To Judge or Judge Not - Matt 7:1-5; 12

Rest in Peace [Job 3:25-26]

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God’s Kind of Prayer for an Anxious Heart [Php 4:6-7] When I am overcome with anxiety, I like to remind myself of what Paul, prompted by The Spirit, tells me to do in Php 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Overall, Paul reminds us to replace our anxiety with prayer. However, it is a specific way of praying that Paul is revealing to us – with thanksgiving. This really is the heart prayer. This is God’s kind of praying. God owes me nothing, but I owe Him everything. I deserve nothing, but He has given to me all the riches in Christ Jesus [Eph 3:8]. Paul also cautions us to – present our requests to God. And ‘requests’ is what they are to be. We are never to make demands to or have expectations of God. HE is Master. We are not. When Paul says – do not be anxious, he’s letting us know that anxiety really is a choice. And so is prayer. So is walking by faith and not by sight. There will be times when we must continue to present the same requests to God, at least until that peace that goes beyond any human understanding kicks in. Paul makes it abundantly clear that God’s overall answer to any of our “anxiety-ridden” prayers is His perfect peace. It is not to get what we feel we are lacking or to be relieved of whatever is troubling us. Although, He may graciously grant either or both to us. When Jesus was in that familiar garden crying out to His father as the sweat poured off His brow (sweat mixed with blood), He made it perfectly clear that He did not want to drink that cup of wrath meant for us. He did not want to take upon Himself all the sin of mankind. This is because He knew that the very moment He did, He would instantly be separated from The One whom He so dearly loved – His Father. So, God The Son begs God His Father to take that cup from Him. Three times, Jesus prays these words. Then, as He prays that third time, He adds at the very end – not My will but Yours be done. These words were and still are meant for us. Jesus allowed Himself to endure such pain and torment so that we could learn from Him how to seek The Father when we feel so overwhelmed with the difficulties of and in life. It is in our “not my will but Yours be done” that peace begins to fill us up – His peace that goes beyond all human understanding.  So, here is the lesson learned - When it comes to having an anxiety-ridden heart, we can (and we will) only experience the fullness of God’s perfect peace, when we are fully surrendered to His will. This is God’s Kind of Prayer for an Anxious Heart.

A Super-Seeded Faith [Mt 13:18-23] There are two main characters in this parable that Jesus shared – the Seed and the soil. The Seed is the Gospel of His Kingdom; and it remains the same throughout. The soil, representing the human heart, is of four varieties – the hard (compacted) soil; the rocky soil; the thorny (weedy) soil; and the good soil. Oh, and there’s one more character who is briefly mentioned in the very beginning - the Sower. This is Christ Himself. It is also anyone who chooses to represent Him – those who have been redeemed are now summoned by Him to go out into all the world sowing His Seed of the Gospel. At first glance, Jesus seems to be illustrating four levels of faith. He’s not. He’s describing four types of responses to the Seed that is sown. The First Soil represents hearts that are too hardened to receive the Seed. They ‘hear’ God’s Word, but make no effort to understand it because they have chosen not to accept it. The Second Soil represents hearts that ‘hear’ God’s Word and immediately react with joy. But because they are merely about emotions (feelings), they do not seek to develop any kind of spiritual depth. Instead, they choose to stay on the surface of God’s love and blessings. When the trials of life come and opposition rears its ugly head because of their “decision” to follow Jesus, there’s no spiritual depth that they can tap into when their faith is challenged. This is why they quickly fall away. Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders captures this principle [Matt 7:24-27; Lk 6:46-49]. The Third Soil represents hearts who hear The Word and eventually they “become” unfruitful. Become is a very important word. They may have ‘become’ spiritual (for a time), but then they allow themselves to ‘become’ overwhelmed with and by the treasures of this world. As a result, they ‘become’ void of any thoughts of eternity and finding joy in a future life in glory. The deceitfulness of wealth has ‘choked’ the Seed that had been planted so that no spiritual fruit could be produced. This Greek word for “choke” is a gardening term depicting a bunch of weeds overtaking a garden of flowers and eventually taking over their source of nourishment and sustenance. A better way of saying it is – any spiritual life has been sucked right out of them. This can happen when one who has heard the Gospel chooses to dwell more upon the ‘cares’ of this world instead of the riches of a new life in Christ now and in glorious eternity. The Fourth Soil represents a ‘real faith’ in Christ and in the Gospel message of His Kingdom. This is a genuine, spirit-induced and fruit-produced kind of faith – one that hears, understands, and receives God at His Word. And as a result, bears real and everlasting spiritual fruit. When anyone seeks to understand God’s Word and devotes himself to living it out, spiritual fruit will be produced and revealed in his life. Luke, in his parallel version, also adds this -- But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. [Lk 9:15] A heart that has truly accepted The Seed which the Sower has sown will cling to it tightly and never let it go. Not only does he bear fruit, but he does so with a continuous devotion [Acts 1:14]. This is real faith. This is a super-seeded kinda faith.

