Why Do You Ignore God’s Promptings?
"As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, 'Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.' 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along beside the carriage.' " Acts 8:26-29
Pastor's Blog
It happens all the time. I get a thought, think it may be a prompting from God, then think maybe it’s not, then the prompting has come and gone without my having acted on it.
Sound familiar? The reasons I do this range from not trusting my thoughts, to not believing God “speaks” that directly, to being too “into” my own agenda for the day.
Here’s a thought that is probably worth heeding. It’s better to err on the side of following a prompting than to err on the side of ignoring one. The latter is too easy and leaves me living a self –directed life. The former is hard, requires interruptibility and inconvenience, and gets me off of myself and into others. Sounds like something God would do. Finally, how will I know if the prompting is from God or not unless I follow it? If it wasn’t from God, then at the very least I practiced obedience. At worst I lost some time.
If , on the other hand, I err on the side of becoming “unpromptable”, then . . . (you fill in the blank)
Phillip followed his prompting and the Gospel made it to the heart of Ethiopia. That was God’s plan. Phillip just had to “go south” instead of wherever else he was headed.
What is your latest “go south” prompting from the Lord?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
November 17, 2010
God is Not for Sale
"Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years . . . . . Everyone . . . . spoke of him as 'the Great One—the Power of God.' . . . . . Then Simon became a believer and was baptized. . . . When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. . . .
But Peter replied, 'May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!' " Acts 8:15-20
Pastor's Blog
Believers are in danger of wanting the blessings and power of God, but not God Himself.
Simon wanted, not the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the power to lay hands on people and have the Spirit come upon them. And He thought Peter would sell him this power for money (this is where the word “simony” comes from, which means the attempt to buy spiritual office, status or power.
Peter’s reply is swift. Destruction is the only destination for such money, he says, and “you will be destroyed along with it”. (Luke doesn’t tell us what happened to Simon)
I find this so challenging. Do I honor God with preconceived notions of who God ought to be and what He ought to do, and thereby end up seeking the things of God instead of God? The only way through this I’ve found, at least for me, is to submit to God no matter what, accepting the fact that no matter what I do, or how “good” I may, nothing better that that which I already have may ever come my way.
I have earned nothing more than I already have. Nothing I can do can “buy” anything better than what I have at this very moment. It’s all gift. It’s all gift. God can’t be bought.
"Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years . . . . . Everyone . . . . spoke of him as 'the Great One—the Power of God.' . . . . . Then Simon became a believer and was baptized. . . . When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. . . .
But Peter replied, 'May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought!' " Acts 8:15-20
Pastor's Blog
Believers are in danger of wanting the blessings and power of God, but not God Himself.
Simon wanted, not the gift of the Holy Spirit, but the power to lay hands on people and have the Spirit come upon them. And He thought Peter would sell him this power for money (this is where the word “simony” comes from, which means the attempt to buy spiritual office, status or power.
Peter’s reply is swift. Destruction is the only destination for such money, he says, and “you will be destroyed along with it”. (Luke doesn’t tell us what happened to Simon)
I find this so challenging. Do I honor God with preconceived notions of who God ought to be and what He ought to do, and thereby end up seeking the things of God instead of God? The only way through this I’ve found, at least for me, is to submit to God no matter what, accepting the fact that no matter what I do, or how “good” I may, nothing better that that which I already have may ever come my way.
I have earned nothing more than I already have. Nothing I can do can “buy” anything better than what I have at this very moment. It’s all gift. It’s all gift. God can’t be bought.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
November 16, 2010
God Will Send You to Someone You Don’t Like
"Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5-8
Pastor's Blog
So, who is it you don’t like? What does God want you to do about that? Am I supposed to suddenly become best friends with him or her?
Acts 1:8 records Jesus telling his followers to reach out to Jerusalem, Judea and also Samaria. The first two were “family”. Samaria wasn’t. Samaria and Judea got along kind of like India and Pakistan. Samaria was an enemy.
Who don’t you get along with? Did you know that Jesus wants you to be a witness to the salvation of God through Jesus Christ to people in your sphere of Influence whom you don’t like?
What are you going to do about that?
One thing you can do is to recognize that that other person is in a position to be influenced by you whether you like it or not. And to recognize that isn’t an accident. And to conclude therefore that you are given spiritual responsibility for that person you don’t like. God has entrusted you with the gospel and for you not be a good steward of that trust in the life of that other person is a sin. Christians are not permitted to look at others and say “he or she is not my problem”. God has not granted us that relief.
Philip went to Samaria. But Samaria was on his God Given itinerary. Who’s on your God given itinerary?
"Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5-8
Pastor's Blog
So, who is it you don’t like? What does God want you to do about that? Am I supposed to suddenly become best friends with him or her?
Acts 1:8 records Jesus telling his followers to reach out to Jerusalem, Judea and also Samaria. The first two were “family”. Samaria wasn’t. Samaria and Judea got along kind of like India and Pakistan. Samaria was an enemy.
Who don’t you get along with? Did you know that Jesus wants you to be a witness to the salvation of God through Jesus Christ to people in your sphere of Influence whom you don’t like?
What are you going to do about that?
One thing you can do is to recognize that that other person is in a position to be influenced by you whether you like it or not. And to recognize that isn’t an accident. And to conclude therefore that you are given spiritual responsibility for that person you don’t like. God has entrusted you with the gospel and for you not be a good steward of that trust in the life of that other person is a sin. Christians are not permitted to look at others and say “he or she is not my problem”. God has not granted us that relief.
Philip went to Samaria. But Samaria was on his God Given itinerary. Who’s on your God given itinerary?
Monday, November 15, 2010
November 15, 2010
God Never Wastes a Tragedy
"As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, . . .'Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died.
Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament) agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day. . . .Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 7:57-8:1-4
Pastor's Blog
Stephen decides to follow Christ and right away dies a tragic death. What a waste! Or was it?
If the Bible is correct in its view that this life is only the duration of a breath and that life in the resurrection in the new creation is big and long beyond imagination, then a short life lived for and used by God for his purpose is not bad.
Life is not about comfort or pain or quality or longevity. It is about becoming God’s servant and living His purpose in whatever years and circumstances you are given. The real life for which this one is the preparation begins after this one. This life is the cover page, the next one is begins the book.
Stephen did what Jesus did. He offered forgiveness to the unforgivable. Saul heard that and was motivated even more to kill people like Stephen. Yet Stephen’s witness was part of the intervention of God which broke Saul and changed him into the Paul who became one of those people he wanted to rid the world of.
Stephen’s life was not a waste. A life of prosperity, character, public acclaim and success, even characterized by a generous spirit, although still used by God (God uses all things for good), can still be a waste in terms of the individual person’s heart. If all that was about him, then, well yes, what a waste.
"As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, . . .'Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!' And with that, he died.
Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament) agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
A great wave of persecution began that day. . . .Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went." Acts 7:57-8:1-4
Pastor's Blog
Stephen decides to follow Christ and right away dies a tragic death. What a waste! Or was it?
If the Bible is correct in its view that this life is only the duration of a breath and that life in the resurrection in the new creation is big and long beyond imagination, then a short life lived for and used by God for his purpose is not bad.
Life is not about comfort or pain or quality or longevity. It is about becoming God’s servant and living His purpose in whatever years and circumstances you are given. The real life for which this one is the preparation begins after this one. This life is the cover page, the next one is begins the book.
Stephen did what Jesus did. He offered forgiveness to the unforgivable. Saul heard that and was motivated even more to kill people like Stephen. Yet Stephen’s witness was part of the intervention of God which broke Saul and changed him into the Paul who became one of those people he wanted to rid the world of.
Stephen’s life was not a waste. A life of prosperity, character, public acclaim and success, even characterized by a generous spirit, although still used by God (God uses all things for good), can still be a waste in terms of the individual person’s heart. If all that was about him, then, well yes, what a waste.
Friday, November 12, 2010
November 12, 2010
When Trouble Comes, Where Do You Look?
Acts 6:15 "And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel."
Acts 7:55 "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;"
Pastor's Blog
This is no prayer meeting these men are dragging Stephen to. Their intention is pretty clear, they do not like the Gospel and they intend to stop it by silencing the messenger.
Stephen has been given the task of the distribution of food to the widows and has been doing it well, so well in fact that many of the priests were coming to faith. Stephen’s ministry is so effective that the temple worship is being affected. It might be one thing to be feeding widows it is another thing all together to make serious inroads into the Jewish faith, costumes and worship. Converting priest to Christianity was no small thing, these priests ministered at the temple. No wonder these men are accusing Stephen of speaking against the Law and the Temple. Stephen is now falsely accused and dragged before the Council, the same Council that had just dealt with Peter and John.
Yesterday we saw the need for others in times like this, but what happens when we find ourselves alone. We can not look to someone else, we are alone or are we? Jesus said “I will never leave you or forsake you” so we must not be alone. It might feel lonely but this is never an indication that we are alone. We are not alone because scripture tells us we are not even if our feelings tell us different. If it is between our feeling and God’s Word, the Word is right every time. What we need is to get our emotions to align with God’s Word. This is done by where we place our focus.
