Ministering the Truth in Kindness

This morning I am continuing my read of Paul's second letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV:
[24] "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. [25] Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, [26] and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

This is such an interesting set of verses, as Paul is instructing Timothy on the spirit to minister out of, especially as it regards those who are opponents. Kindness is the first, and thus primary characteristic. Kindness, rather than quarreling - in other words putting people's significance before the need to be right. I think kindness and humility go hand in hand. How different would our world be if those who followed the Christian faith were first and foremost kind and humble?

Paul isn't telling Timothy to roll over on his believes, or weaken what he teaches, but is instructing him to gently (verse 25) deliver the message and let the Lord bring conviction followed by repentance, and salvation. There are those who have stopped preaching the truth in the effort to never offend anyone, and that would be a misreading of these verses. The Truth must be proclaimed, and the spirit in which it is delivered can make a huge difference in how its received. That is Paul's point here.

The opposition, the devil and his forces, will rise up and oppose the truth, but our call is to look past the opposition to the significance of the people, who are being used by the enemy, and to treat them kindly, gently sharing the truth, but never watering down the truth. This is really quite a challenging charge, for I know my flesh wants to fight, wants to prove the correctness of my thinking and beliefs, wants to grind the opposition's nose in it, good and hard, wants to battle the person who is being used to bring opposition. That is why Paul wrote these verses in his letter to the Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV:

[10] "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. [19] Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

Let s fearlessly proclaim the Gospel with kindness, gentleness and humility towards all. Let us remember who it is we are battling, and see the significance of all people. Let us learn to stand firm in our faith, covered in the armor of God, and proclaim the Truth and the Truth will set them free (John 8:32)!

Holy Spirit - Fill Me Up

This morning I am continuing my reading of Paul's letters to Timothy. This one verse grabbed my attention this morning - 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Amen Lord, I need all of that! Paul is speaking in the context of the gifts that God gave Timothy, and He has given all of us gifts. He expects us to step into those gifts with courage, hence, the encouragement. He expects us to operate out of His power, filled with His love, and increased in our own self-discipline. The good news is that the Holy Spirit empowers all that, and we can rely on His continual empowering. the Holy Spirit does not fill us one time, and then expect us to manage that power over our life-time, conserving the power that is in us, so we don't run out. Rather, He provides daily refreshing, daily in-filling, daily encouragement.

I know there are times I feel powerless and worn down, and this verse should remind us to return to the true source of all life. Its like we drive around on empty, and don't think about pulling into the gas station to be refilled. If we need courage, power, love or self-discipline, then we should go to our source and be refilled. The admonition that Paul gives Timothy in the preceding verse, is for Timothy to fan into flame those gifts he has received. In other words its Tim's responsibility to recognize he is running on empty and to get himself connected to the source of his life.

In my life, if I am feeling disconnected, weak or powerless, lacking in love or self-discipline, I start listening to a few of my favorite teachers, Bill Johnson, Randy Clark, Heidi Baker, or Graham Cooke. I might pull out a book by Smith Wigglesworth, or John G. Lake. Most likely, I pull out my Bible and start reading. I am immediately encouraged, and I find that I have fanned myself back into being on fire, filled with courage, love, power and more self-discipline.

So my encouragement today is to pull into the refueling station, and get filled. Holy Spirit - fill me up!

Life That Is Truly Life

Continuing my reading in Paul's first letter to Timothy - 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV:
[17] "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. [18] Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. [19] In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Once again Paul points to eternal life, as the primary focus for our life. It is so easy to get caught up in the here and now, but the encouragement from Paul is to keep our eyes fixed on the eternal, which is true life. I like what Bill Johnson says - that heaven is the real reality. This life is just a preparation for the life to come, and it is with faith and hope that we are called to turn our eyes heavenward, towards eternal life, and make decisions based on what is really real, the life that is truly life.

Paul, again is not negative towards wealth, even stating clearly that it is "God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment". This is import ant to understand as well - God wants us to enjoy the blessings we received, enjoy this life, and recognize that everything good comes from Him. When God revealed Himself to Moses, he had to cover Moses when His goodness passed in front of him, (Exodus 3:19). In other words, His goodness is so good its blinding and even able to kill due to the raw power associated with it. However, we are not to focus on the good stuff God blesses us with, but rather on Him, the source of all goodness. It is Eternal life with God, who is the source of all goodness, that is our goal, we just receive a foretaste of that goodness here. That is the life that will truly be life

A Simple Blessing Has A Profound Effect

I was just reading an article about a man who had abandoned his Christian beliefs to pursue paganism, and was brought back through a simple encounter as described here:

In that post, Mr. Bishop told of an encounter with a woman, probably homeless, sitting next to her shopping cart. He gave her some food. “God bless you,” she said to him. That exchange stayed with him, and he soon felt himself called back to God — to a Christian conception of God.

He earlier said, “I’m overwhelmed with thoughts of Jesus and God and Christianity and the Lord’s Prayer and compassion and forgiveness and hope. ... I don’t know what to do with all of this.”

I am so encouraged by the fruit of the simple phrase, "God Bless You!" Let us never underestimate the effect our words can have on others. Let us sow generously blessing to all those we meet.

For the whole article follow this link:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/23/us/an-ex-mouseketeers-journey-back-to-christianity-from-paganism.html?_r=0

Right Pursuits

This morning I felt lead to these verses from Paul's first letter to Timothy - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NIV
[11] "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

I was thinking about what great examples we would be if we all pursued righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. The context of this was Paul urging Timothy not to pursue money and wealth, because of the dangers associated with that path, but to focus on those things listed. Additionally, his encouragement is to take hold of the eternal life to which he is called, and to fight the good fight of faith.