Being an Overcomer The late Oswald Chambers asked the following question: Am I seeking only for the evidence of God’s Kingdom, or am I actually recognizing His absolute sovereign control? Lead us not into temptation is a portion of The Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. He did not teach them to specifically pray that particular prayer. He simply was responding to the request they made to Him – Lord, teach us (how) to pray [Lk 11:1]. On the surface, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil seems quite confusing. Would God ever lead us into or tempt us to sin? Well, James helps to answer that question -- Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. Seeking to better understand how Jesus was teaching His disciples (and us) to pray can liberate and empower us to pray and to respond in a more victorious way. Lead us not into temptation is Jesus way of teaching us how to pray to The Father for His preventative care – by allowing Him to teach us how and why we are to long for Him more and more each day. The more we long for Him, the less we long for this world. In James 1:2-4, The Spirit teaches us that our faith is daily tested/ proven. By who? Overall, by God. When we choose to remain faithful in our longing for Him over the things of this world, we can continue to pass test after test…and prove that our hearts truly belong to Him. But when we fail and fall…temptation then has overcome us and we are now in need of prescriptive prayer – deliver us from this evil. It’s not just the sin we are asking God to free us from…it’s the evil which this sin brings with it – sinful patterns in our lives that we tend to never break free from. Knowing this can help make “lead us not into temptation” easier to understand. There are two kinds of evils in life -- those we do and those done against us. The word evil is used here instead of sin; because Jesus is referring to a pattern of sin that has become ‘evil’ because it has now overwhelmed and overtaken us. We are overcome by our longings for those things in this world that the adversary uses to lure us away – idols. We can also be overcome by the evil that’s thrust upon us by those whom Satan uses as his tools to pressure and pursue us. And some of these ‘evils’ can just happen as a result of life’s circumstances. Many times, these circumstances are initiated by the same being who initiated Job’s circumstances. What was Satan’s objective (his goal) in tormenting Job? It was to overwhelm him with grief and sorrow. This is one of the main reasons why the book of Job was put into the canon – to reveal to us how the devil operates AND to reveal to us how our Father in heaven is sovereign over any and everything our adversary is ‘allowed’ to initiate. This is a life lesson that The Spirit of God longs to teach each of us…and one which we must be willing to accept and incorporate into our way of thinking and living. When we allow Christ to be who He is… and who He says He is…and who HE wants to be in our lives…then His Kingdom has come and His purpose will be done for us. His Kingdom and His righteousness will prevail in us and through us. His Kingdom is His sovereign rule over our lives; and His righteousness is our response to that rule. Yet when we become full of sorrow and fear, we can allow ourselves to become discouraged and/or frustrated. Then we choose to react to our will not being done and our expectations not being met. But when we allow His Spirit to come upon us, we then are empowered by Him to allow His plan to play out in our lives and in the lives of those around us [Acts 1:8]. We become like passengers on the plane that He is piloting; and even though there might be some turbulence, He will safely get us to that destination that He has planned for us. And someday soon this plane will land…and this flight will be over…and this victorious life we have been living…will lead to a victor’s crown we will be given.  Do you long for that? You can still experience the greatness of His victory by reminding yourself – I am not a victim, nor will I allow myself to be. I am more than a conqueror. I am an overcomer! [Rom 8:37]

