Monday Morning Rewind: Keeping It to Ourselves?

Yesterday’s message focused on our church’s emphasis on “Soul Winning Commitment Day,” an annual event on our denominational calendar. The challenge is for each of us to do our part in being a witness for Jesus. The text came from 2 Kings 7:3-11, a remarkable passage focused on four lepers during the siege of Samaria by the Aramean (Syrian) army.

This passage shares the importance of opportunity and responsibility for what God has both done for us and also wants to do for others. The Scripture notes these men recognized, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…”(2 Kings 7:9, NIV) Such a message of good news needs to be shared with everyone!

You see, God gives us the privilege and responsibility of inviting others to experience the Good News of Jesus Christ for themselves. It’s not something for any of us to keep to ourselves. His intent is that we be a blessing to others as He has blessed us. To do that we must touch the lives of others; we must show them the love and good news of Christ.

How did these four lepers do that? How did they change the world for all those who heard their message of good news?

First, they saw the possibilities (vv. 3-4). They recognized that there were three options available to them: Go back (into the walled, famined city), Stay where they were (outside but together), or Go forward (into the “enemy” camp, where their future was uncertain). They chose to go forward, the only direction where there was even a chance of success! They understood that to keep doing what they’d been doing meant they’d keep getting what they’d been getting. They also understood that even “an enemy” can’t really do anything to a man who’s willing to die! (As lepers, they had lived with that death sentence for a long time…) We too must surrender self before God can and will do miraculous things through us.

Second, they stepped out in faith (vv. 5-6). It’s one thing to determine logically what they ought to do; it’s another to actually do it! But do it they did, at dusk that very night. Contrast their action with the response of the king’s officer (end of chapter 6), when Elisha the prophet announced to the King’s court what God would do the next day. This officer doubted the power of God, doubted the creativity of God and also doubted the message of God! They on the other hand were “desperate” enough to step out in faith and risk it all! We too must take the initiative to step out in faith, for all the planning and analysis in the world is worthless unless it leads us to action. When we risk for God in faith, we discover what only He can and will do.

Third, they made their lives count (v. 9). Remember, when God removes an obstacle, He often gives you an opportunity. The lepers didn’t understand this at first. When they found the camp empty of “God’s doing,” they first experienced the blessing themselves. Then they tried to hoard it. (Perhaps they were afraid that it might not be there for them in the future.) Finally, they were convicted by the “grace” of the blessing itself and seeing beyond themselves, they realized they had a responsibility to share this vital, life-saving knowledge and experience with others. They recognized that to stay silent would be sin. So they seized the moment, as we too must do, for the urgency of their situation demands it.

Today we live in a world in which more people are without Jesus than ever before in history. Researchers say that every minute 83 more people in this world die and enter a Christ-less eternity. In spite of this sobering reality, it takes over 44 believers in our churches today to lead a single person to Christ. In fact, less than 25 percent of God’s people will ever even tell one person about the good news we have in Him. “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…” (v. 9). May this become our heart-cry, our passion, our life in the days ahead as we strive to be on mission for our Lord.

Monday Morning Rewind: Bold Faith

The third chapter of Acts moves the action of the apostles back into the realm of the specific, with the recounting of the crippled man healed at the “gate beautiful.” This story is historically important because it tells us how the Lord used Peter’s resulting message to add thousands more to the church. But it is spiritually important for all of us who are followers of Christ, because of the lessons it teaches us about the power of God, the authority of Jesus’ name and the place of bold faith in the life of the Christ-follower. It is to this that we turn our attention this week in our continuing study of the characteristics of effective churches (and disciples) found in the early chapters of the book of Acts.

in the first ten verses of this passage, Peter and John demonstrated a fundamental element in the lifestyle of all growing disciples: they walked by faith, not by sight. Paul reminded the Corinthians church of this essential truth in his second epistle (5.7). Here, the apostles showed how this reality “works” in the life of God’s people.

