as if that would cause God to turn back to us? It won't! The only thing that will please God is obedience. The Bible says of God, "If you love me keep my commandments." We please God through focusing on Him and doing His will the way that He wants it done, when He wants it done and how He wants it done.
When you have people in the church who simply can't stand you it is most likely because of the spirit of competition. When you have people who can't seem to get over whatever it is that makes them hate you so, chances are there dwells the spirit of competition. This is why our Bishop rebuked this spirit and cast it out from among us. We are all needed in the body of Christ. No one is better or more desired or more depended on. These are weak human emotions that we devise to boost our own egos.
What good is it to think ill of someone? How does that help us be productive in the Kingdom? What good is it to get caught talking crazy about folks? How does that help save souls? Does it really feel that good to reject our Christian brothers and sisters? Is it that good to leave others out when we cook or have a gathering? Is it really necessary to talk sweet to folks in front of your Pastor and First Lady, and then snub them when those individuals are not around? Here's something for free, your Pastor and First Lady may not see what you are doing, but they have no heaven or hell to put you in or keep you from. God sees all and when we are judged our whole lives will be compelled of us as we stand before the throne. We will not be able to hide mistreating others and getting pleasure from it. Is it really going to further God's purpose for us as a whole to leave our co-laborers out of planned activities?
Competition brings these behaviors on. We have to mature. There's no rule that you have to like everyone that you work with. Yet there is a rule that you must love. Love causes you to put away competition and to choose God's will over the good feeling that you get by squeezing others out. The reward is the penny. You may have gotten there first and have worked hard all day, but because God chose me I'm going to get the same reward.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
God's Word
Recently I was musing on Isaiah 55:11, which states, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
I asked God to reveal to me what the scripture meant. He told me that His Word cannot return until without accomplishing its purpose because it is in a state of perpetual motion. In order to prepare for this blog I researched the term perpetual motion. From a human perspective the Laws of Thermodynamics actually prohibit or make impossible a perpetual motion device, but the definition of perpetual motion is to put something in to motion that once started would continue indefinitely. The Bible says, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35.
I also like the Amplified version of the Isaiah 55:11 text which states, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
As I was getting excited about this revelation about God's Word He then revealed to me how so many of us have a scripture that defines us. When you hear that scripture you often think of that person. For example, my husband's scripture is Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. First Lady Woods is known for quoting, Philippians 3:12-14, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Bishop Woods frequently quotes Acts 1:8 and has made that scripture the very foundation of Urban Empowerment Ministries and it states, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
These are a few examples, but think about it. These individuals' lives are saturated with these scriptures so much so that they quote them frequently and themselves live by the very Word of the text. They seem to each exemplify the Word and bring it to life through their own testimony. For my husband this scripture is so much more than words on paper. This scripture has defined his life because at his lowest point when he had no other choice, but simply to wait upon the Lord, God renewed his strength and he knows and people who truly know him know that no one could have done this thing, "but God." No one could have restored life into him, but God. No one could have lifted him, but God and now when you see him he is an absolute walking miracle and testimony of the power of God, the realness of God and his ability to absolutely change a person's outcome. When others counted this man of God out, God said, I'll renew your strength and allow you to not only be strong but to mount up on wings as eagles, run and not be weary walk and not faint and if anyone truly truly knows Samuel B. Robinson, Jr. then you know that God has brought him out and given him strength that he should not have!
So now this testimony is passed from God to the writer of the text, to the preacher that pierced Sam's heart with it in the first place, to me to others to our daughter and so on. This is the essence of why God's word cannot return to him void and why it must and will accomplish what it set out to do.
What's my scripture? Ephesians 3:14-21, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
What is your scripture? What is that Word that saturates you? That word that you have to quote? That you have to seek out and live for? God's word lives in us and passes through us to accomplish its purpose according to God's pleasure.
I asked God to reveal to me what the scripture meant. He told me that His Word cannot return until without accomplishing its purpose because it is in a state of perpetual motion. In order to prepare for this blog I researched the term perpetual motion. From a human perspective the Laws of Thermodynamics actually prohibit or make impossible a perpetual motion device, but the definition of perpetual motion is to put something in to motion that once started would continue indefinitely. The Bible says, Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35.
I also like the Amplified version of the Isaiah 55:11 text which states, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
As I was getting excited about this revelation about God's Word He then revealed to me how so many of us have a scripture that defines us. When you hear that scripture you often think of that person. For example, my husband's scripture is Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. First Lady Woods is known for quoting, Philippians 3:12-14, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Bishop Woods frequently quotes Acts 1:8 and has made that scripture the very foundation of Urban Empowerment Ministries and it states, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
These are a few examples, but think about it. These individuals' lives are saturated with these scriptures so much so that they quote them frequently and themselves live by the very Word of the text. They seem to each exemplify the Word and bring it to life through their own testimony. For my husband this scripture is so much more than words on paper. This scripture has defined his life because at his lowest point when he had no other choice, but simply to wait upon the Lord, God renewed his strength and he knows and people who truly know him know that no one could have done this thing, "but God." No one could have restored life into him, but God. No one could have lifted him, but God and now when you see him he is an absolute walking miracle and testimony of the power of God, the realness of God and his ability to absolutely change a person's outcome. When others counted this man of God out, God said, I'll renew your strength and allow you to not only be strong but to mount up on wings as eagles, run and not be weary walk and not faint and if anyone truly truly knows Samuel B. Robinson, Jr. then you know that God has brought him out and given him strength that he should not have!
So now this testimony is passed from God to the writer of the text, to the preacher that pierced Sam's heart with it in the first place, to me to others to our daughter and so on. This is the essence of why God's word cannot return to him void and why it must and will accomplish what it set out to do.
What's my scripture? Ephesians 3:14-21, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
What is your scripture? What is that Word that saturates you? That word that you have to quote? That you have to seek out and live for? God's word lives in us and passes through us to accomplish its purpose according to God's pleasure.
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