Jealousy

Jealousy is insidious. Sadly, jealousy is alive and well among the "religious". In my devotions this morning I ran across an account where Paul and Barnabas are preaching in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch: "On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying." Acts 13:44,45. Later in the passage it says that the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas.

Have you ever had someone, or a group of people, jealous of you? Individuals who, no matter what, are constantly opposed to you? You say, "white" they say "black"; you say, "black" they say "white"; you say "gray" they say, "this isn't about color". They are what are referred to nowadays as, "haters". Well the Pharisees were "haters", they were jealous of Jesus and His transformational movement. Over and over again the Pharisees true colors come out: nitpicking what the disciples were doing (Mat. 12:2), questioning motives (Mat. 9:11), trying to trap Jesus (Mat. 22:15), making demands of Him (Mat. 12:38), false friendship (Luke 13:31), eventually murdering Him (John 19:6)... What was motivating all of this? Jealousy. Note John 12:18-19, "Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

The Pharisees had a pretty good thing going there. They were top dog on the spiritual ladder. They had their religious system set up exactly the way they wanted it; and this Jesus and His followers were going to upset the apple cart. The last thing the Pharisees wanted was Jesus gaining followers and changing the whole system. Rather than getting on board with what God was doing among them, they chose to allow their jealousy and hatred for Jesus to destroy themselves and many of the people around them as well. Unfortunately, we will be seeing them, and the people they led to hell at the great white throne judgment.

Jealousy may seem small but it has the potential to lead to very unhealthy behaviors and serious consequences.

Jealousy

Jealousy is insidious. Sadly, jealousy is alive and well among the "religious". In my devotions this morning I ran across an account where Paul and Barnabas are preaching in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch: "On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying." Acts 13:44,45. Later in the passage it says that the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas.

Have you ever had someone, or a group of people, jealous of you? Individuals who, no matter what, are constantly opposed to you? You say, "white" they say "black"; you say, "black" they say "white"; you say "gray" they say, "this isn't about color". They are what are referred to nowadays as, "haters". Well the Pharisees were "haters", they were jealous of Jesus and His transformational movement. Over and over again the Pharisees true colors come out: nitpicking what the disciples were doing (Mat. 12:2), questioning motives (Mat. 9:11), trying to trap Jesus (Mat. 22:15), making demands of Him (Mat. 12:38), false friendship (Luke 13:31), eventually murdering Him (John 19:6)... What was motivating all of this? Jealousy. Note John 12:18-19, "Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

The Pharisees had a pretty good thing going there. They were top dog on the spiritual ladder. They had their religious system set up exactly the way they wanted it; and this Jesus and His followers were going to upset the apple cart. The last thing the Pharisees wanted was Jesus gaining followers and changing the whole system. Rather than getting on board with what God was doing among them, they chose to allow their jealousy and hatred for Jesus to destroy themselves and many of the people around them as well. Unfortunately, we will be seeing them, and the people they led to hell at the great white throne judgment.

Jealousy may seem small but it has the potential to lead to very unhealthy behaviors and serious consequences.

Repentance and Humility

"John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." Matthew 3:4-9

When we rely on our family history or even denominational history like the Pharisees and Sadducees, we claim a relationship with God without the need to personally come to a moment of repentance. This creates a feeling of pride, rather than the humility that should characterize our relationship with God.

Repentance is bowing and admitting that we cannot earn our way into heaven, acknowledging our sin, turning from it, and asking God to forgive us. There is a humility that comes into our hearts that cannot come in any other way. We are sinners and yet God has offered us forgiveness – that’s a humbling place to be, because we have received what we did not deserve. Those who receive mercy and grace can't be proud.

From "Prologue to the World's Best Sermon" Aug. 23, 2009

Repentance and Humility

"John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." Matthew 3:4-9

When we rely on our family history or even denominational history like the Pharisees and Sadducees, we claim a relationship with God without the need to personally come to a moment of repentance. This creates a feeling of pride, rather than the humility that should characterize our relationship with God.

Repentance is bowing and admitting that we cannot earn our way into heaven, acknowledging our sin, turning from it, and asking God to forgive us. There is a humility that comes into our hearts that cannot come in any other way. We are sinners and yet God has offered us forgiveness – that’s a humbling place to be, because we have received what we did not deserve. Those who receive mercy and grace can't be proud.

