Earlier this night, we reviewed the third week session of becoming a Romans 12 Christian. This session dealt with Romans 12:2. It reads:
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
So what exactly is this passage saying? In reality, this passage is telling us all why there are so many people who claim to know Christ, yet their lives don't seem to match up with the reality and power that Christ gives to His followers as described in the pages of Scripture. This passage contains a negative command, a positive command, and a purpose clause. The negative command is "do not be conformed to this world." The positive command is, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The purpose clause is, "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
We are commanded to say no to the world's values, but to also say yes to God's values and Word. When we do those things, God is the one that transforms us from the inside out and we are then able to prove what God's will is. Have you ever wondered why your life is so jumbled around and why you can't seem to fall in line with God or maybe you just have no clue what God's will is? The answer to your issue very well could be that you are saying yes to the world and no to God. You might even say, "Hey, I'm saying no to the world, but still nothing's happening!" Well, this passage tells us that's not all there is to being transformed. It's a two part deal on your end and a one part deal on God's end. God is faithful and will hold up His end of the deal. You tell the world no and tell Him yes, and watch out for the fireworks!
In all honesty, it takes a sincere and seeking heart, one that is surrendered to God, as illustrated in Romans 12:1 (the living sacrifice). By surrendering, you are telling God, "I'm all in. Whatever I need to do, I will do it for You." The process continues then with you rejecting the world's values and its schemes and then accept God's values, be filled with His Word, and commune with Him. Then God works his miracle in you and transforms you into the being He wants you to be; which is one in the likeness of His son!
I want to encourage you to tell God this day or even sometime this week, "I'm all in. All that I have, all that I am, is yours." And then boldly walk in the Spirit, rejecting the world's value system and be filled by God's Word and prayer. God bless you all and have a wonderful week!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
A New Day & A New Start
This Wednesday, we started a new class called "Becoming a Romans 12 Christian" or 'r12' for those more familiar with the name. I must say, the biggest need in the Church that I have personally seen is not more programs, money, and time. The biggest need in the Church today is more disciples. As part of the brief introduction I gave to the packed room of people, this is not just another 'class', it's more of a 'course'; it's about discipleship and learning to become Romans 12 Christians.
I've observed a few different people and congregations on my own time, including my own, and see the symptoms of what happens when there is a lack of disciples. The answer to lack of participation, lack of money in the tray, lack of spiritual growth, lack of genuine caring for the lost, lack of community involvement can all be addressed with discipleship. There are way more decisions for Christ than there are disciples. If your definition of being a disciple is showing up on Sundays and Wednesdays or any other day and doing more religious activities, then you've been deceived by the enemy! Now please don’t take this as me coming down on you, but please open your heart and see what Paul writes:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1
When I read this and when you read this, we should notice HOW Paul is writing. He's not saying we should be casual and that it's an option if you want to be a good Christian. He's URGING us... He says "Brothers, please, I beg you in light of the mercies of God! Do this! This is the only thing that makes sense!" Some translations say "your spiritual act of worship", but the idea is the same. The motivation for our surrender to God is the mercies He's already provided and the promises He's made. I encourage you to read the first 11 chapters of Romans; it's all about God's Amazing Grace.
So the solution to our problems of participation and whatnot are not to guilt people into helping or enticing them with a carrot for their help (reward). The solution to all of our needs and the things we lack are reliance on God and making disciples. We need to stop being doctors, who historically have treated SYMPTOMS and not the ROOT. I'm in no way downing doctors, but the truth is, as of now, we can only treat symptoms of the common cold and not the cold itself. But we as followers of Christ CAN treat the ROOT of our problem. Make disciples. That's the only thing that makes sense and the only cure for our church's needs. Let's make today a new day and let's start getting serious about being surrendered to God. Let's start making disciples and in the process, let God make us better ones too. God Bless you all and have a Good and Godly week!
I've observed a few different people and congregations on my own time, including my own, and see the symptoms of what happens when there is a lack of disciples. The answer to lack of participation, lack of money in the tray, lack of spiritual growth, lack of genuine caring for the lost, lack of community involvement can all be addressed with discipleship. There are way more decisions for Christ than there are disciples. If your definition of being a disciple is showing up on Sundays and Wednesdays or any other day and doing more religious activities, then you've been deceived by the enemy! Now please don’t take this as me coming down on you, but please open your heart and see what Paul writes:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1
When I read this and when you read this, we should notice HOW Paul is writing. He's not saying we should be casual and that it's an option if you want to be a good Christian. He's URGING us... He says "Brothers, please, I beg you in light of the mercies of God! Do this! This is the only thing that makes sense!" Some translations say "your spiritual act of worship", but the idea is the same. The motivation for our surrender to God is the mercies He's already provided and the promises He's made. I encourage you to read the first 11 chapters of Romans; it's all about God's Amazing Grace.
So the solution to our problems of participation and whatnot are not to guilt people into helping or enticing them with a carrot for their help (reward). The solution to all of our needs and the things we lack are reliance on God and making disciples. We need to stop being doctors, who historically have treated SYMPTOMS and not the ROOT. I'm in no way downing doctors, but the truth is, as of now, we can only treat symptoms of the common cold and not the cold itself. But we as followers of Christ CAN treat the ROOT of our problem. Make disciples. That's the only thing that makes sense and the only cure for our church's needs. Let's make today a new day and let's start getting serious about being surrendered to God. Let's start making disciples and in the process, let God make us better ones too. God Bless you all and have a Good and Godly week!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Miracle of Life Change: The End or Not?
