I love them. I’m proud of them. They rock! #regen2k14 #regenitup2 #paraguay (at Mariscal Lopez Shopping)
Examples
One of the greatest needs for all people, especially for young people, is to have someone to model our lives after. We need people who will speak into our lives and teach us the ways of the Lord.
To older, experienced people, it is a call to take someone under their wing. To the younger ones it is a call to not reject the wisdom of our elders. The psalmist declares,
O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. (Psalm 71:17–18)
Throughout the bible God has given us examples of what to do, and what not to do. In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul uses the first generation of Israelites during the Exodus as an example what God does not want us to do. They had allowed sin to enter their lives that displeased Him, and as a result heir hearts became hardened and God allowed them to die in the wilderness having never entered into the Promised Land.
Ever heard someone say, “Do what I say, not what I do”? It’s a stupid thing to say, but it’s actually an incredibly accurate statement. All of us are some type of example to someone by both what we do and say.
God did not create you to be alone. He deposited skills, knowledge, and talents in someone out there who is sent to be an example to you, teach you and encourage you, and then in turn you become able to do it for someone else.
Singing Welder
A multi-story office building is being built. It’s a job being done by men who not only take pride in their work, but also in being men. Strong and capable.
One afternoon the job site went silent, except for the sound of one of the welders doing something he had never done before—sing.
Everyone was looking at him and he could feel it, but he didn’t give in to the fear. He kept singing. One guy said, “Hey check him out,” then quipped, “he’s regular Pavarotti!” Everyone laughed.
What they didn’t know was that this welder was singing in spite of some very scary news. Just that week his wife’s doctor had told them that her kidneys were failing. This strong capable man felt helpless and powerless.
But this welder knew something that was more powerful than any bad report from a doctor, or any other source. He knew what he was singing, who he was singing about, and who he was singing to, made all the difference in the world.
The bible calls it a new song.
A new song can be sang in the best of times, or worst. It is a song that rises from within and is empowered by a fresh realization of who God is and what he’s capable of doing.
Like anything new, a new song is not something that comes easy or is comfortable. The first time you sing a song of praise and thanks to God that is birthed from something incredibly good or bad can be scary, but that is when the real power of praise is released. Praising God establishes God’s victory and pushes back darkness. It can even shut a job site down, but keep singing!
Knowing God’s Will
Some people approach God’s will as a mystery. God’s will is out there somewhere in a spiritual haze that they feel unworthy to approach. They hope it will become clearer, however God’s will is more of a pipedream than something attainable.
But God’s will is not a mystery.
Most of us believe that God wants to bless his people (Deut. 28:8). But his blessing is inextricably linked to his will. In order for God to bless his people (which he wants to do) they have to be in his will. He cannot bless what is outside of his will (read sin and disobedience). Therefore, if it is God’s desire to bless his people, and his blessing is predicated on his will, his will is knowable!
Paul’s words in Ephesians tell us this exact thing,
10 And find out what pleases the Lord…17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:10, 17, NIV)
There are things that we can do that displease the Lord; likewise there are things we can do that are pleasing to the Lord. And we are told that we can find out what those things are, and understand what the will of the Lord is. Why would we be told these things if it weren’t possible?
It isn’t wrong to wonder what God’s will is for you, or for a given situation. It isn’t wrong to even ask someone to pray for you toward that end. But remember that God wants you to find out what his will is more than anyone so his purposes and blessings can be lived out in your life. The key is to live in a way that pleases him…and he’ll even help you with that.
Thanks dad…
In January of 2013 my dad passed away, but not his memory, nor the things he taught me. Two years ago on Father’s Day he spoke one of his last messages. It was unforgettable.
Because he had been sick for awhile, it was awesome that my dad was able bodied enough to come and minister to us. The insight he had to God’s Word has been life-changing for me, and for many others.
When I was about eight years old my dad was preaching on a Sunday morning. All of the sudden he stopped and said,
“The Holy Spirit is here. I feel God’s presence.”
As people began praising the Lord in response, my eyes and head were turning every which way. I was looking up and down, forward and back in the Sanctuary. So convinced by what my dad said, and how he said it, that I was certain one would be able to see God somewhere in the room.
It wasn’t uncommon for dad to stop in the middle of his sermon and say something like,
“Don’t you feel like giving God praise right now?”