I find the phrase "take hold of the eternal life" interesting, and looked at the original Greek, and it means exactly that - to grab hold of this eternal life. I find this interesting because there is little we could do to actually lay hold of eternal life, aside from coming into relationship with Jesus, whose gift of eternal life is His to give.

I think Paul's encouragement has more to do with his previous contextual comments, namely settling ones mind and heart after what one will pursue in life, money and fame, of eternal life with Christ. Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but Paul is giving direct guidance to Timothy. In the very next paragraph Paul gives Timothy guidance on how to encourage those who are wealthy, so these verses should not be construed to mean that this is the only path, but they are directly focused on Timothy. Is it possible Timothy had a proclivity to lean towards the pursuit of wealth and money?

Regardless, the encouragement and call to righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness is good for us all. The call to remember and hold onto the call we all have heavenward, to hold onto our faith with significant effort - is equally important. I think we can see here the value of these treasures - our faith and relationship with Jesus. We should hold into them as the most precious possessions. We should struggle daily increase our hold, never slacking in our grasp or pursuit.

I just had an image pop into my mind, one of those crazy competitions for radio stations where they used to give away a car, and do so by having people keep their hand in the car. The last person to remove their hand won the car. I was thinking about the things we do, camping outside stores or ticket booths to Mae sure we have a sure opportunity to grab hold of those things we greatly desire, whether its the new iPhone, or tickets to the superbowl. In the same way, we are encouraged to persevere and hold onto our faith and life in Christ. We should make sure our lives are seasoned with the fruit of the Spirit, and fruit of our relationship with Jesus - these are so much better to pursue than wealth and money. I am encouraged to grab hold of the life that is available in Christ.

Be Like God...

This morning I continue to work my way through Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:17-24 NIV
[17] "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. [18] They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. [19] Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed."

[20] "That, however, is not the way of life you learned [21] when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. [22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

As I was studying a few days ago, my old man is dead, crucified on the cross with Jesus. Much of the battle for all Christians, is learning to live in this reality, and that battle is waged mostly in our minds. As Paul describes in verses 22-24, we need to learn to put off our old self, and be made new in the attitude of our minds. He is describing patterns of thought, ways of thinking that need to change. We need a new attitude that comes from our knowledge and understanding of what He has accomplished for us.

We can put on this new self attitude, this new way of thinking, and need to do so every day. I know for me it is a daily struggle of remembering who I am in Christ, and seeing areas in my life and in my thinking that do not line up with God's word and purpose for me, and choosing to change. I am grateful that I have moved on in many areas, and seen much growth. However, I am also convinced of the long way I have to go to be like Christ.

I also recognize the effect of the world, and how it does affect my thinking and reasoning, causing a darkening of thought or hardening of my heart. For this reason, I choose to minimize the input into my life from the world. I need to get better at this as well, for the influence of the world is all around us and I need to recognize when my mind and heart are being affected. Sometimes the change is so slight that I don't notice the change for a while. I look back and discover I am quite a ways off the path on which I should be walking, and need to change my direction. This is the heart of repentance, changing the way we think, and then changing our actions accordingly.

The awesome reality is that this new self is made to "be like God in true righteousness and holiness". As I learn to put it on daily, taking on the attitude of Christ, and His mind, I will become like Him. Amen Lord Jesus, help me.

Speaking the Truth in Love

This morning I am reading from Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV:

[11] "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

[14] "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

I am focused specifically on verse 15, and the right application of that verse, and correct context. Its always funny how certain verses are taken completely out of context, and applied to many non-contextual situations. I can't tell how many different ways I have heard the phrase "Speaking the truth in love", and most of the time I hear that verse, it has nothing to do with correct teaching, and growth and maturity in the context of the body of Christ, which is the very clear context of Paul's writing.

Paul is writing about the role's of the different ministry offices in the growing of the church, and how one of their important roles is bringing truth, holding onto the truth, and establishing a strong and steady foundation of knowledge and understanding within the church, that will withstand the constant barrage of deception, wrong teaching and worldly perspectives that try to infiltrate the church. Speaking the truth in love, has to do with freeing people from these deceptions, their wrong thinking, and wrong ideas in a loving manner, not punishing them, or being harsh with them for wrong ideas they have believed or espoused. It means conveying to people their true identities, who they are in Christ, how God sees them, what He purposes for their lives.

Paul is not talking about correcting personal character traits, or holding people accountable to certain standards of behavior. He is not talking about the spiritualization of a critical nature, where you pick someone apart, but tell them its because You love them, and thus think this behavior is OK. He is not talking about constantly correcting someone you love, because you love them and what the best for them. This is not a 'carte blanche ' for a critical spirit, nor is it permission to taking on the Lord's role as Lord over someone's life, thinking that if you see something out of line in their life its you responsibility to point this issue out and tell them to change, all because you say you love them so much.

Instead, Paul is calling the body to growth and maturity. He is calling the offices of the church to step into their roles and effectively lead the church in growth. He is saying that they will need to bring forth truth, help people to establish relationships of trust and true identity, and begin doing the work they are called to do. He is calling the church to recognize their role in bringing the "Truth" to the world, holding onto the truth, and guarding the truth, and in all things doing so in love.

Lord, help me to walk in this, the right understanding and right application of this excellent word from Paul. Help me to rid myself of any critical spirit, and be a true representative of Your love and mercy. Help me to fully mature in my walk with You, holding fast to the truth of who You are, and who I am in you.

Meditation on Psalm 97

This morning I turned to Psalm 97 for my meditation:

Psalm 97:9-12 NIV
[9] "For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
[10] Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
[11] Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
[12] Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."