From "Prologue to the World's Best Sermon" Aug. 23, 2009

New Sermon Series

It's coming...

Sep-Oct @ FFC

Prologue to the world's best sermon begins this Sunday and next.

New Sermon Series

It's coming...

Sep-Oct @ FFC

Prologue to the world's best sermon begins this Sunday and next.

Camping in the Backyard

This evening, Tammy, Shelby, and I are sleeping outside in our backyard. This is Shelby's first experience sleeping in a tent. I'm hoping it goes well because I wouldn't mind taking my family camping in the future. I'm going to be doing my best to make sure no nasty bugs come near my little girl, otherwise I can kiss camping goodbye :-)

Camping in the Backyard

This evening, Tammy, Shelby, and I are sleeping outside in our backyard. This is Shelby's first experience sleeping in a tent. I'm hoping it goes well because I wouldn't mind taking my family camping in the future. I'm going to be doing my best to make sure no nasty bugs come near my little girl, otherwise I can kiss camping goodbye :-)

Tolerance

"When the God of the Bible is rejected, people choose a new god. The postmodern age has anointed secular tolerance as its god. Tolerance once meant listening respectfully to all points of view, freely discussed in our common search for the truth. But the creed for the new god of tolerance is that knowing truth is impossible. So everyone is free to think and act as he likes, with one exception: those who have the audacity to believe that they know the truth, particularly if they think God has revealed it to them, are not tolerated. The result is that those who crowned the new god of tolerance have become the absolute arbiters of culture. The new god of tolerance becomes, in the guise of liberalism, an absolute tyrant." -Chuck Colson, "THE FAITH"

HT: Mike Messerli

Tolerance

"When the God of the Bible is rejected, people choose a new god. The postmodern age has anointed secular tolerance as its god. Tolerance once meant listening respectfully to all points of view, freely discussed in our common search for the truth. But the creed for the new god of tolerance is that knowing truth is impossible. So everyone is free to think and act as he likes, with one exception: those who have the audacity to believe that they know the truth, particularly if they think God has revealed it to them, are not tolerated. The result is that those who crowned the new god of tolerance have become the absolute arbiters of culture. The new god of tolerance becomes, in the guise of liberalism, an absolute tyrant." -Chuck Colson, "THE FAITH"

HT: Mike Messerli

Wrath & Grace part 2

Too often we think that life is like looking over the stats of a football game. The Colts passed for x number of yards = good. They had 4 penalties = bad. 3 Touchdowns = good; 5 turnovers = bad.

That sounds like the way we evaluate our lives. We do some good things and we do some bad things. The world tells us as long as the good deeds outnumber the bad, you’re OK. That’s not what God says. The Bible says if you commit a single sin you are lost and separated from God’s holiness. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23 Thankfully, because Jesus who did no wrong, has come and stood in our places and received our punishment on the cross, we can have a second chance that we don’t deserve. "... and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24

One of the things that sets Christianity apart from every other religion on the face of the earth is the doctrine of grace. Other religions have gods appearing in human form, a need for salvation, life after death, etc. only Christianity is audacious enough to tell of God's grace.

The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, and the Muslim code of law—each of these offers a way to earn approval of God and entry into heaven. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus didn’t come to earth primarily to model ethical behavior or to teach us great truths about God; He came first and foremost to suffer the punishment for our sin. He incurred the full wrath of God for our sin so that we can experience His grace.

Wrath & Grace part 2

Too often we think that life is like looking over the stats of a football game. The Colts passed for x number of yards = good. They had 4 penalties = bad. 3 Touchdowns = good; 5 turnovers = bad.

That sounds like the way we evaluate our lives. We do some good things and we do some bad things. The world tells us as long as the good deeds outnumber the bad, you’re OK. That’s not what God says. The Bible says if you commit a single sin you are lost and separated from God’s holiness. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23 Thankfully, because Jesus who did no wrong, has come and stood in our places and received our punishment on the cross, we can have a second chance that we don’t deserve. "... and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24

One of the things that sets Christianity apart from every other religion on the face of the earth is the doctrine of grace. Other religions have gods appearing in human form, a need for salvation, life after death, etc. only Christianity is audacious enough to tell of God's grace.

The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, and the Muslim code of law—each of these offers a way to earn approval of God and entry into heaven. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus didn’t come to earth primarily to model ethical behavior or to teach us great truths about God; He came first and foremost to suffer the punishment for our sin. He incurred the full wrath of God for our sin so that we can experience His grace.

