Volume 4 Post/Email 2 – Faith(#2)
by brian
Do you navigate toward believing matters are possible, or impossible?
In Matthew 17:20 Jesus states, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
What an incredible concept! Mustard seed faith moves God to move mountains.
Jesus is looking for faith. Discipleship requires trust.
Consider some of the many challenging teachings of Jesus - forgiveness, not worrying, loving an enemy, generosity, servanthood, accepting ridicule and persecution, and prayerfulness.
Whether or not we do all of these hinges upon the issue of faith. When matters don't make sense, or we would tend to worry, faith is what transforms us and causes obedience to these teachings.
Faith and prayer are lifestyle choices and habits of Jesus-followers. Believing "the impossible" is to be typical for Christians. Jesus says, "Nothing" will be impossible for you.
Remember that whatever mountains are in your life are not nearly as big as the God in your life!
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 1 – Faith(#1)
by brian
Greetings ELGUY readers,
I plan to do an entire volume on this topic.
Faith is essential to life, including pleasing God (Heb. 11:6).
And yet, it is a spiritual quality that can be lacking in our lives.
We can struggle to believe, or trust. We can even doubt entirely.
It seems that Jesus challenges his disciples lack of faith continually in the Gospel Narratives. When in a boat during a storm, He says, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mk 4:40) He asks Peter, "Why did you doubt?" when he sinks in the water. (Matthew 14:31) Jesus states that the entire generation is unbelieving (Matthew 17:17), and asks, "How long shall I put up with you?"
When the disciples question Jesus as to why they couldn't drive out a demon, he replies, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
The positive aspect is that God responds to even a tiny measure of faith. The negative aspect is that many then (and now) lack even this.
Churches today desperately need leadership. Churches desperately need leaders with faith and vision.
How many of us trust God to move mountains? How many of us believe that we can be Christians who walk on water? How many of us believe that we can be churches that walk on water?
There is a Church of Christ in Nashville that has grown from 40, to 80, to 500 in less than 7 years. They attribute their growth to God, and to members and leaders with vision and faith. They are willing to take risks. They are willing to trust God to move mountains, to provide for them, and to bless them.
In contrast, why are so many churches dying? While there might be some unique situations, and perhaps more than one or two variables that affect some situations, a primary reason in most cases is a lack of faith, a lack of leadership, a lack of vision, and a lack of prayer.
Perhaps God is calling more Christians and congregations to repentance, revival, vision and faithfulness?
Jesus commissions you and me to a lifestyle of discipleship and faith that moves mountains.
-Brian
Volume 3 Post/Email 7 – “Disturb us, Lord”
by brian
Below is a prayer Deanna passed along to me some time back. "Disturb us, Lord" isn't your typical, comfortable prayer. May the thoughts and perspective of this prayer be a blessing to us this day. -Brian
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
[Sir Francis Drake]
Volume 2 Post/Email 11 – 1 Peter 2:5
by brian
The final 2 posts on the concept of spiritual formation will be from First Peter Chapter 2.
1 Peter 2:5 reads, "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
In post 3 we reflected on the first three verses of this chapter and growing as spiritually newborn babies.
Likewise, verse 5 implies gradual spiritual growth.
Our spiritual life is indeed, a journey. We "are being built" into a spiritual house.
I believe the tense of the verb is a present participle, indicating a continual reality.
The Christian life is always to be a "present tense" matter.
We have the daily privilege of being holy priests, and living before a loving and holy God.
We have the daily honor and opportunity to express love to God in worship.
How much of our lives involves any sense of God?
If we model Jesus, we will not compartmentalize our lives into the secular and spiritual.
Therefore, we should not think this verse applies only to spiritual acts like prayer. Intentionally befriending and doing good to others during the day, because of a heart oriented towards God and his will, is also spiritual.
Hebrews 13:16 reads, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
We should not reduce spiritual living, worship, and honoring God to a minimum amount of occasions. We should not think God is only interested in when we pray, study, etc.
He is pleased when we go to work, and how we work. He can be pleased by a conversation we initiate with a co-worker. Perhaps God smiles as we initiate a friendly conversation with a child?
Maybe God is just as honored when we adults play and interact with the kids before a Wednesday night class as he is when we are singing in the auditorium?