I love the assurances we receive as we look at these verses. God is over everything, over every being, firmly established on His throne. No one, and nothing has the power to change that. Thus, He is able to be faithful always, for He is always in His place of power. He is always capable of delivering those He calls His own, because nothing and no one can stand in His way. He shines (the Hebrew word means sows, as in grain} His light, His favor, His grace on the righteous, (those have come into relationship with Jesus and accepted His Lordship). He gives or sows joy to the upright in heart (another way of saying righteous). We are called to rejoice, to enjoy, to celebrate our lives in the Lord, for He is worthy of celebration.

Participating In God's Nature

This morning I read through Peter's second letter to the Church's. The following verses really grabbed my attention:

2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
[3] "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

[5] For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."

[10] "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, [11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

I think verses 3 and 4 are so incredible, if one thinks about the real significance of what Peter is saying. We have been given everything we need to be able to live a godly life - everything, as in nothing is lacking in any of us. We access this through our knowledge of Him, in other words, through relationship. As we get to know His goodness and glory, we start to understand the promises He has made to us. Understanding the relationship and commitment that carries is essential in moving forward in the Lord. These are not idle promises, made off the cuff, or promises that are quickly forgotten, but rather these are promises that open the door to experiencing and participating in the divine nature, the very nature of God. Wow!

This marks sense to me, as it is in the place of committed relationship that I have made the greatest promise of my life, the promise I made to my wife. It is within the context of that promise, that I have known her, and continue to get to know her. I know what she is thinking, often just by looking at her, I know how she will react, and I often times say the say same thing at the same time. It is in the knowing, that I understand and experience her nature, all made possible by the promises exchanged.

My desire is to know the Lord, His goodness and glory so intimately that I will access everything He has for me, uncover every promise and see its fulfillment in my life. My desire is to be as much like Him as possible, reflecting His nature in all I do.

Our True Identities

I have been listening to Graham Cooke and watching some of his Youtubes recently, and he is so helpful in helping me to dive deeper in my understanding of God's character, as well as who I am in Christ. I never get tired of his perspective and understanding, and more importantly, his relationship with the Lord. It is so refreshing to hear someone who really knows the Lord, and can share from a place of experience. This video is a great example of his teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYNVH-cR9lQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I highly recommend listening to Graham, if you have never heard him teach or read any of his books. He is both highly enjoyable, and so helpful in our faith-walk.

God Is A Genius

This morning I was continuing my reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians and he is talking about Christ being preached, as follows:

Philippians 1:15-18 NIV
[15] "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. [16] The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. [18] But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."

Recently I was listening to Graham Cooke speak about the Lord, how He just isn't that worried about our mistakes. He doesn't get real upset about pretty much anything, as He is God and He will always find a way. I was brought back to that line of thinking by Paul's writing above, which is really quite interesting. He is talking about the heart motives of people who are out there preaching about Jesus, and how it didn't really matter to him whether they were doing so out of some selfish ambition or not. I would think that as one with pure motives, and who constantly was preaching ad instructing and living the example of a pure Christian life, Paul would be upset by those that were looking to profit by the Gospel, but he puts that issue in its proper place behind the preaching of the Gospel, which is right.

So often we are quick to judge a person for an area where we disagree, being quick to pass judgment on their theology or area of life where they are not in alignment with the will of the Lord, and overlook the vast importance of their works in furthering the Kingdom. That doesn't men we ignore the issues, but it does mean that we need to keep a proper perspective. Paul put the advancement of the Kingdom before heart issues of the ones preaching.

It is quite clear that God can use sinners to do His will, as we are all sinners, and He doesn't have a choice. Secondly, He can always turn bad and difficult situations to bring Him glory and advance His Kingdom. As it says in Isaiah 14:27 NIV "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"

Paul understood this simple reality - God is God and can work with anything! Bill Johnson likes to say that "God can win with any hand", and that is so true. He doesn't get upset wth us if we mess up. He perfect plans are not ruined by our disobedience. It is never too late for God to act and bring redemption. None of our sins are so big that God can't come in and use us for His purposes. I feel like God is always looking over our shoulder waiting to be given the chance to step in and help us clean up the mess we have created. God does not limit Himself to our failings and misconceptions or mistakes, but is able to transcend them all, that is part of what makes Him God. As Graham likes to say, "He is a genius!"

So my encouragement is to let God be God, and not worry so much about what others are doing or saying, but have faith that God is fully capable of taking care of Himself. I am encouraged to keep things in proper perspective and recognize the genius of the Lord, for His purposes will come to pass, regardless of what we do and how messed up we are presently. I am not saying I don't believe in free will, but rather am saying I believe in the infinite power of God and that He is a genius!

He Finishes the Good Work in Us

My meditation this morning is out of - Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11 NIV
[3] "I thank my God every time I remember you. [4] In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

[9] "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, [10] so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ---to the glory and praise of God."

What an encouraging word verse 6 is - that we can be "confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.". In other words, our purpose and God's plan for us is God's weight that He is carrying.  He began a good work in us, and will carry it out to completion. We need to cooperate, but the primary weight and responsibility is on Him. As long as our heart is right, we won't be able to screw it up, because He will see it through to completion.

I think of a dad teaching a child to ride a bike. When he takes the training wheels off, the father doesn't just shove the child off and sit and watch, but rather runs right along side the child, often lending a guiding hand, and keeps running alongside until its clear the child can ride. This is the image I get as I read these verses. God wouldn't call us to ride a bike and the make us figure out how to do it, and give us no help in the process, and punish us if we get it wrong. He is faithful to complete the work in us, to help us to attain our purpose and the fulfillment of His plan in us! He will complete the 'good work He began in us!'

