Joel Phillips – Page 20

Nobody Wears Socks Like These

My friend and his wife went to the market the other day together. He began talking to a fellow he saw there. His wife assumed that they knew each other, so she went on shopping. After about 30 minutes she came back by and they were still talking, and more animated. She could hear now that they were talking about bicycles and cycling.

She finally completed her shopping and proceeded to the checkout where my friend joined her. “Who was that?” she asked. “I didn’t catch his name,” he replied. “What? You guys seemed like old friends.” “No. He’s a cyclist,” he responded. “How in the earth did you know that?” she inquired. My friend smiled and pointed at his Louis Garneau socks and said,

“He was wearing socks like mine. Nobody wears socks like these except other cyclists.”

People who are into a particular hobby or interest, pursue it, study it, upgrade their gear for it, and try to get better at it. They especially like to be around others who share their passion.

When you get around other people who are into the same thing as you are, there’s sort of a sixth sense that surfaces. You can both tell that you have something in common.

One of the things that binds Christians together is God’s mercy. No matter what age, background, language, style, culture, etc., when God’s mercy is talked about between us, we feel connected.

A priest bypassed him…a zealous Levite also bypassed him. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. (Luke 10:33–34, NLT)

When we were in the darkest of states; robbed, beaten, half dead, barely alive, and our future in totally jeopardy. Criticized by religious people for reaping what we had sewn. Bypassed by busy people on their way to church. It’s God’s mercy that found us. His mercy cleansed our wounds. His mercy provided shelter and resources for our healing.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 3:3)

Hope we run into each other in the market. But it won’t be socks that catch our attention, but the marks of mercy written on our hearts.

Where Mercy Found You

A few guys were hanging out after church having some coffee together. They were sharing with each other about what their lives were like before they became Christians. All of them spoke with gratitude for what God had done.

But one of them seemed to take delight in telling about the kinds of things he used to do. “I was slinging drugs and making so much money I would lose track of it. I used to fly to Vegas with a big ol’ wad of cash and some hotties that I can’t even remember their names, or what we did there…”

He seemed more impressed with what he was, than with what He had become in Christ.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)

This verse doesn’t tell us that God “can’t” remember our sins, but he “will not” remember our sins anymore. Because of his lovingkindness and mercy, he chooses to relate to us as if we had never sinned.

Can you remember where you were and what you were doing when God’s mercy came into your life? The place where he found you? Revealed himself to you? And changed you forever? That’s a special place!

But it isn’t a beautiful place…

It’s in that place that you were lost, hopeless, and evil. The bible describes it like this,

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil…All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger… (Ephesians 2:2, 3, NLT)

The place where God’s mercy found you should never be forgotten. What He did in that place, and in your life subsequently, is your testimony. It’s what He did in that place that causes your hands to go up and your mouth to be filled with praise. It’s what cause tears to fill your eyes when you think about it.

But nothing about that place is glamorous, or something to boast about. So, if like our friend mentioned earlier, you decide to recount how impressive your sinful activities were prior to Jesus coming into your life, there’s no point in bothering God for insight, because he doesn’t remember any of it!

Radiant is talking about the Elephant in the Room: Social Media. @thecenterchurch @queenoftheglueguns @supermannyfaces @rochelle_tullius @tallyphillips @jordanwillet

Who Brings Forth Bread From the Earth

The room was high enough that they could see across the city of Jerusalem. They could even make out that strange hill to the north that looked like a skull. The disciples had rented this room, and now all twelve of them were gathered there to celebrate another Passover Seder with Jesus.

But something didn’t feel right. Jesus seemed preoccupied as he looked around at them. It got quiet as he stood up to speak,

“With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15–16)

The disciples were a little confused why Jesus was being so passionate. They had already celebrated two Passovers together, so what was so special about, “this Passover”? And what was this talk about “no longer eating of it”?

They could feel the emotion and seriousness in Jesus’ words. They knew this was special. But it wasn’t until after the traumatic and difficult days that followed that they begin to connect the dots.