Is God not glorified when we share a meal with our family? Is it not spiritual (of God, God-like) to devote some energy to helping a kid with their homework, or to coaching a team, or teaching music, or being involved in a camping trip?
When a wife or husband cooks the meal for the evening [usually when we guys step up it's with the grill 
], can that not be with a godly, grateful, generous heart?
Are these matters supposed to be in a spiritual (God) context or not?
Jesus honored the Father with a heart oriented to worshipping His Father and doing His will through the nitty gritty of daily life! When Jesus spent time with children, or enjoyed a meal with some adults, or spent time in a boat with the disciples, these were also spiritual moments!
When the routine of our day is not spiritual is if we choose to not allow the heart, will and Spirit of God to impact certain moments of our schedule.
As we experience spiritual transformation into the likeness of Jesus, our eyes become more aware and astute to the spiritual realities and opportunities of the present moment.
It may be a moment to relax, to read, to sing, to pray, to visit, to eat, to play, etc. - but all in God's presence joyfully living our life with Him.
Am I missing something?
-Brian
Volume 2 Post/Email 5 – 1 Timothy 2:8
by brian
As we continue thinking about and seeking spiritual formation into the likeness of Christ, I want to think about the transforming experience prayer should be.
Prayer is central to our spiritual life! This is probably why there are hundreds of Scriptures on prayer – to emphasize its importance.
While there are so many stories and teachings to choose from, I have selected one short verse for us to think upon, primarily because of its simplicity.
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:8, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
Some will narrow their focus on this verse to the part that mentions “men everywhere” and talk about male spiritual leadership including only men praying (that the Bible states that all can get on their knees, but that only men can lift their hands in prayer). This is what some will emphasize as Paul's real concern in 1 Timothy 2:8.
Others will narrow their focus on this verse to the phrase “lift up holy hands” and discuss the freedom Christians have to lift hands in worship/expression to God. This is what some will emphasize as Paul's real concern in 1 Timothy 2:8.
I do not want to narrow the focus on either, for 2 reasons. (1) I might read too much into a phrase, such as, that Paul is actually trying to exclude women from being participants in prayer. (2) I might miss the primary message of the verse.
Prayer is (supposed to be) a holy thing. Paul is exhorting Timothy to make sure those he is teaching do not make something holy, unholy.
How specifically does he convey this concept?
By saying that we are to be holy!
How might we be unholy?
Two examples in the verse are offered - by our anger, and by our disputing! Usually anger leads to disputing, but disputing can also lead to anger, or fuel the anger.
Our lives should be a reflection of our prayers, which is to say, our lives should be holy. We aren't to honor Jesus with our lips but deny him in our lifestyle.
In 2 Timothy 2:22 Paul tells Timothy, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with all those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Elsewhere Peter says, “be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7b)
We need self-control concerning anger and fighting. If I fight with my hands, they could become unholy. If I fight with my words, my lips and speech could become unholy.
May the prayers we lift up this week be with holy lives, with holy hands and holy lips!
May the holy and divine act of prayer and worship of The Divine transform our lives by changing our hearts!
May the prayers we lift up to God this week indeed be with pure hearts.
And, may the way we treat others and talk with others this week be with pure hearts, without anger or disputing.
-Brian
Volume 2 Post/Email 4 – Galatians 4:19
by brian
This week, we continue with more thoughts on the theme of spiritual formation.
In Galatians 4:19 Paul writes, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
I believe this verse adds more to our previous post from 1 Peter 2:1-3 concerning growing up in our salvation as “newborn babies”.
Though Paul is writing to Christians who already believe in Christ, and have committed to following Christ, they are still in need of growth. One spiritual goal Paul had for them is that Christ would be formed inside of them, individually and collectively.
Along with our personal salvation, our personal spiritual development is of utmost importance! (This is also true for entire congregations.)
Much of the focus in the New Testament letters to the various Christians concerns them continuing to develop in their knowledge and faith, and how this impacts (should impact) daily living.
Obviously, the church of Christ, or community of Christ, is to be a people who are growing in the character and teachings of Christ. This means we look to Jesus for direction into divine living.
And discipleship demands evaluation and reevaluation of who I am, what I believe, and who I am becoming.
Am I becoming more like Jesus?
Through the gospels, we find Jesus asking his disciples questions, as a catalyst to cause them to assess and often reassess their life and faith.