Promises, Permissions and Provisions

I was listening to Graham Cooke this weekend and one of the things that I thought was so important was his statement about the way God governs us. He said God doesn't use rules and regulations, but rather uses promises, permissions and provision. He always deals with us as He sees us, which is from the perspective of who we are in Heaven, rather than who we are presently in time. God is outside of time, so He sees our future as easily as our present. He calls us forward, calls into our purpose and persona (who He sees us as) and always deals with us in that way. The story of the prodigal is a great example:

Luke 15:17-24 NIV
[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

[20] So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

[21] “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

[22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

This is such an awesome story of the Father's love, mercy and compassion. The son recognizes his mistake comes back to Father and confesses all, expecting to have to regain his trust or at the very least take some subservient role. Interestingly, the Father never even acknowledges the son's statement, instead he immediately reinstates him to his full rights (permissions) and identity. The Father doesn't see the lost son, as this complete disappointment, now worthless and damaged son, but rather sees him as he always did - his beloved son. There was no time of re-earning the Fathers trust, no new rules or regulations to guide their interaction, just the restoration of all that once was available to the son. It is not mentioned, but I'm sure this included a new inheritance. The Father holds nothing back, but calls us all into a place of identity and promise, permissions and provision. Jesus closes this story with the profound statement to the older son, who completely misunderstood the Father's heart, "‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.". Luke 15:31.

Lord, help us to grasp how good You really are and how much You really love us. Help us to embrace our identity in You, listening to who You say we are, rather than the voice of world. Help must to step into the promises, permissions and provision You have for us, for we are with You always and everything You have is ours!

Old Ways of Thinking

This morning I find myself meditating on two sets of verses from Paul.

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV
[12] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Romans 12:2 NIV
'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is---his good, pleasing and perfect will."

My meditation is drawn to these two sets of verses, as I was recently thinking about my own thought patterns, and how easy it was for me to slide back into old ways of thinking. I know as the Lord draws me onward, there is often a required change in the way I think. This is the heart of repentance, changing the way we think, and then acting inline with this new way of thinking. I don't regard repentance as something I only do after recognizing my sin, but rather a continuous process of lining my life and thinking up with God's purpose and will.

Paul in the verse from Romans, speaks exactly to this issue, calling us to step out of the pattern of this world, the way the world thinks and the way the world acts, and renew our minds, or change the way we think. This has transforming power in our lives. This is one of the areas the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us. We need to allow the Lord access and then follow His guidance and direction.

I know that for my mind this includes freeing myself from things of this world that affect the way we think. For me it is TV and non-Christian music. I find myself affected by both. I grew up listening to what is now classic rock, and enjoy that music. However, I find that if I start listening to it, my way of thinking begins to change, maybe revert is a better word, and I find myself thinking in a more worldly manner. Watching television has the same effect. So in my own walk, I have chosen to minimize both of these influences.

In the verse from his letter to the Philippians, Paul again nails it right on nose. He says we need to press onward, forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. He is right, this is a struggle that takes effort on our part. Oh how I wish that wasn't the case, but it does require my active participation, and constant vigilance. His encouragement is that there is purpose in each of our lives, significant purpose, and he calls onward and upward. He calls us to forget what is in the past, and this would include thoughts and ways of thinking, things that anchor us to the past. He calls us to forget them and set our sights on Jesus.

Ultimately if I find myself struggling with sinful thoughts or mindsets, I can trace it back to some old patterns of thinking that I have slid back into without my recognition. Once I recognize this, I call to mind the new realities I have experienced in the Lord, realities of my true identity in Christ as chosen and loved son, my call in Him to step into leadership roles within the Body of Christ, and my position in Christ. From these new, real points of reference, I am able to free myself from my old ways of thinking and press onward and upward.

I like the way Bill Johnson says it - "I can't afford to have a single thought in my mind that isn't in God's". In other words, the pursuit of the Lord requires us to stop thinking in our old ways, the ways of the world, and start thinking like the Lord. Seeing ourselves the way He sees us is a big first step. That is what Paul calls us toward. So let us forget what is in the past, let us recognize what God has taken hold of us for a purpose, and let us press onward towards fulfilling that purpose. We need to embrace the process of change, so that we can bear all the fruit the Lord knows we can produce. Amen Lord, please help me!

Seed Principle - Growing in the Lord

This past Sunday we were talking about understanding God's plans for us, and our need to participate in them to see them come to fruition. As were were talking, I was reminded of a dream I had a few years back. In my dream I met this older women who was bent over, shriveled and just really bitter. I asked the Lord what was wrong with her, and he said she had was angry at Him, and full of bitterness. Many years earlier she had received a prophetic word about her life, and she had immediately set about trying to see it come to pass. She had spent her whole life trying to see this word fulfilled and ended up exhausted frustrated and bitter. The Lord told me she had misunderstood the purpose of a seed prophetic word. These words are meant to give us perspective about who we will become in time, not something that will be fulfilled the next day. Seed words, like all seeds, take time to produce fruit, and it is only by tending them and nurturing them that they become really fruitful.

This morning I happened upon a link to a related word from Dutch Sheets - which is so over helpful and encouraging.