Now, let me remind us all that “faith” is not simply intellectual assent to a fact or opinion (“I believe he’s the greatest ever”) nor is it simply an emotional desire (“I trust it will work out”). Biblical faith is a volitional commitment to depend completely and totally on someone else (Jesus), without any visible means of support. It is literally “Forsaking ALL, I Trust Him.”

So, how did the apostles apply this kind of faith to daily living? How can we do that, too?

First, they “saw” the need (vv. 2, 4). They became aware of the world around them. The Scripture says the crippled man was placed here “every day” and perhaps they had seen him often on their way to the Temple to pray. But on this day they noticed him in a new way, acknowledging him  as they entered the temple courts. (How many times do you and I “filter out” those around us who have needs?) The Scripture says that Peter looked into his soul, as it were, to discern his real and genuine need, and in so doing, was ready to respond in a way similar to the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, if he hadn’t been sensitive to the Spirit’s leadership in his life, he might have missed the very thing God wanted him to experience.

Second, they seized the opportunity (vv. 4, 5, 6). Their sensitivity to the Spirit elicited a response akin to the recognition that this was “a divine opportunity,” not mere circumstance. Peter and John saw it as a chance to evidence the grace and power of God and they were unafraid to do so. Perhaps they didn’t have money to give, but they did have something…something far more significant to give to this man. However, in order for him to experience the life and power of God, they had to be willing to risk…risk their reputation (what if we “fail?,”) their health (what if we are hurt by others?), their freedom (what if we get in trouble for doing this?), etc. Friends, there will always be a risk associated with faith; it’s the nature of the characteristic! But their risk was for God’s honor (not their own) and for the wholeness of another (not self-protection). Faith always depends on God to show up!

Finally, they trusted the Lord (vv. 7, 12, 16). These men did what God expected of them: they relied completely on Jesus and they offered their hand of assistance to this now formerly-crippled man. For as he responded to the faith they exhibited and was now challenged to demonstrate in his own life, he found the courage to act boldly–audaciously–just as the apostles had when they insisted he stand and walk. Everyone here relied on God to do what ONLY God could do. And He did. But for all of them, they had come to the crossroads of decision: what Henry Blackaby calls the “crisis of belief.” The apostles put everything on the line when they called upon the crippled man “in the name of Jesus of Narazeth, rise up and walk.” The crippled man put all he had on the line when he willingly attempted to do so. Their response to the “crisis of belief” in that moment made an eternal difference in all their lives, and as we learn from the rest of the story, in the lives of many, many others as well.

What’s it going to take for you and me, and for our churches, to have that kind of bold faith? What’s got to happen for us to acknowledge the needs around us, to seize the divine opportunities and to trust the Lord to show up and do what only He can do? I pray to God that for all of us, we will learn daily how much bigger and greater and stronger and wiser (you get the idea) our God is than ANY problem or circumstance we face. Our Lord is looking for men and women who will trust Him with EVERYTHING and who will “walk by faith, not by sight.”

Will that be you?

Will that be our church?

Don’t ever forget! “Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.” (Hebrews 11.6)

(This message is the fourth in a series on characteristics of effective churches, based on the early church’s experience as recorded in the book of Acts. Message one dealt with “dynamic community,”  message two dealt with “Holy Spirit leadership,”  and message three dealt with “focused purpose.” You can find the notes to all of these messages also on this blog.)

Monday Morning Rewind: In God We Trust?

In 1956, by an act of Congress our national motto became “In God We Trust.” It has adorned all our money since that time, and in some instances even before (back in the Civil War days). But regardless of what our money “says,” the ultimate reality of our trust is seen in our behavior…the things upon which we build our lives. In the final analysis, that foundation has to provide us with purpose and meaning. Consequently, whatever it is will shape our present moments as well as our destiny.