A good spiritual question for us to ask ourselves is – In what ways do I lack the identity and character of Christ?
Am I lacking humility? Am I lacking honesty? Am I lacking compassion? Am I lacking faith/trust? (and so forth)
Are we in touch with the God of our interiority? Do we need to rethink and reexamine our attitudes toward self? Toward others? (We probably need to be in the habit of considering both!)
Thankfully, any identified needs for repentance and growth are not a mere act of will (or will-power).
Transformation of character is a continual interest of the Holy Spirit. We have God’s grace and power to propel us, empower us, and grow us.
Thus, spiritual fruit does not result from a humanistic effort at “self-transformation”, but from an ongoing walk in the Spirit. (In Galatians 5, it contrasts this concept with the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit”.)
In confession of our need for the Spirit’s help, we act in faith and repentance, attempting to follow Jesus, learn from Jesus, and be conformed to his likeness.
(I realize at this point I may be overstating, but I believe the following paragraph may be helpful to at least some readers.)
Sometimes the Spirit’s work is quiet and unnoticeable. The inward changes taking place may not be acknowledged by others, or even always seen by ourselves. Sometimes, this is because the fruit of the Spirit grows gradually rather than instantly. (Just as we focused last week on new Christians starting as spiritual newborns, and how it takes time to develop from a newborn to a person of maturity.)
So one way to measure my progress is by the fruit of the Spirit. A lack of fruit is a sign of an unhealthy and stagnant relationship with Christ.
After Paul lists the familiar fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, he states, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (5:25-26)
Thus, another way to measure my spiritual walk, and whether Christ is continuing to be formed in me, is to evaluate my relationships. If I am becoming conceited, that will show in how I act around and treat others.
1. Exaggerating our own importance denies our total dependence upon and need for God. We are spiritually bankrupt and inadequate without the reign of God, love of God, and forgiveness of God.
2. Exaggerating our own worth also devalues the worth of others in our eyes. We are all 100% unworthy because of sin, yet 100% loved. We are loveable because he loves us!
It is through a growing awareness of the transforming power of God’s constant love for us that we respond with joy at the intoxicating prospect of a whole new way of life. A radical new way of life slowly become reality. The invitation to the abundant life Jesus offers is accepted and begins coming to fruition in our life. God’s kingdom slowly begins to permeate our life like yeast in bread (Matt. 13:33), and over time, we experience a reformation of our whole person. Trust becomes natural. Obedience becomes natural. Prayer becomes natural. Joy becomes natural. Love becomes natural – not just good feelings for others - but positive actions like forgiving and serving others, becomes natural.
Sin becomes unnatural!
Thus, we have Christ’s abiding presence, identity, character and strength formed, and ever forming, in us!!!
2 Peter 1:3 reads, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
-Brian
(Next week, and probably for more than one week, we will think deeper on this matter pertaining to the transforming potential of a regular and authentic life of prayer.)
Volume 2 Post/Email 2 – Jeremiah 18:3-6
by brian
Jeremiah 18:3-4 reads, “So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”
Jeremiah watches a potter in his home shaping marred clay. Then God speaks to him.
Jeremiah 18:5-6 reads, “Then the word of the LORD came to me: O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? declares the LORD. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”
We are marred – damaged – deformed – imperfect – dysfunctional - messy. Yet, God has his loving and capable hands on us! He is actively shaping and molding us as He sees fit.
God does not leave us where we are at. He loves us. He helps us. He shapes us. He changes us.
Spiritual formation is a work of God (not something we do on our own).
Spiritual formation is a process.
This week is an opportunity to be impacted by God. Are you open to it? Are you looking for it? Are you open to Him? Are you looking for Him?
As the clay, we do not get to choose our shape and size. (1)
We do not select our spiritual gifts. The Spirit does.
1 Corinthians 12:11 teaches us, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
We simply decide whether or not to use the gift or gifts with which God has already equipped and empowered us.
The encouragement of the acronym ELGUY – “Everyday let God use you” – includes letting God use us the way He deems best. May we gladly submit to our Potter this week, trusting His guidance, molding decisions, and wisdom.
-Brian
1 This is not only true as individuals, but also as communities (congregations) of believers. God forms and builds and grows the church as He sees fit. Our job is to cooperate and participate in His will and work.