Dutch Sheets: Seeds For Becoming Who You Are

As a father to this generation, I thrive on helping others realize and fulfill God's dreams for them. When imparting life lessons to emerging world changers, I always emphasize that we can fully embrace our identity in Christ only when we willingly participate in the process God has designed for our success. It is good to desire growth, change, maturity, and results, but we frequently want results without embracing "the process" that will yield them. In the same way that we long for the "finished product," we also need to undertake and embrace a passion for the path – the journey – to our completion. We cannot expect to be overnight legends in the faith. A life of obedience necessitates conforming to God's means (His process) just as much as to His ends (the finished product). If we continue abiding and abiding and abiding, it will happen. The truth will make you free. So shall My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Seeking Permanent Change Several years ago the Lord spoke something to me that was one of the greatest revelations I've ever received. I was talking to Him about why the Word wasn't working in me. Truth be told, I was complaining about seeing a lack of fruit in my life. I'd sat under countless great teachers, listened to all the right tapes, read all the classic books, and all I heard was how I was supposed to be victorious in every area of my life. With pure heart motives for being greatly used by God, I aimed to be the best Christian I could possibly be. Oftentimes, along this quest, I would leave powerful church services and prayer meetings high on hope that I now had what I needed to finally see permanent change. But a few days later and – you guessed it – I was the same. "God, why isn't this working for me?" I cried out. I was pretty upset, feeling like a complete failure. And then He spoke to me what without a doubt has been one of the most important things I've ever learned. "Because all truth comes to you in seed form." Huh? He continued: "For those people who are teaching you – the ones who are giving you all these testimonies of what worked for them – that truth is fruit in them now. But it isn't transferred to you as fruit. It comes to you as seed. Whether it bears the same fruit in you depends on what you do with it, because all truth comes in seed form. If you do what they did and abide in My Word, that seed will grow in you also, and the truth will make you free, just as it has for them." I chewed on this for a while. I began to think of all those I knew who were clearly bearing fruit in certain areas of their lives. A former drug addict whose mind was "fried" immediately began to immerse himself in God's Word after giving his life to Christ. For hours each day he would read, meditate upon, memorize, and speak Scripture. After only a few months, not only was this young man completely free of any temptation toward drugs, his mind was completely healed. I recalled another young man who was set free from a poverty mentality, having only known extreme poverty up until that point in his life. Seeds of revelation were planted while hearing a man speak on true prosperity, being blessed by God to be a blessing. The transformation of his mind came about as he spent months identifying and meditating upon Scriptures on God's provision, sowing and reaping, etc. Before long that stronghold was broken and in its place was an incredible faith for finances. He became one of the most prosperous men I know...and one of the best givers.

The Seed Principle I could see the thread. It became what I call "the seed principle": a process of growth until fruition. Suddenly, I knew I couldn't expect freedom in problem areas of my life if I had not spent time in God's Word regarding those areas. You have to work the process. Information seeds must become fruit-producing revelation. And for that to happen, you have to tend the seed. Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8 all recount the parable of the sower in which Jesus talks in detail about this seed principle. He indicates that the maturity of the seed – His Word in us – is a growing process. And if that seed is nurtured, just like a natural seed, it will grow to fruition. Jesus summarized the process of tending the seeds of His Word as follows:

1. Hear: Receive the written or spoken Word of God (Matthew 13:23). 2. Understand: Put these new pieces of God's Word together with the knowledge of God we already have for greater revelation (Matthew 13:23). 3. Accept: Receive and embrace with assent and obedience (Mark 4:20). 4. Hold Fast: In our tending to the seed (Luke 8:15).

Aborting The Process Jesus also mentions a valuable truth of which we all need to be acutely aware as we tend to our seed: whether through fear, financial stress, lust...satan's primary goal is to get us to abort the process so he can steal the seed. His attacks will no doubt be well-timed, sneaking in at our most vulnerable moments in life. Despite the storms that will come to disrupt and challenge our maturation, we must strengthen ourselves in the Lord and "hold fast [to] the confession of our hope" (1 Samuel 30:6; Hebrews 10:23). If you continuously yield to the work of the Master Potter, He will give grace to help us in our time of need and bring to completion the good work that He's begun in you (see Hebrews 4:16; Philippians 1:6).

Nurturing the Word In summary, when we persist in nurturing the Word of God, revelation will come to enlighten and bring truth to us (see Ephesians 1:17-18). If attended to (see Proverbs 4:20), guarded (see Proverbs 4:23), continued in (see John 15; James 1:25), and meditated upon (see Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3), the Word of God will bear the fruit He has promised. Galatians 6:9 offers the perfect encouragement: "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." Anchor yourself in God's Word. Surround yourself with life-givers who will pray with you, for you, and hold you accountable to the standard God's called you to. Continue to abide in Him, abide in His Word, and you will be set free to become whom God has made you to be, and experience the power of your identity in Christ.

Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries
Website: www.dutchsheets.org

The Benefit of Good Role Models

This morning I am spending some time in Paul's letter to the Philippians, specifically 3:17-21 NIV:

[17] "Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. [18] For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

[19] Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

As I was reading through these verses, I was thinking about how helpful Paul's counsel and perspective is here. Verse 17 really is the key verse, Paul encourages them to keep their eyes on those who live as they (Paul and his companions) did. In other words, find yourselves some great Christian role-models and keep your eyes on them. Don't be distracted by the other models of depravity and worldliness that are out there, but maintain your focus, follow their example, and keep your mind set on the Lord and our eternal destiny. Such good advice.

I know I have found people to read about who help inspire me and encourage me in my pursuit of the Lord. I spend most of my reading time in scripture, and as such consider the Lord my prime example. I love Acts and the epistles and letters. However, there is something refreshing in reading about someone's life in Christ in these more modern times. I have several favorites like John G. Lake, A.W.Tozer, Smith Wigglesworth, Graham Cooke, Bill Johnson, Rees Howells, C. Peter Wagner, Randy Clark, and John Piper. These men have been great examples to me of living their lives pursuing the Lord, and I am always encouraged in my own walk when I read their books.

Usually, if I am actively working through one of their books, I find I am much more conscious of my walk, my desire for the Lord, and my desire to grow. I find the converse to be true as well. The less time I spend reading, and soaking in the Word, or stories of men and women pursuing the Lord, the more likely I am to become distracted by the other role model's that the world holds up, and their vain pursuits, and depravity.

I find myself coming back to Paul's advice - literally keep my eyes on those who live their lives as Jesus did by reading. Focus on Jesus, then Paul and the apostles, and those other solid examples of Christian life in our modern world. I need to remember to keep a proper perspective - this world is only a preparation for our eternal destiny.