Solomon knew something about all of this. Having followed his father to the throne as king of Israel, he watched and heard David declare that “in Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name” before the nation (Psalm 33.21). Acknowledged in Scripture as “the wisest man who ever lived” (1 Kings 4.31), Solomon nevertheless had to come to a place where he personally professed his allegiance in God, not because his father did, but because he knew it was right. The book of Ecclesiastes tells of that personal, existential journey. As “the Teacher” for Israel he shares the lessons of his journey, a journey littered with many wrong turns and mistakes along the way. One commentator even calls the message of Ecclesiastes “the art of staying off dead-end streets.”

Where did Solomon “journey” to try and find meaning in life? In what was he willing to place his trust and allegiance in hopes of discovering a purpose for living?

He looked for knowledge to provide the answers in life (1.17). He sought out a cognitive form of mental gratification that helped him grow and increase the accumulation of wisdom. He experienced and applied what he learned. But he came to realize it was an unending battle to master information that was multiplying too fast to grasp. On the one hand, knowledge adds to arrogance (“I’m better than others”); on the other hand, it adds to frustration (“I can never know it all”). As a result, it was unsatisfying; Solomon’s word is “vanity,” emptiness, meaninglessness. It was like trying to catch the wind!

He looked to pleasure to bring meaning in life (2.10, 1, 11). 1 Kings 11.3 actually tells us how this was manifest in his life: he had 300 wives and 700 female concubines. In his own words, he says he denied himself nothing his eyes or heart desired; he sought to provide for himself a form of physical and emotional gratification. John later on helped us realize that the source of temptations come to us through the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh (1 John 2.16); Solomon apparently succumbed to all of these temptations in another vain attempt to find meaning and purpose in life. He discovered two things: first, this desire for pleasure is insatiable and second, that this too was an empty foundation upon which to build the stability of life.

He looked to “success” to provide meaning in life (2.4-6, 8-9, 11). This took the form of work, projects, etc., supposedly for the benefit of others (but in reality to boost his own ego and self-importance…he uses the words “for myself” five times in this section). This led to the accumulation of wealth as a source of meaning, and when that didn’t satisfy, he tried the authority of power, but this too left him empty. He fell prey to “the myth of more.” All of these things that so many of us long for, and feel like if we only had “this,” it would make everything alright…well, Solomon found them all to be just as meaningless and unsatisfying as knowledge and pleasure had been.

But Solomon made a great discovery! The source and foundation of meaning and purpose in life is God! (2.24-26) He came to realize that only God can provide meaning in life, only He can be the foundation upon which to build a life worth living. Why chase after the by-products (happiness, peace, etc.) that will be here today and gone tomorrow, instead of chasing after the source of it all, God? He alone can provide contentment and enjoyment in life. He alone can give the wisdom and happiness we need and so eagerly desire. In this discovery, Solomon had come “full circle” from what his father had taught him long before: in God we trust. He came to own this truth for himself personally, for only God can provide you and me with the satisfaction and fulfillment that we seek in life.

For many of us, we’ve been on that journey and come to realize the very same truth. Some are still seeking. I pray that if you are searching, you will consider the wisdom and experiences of Solomon and look to God as the source of your life, too. Jesus said, “I have come that YOU might have life–life in all its fullest.” Why not discover the reality of this truth for yourself? You’ll be eternally grateful that you did.

Monday Morning Rewind: Marks of a Godly Father

Yesterday was Father’s Day, a special day to celebrate and reflect on the value God places on the role of fatherhood in family and societal life. Abraham in Genesis 22 is an amazing example of a godly man, influencing his son, yet not taking his eyes off of his heavenly Father in the process. He understood even in this most definitive “chapter” in his life that he needed to reflect the nature and character of God to his child.

This passage, often called the “sacrifice of Isaac,” is perhaps better called “the testing of Abraham.” No physical sacrifice ever takes place (though mentally and spiritually Abraham does so, according to Hebrews 11:17). Rather, it is the patriarch’s character and allegiance to his God that is on examination. The end result is that Abraham passed the test with “flying colors.”

How did he do that? What did he have within him that made for such a godly father and man?