The mob put their focus on Stephen and what he was saying. They had already made up their mind about his message before hand. They simply needed him to cross the line. In other words they were waiting to rush him. Stephen, on the other hand, put his focus on Christ and Him crucified. When he was alone and in need in an earthly sense, he found he was not alone at all. He in fact had all of Heaven at his aide. Stephen is a wonderful example of a life lived in surrender in small ways each day which prepared him for a day when surrender would be all he had. Surrender for Stephen had not become “second nature”, but in fact it had become his new nature. This is what God wishes from all His children.
Acts 6:15 "And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel."
Acts 7:55 "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;"
Pastor's Blog
This is no prayer meeting these men are dragging Stephen to. Their intention is pretty clear, they do not like the Gospel and they intend to stop it by silencing the messenger.
Stephen has been given the task of the distribution of food to the widows and has been doing it well, so well in fact that many of the priests were coming to faith. Stephen’s ministry is so effective that the temple worship is being affected. It might be one thing to be feeding widows it is another thing all together to make serious inroads into the Jewish faith, costumes and worship. Converting priest to Christianity was no small thing, these priests ministered at the temple. No wonder these men are accusing Stephen of speaking against the Law and the Temple. Stephen is now falsely accused and dragged before the Council, the same Council that had just dealt with Peter and John.
Yesterday we saw the need for others in times like this, but what happens when we find ourselves alone. We can not look to someone else, we are alone or are we? Jesus said “I will never leave you or forsake you” so we must not be alone. It might feel lonely but this is never an indication that we are alone. We are not alone because scripture tells us we are not even if our feelings tell us different. If it is between our feeling and God’s Word, the Word is right every time. What we need is to get our emotions to align with God’s Word. This is done by where we place our focus.
The mob put their focus on Stephen and what he was saying. They had already made up their mind about his message before hand. They simply needed him to cross the line. In other words they were waiting to rush him. Stephen, on the other hand, put his focus on Christ and Him crucified. When he was alone and in need in an earthly sense, he found he was not alone at all. He in fact had all of Heaven at his aide. Stephen is a wonderful example of a life lived in surrender in small ways each day which prepared him for a day when surrender would be all he had. Surrender for Stephen had not become “second nature”, but in fact it had become his new nature. This is what God wishes from all His children.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 11, 2010
When Contention Moves to Misrepresentation and Outright Anger.
Acts 6:11 "Then they bribed men, who said, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.' "
Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,"
Acts 6:13 "And set up false witnesses, who said, 'This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:'"
Pastor's Blog
Have you ever been going along minding your own business, doing what you are supposed to be doing and have someone attack you? Attack not just what you are doing but where the attack becomes personal?
Well if you have then you have been persecuted. Now imagine that happening because you are stepping out in faith and following God. Are we not supposed to be protected from this kind of treatment when we are in His service? The Bible says no, “all those who would live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. If our idea of the Christian life is that we go from faith to faith and glory to glory with no opposition then there is something wrong in our thinking. We are missing a major part of the Gospel message, all of those who wish to grow in their relationship with God will sooner or later find themselves in pain, sorrow, trouble, persecution or something of the like. Scripture tells us, as well as life experience that no one escapes trouble in this world. Scripture tells us that it is not what we go through but how we go through it that makes all the difference. In other words we are not defined by what happens to us but by how we respond. This is not to diminish in any way the pain and sorrow, since of loss or problems we go through. It is to say that we are not to let them define our faith, our view of God or let them rewrite God’s plan for us. This can be a very hard thing to do and one of the many reasons we need others around us to love us and keep us on the right path.
Being a person who enjoys being alone allows a lot of time for reflection and quiet time with God which I love so much yet there is a danger if I do not seek to balance it with time in fellowship, real fellowship. I need others and so do you. I wonder if Paul would have gone on when he was stoned had it not been for Barnabas. Would Peter have rejoiced when he was beaten if it were not for John, would Silas have sung if it were not for Paul? When Jesus sends out the disciples they are told to carry no bag, no shoes no purse just do not go alone. Jesus sends them out in two’s as lambs among wolves Luke 10:1-4. Fellowship is not just a good idea; it is a vital necessity for the Christian life. We all need comfort; healing encouragement and perspective and Gods answer to these needs is others.
Acts 6:11 "Then they bribed men, who said, 'We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.' "
Acts 6:12 "And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,"
Acts 6:13 "And set up false witnesses, who said, 'This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:'"
Pastor's Blog
Have you ever been going along minding your own business, doing what you are supposed to be doing and have someone attack you? Attack not just what you are doing but where the attack becomes personal?