Pursuing God's Promises

Yesterday we talked about the promises of God at church, and this morning my heart continues to be focused on God's promises. We were discussing dreams,visions, prophetic words and such and how they are often God's promises of something He desires to bring about in our lives, or the lives of others. We had a good conversation about our need to participate, our need to adjust to His word, as co-laborers. We talked about how these promises are meant to allow us to see beyond our present situation or circumstances, and see things from God's perspective. These promises are meant to encourage us on, give us hunger for some new reality and help must align ourselves with the Lord's will.

I love these verses from the Letter to the Hebrews, particularly as they relate to the promises of God:

Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV
[19] "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

These verses speak of our assurance, our confidence, and our ability to draw near to God. We can rely on Him, rely on His promises, for He is faithful! We can spur one another onward, each understanding that we, like all our brothers and sisters have, as of yet, unfulfilled promises and destinies in Christ. We are all called to encourage one another, love each other, and spur each other forward to grab hold of that which God has planned for us.

In my minds eye, I see us all participating in a race, but rather than competing to win, we are focused on everyone else finishing the race, and running their best. Its a completely different motivation and focus. Our call is to encourage everyone to achieve that which they are called to do and be. We are all better for each of our brother's and sister's successes. As Paul said, "Not that I (we) have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my (our) goal, but I (we) press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (us)." Philippians 3:12

The Law Set Aside By Jesus

This morning I am reading from Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV:

[11] "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)--- [12] remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

[14] For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

[19] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

As one who would be classified a gentile, I so appreciate these verses, as they lay out so clearly the understanding of two things, first our being joined together with the Jews to become a new humanity, in Christ, citizens of God's household. Secondly, that the law has been set aside for us (see verse 15).

These were not givens in the early church, and it was revelation first given to Peter (Acts 10) that opened the door of the Church to the gentiles (everyone not Jewish). The early church struggled mightily with the question of whether the gentiles who joined the church should have to live under the requirements of the law, and this question was at the heart of the disagreement between Paul and Peter described in Galatians 2. Since all the earliest converts were Jews, they weer assuming that the law, and their religious practices were in some way required, and Paul argued multiple times that it was faith through grace that saves us, not some work, or physical act that allows us entry into relationship with the Lord. We all have equal access to the Lord, through Him.

In addition, the covenant of the law and commandments, was set aside by Jesus, as He completely fulfilled its requirements. As such, we are no longer under it. What I find so amazing is how quickly we want to go back to that works based mentality. Paul, was equally surprised by many of the early churches abandonment of the gospel of grace and reclaiming some sort of works, or law based gospel (Gal 1, Eph 2, Phil 3, Col 2). I know its so easy to create this list of things we can't do, which are almost always based on the old covenant of the law and commandments, which were set aside by Jesus. In Roman's 10:4, Paul says that Christ is the end of the Law. Paul speaks about the actual freedom we have in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8 & 10, Galatians 5, Colossians 2, to name a few.

Now, this clearly doesn't mean we don't have rules for Christian living, as Paul also clearly outlines in his writings. Some who embrace the grace message in the extreme, saying that all that matters is faith, and our actions have no real affect, have obviously thrown out much of the rest of Paul's writings. We must be balanced in our approach, as Paul said, making sure the Gospel that is being preached is unadulterated, and unchanged by human regulations and false doctrine and hollow philosophies.

All relationships have rules for healthy living, and in this our relationship with the Lord is the same. In marriage I don't just think about my own needs, my own desires, and do anything I please without considering the affects of my actions on my sweetheart, so too is our relationship with the Lord guided by concern for someone other than our self. However, we must be clear these rules apply within relationship. For us to tell someone they need to follow these rules to be able enter into relationship, is the exact thing Paul was addressing as the wrong approach.

Let us examine our faith, our relationship with the lord, and see if we are walking in freedom, and loving relationship. The Lord desires us to know His grace, mercy, love and faithfulness. He calls us to a place of personal relationship first. It is from this place of relationship that He draws us forward into a life that is filled more and more with His life, and less and less with the things of this world, and our flesh. Let us learn to introduce people to the person Jesus, NOT the rules for our relationship.

The Trees Sing

This morning after a time of worship, I was sitting in the quiet, and felt like I should read PS 96. I immediately remembered that there is a verse speaking about the trees singing for joy, and as I look at the bright colors of fall, it does seem the trees are giving glory to God. Here are the verses I was thinking of:

Psalm 96:11-13 NIV
[11] "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. [12] Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. [13] Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness."

I love fall for this very reason...it seems the like most glorious time to me. I am encouraged by God's beautiful creation!

Suffering and God's Will

This morning I am reading through Peter's first letter. He brings up suffering, and I think its important to understand his context, and more important to understand the Father's heart. Here are some verses:

1 Peter 3:14, 17 NIV
[14]"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats ; do not be frightened.”

[17] For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

1 Peter 4:13-16, 19 NIV
[13] "But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. [15] If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. [16] However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

[19] So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

In all of these verses, Peter is speaking of suffering under persecution, not sickness or disease. There is a mindset, which wrongly applies these verses as pointing to God somehow desiring us to suffer sickness and pain or difficult times as a part of His will. If we look every closely at verse 19, from the 4th chapter, we see that they are not suffering because its God's will that they suffer, but rather they are suffering persecution for doing God's will. The context of the suffering is persecution and hardship for obedience to God, which is why Jesus suffered. God knows that by obedience we will endure hardships, trials, persecutions, and the like, and those will come upon us, as they came upon Jesus.

It might be helpful to look at the original Greek of verse 19.

The word translated 'according to' is Kata - Definition 1. down from, through out 2. according to, toward, along.

The word translated 'will' is Thelema - Definition 1. what one wishes or has determined shall be done a. of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ b. of what God wishes to be done by us 1. commands, precepts 2. will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

The structure of Greek is different as well - literally is would be written - therefore those who suffer Kata Thelma Theos - suffer because of or according to what we are commanded to do by God.