First, he showed faithful obedience (vv. 1-3). God tested Abraham to confirm and strengthen him, not to corrupt and weaken him (the Devil’s purposes). When God cried out for Abraham’s attention and gave His command, He found Abraham’s response to be swift and obedient, without argument or hesitation. In a sense, God was asking Abraham to show Him that he was willing to do for his heavenly Father, the maker of the universe, what the lost, pagan world was willing to do for their false “gods” (sacrifice their children to prove their commitment). It was a test of the heart, of His allegiance and willingness to put God first, even before this “son of promise.” You see, obedience is not just measured in what you give to God, but also in what you keep for yourself. Abraham understood this, and was willing to obey God no matter what the cost in relationships, possessions or comfort. He put God first.

Second, Abraham demonstrated straight priorities (vv. 4-5). When he, Isaac and the two servants arrived at their foothills of Mt. Moriah, he declared two important things. First, the purpose of all of this was to worship God. He was headed up that mountain with his son to “bow the knee” to the Almighty, to express his love and devotion to His Creator and Sustainer. He was able to understand that even this experience was ultimately about the worth of God and His own willingness to keep it centered in his life. Second, he expressed the hope and belief that both would return down the hill to be reunited with these servants. He no doubt noted that Mt. Moriah was known as the place “where the LORD provides or appears.” Believing that would happen, he anticipated their reunion. Abraham had learned in other experiences that when he tried to “protect” his family he instead got everyone in trouble; on the other hand, when he put God first, then his heavenly Father took care of all their needs.

Finally, he evidenced simple trust (vv. 6-8). Please note I said simple–not easy–trust, for trust for many of us gets harder as we get older. But not for Abraham! He learned to believe God, and was able to exemplify that before his son to the degree that Isaac was able also to trust God with the end result of this ’sacrifice.” Isaac was reassured by his father that God would provide the sacrifice necessary, and for him, that was enough. They were in this “together,” bound to each other. Ultimately Abraham knew that only God could provide for him what was needed and he was willing to trust God to do what only God Himself could do. By getting to know God over the 25 years of their relationship–through thick and thin–he had come to know that God ALWAYS kept His word and that he, Abraham, could rely completely and without hesitation, on Him. The writer of Hebrews (11:19) goes so far as to tell us that Abraham had already reasoned the solution out: my God is so big, so great that if He truly wants me to sacrifice my son as a demonstration of my obedience, then He will show His truthfulness by raising young Isaac from the dead! Now that’s a big God living in the live of a godly man.

So let’s learn from Abraham how we too can live a life for our Lord, even in the most trying of circumstances. And may God grant us this Father’s Day the privilege of reflecting the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that our children, and others we influence, will see Him just as clearly in our lives.

Monday Morning Rewind: Seeing Beyond Ourselves

Yesterday’s message was the last in a series of six on the Acts 1.8 Challenge–a challenge to each do our part in being a witness for Jesus in the spheres of influence in our lives. The text came from 2 Kings 7:3-16, a remarkable passage focused on four lepers during the siege of Samaria by the Aramean (Syrian) army.

This passage has come to be known by some commentators as “the Great Commission of the Old Testament.” It certainly shares the importance of opportunity and responsibility for what God has both done for us and also wants to do for others. The Scripture notes these men saying, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…” (2 Kings 7:9, NIV) Such a message of good news needs to be shared with everyone, as God would no doubt want.

You see, God wants to make His vision for us a reality for ALL to experience and enjoy; it’s not something for any of us to keep to ourselves. His intent is that we be a blessing to others as He has blessed us. To do that we must touch the lives of others; we must show them the love and good news of Christ. In fact, I truly believe that if we touch a life, we can change the world.

How did these four lepers do that? How did they change the world for all those who heard their message of good news?