John made the first connection when he recalled John the Baptist yelling at Jesus saying,

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

The disciples realized this was what Jesus was talking about when he said his blood was the “blood of the new covenant.” He was the sacrificial Lamb. Not just for the sins of the Jews, or the sins of Israel, but for the sins of the world!

Then they recalled Jesus saying the bread was his body, and how that body had been beaten and crucified, but it came back to life. This overwhelmed them as they grasped how prophetic Jesus was being that evening when he spoke the Seder blessing over the bread…

“Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, Hamotzi lechem min haaretz”
Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread of the earth.

“Take, eat; this is My body.”

The disciples rejoiced because they knew it was their God, the King of the Universe, who had brought forth the Bread of Life from the grave!!!

@tallyphillips leading worship at Radiant @thecenterchurch. What God is doing…#thankful #excited #blownaway

I Love Esco…

It’s fun to travel. To go see and experience other places and culture. But there’s no place like home, and for me that place is Escondido, California. God has called me to this place, to this city.

I even get mad when people trash talk our city, because this place is dear to me, and so are its people.

But before I get too sanctimonious, I must tell you that I haven’t always felt the way I do about Escondido. About ten years ago I was at a leadership conference hoping to become a more effective leader when I heard a pastor share how he had laid his life down for the city he was pastoring in. I could hear the Lord saying to me,

Joel, you don’t have this kind of heart, but I want to give you the same love for your city and its people.

Later that night I read Paul’s words,

“So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1 Th 2:8)

When I read that verse I melted. I cried out, “Lord give me this kind of love for people.” Then I said, “Give me this kind of love for Escondido.” I can tell you that He answered that prayer, and I knew it.

There are people who never get attached to where they live. They may enjoy the surroundings and activities available. They may like their home and their neighborhood. They may be loyal to the local sports teams. They may feel compassion for hurting people who live around them and even sense a spiritual burden for them. But they see it as someone else’s job, someone else’s problem, not theirs, and certainly never to the point of laying their own lives down for it. All the while they have a plan to move elsewhere eventually. They live in anticipation of finally arriving at that special place, and that’s when they will really “get involved.”

Before we get too critical of these types of people, I used to be one. But God answered my prayer and changed me, and gave me a love for the city I live in. I pray God will do the same for you, and together we can show the love of Jesus to people here. And together maybe we can do a little trash talking about other cities. Just kidding.

The Way It Was?

I attended a church that had a great history and reputation. It had been pastored by an awesome man of God who had become well known for his radio show and the books that he had written.

The folks I chatted with at this church were nice enough, but they gave me the impression that their memories of the good ol’ days felt as real as though they were still happening. I could sense the nostalgic, sentimental coziness of the their familiar-shaped community. It was apparent that many of them had been together for a long time.

While there was something pleasant about the ease of relationships I detected among the group, there was something fatalistic about it. The majority of the people in attendance were middle-age or older. I saw no young people, only a few children, and later learned that the nursery had been shut down because there were no infants.

This church was becoming a relic

But God began to speak to the current pastor. God revealed his heart and desire was to reach the next generation. God began to redirect styles, approaches, attitudes, mindsets, etc. And instead of this church becoming a relic, it is now among many of the great churches today that are reaching and raising-up young leaders who will carry on the work. But it wasn’t easy.

There were those who confused styles with theology, methods with message, audience with congregation, buildings with church, etc. They would argue that the way things were was not only the only way to do it, but the biblical way to do it.

But how far back do you want to go?

Before the 80’s…most churches had only a piano and an organ. Electric guitar, bass, drums, etc. were considered worldly, if not demonic.

Before the 70’s… you would rarely, if ever, hear a message about the authority that the Believer has in Christ. Teaching on the power of faith and that God wants to bless his people was almost non-existent.

Before the 60’s… most churches were racially divided. Women were viewed as 2nd class citizens. And Christians were often identified by how they dressed (long skirts, no makeup, no jewelry).

How about even further back?… Our Founding Fathers owned slaves, as did the Puritans. The Reformers, like the Roman Catholic church before them, often used the power of the state to punish (and even kill) dissenters.