Wrath & Grace part 1

A God of Wrath

Most people, both Christian and non-Christian, tend to view God as being a sort of cosmic teddy bear. They see him as big and warm and soft, full of infinite love and forgiveness. On the Day of Judgment, God will simply give everyone a big hug and wink at their sins. The only problem with this wonderfully comforting image is that it is a lie straight from the pit of hell.

Satan wants us to ignore an aspect of God and he has been very successful. The Bible teaches that God is perfectly holy. Because of this attribute of his character, He cannot tolerate sin. “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” (Num 14:18). The Bible says God must deal with sin, and He does so in one of two ways—grace or wrath.

Check this out, the Bible says… “God's wrath will fall when Jesus returns. (Jude 14-15) The passage in Revelation which pictures the return of Jesus says that he will return in righteousness to "judge and wage war." (Rev 19:11) The first time Jesus came, he came in loving compassion. But when He returns, He will come in vengeance (Rev 6:12-17), with eyes like a flame of fire (Rev 19:12). He will come to destroy the enemies of God (Rev 19:11) The presidents and kings and leaders of the world will get on their knees and cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, so great will be the terror of the Lord (Rev 6:15-17).

Does this make God a monster? No! It actually proves his goodness; how could a good God ignore sin and allow it to go unpunished? His wrath against evil will demonstrate His righteousness.

God's wrath is never motivated primarily by a desire to punish. Rather, it is designed to bring people to repentance so that they might be saved. God demonstrates his mercy in wrath by never pouring out his wrath without warning. He warned Noah's world through 120 years of preaching. He sent both Jonah and Nahum to warn the pagan city of Nineveh. He has sent numerous prophets and even His own Son to warn us of God's wrath and point us toward His mercy and grace.

We respect the character of a father who stands against disobedience or promiscuity, we admire the government official who is above reproach, so why shouldn’t we be pleased with a God who is just, and refuses to tolerate sin?

God’s wrath proves his power and it is not a loss of His temper . The wrath of God is directly connected with his character. He gets angry because his people whom he loves are endangered.

Martin Luther said, "If I were God and the world treated me the way it treated him, I’d kick the wretched thing to pieces." But fortunately, this God of Wrath doesn’t—for now. He wants all men to come to repentance.

Wrath & Grace part 1

A God of Wrath

Most people, both Christian and non-Christian, tend to view God as being a sort of cosmic teddy bear. They see him as big and warm and soft, full of infinite love and forgiveness. On the Day of Judgment, God will simply give everyone a big hug and wink at their sins. The only problem with this wonderfully comforting image is that it is a lie straight from the pit of hell.

Satan wants us to ignore an aspect of God and he has been very successful. The Bible teaches that God is perfectly holy. Because of this attribute of his character, He cannot tolerate sin. “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” (Num 14:18). The Bible says God must deal with sin, and He does so in one of two ways—grace or wrath.

Check this out, the Bible says… “God's wrath will fall when Jesus returns. (Jude 14-15) The passage in Revelation which pictures the return of Jesus says that he will return in righteousness to "judge and wage war." (Rev 19:11) The first time Jesus came, he came in loving compassion. But when He returns, He will come in vengeance (Rev 6:12-17), with eyes like a flame of fire (Rev 19:12). He will come to destroy the enemies of God (Rev 19:11) The presidents and kings and leaders of the world will get on their knees and cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, so great will be the terror of the Lord (Rev 6:15-17).

Does this make God a monster? No! It actually proves his goodness; how could a good God ignore sin and allow it to go unpunished? His wrath against evil will demonstrate His righteousness.

God's wrath is never motivated primarily by a desire to punish. Rather, it is designed to bring people to repentance so that they might be saved. God demonstrates his mercy in wrath by never pouring out his wrath without warning. He warned Noah's world through 120 years of preaching. He sent both Jonah and Nahum to warn the pagan city of Nineveh. He has sent numerous prophets and even His own Son to warn us of God's wrath and point us toward His mercy and grace.

We respect the character of a father who stands against disobedience or promiscuity, we admire the government official who is above reproach, so why shouldn’t we be pleased with a God who is just, and refuses to tolerate sin?

God’s wrath proves his power and it is not a loss of His temper . The wrath of God is directly connected with his character. He gets angry because his people whom he loves are endangered.