First, they saw the possibilities (vv. 3-4). They recognized that there were three options available to them: Go back (into the walled, famined city), Stay where they were (outside but together), or Go forward (into the “enemy” camp, where their future was uncertain). They chose to go forward, the only direction where there was even a chance of success! They understood that to keep doing what they’d been doing meant they’d keep getting what they’d been getting. They also understood that even “an enemy” can’t really do anything to a man who’s willing to die! (As lepers, they had lived with that death sentence for a long time…) You see, we too must surrender self before God can and will do miraculous things through us.

Second, they stepped out in faith (vv. 5-6). It’s one thing to determine logically what they ought to do; it’s another to actually do it! But do it they did, at dusk that night. Contrast their action to the response of the king’s officer (end of chapter 6) when Elisha the prophet announced to the King’s court what God would do the next day. This officer doubted the power of God, doubted the creativity of God and also doubted the message of God! They on the other hand were “desperate” enough to step out in faith and risk it all! We too must take the initiative to step out in faith, for all the planning and analysis in the world is worthless unless it leads us to action. When we risk for God in faith, we discover what only He can and will do.

Third, they made their lives count (v. 9). Remember, when God removes an obstacle, He often gives you an opportunity. The lepers didn’t understand this at first. When they found the camp empty of “God’s doing,” they first experienced the blessing themselves. Then they tried to hoard it (Perhaps they were afraid that it might not be there for them in the future.). Finally, they were convicted by the “grace” of the blessing itself and seeing beyond themselves, they realized they had a responsibility to share this vital, life-saving knowledge and experience with others. They recognized that to stay silent would be sin. So they seized the moment, as we too must do, for the urgency of their situation and now ours, demands it.

Today we live in a world in which more people are without Jesus than ever before in history. And yet it takes over 44 people in our churches today to lead a single person to Christ. In fact, less than 25 percent of God’s people will ever even tell one person about the good news we have in Him. “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves…Let’s go at once and report this…” (v. 9). May this become our mantra, our passion, our life in the days ahead as we strive to be on mission for our Lord.

Touch a life, change the world–for Jesus’ sake.

Monday Morning Rewind: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Yesterday we celebrated Mother’s Day. Consequently, in my message I focused on the life of Eunice (and her mother Lois), whose son, Timothy, is more well-known in the Scriptures to most of us. They are referenced in 2 Timothy 1:5 by author and colleague, the apostle Paul, as he encourages and mentors Timothy in the work he is doing at the church in Ephesus. Paul acknowledged that Eunice and Lois passed on to Timothy some things of great impact, which have helped shape his life.

What were these things that impacted his life, that of Paul and even you and me today? First was their sincere faith. Paul remarked that Timothy’s faith was genuine, real, authentic. This faith was first evidenced in his grandmother, Lois, so Paul says, and also in his mother Eunice. It was something that was indicative of their lives, because it was a verb…an action word. They lived it out, even in the experience of releasing young Timothy to accompany Paul on his missionary journeys. Can you imagine how a parent would have felt about that? But Mom and Grandmom we are told trusted God and He took care of the rest.

Second, they passed on their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures to young Timothy (3:14-15). From infancy they had made it a point to teach him God’s Word; they didn’t depend on the synagogue or the church to take their place with this responsibility. They made it a priority in their life as family. The kind of knowledge they passed on suggests a “street-smart”, common sense knowledge: not just book or head knowledge. They had lived it out and applied this knowledge, finding it to be true. They had experienced the transforming power of God’s Word and wanted Timothy to “know” that too.

Finally, their lives were ultimate examples of how Christ-followers are to live out the realities of life. This passing from one generation to the next generation to the next generation demonstrates the power of legacy, “from the first to now.” They had left a pattern of how to live out the Christ-life for Timothy to follow. Paul shows that the power of that example had influenced, not just their family member, but even him (and us) by the commitment, love and service they showed. That’s influence at its best. and in point of fact, that influence may just be the greatest gift you can give to others you know and love. It’s the gift that just keeps on giving.