For those who know what has been going on lately, as of last Wednesday (not yesterday, but the one before it), I finished facilitating a course called The Miracle of Life Change. It was a very powerful series and I had a lot of good response to it. Something that is key to understanding how to experience life change is that it is an on-going process. When God first converts us from the old into the new, we begin our journey towards maturity. It's a process! So, for those who've completed the course, don't let it end there, keep pressing forward!
For those who have not been in the loop or have not taken this course before, I would encourage you to look into it. And even still, if you can't, check out Ephesians 4 (even though I love the entire book). Why Ephesians 4? Well, in the grand summary of Ephesians, chapters 1,2, and 3 are all about what God did (very loose summary). Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are how Paul tells the believer to walk/live their life (again, very loose summary).
Paul uses a very clear (to the first century church) word picture that reaches back into Psalms when he talks about "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (NIV) He is basically stating that because Christ was victorious, or the proof that he was victorious is that he gave gifts! So picture this: In the days of old, Israel's army would conquer a city and then summon the general or king (of Israel) to come and lead the train back through cities of Israel. The king customarily rode on a white horse and led first the army, which was followed by the captives (which were either half naked or completely naked.... the point was humiliation), and then followed by the enemy's animals and carts of possessions. So if the king came through your city and you watched as the train paraded through the streets, you were given gifts because the king "won" the victory. How cool would that be to get a gold earring or a cow because your king was so awesome? Fantabulous!
Notice something else about this; it's the king that gives you the gift. Your king gives you a gift(or gifts) of his choosing. You don't get to pick it(or them) out. So why do you get the gifts? Because of what Christ accomplished. Now notice right below that passage about the giving of gifts what it says. It tells you exactly what the gifts are for (right after the parenthesis of course). "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (NIV) How cool is that? So, he gave theses gifts so that some would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. And by extension of that, those people are suppose to use those gifts given in order to equip the body to do works of ministry!
Not too far after this passage, Paul says that we all are to work together as each "part does its work". I would encourage you to read the whole chapter (or the whole book) and then pray about it. What gift or gifts did God give you? What has He placed on your heart to do? The Bible says that God created us to do good works which he prepared for us. That means he has a plan for your life. That plan is so perfect that nothing you could ever imagine will ever compare to it. So do you know what "part" you've been called to play? Pray about it and walk in His love. God Bless.
For those who have not been in the loop or have not taken this course before, I would encourage you to look into it. And even still, if you can't, check out Ephesians 4 (even though I love the entire book). Why Ephesians 4? Well, in the grand summary of Ephesians, chapters 1,2, and 3 are all about what God did (very loose summary). Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are how Paul tells the believer to walk/live their life (again, very loose summary).
Paul uses a very clear (to the first century church) word picture that reaches back into Psalms when he talks about "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (NIV) He is basically stating that because Christ was victorious, or the proof that he was victorious is that he gave gifts! So picture this: In the days of old, Israel's army would conquer a city and then summon the general or king (of Israel) to come and lead the train back through cities of Israel. The king customarily rode on a white horse and led first the army, which was followed by the captives (which were either half naked or completely naked.... the point was humiliation), and then followed by the enemy's animals and carts of possessions. So if the king came through your city and you watched as the train paraded through the streets, you were given gifts because the king "won" the victory. How cool would that be to get a gold earring or a cow because your king was so awesome? Fantabulous!
Notice something else about this; it's the king that gives you the gift. Your king gives you a gift(or gifts) of his choosing. You don't get to pick it(or them) out. So why do you get the gifts? Because of what Christ accomplished. Now notice right below that passage about the giving of gifts what it says. It tells you exactly what the gifts are for (right after the parenthesis of course). "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (NIV) How cool is that? So, he gave theses gifts so that some would be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. And by extension of that, those people are suppose to use those gifts given in order to equip the body to do works of ministry!
Not too far after this passage, Paul says that we all are to work together as each "part does its work". I would encourage you to read the whole chapter (or the whole book) and then pray about it. What gift or gifts did God give you? What has He placed on your heart to do? The Bible says that God created us to do good works which he prepared for us. That means he has a plan for your life. That plan is so perfect that nothing you could ever imagine will ever compare to it. So do you know what "part" you've been called to play? Pray about it and walk in His love. God Bless.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A New Beginning
Welcome to my blog. I think it would be appropriate to explain what the purpose of this blog is before going much further. This is my soapbox for lack of better words. This soapbox is where I inform you of what is going on in my life, provide Bible teaching sessions, inform you about new products that have either been developed by my friends or I, or some other random banter. But I will honestly try and keep it within the first three things I mentioned. On occasion, I might get a little political, but only in matters that deal with something that is for or against a Christian worldview. With all that being said, feel free to follow this blog. I'm not sure how often it will be updated, but I will do my best to make sure my entries do not consist of short sessions of spam; but are made with a meaningful purpose in mind.
God bless you and God bless your family.
God bless you and God bless your family.
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