God’s Kind of Leader I came across this writing from the late Scottish Baptist evangelist, Oswald Chambers, a few years ago. He was a godly man and a true biblical shepherd who left this world at the young age of 43. It was through the efforts of his dear wife that many of his writings were circulated and later compiled into devotionals. Many, like me, have been greatly blessed by his book My Utmost for His Highest—a devotional based on his preaching and teaching to students and soldiers during WWI. Below is his biblically based list of personal questions and comments—criteria for a true leader in Christ’s church. Oswald Chambers’ Questions and Comments Have you ever broken yourself of a bad habit? To lead others, one must be master of oneself. Do you retain control of yourself when things go wrong? The leader who loses self-control in testing circumstances forfeits respect and loses influence. He must be calm in crises and resilient in adversity and disappointment. Do you think independently? While using to the full the thoughts of others, the leader cannot afford to let others do his thinking or make his decisions for him. Can you handle criticism objectively and remain unmoved by it? Do you turn it to good account? The humble man can derive benefit from petty and even malicious criticism. Can you use disappointments creatively? Do you readily secure the cooperation, respect, and confidence of others? Do you possess the ability to secure discipline without resorting to a show of authority? True leadership is an internal quality of the spirit and requires no external show of force. Have you qualified for the beatitude of a peacemaker? It is much easier to keep the peace than to make peace where it has been shattered. An important function in leadership is reconciliation—the ability to discover common ground between opposing viewpoints and then induce both parties to accept it. Are you entrusted with handling difficult and delicate situations? Can you induce people to happily do legitimate tasks they normally wouldn’t wish to do? Can you accept opposition to your viewpoint or decisions without taking it as a personal affront? Leaders must expect opposition and should not be offended by it. Do you find it easy to make and keep friends? Your circle of loyal friends is an index of the quality and extent of your leadership. Are you unduly dependent on the praise or approval of others? Can you hold a steady course in the face of disapproval and even a temporary loss of confidence? Are you at ease in the presence of your superiors or strangers? Do your subordinates appear at ease in your presence? A leader should give an impression of sympathetic understanding and friendliness that puts others at ease. Are you truly interested in people—of all types and races—or do you show partiality? Is there a hidden racial prejudice? An anti-social person is unlikely to make a good leader. Do you possess tact? Can you anticipate the likely effect of a statement before you make it? Do you possess a strong and steady will? A leader will not retain a position for long if he is vacillating. Do you nurse resentments, or do you readily forgive injuries done to you? Are you reasonably optimistic? Pessimism is no asset to a leader. Are you in the grip of a master passion, like Paul, who said, “This one thing I do”? Such singleness of motive will focus all one’s energies and power on the desired objective. Do you welcome responsibility? I’d like to add just one more thing. These qualities are evident even before one is chosen to lead in Christ’s church. Godliness that has been produced as a result of one’s full surrender to Christ as Lord is what marks the one whom God Himself has chosen to lead. While no one will ever reach the level of spiritual perfection here on this earth, The Spirit-filled and Spirit-led leader will allow The Spirit of God to produce the fruit that reveals God’s kind of leader. – Pastor Damon

Christ's Representatives

Church Growth God’s Way [Acts 2:42] They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. What does it take to become a community of believers who are united in truth and in deed? What does it take to become a healthy body of believers who want to do church God’s way? The answer is here in this one verse – four components the early church focused on in order to become a healthy body that continued to grow. Here they are: Teaching (Doctrine) Fellowship [koinonia] Communion [a service] Prayer [a pouring out] What was the result can be seen in the following verses [Acts 2:43-47]. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe [God’s power was at work]. The apostles performed many signs and wonders [God authenticated their/ His message.] All those who had believed were together and had all things in common [God unified them]. ‘Church’ was a place where believers came together and had all things in common. And what happened as a result of that? They began selling their property and possessions and shared them with those in need. They worshipped together in the temple and together in their homes [Communion]. They ate together genuinely and with gladness. They were praising God wherever they went. Verse 47 tells us two amazing things many church growth experts seem to miss: They were (continuously) having favor with all the people [even unbelievers]. The Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Their love for each other spread out into the community to where those outside the church were also affected and amazed. In Jn 17:23, Jesus prayed the following prayer to The Father-- “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” Scripture teaches us that it is inward growth that leads to outward growth. It also reminds us that outward growth is not our doing! Who added to their number daily those who were being saved? There’s even another component that indirectly was very evident – the apostle’s leadership. The congregation of believers continually devoted themselves steadfastly persistently, consistently, with conviction, unwaveringly, unfalteringly, loyally and faithfully to the apostle’s teaching. That was and still is the responsibility of the flock. The responsibility of the apostles (leaders, shepherds) was to uncompromisingly teach the truth according to God’s Word, which means to teach it as Jesus Himself did. Jesus was and is about truth…the whole truth. The Holy Spirit Himself is called The Spirit of Truth? Many times (in Scripture), Jesus expressed these 5 words – I tell you the truth. We are called to proclaim the truth…God’s truth! As Paul directed young Timothy – Preach The Word! [2Tim 3]. It’s all right in here in this one verse – how to do church, how to be the church, how to grow as the church. Together, let’s be the church that Christ created!