John Maxwell has written that in North America today any person who lives a full, average life span will influence a minimum of 10,000 during their lifetime…no matter how introverted or unassuming their life may be. If that is the case, then all of us, like mother Eunice and grandmother Lois of old, need to see the impact on the multitude of people our life can make, around us in the world today as well as in the generations to come.

Why Student Ministers Make Good Church Planters

Yesterday, a student minister called me and expressed his interest in planting a church. He was hungry and interested, so we talked for a while. When I hung up the phone I was excited about the possibilities but I was a long way from being surprised. It happens to me virtually all the time.

A friend on staff with me here, Maina whose ministry is with student pastors, he and I laugh about it frequently. He prepares them and I recruit them. Actually, I often times don’t even have to recruit them; Maina just comes and tells me they want to talk to me about church planting.

Why? Student ministers make good church planters. That probably doesn’t surprise you, either, at least if you’ve thought about it before now. Some of the best and brightest over the years (Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Dan Kimball, to name just a few) served as student/youth pastors before they became church planters. It’s as natural a progression as day to night.

Here are some reasons that seem obvious to me:

They are innovative, out of the box thinkers. Student ministers embrace new paradigms, create new things, are always trying something new. Whether it’s an event or a process, they embrace the need to be creative (often “cool”), attract attention, engage people and share the Good News in unique, unconventional ways. It is this relevance to real life that connects with students in fresh ways; it is the same relevance that appeals to unchurched people in church plants.

They are doers. Student ministers are action-oriented, largely because their students are. Active lifestyles require getting out of the building and living among the people they are seeking to serve through incarnational means. They teach as much by modeling and in on-the-job ways, as they do in the classroom. This interaction with others in their world appeals to the students they reach and it affords them credibility as they seek to minister to them in Jesus’ name. The same is true of church planters, who are trying to intersect the lives of the unchurched in “the real world.”

They care a lot about people and especially those without Jesus. Student ministers are most often people who are passionate about people! They are usually extroverts and social-types who love to hang out with youth on their own terms. As a result they are often good listeners and can network newcomers into the fabric of community life that makes everyone involved feel comfortable. They advocate, encourage and nurture these young lives in ways that cause them to flourish; this brings immense satisfaction to the minister, too. They realize that students live in a world that is constantly engaging the lost and unchurched. Their hope is that they can equip them to see the needs and live a life that attracts others to Christ as well. The world of church planting requires people-loving leaders, too, since this element–the relational–is one of its greatest advantages in its early years over all other churches.

They believe in possibilities. They are risk-taking, faith-walking, potential-seeing individuals who are always living in the tension of the present and the future. They believe NOTHING is impossible with God, and they seek to pass on that kind of value and belief to those with whom they serve. They’re not afraid for an event to fail, if it was well-intentioned because they know that such failure is born of risk that is necessary to make the eventual difference in the lives of those they have yet to reach. This vision fuels their heart as they seek to follow Christ and brings others along with them. Just like planters they expect great things from God and are willing to attempt great things for God.

They love living in chaos…and making sense of it all. Student pastors are thrust into the world of teenagers…and that’s about as chaotic as it can possibly get! They thrive in that environment, find energy there that pulls them forward in ministry and enables them to help others find enough order and meaning to embrace the journey of life–all without sapping the fun and excitement out of it! That’s attractive in and of itself and encourages many to check out “this Jesus thing” for themselves. Church planters do the same, living in chaos while helping others find the adventure for which they were created. In fact, one great “chaos” experience feeds the next, and so on.

So I’m not surprised when student ministers expresss interest in church planting. In fact, I’ve come to expect it. In fact my personal experience tells me that experiential they are typically better prepared for it than seminary students who’ve never done youth work before.