How about even further back?… The 1st Century Church was constantly attacked with false doctrine and heresies such as Gnosticism, Arianism, Pelagianism, Marcionism, Docetism, Sabellianism, and so on and so on. The satanic onslaught was vicious and unending. They were stoned, beheaded, crucified and had other horrible death sentences. They were fed to ravenous wild animals in arenas filled with cheering crowds.

Of course in all these dark moments of Church history there were bright moments when God intervened by His spirit. Speaking to his people, encouraging them not to look back, but to keep looking up. Time and time again he has empowered his people to make the message of Jesus Christ applicable and relevant to the lives around them.

Just like he did for the pastor mentioned earlier, God has graciously refocused the efforts of various ministries, and refreshed their mission to reach beyond the way it was.

The reason I know this to be true, is that pastor was me.

“Bless the Lord ahead of time. Thank the Lord for everything. Then when bigger things come along you’ll know how to do it!” @tallyphillips @thecenterchurch #081215

No Debate

I’m watching the presidential debates. There was a lot of talk about rebuilding America. Getting things back to the way they should be. It’s clear that they all think our country needs changing. It’s also clear that individually they think they’re the only ones that can get it done.

Politics, and its associated opinions, can generate a lot of arguing and finger pointing, but real change is elusive. As a result, two extremes emerge: those who think the nation is going down the tubes, and those who don’t seem to care.

The “goin’-down-da-tubes” gang are upset because no one is working hard enough for the things that matter. The “don’t-seem-to-care” bunch have become numb and indifferent from all the rhetoric, name-calling and hypocrisy. These polarized positions each have some essence of correctness, but are totally ineffective at created change, much less rebuilding America.

There are similar extreme positions spiritually…

Since the beginning days of the church, there have been two extremes: legalism and licentiousness. The legalists don’t think anybody is working hard enough to make it to heaven. The licentious ones don’t care what anybody does or doesn’t do because none of it really matters. These positions not only cannot produce change in a person’s life, they actually bring about spiritual death.

It’s to these dangerous extremes that Jesus stands in stark contrast. To the legalist, Jesus declares His work on the cross cannot be added to, it was enough. To the licentious person, Jesus asks, “If you love me, keep my commands.” And to all people Jesus invites,

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

That’s a plan that will bring about real change. No debate.

The Other Side Again

After Jesus was crucified, Peter and some other disciples went back to where they were from and started fishing again. Fishing was something they were naturally comfortable with, and they knew how to do it. Yet, after working all night they had caught nothing.

They heard somebody yell from the shore asking if they had caught anything. They yelled back that they hadn’t caught any fish. The person yelled again,

“Try it again on the other side boat.”

One of the guys shrugged his shoulders and said, “What’ve we got to lose?” Peter was too tired to argue, so they threw the net out on the other side. Even in their wildest dreams they’d never seen so many fish.

This caught John’s attention. “Peter, that’s Jesus!” he announced. But Peter was already swimming for shore. As Peter was swimming he remembered that this wasn’t the first time Jesus had given he and his friends strange instructions for fishing.

There was the time when Jesus told them to go into deeper water (where no one had ever caught fish before), and their nets were filled like never before. Then there was the time when they needed some money and Jesus told them to catch a fish and there would be gold in its mouth.

When you’re about to give up

In the push and pressure of circumstances that are going wrong, we become frustrated and discouraged. We get confused as to why things aren’t working out. It seems like we keep winding up in the same kind of difficulty. We get tempted to take matters into our own hands, or worse yet, to give up.

But Jesus comes into our situation and tells us to do something that often seems silly or illogical. He requires us to trust him, and to operate in faith. What then transpires is something that could never happen if we were left on our own resources—a miracle!

In any reoccurring difficulty (finances, relationships, attacks, etc.) the temptation to give up can be great, but the possibility for a miracle is greater. It’s in these times that God teaches us how great he is, builds our faith, and then gives us a testimony of what he did, and what he can do.

Cast your net one more time.

All posts by : Joel Phillips