So we could write verse 19 this way - therefore, since Christ suffered persecutions and hardships, as you pursue God's will for You, which comes down from heaven and bears His blessings in obedience to His Word, you will experience suffering as Christ suffered, (persecutions and hardship) but in the face of this you should commit yourselves to God, who is faithful, and choose to continue to do good.

The point Peter is making is that we will suffer persecution for doing good, we will suffer hardship for obedience to God, not that God afflicts us with suffering just because He wants us to suffer. I like Bill Johnson's comments concerning this, he says that if he were to treat his own kids the way some people think the Father treats us (willing us to suffer, or causing us to suffer) he would be charged with child-abuse. God does not take pleasure in our suffering, or desire us to suffer, any more than any normal dad takes pleasure in his child's suffering or wants to see his child suffer for their own good. Jesus came as a perfect representation of the Father, and he did not afflict people with sickness or hardship, rather He healed them and set them free.

Hopefully this is helpful.

Of Sin and Sickness

This morning I am reading from Matthew 9:2-8 NIV:

[2] "Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

[3] At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

[4] Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? [5] Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [6] But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” [7] Then the man got up and went home. [8] When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man."

And contrasting this verse with John 9:1-7 NIV:

[1] "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

[3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

[6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing."

As I read these two sections, the question of whether sin causes sickness rises up. In both texts, we do not see this correlation. It was a common thought among the Jews that sin caused sickness, hence the questions from the disciples in John 9. Jesus clearly states that in this situation, that is not the case, neither the man, nor his parents had sin that caused his blindness.

In the first story from Matthew, we often times assume that the forgiveness of sins was tied directly to the healing, but all the commentators I have read make a point of saying this is not the case. Rather, the healing proved the validity of the earlier statement of Jesus, that He had authority to forgive sins. This situation had nothing to do with a correlation between the man's sin and sickness, but was rather a point of Jesus authority, given Him by the Father, to do both, forgive sins and heal and work miracles. The focus of this section was not the man, but rather Jesus.

In neither section is there a clear statement that sin causes sickness, or the opposite. There is clearly a case for sin causing sickness, for example in the case of sexual immorality being the cause of a sexually transmitted disease, or of the sin of gluttony being a potential cause of type 2 diabetes, or the case where persistent drunkenness causes liver failure, but this is not the rule by any means.

The truth that sin opened the door for sickness and disease to enter the world is conveyed to us in the book of Genesis, and as such it is proper to draw some correlation, but not of the personal level of responsibility, that many are quick to draw. If you were to read the teachings of men who had great healing ministries, like John G. Lake or Smith Wigglesworth, you would find that both of them believed the majority of sickness had to do with the work of the evil one and not people's sinfulness. We find ample scriptural basis for this perspective, and their experiences gave them reason to believe this was the case. We also have plenty of scriptural examples of healing that mention nothing other than the healing of the person or people who are sick. Developing a theological perspective that is heavily weighted around sin as the cause of sickness would be very short sighted and unbalanced.

Rather than trying to afix blame, let us instead pursue the glorification of God in healing and miracles, and let Him be the judge of people hearts and lives. Let us point to, and run to Jesus who has authority to forgive sins and bring healing of all diseases.

Love and Forgiveness

I was reading through the Gospel of Matthew this morning and two sections stood out to me.

Matthew 5:44-48 NIV
[44] "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV:
[14] "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

I was thinking about how challenging these two sections of verses are to live out. The call is to go beyond our normal human nature and treat others, all others, the way we have been treated by the Lord. These really challenge our thinking about the way God deals with us as well. The picture of the Father, as it was often understood in the Old Testament, was that He was vengeful, unforgiving, and punished sinners. Here Jesus is laying out a different picture of the Father as someone who blesses both the righteous and unrighteous, who loves those who don't love Him, who is perfect in His love and mercy. All the challenges He makes to our ways of thinking are originating in the Father.

Secondly, there is an expectation that we understand forgiveness and extend it toward others. This is one of the few places that I know of where there is a direct command to do something to get something in return. There is much to be said about forgiveness towards others, but I think of primary importance, it opens us up to forgiveness by the Father. Jesus focuses on forgiveness several times in His discourses, so we should not read this as the only word on forgiveness.

Forgiveness speaks much about the nature of our heart, and our willingness to love in spite of hurt, rejection, slights, etc. Have we understood the incredible gift of forgiveness we have been given by Jesus taking all our sins to the cross? Have we embraced Him, and received His love into our hearts, and as such become a fount of love and life? Are we holding onto to unforgiveness so that we can extract some sort of payment from the offending party? Let us look to the Lord, who requires no payment for cancelling or sins, but who invites us into relationship.

Let us extend to others that which has been extended to us, namely God's mercy, love and forgiveness. Let us treat all as the Lord treats us. Let us learn to love as the Father loves

Amazing Realities

Last night I was reading from Paul's letters to the Colossians 2:9-15 NIV:

[10] "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. [11] In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."

[13] "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

As I am reading these verses I am aware of several things. I am amazed at the reality of verse 10, that Jesus came to earth and took on bodily form, becoming a man.

I am amazed that in Christ, every one of my sins is forgiven.

I am amazed that in Christ, He did everything required for me, and I only have to have faith in Him, and accept His sacrifice. There is nothing I can add, nothing required of me, except to accept Him and believe.

Finally, I am amazed at the power and authority we are invited into, in Christ, for we were raised with Him, through our faith. He is now seated in power, and we with Him, for we are hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3 NIV: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Lord, help me to more fully grasp these truths. I want to understand and be brought to fullness in Jesus. I want to walk in that fullness, authority and power that are available to me. I want to live a life of thankfulness and appreciation, and bring You glory through my life.