Monday Morning Rewind: Winning over Worry

The concluding section of Matthew 6 is actually an elaboration on the concerns and priority that money (the immediately preceding section) can have on our life. Jesus reminds His followers that if you follow after material possessions you will be burdened with worries about these things all the time. This worrying, which He tells followers to reject, is defined as “the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God” (Craig Groeschel). Instead, Jesus teaches that we are to allow God to take care of our worries and concerns in life as we keep our life focused on Him and His priorities. In effect, it’s a swap: we trade our concerns with the concerns of God. When we take up His concerns, He says He will take care of our needs.

So how do we do that?

First, we accept divine providence (v. 32). While the unbelieving world “runs after” food, drink, clothing…the material concerns of this world, Jesus tells us that we are not to be like this. (In effect, worrying about these things is acting like an unbeliever!) Isn’t it interesting that our Lord uses the action words “run after” to describe their behavior?! It’s as though they are “hungering  and thirsting” after these insatiable concerns rather than the righteousness of God (see chapter 5, verse 6.). Jesus reminds His followers that our heavenly Father already knows that we have these needs. As such, we need to trust Him and His provision for these needs. Unfortunately, for many of us we are not simply satisfied with what Jesus will provide–we want more. And therein lies the problem that leads to great worries on our part!

Second, we have to adopt divine priorities (v. 33a). Here Jesus teaches His followers that they are to focus on the priorities of God’s kingdom and His righteousness (contrasted with the righteousness of the religious leaders of the day). These concerns are to occupy our time and attention; they are to be the significant matters of our life, not temporal things like food and clothing. Our focus need to be centered on Him, not on self. After all, it’s all about Him! Thus, this process of “seeking” is a relational journey, an adventure if you will, in which God invites us to join Him in His work as we follow Him in the way.

Third, we are to anticipate divine promises (v. 33b). Jesus says that when we adopt His priorities we receive the guarantee of God…”All these things (food, drink, clothing, etc.) will be given to you as well.” So when we adopt His priorities we get God’s concerns PLUS our needs…a win-win scenario! But note, they are “given” not demanded, thus as recipients God gets to decide what to give and when. This is often the hard part for us, because way too often we want to control the outcome (which leads once again to worrying!). We must rely on the faithfulness of God, who has not and will not let us down. We can cast our cares on Him, BECAUSE He cares for us (1 Peter 5.7).

Finally, we have to apply divine principles (v. 34). Simply said, we must learn to live one day at a time. The past is gone forever (don’t dwell there since you and I cannot change it) and tomorrow’s not promised to anyone (so don’t waste time worrying about what may or may not happen). Live in the moment of each day. The key to doing this is to “learn” contentment. It doesn’t come naturally for most of us, so like the apostle Paul we have to learn it (cf. Philippians 4). He reminds us there not to worry about anything, BUT rather to pray about everything. He also points out that the secret to contentment is to know and rely of the One who strengthens you and me.

So what’s keeping you from relying on Him? From peace of heart and mind? Enslaved to worries? Is it fear? suspicion? pride? restlessness? the “grand illusion” of control? Jesus Himself tells us the key to overcoming worry in our life when He points out that our propensity to worry is because we are “of little faith” (v. 30).  Grow your faith! Trust Him more! George Mueller once said, “The end of anxiety is faith; and the end of faith is anxiety.” Give up your worries, by taking up His priorities. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…and you know what? all these other things will be given to you, as well.

Monday Morning Rewind: Communing with God

In my opinion, prayer is one of those Christian practices that the contemporary Christian community tends to define in a weak manner. To suggest that it’s simply “talking to God” may be a good starting place for a new believer, but it’s more than that. To add that we should “listen” to God, too, is better, but is misses the fact that we communication non-verbally in more ways than simply with the words spoken. Even to suggest that it is “communicating” with God leaves me a bit cold, since some of our communicating is sub-conscious or unconscious (The Spirit intercedes for us with words that cannot be uttered, Romans 8).

In fact, if prayer is more about relationship–and we’ve been led by Jesus to believe the entirety of life is about that rather than religion–than I prefer to define prayer as “communing with God.” For me, it’s a relational word that suggests that “praying without ceasing” can only happen as we take each step in life alongside our Lord. It is more than a duty or obligation (even discipline leaves me cold; how about you?); it is “sharing life with a mentor and friend, a lifelong companion who at the same time is Savior and Lord.”