Martin Luther said, "If I were God and the world treated me the way it treated him, I’d kick the wretched thing to pieces." But fortunately, this God of Wrath doesn’t—for now. He wants all men to come to repentance.

Excuses

Over the years I've heard some pretty lame excuses for individuals not attending church regularly, or not attending church ever. I thought I'd make a list of some of the reasons people may give [legitimate or not] for not gathering with other believers. Feel free to add to the list - just a leave a comment. So here we go in no particular order...

I'm too tired

Sick

Lazy

I have to work

I'm on vacation

We are at our summer home

I forgot it was Sunday

Someone hurt my feelings

It's boring

The preacher is boring

The music stinks

The preacher isn't preaching this week

My parents always made me go

I burnt out

We let our kids decide if they want to go

I couldn't find my car keys

It's too early

It's too late

All they want is my money

Gas costs too much

It's too far to drive

We had company

I'm currently committing adultery and I feel too guilty

I got drunk last night and I'm hung over

There's no single guys/girls there

They don't have enough programs

They have too many programs

I went last week/month/Christmas/Easter

I'm mad at so and so

No one likes me there

I don't like anyone there

There all a bunch of hypocrites

I don't have anything to wear

Church depresses me

The pastor didn't visit me

I don't believe in God

I got hurt at church once

I don't like crowds

Someone looked at me funny one time

The pastor didn't shake my hand

I'm at the lake

I had to golf/fish/go to the race/chew on a leather shoe

They don't pay enough attention to me

They changed something I liked

They haven't changed something I don't like

It's raining

It's snowing

The weather is bad

The weather may possibly get bad

It's too hot to go to church

It's too cold to go to church

It's too nice out...

Your turn what did I forget?

Excuses

Over the years I've heard some pretty lame excuses for individuals not attending church regularly, or not attending church ever. I thought I'd make a list of some of the reasons people may give [legitimate or not] for not gathering with other believers. Feel free to add to the list - just a leave a comment. So here we go in no particular order...

I'm too tired

Sick

Lazy

I have to work

I'm on vacation

We are at our summer home

I forgot it was Sunday

Someone hurt my feelings

It's boring

The preacher is boring

The music stinks

The preacher isn't preaching this week

My parents always made me go

I burnt out

We let our kids decide if they want to go

I couldn't find my car keys

It's too early

It's too late

All they want is my money

Gas costs too much

It's too far to drive

We had company

I'm currently committing adultery and I feel too guilty

I got drunk last night and I'm hung over

There's no single guys/girls there

They don't have enough programs

They have too many programs

I went last week/month/Christmas/Easter

I'm mad at so and so

No one likes me there

I don't like anyone there

There all a bunch of hypocrites

I don't have anything to wear

Church depresses me

The pastor didn't visit me

I don't believe in God

I got hurt at church once

I don't like crowds

Someone looked at me funny one time

The pastor didn't shake my hand

I'm at the lake

I had to golf/fish/go to the race/chew on a leather shoe

They don't pay enough attention to me

They changed something I liked

They haven't changed something I don't like

It's raining

It's snowing

The weather is bad

The weather may possibly get bad

It's too hot to go to church

It's too cold to go to church

It's too nice out...

Your turn what did I forget?

Life is a Series of Sprints

I'm sure you've noticed this; there are times in life when we are very busy and it feels as though life were a sprint, at other times life is routine, almost boring and moving at a snails pace. I sat in a small group of ministers in a "pastor's practicum" with a very successful pastor a couple of years ago and he shared with us, "Life is not a marathon, it is a series of sprints". He is so right. Early in my ministry I used to feel guilty when I wasn't sprinting; over the years however, I've learned to relax and take a breather between the sprints. It is the gap between the sprints where we gather our energy and momentum again. The problem comes if we decide not to sprint anymore.

Life is a Series of Sprints

I'm sure you've noticed this; there are times in life when we are very busy and it feels as though life were a sprint, at other times life is routine, almost boring and moving at a snails pace. I sat in a small group of ministers in a "pastor's practicum" with a very successful pastor a couple of years ago and he shared with us, "Life is not a marathon, it is a series of sprints". He is so right. Early in my ministry I used to feel guilty when I wasn't sprinting; over the years however, I've learned to relax and take a breather between the sprints. It is the gap between the sprints where we gather our energy and momentum again. The problem comes if we decide not to sprint anymore.