Then people would begin to speak out their thanks and love for the Lord. I can recall the first time I did that. I told Jesus I loved Him and felt Him warmly embrace me with His love. It was life changing.
Dad has taught us over the years many things about God’s Word and our faith, but he has also taught us about the heart of God. It’s in the spontaneous moments of stopping everything that dad showed us the simplicity of experiencing God’s presence. It’s something we need to do more of.
Thanks dad…see you soon
Wrap Rage
There’s a new term floating around called “wrap rage.” It refers to the heightened levels of anger and frustration that comes from the inability to open those heat-sealed plastic blister packs or clamshells. There are thousands of injuries, such as cut fingers and sprained wrists, that occur from tools used to open packages or from the packaging itself. And in many cases damage to the items trying to be freed from the packaging happens. It’s a fact that packaging has become harder to open over the last 10 years.
There are people who are like these plastic clamshell packages. They are visible but keep a careful guard on anyone getting inside them. Over time they have gotten even more difficult to open, and if anyone tries to open them up, they get hurt in the process. The writer of Hebrews warns us,
Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
Keeping your life closed-off from others is totally unbiblical, but it happens and can actually become a way of life for some. Those words, “as is the manner of some” means that there are people who have made it a habit of not opening up their lives to others.
All of us have experienced some type of hurt from someone else. And it may be that we’ve forgiven those who have hurt us, we are not angry or bitter anymore. We may even come to church every week and be in a sanctuary full of people. But we have succumbed to something very hazardous, isolation. The Bible speaks of isolation this way:
“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. ” (Proverbs 18:1)
Living without others in our life may feel safe, but it is actually dangerous. God has designed every one of us with an inherent need for relationships and it’s through these relationships that God works. When we isolate ourselves, God’s work is limited and therefore we’re in danger of missing something He wants to do to us or through us.
God Wants To, But Can’t
Everyone who loves Jesus wants to be part of a move of God. Our hearts long to be involved with something bigger than us, where the power of God is at work, where the Holy Spirit is moving, and as a result lives are changed…forever.
God wants to pour his spirit out upon us. Upon our churches. Upon our families. Upon our cities. But are we ready? Have we pursued him? Have we shown that nothing in this world is more important to us than him?
A study of revivals, starting with the people of Israel all the way through to modern times, reveals two similar things: a lukewarm state of carnality as entered in, followed by repentance and prayer that rekindles the people and ushers in new work of God’s spirit.
While it’s important to connect the message of God’s love and grace with people of modern culture, whenever there is a comingling of worldly values and mindsets there is a diminishing and diluting of the power of God in operation.
It’s not uncommon to find churches today that have superior facilities, successful programs, huge crowds, and dynamic leaders, yet have nothing truly supernatural happening. Even a cursory comparison to the church of Acts shows many of the main features like prayer, miracles, and outpourings of the Holy Spirit completely missing.
It’s also not uncommon today to know a person who claims to be a Christian and smokes pot, or gets drunk, or has sex outside of marriage, or believes homosexuality is acceptable, or regularly views entertainment that is trash, or swears and curses. While this type of person may make to heaven, they are unuseful to God here on earth. Paul tells Timothy,
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20–21)
God is calling us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” To separate ourselves unto him. To allow him to cleanse us and purify us afresh. And as a result we will see a work that God not only promises, but one that he longs to do in us!
When the King is Worshipped
There are many things that comprise our worship of God. Every part of our lives can be involved. Everything we do unto to the Lord can be an expression of our worship of God.
But worship is not just what we do unto the Lord, it’s also what He does through us. David said,
“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Ps 22:3, NKJV)
Most of us understand this verse to mean that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. This is true, however God is everywhere (ominipresent), so to say that He is only present when we praise Him is a limited understanding of what David is saying here.
A better interpretation of this verse has do with God as King and His kingdom. David is saying where the King is praised, He is “enthroned.” In other words, where the King is worshipped, His kingdom comes. As we praise the Lord, we are establishing God’s kingdom, His reign, His rule.
I pray the Holy Spirit will help impart this truth and make it real to you. May you come to a point that wherever you are, whatever you are facing, you would realize that as you lift your voice in praise, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords comes and overthrows all else!
"Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:28-29, NLT)