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus comes to chapter six and moves from simply talking about our character to how it impacts our conduct as a follower of Christ. He quickly focuses on prayer as a foundational element in that “follow-ship.” So in verses 5-18, he addresses the role prayer is to play in the lifestyle of the believer.

First, He suggests there are some pitfalls in prayer that we must avoid (vv. 5, 7). Don’t be like the hypocrites or the pagans, He says, and in so doing reminds His followers that these dangers include:

• making our prayers a performance to impress self or others rather than connect with God
• using empty words or wordiness, as though there were magic bullets or secret formulas to “make” God do what we want
• not praying at all, which is the height of arrogance and “the biggest contemporary pitfall [of believers in their prayer lifes today],” according to Stuart Briscoe.

Jesus says our praying needs to connect with God, not just be a mumbo-jumbo of words. So check your motivation and the direction of your prayer to make sure you’re communing with Him.

Second, Jesus indicates there are some principles to apply (vv. 6-15). This section is well-known and includes what we know as the “Lord’s Prayer,” or better “Model Prayer,” since it is given in response to a “how” question (How are we to pray?) not a “what” question (What are we to pray?). Jesus says to first focus on fellowship with the Father. We direct our prayer to Him; we acknowledge the alignment of His Name, His Kingdom and His Will in heaven as it should be on earth; and we defer all glory, honor and praise to Him now and forever. Second, we are to adore the Almighty. He says our prayers should see that His vision motivates us to reverence Him (hold in highest esteem), to keep His Kingdom–not our empire–as our goal in life service and to do His will, not our own. Finally, we are to make requests of the Redeemer, but they are requests for needs not wants…needs like daily sustenance (physical), forgiveness and protection from temptation and the Enemy (spiritual, with social ramifications in the one condition shared “as we forgive those who trespass against us”).

Third, Jesus says there are lessons to learn about prayer (v. 6). These lessons have to do with our heart application of communing with God. We are to admit…our need. To do that we must reject pride. We are to commit…our heart. To do that we must trust in our Father to provide for us. And we are to submit…our will. To yield means we must give up control to our Lord. Such prayer demonstrates our dependence on God and allows Him to align our will with His own.

Finally, a note on fasting (vv. 16-18). Fasting is prayer–communing with God–taken to the next level. It’s deeper, more intimate, more intense as we give up the things that temporarily sustain us to be reminded of what eternalily sustains us, the Lord of Life. Fasting clears the head and the heart and allows one to hear God. It makes a statement to God about the importance you place on hearing from Him above anything else. But when you do fast, Jesus says, don’t draw attention to yourself, or try to make others feel sorry for you or be impressed by you…your goal is to “get alone with God” and allow Him to share what only He can truly whisper into your life.

Still, the American church has a prayer problem. In my opinion, our problem is not knowing how to pray or what to pray. We talk about it a lot, but practice it a little! Matthew Henry once said, “A praying man will stop sinning and a sinning man will stop praying.” If that’s true–and I believe it is–than I’m thinking Henry may truly have pointed out the source of our prayer problem for all to see.

Paul Harvey & the Rest of the Story

Paul Harvey--GNS

It is with great sadness that I acknowledge here the passing of long-time radio legend, Paul Harvey.  I  listened to him countless times over the years, and was always touched by his wisdom, humor and optimism…a rare combination in a journalist. With so many “real” journalists writing about his life today, I feel out of place penning a eulogy or obituary here. Instead I refer you to the USA Today story, which you can access by clicking here.

Paul Harvey was a believer in Jesus Christ; I’ve heard him share his story of faith and fulfillment in Him several times over the years. I am happy to announce that now, indeed, he knows “the rest of the story.” Rest in peace, Paul Harvey. You’ll be sorely missed.