Well if you have then you have been persecuted. Now imagine that happening because you are stepping out in faith and following God. Are we not supposed to be protected from this kind of treatment when we are in His service? The Bible says no, “all those who would live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. If our idea of the Christian life is that we go from faith to faith and glory to glory with no opposition then there is something wrong in our thinking. We are missing a major part of the Gospel message, all of those who wish to grow in their relationship with God will sooner or later find themselves in pain, sorrow, trouble, persecution or something of the like. Scripture tells us, as well as life experience that no one escapes trouble in this world. Scripture tells us that it is not what we go through but how we go through it that makes all the difference. In other words we are not defined by what happens to us but by how we respond. This is not to diminish in any way the pain and sorrow, since of loss or problems we go through. It is to say that we are not to let them define our faith, our view of God or let them rewrite God’s plan for us. This can be a very hard thing to do and one of the many reasons we need others around us to love us and keep us on the right path.
Being a person who enjoys being alone allows a lot of time for reflection and quiet time with God which I love so much yet there is a danger if I do not seek to balance it with time in fellowship, real fellowship. I need others and so do you. I wonder if Paul would have gone on when he was stoned had it not been for Barnabas. Would Peter have rejoiced when he was beaten if it were not for John, would Silas have sung if it were not for Paul? When Jesus sends out the disciples they are told to carry no bag, no shoes no purse just do not go alone. Jesus sends them out in two’s as lambs among wolves Luke 10:1-4. Fellowship is not just a good idea; it is a vital necessity for the Christian life. We all need comfort; healing encouragement and perspective and Gods answer to these needs is others.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10, 2010
How to Withstand With Those Who Contend With You?
Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people."
Acts 6:9 "But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen."
Acts 6:10 "And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."
Pastor's Blog
While serving the widows and preserving the unity some come along who are bothered by what Stephen is saying. What are we to do and where do we find the ability to handle those who are causing trouble in or to the body of Christ?
It starts in verse 8 when we see Stephen was full of grace and power. The power must have given great proof of the truth of the message but the grace is what drew the people in. No wonder Stephen is listed at the top of the men chosen to lead this task. Yet at the same time it is not Stephen at all. Stephen has no claim to the grace for it too, is a gift of God just like faith, wisdom and the Spirit. Stephen is surrendered by the Holy Spirit for Him to do His blessed work from. The same is true of the power; it is not of or from Stephen. It is of the Holy Spirit and directed from Him. It is important for us to remember that it is not in our own strength that we are to stand but in HIS! Praise God then we can do it!
Luke has much to say about this in his Gospel in the 21st chapter and the 14th and
15th verses:
"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist."
It is not Stephen’s faith, wisdom, spirit, grace or power that he is operating in it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. This is the heart of Galatians 2:20 …”the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Christ”. It is not Stephen’s life we are looking at it is Christ’s life lived out through Stephan. This has everything to do with focus, our focus.
It is not Stephen’s words or wisdom but Christ’s, so we should be able to be rest in this promise but only if we are already at rest in Him with our focus on Him.
Acts 6:8 "And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people."
Acts 6:9 "But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen."
Acts 6:10 "And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."
Pastor's Blog
While serving the widows and preserving the unity some come along who are bothered by what Stephen is saying. What are we to do and where do we find the ability to handle those who are causing trouble in or to the body of Christ?
It starts in verse 8 when we see Stephen was full of grace and power. The power must have given great proof of the truth of the message but the grace is what drew the people in. No wonder Stephen is listed at the top of the men chosen to lead this task. Yet at the same time it is not Stephen at all. Stephen has no claim to the grace for it too, is a gift of God just like faith, wisdom and the Spirit. Stephen is surrendered by the Holy Spirit for Him to do His blessed work from. The same is true of the power; it is not of or from Stephen. It is of the Holy Spirit and directed from Him. It is important for us to remember that it is not in our own strength that we are to stand but in HIS! Praise God then we can do it!
Luke has much to say about this in his Gospel in the 21st chapter and the 14th and
15th verses:
"Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist."
It is not Stephen’s faith, wisdom, spirit, grace or power that he is operating in it is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. This is the heart of Galatians 2:20 …”the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of Christ”. It is not Stephen’s life we are looking at it is Christ’s life lived out through Stephan. This has everything to do with focus, our focus.
It is not Stephen’s words or wisdom but Christ’s, so we should be able to be rest in this promise but only if we are already at rest in Him with our focus on Him.
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