God's Heart for the Lonely and Bound-up

This morning I was reading Psalm 68, which a grand psalm about the greatness of God. I was caught by one verse in particular though... Psalm 68:6 NIV:"God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

Young's Literal Translation says it slightly differently, which is more in line with the original Hebrew: "God -- causing the lonely to dwell at home, Bringing out bound ones into prosperity, Only --the 'rebellious' have inhabited a dry place." They actually use refractory instead of rebellious, but the word means the same.

Anyway, breaking it down, God cares for the lonely. He desires to place them in families, in a home, where they are no longer lonely.

As I read the first part of the verse, I thought of all the troubled children, foster children, the orphans, especially the older children who are looking for a home, and I see God's heart for them. I thought of all the people who are single, not of their choice, who long for husbands or wives, for children, and I see God's heart for them. God is all about relationships, and we are meant to be in them and have a place of belonging and purpose. Lord, I cry out to you for all the people who are lonely, that You would cause them to dwell in a home of love and significance.

The second part, on first read in the NIV, doesn't seem to get to the real point. The original language, again more clear in YLT, is speaking of those who are bound, who are captive to something. God sets them free, He redeems them, and leads them out. Whether its financial burdens, emotional chains, scars and wounds from one's past, God is capable of setting all free, and bringing them to a place of prosperity, promise or plenty. In this context, the picture of the prisoners being led out with singing does say it all, they are free and their hearts must sing. Lord, I pray that You might set people free and release them from their captivity, that they might be led to a place of promise, plenty and prosperity.

Finally the verse ends with an admonition to heed the Lord, to listen to His direction and follow it. Those that don't, those that rebel against the Lord, end up living in a barren waste land, of self imposed lack. God's desire for us is blessing and relationship, and He is not the cause of their presence-less existence. When we do not trust the Lord, we choose a path that does not lead to life, for that is always the direction He leads us along.

Finishing these thoughts with Psalm 23 - this is how the Lord desires to operate in our lives!

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV
[1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
[3] he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
[4] Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
[6] Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen!

Work AND Minister

This morning I read through both of Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. I don't think I have ever read through both of them at the same time. I thought it would be interesting to see what his follow-up letter was like, and whether he addressed similar issues, acknowledged growth, etc. The one message that was clear in both was Paul's encouragement to the people to follow his model of working hard to provide for himself and his companions. He brings this up early in the first letter with this and ends the second with the same admonition. Here are the two sections:

1 Thessalonians 2:6-12 NIV
We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. [7] Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, [8] so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. [9] Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. [10] You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. [11] For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, [12] encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NIV
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. [9] We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. [10] For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

The second letter is clearly a follow up to the first in this regard, as Paul makes sure to point out that his lifestyle was meant as an example, one they could imitate. I don't know anything about Thessoloniaka at that time, but Paul is definitely calling them to a similar model of working while sharing the Gospel. I think of the modern day ministries that focus in marketplace ministry and see here a similar model, one that is very effective and easy to replicate.

The interesting thing is that in so many of our minds the call to ministry would require us leaving the marketplace, or our jobs, to focus solely on ministry, yet Paul, arguably the most effective evangelist and apostle, called people to a model of ministry and proclamation of the gospel woven into a life in the marketplace. I think of all such people who feel in some was that their call to ministry is in some way inferior, and I would point them to Paul.

It is funny because even in Paul's time, he had to defend his ministry and its effectiveness because he did not require the churches to support him. In both his second letter to the Corinthians and his letter to the Galatians, he was defending his calling, partly due to the fact that he ministered to the gentiles and worked while doing so. Granted the Jewish faith had full-time priests, and the worship in the temple was setup with rules to provide for the Levites, and others who ministered there, but Paul was working with the gentiles. He was having to defend his ministry, as many thought because he worked to support himself, he was in some way inferior to the other apostles. How mistaken they were, and history certainly proves Paul's case.

His model of ministry was easy to copy and at the end of the day one that provided for a growing church that could support itself. One of the little know issues of the church in Jerusalem is that part of the reason it did not survive was that it could not support itself, and we see plenty of scriptures where Paul and others are raising support for that church, and bringing back the offerings.

So my encouragement today is to view my call to ministry, as is true for the vast majority of us all, to minister in the place of our employment, as every bit equal to the call of any minister who is working in full-time ministry. We ARE the church, and we share responsibility for ministry in our sphere of influence, those we work with, interact with, and see daily. We are called to live lives that are examples that can be imitated, as people find the Lord, and step into a life of following Him. They must understand they are capable of following after the Lord and making a significant difference in the lives of those around them, and they need real world examples of others whom are following Christ, and breathing life to those around them.

A Day of Judgement and Eternal Destiny

This morning besides taking some time in worship, I felt I should read from Paul's second letter to the church in Thessoloniaka.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 NIV:
[5] "All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. [6] God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you [7] and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. [8] He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might [10] on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you."

Sometimes we forget that there is an eternal destiny waiting for each of us, for all of us. Paul is quite clear in his understanding that there will be a day of judgement, a day of reckoning, when the Lord will come and judge rightly. God is full of compassion, mercy and grace. He desires that no one should be lost (2 Peter 3:9) and no one perish, but that is not the reality. There will be those who have chosen to not know God, nor to put their faith in Jesus. They may not be the ones we expect, but judgement will be given. Jesus first spoke of this reality, (Matt 25:31-46) and Paul continues that theme here.

My friend was talking about the importance of knowing there is an eternal destiny, heaven, and that this should fill us with hope and encouragement as believers. It is one of the truths that was very present in the minds of the early church, and something that helped them to endure difficult times and struggles. Paul directs their thoughts in this direction in these verses, and we should spend some time thinking about this well. We, or I should say I, spend very little time thinking about eternal destiny, as our society is so focused on the here and now. We have difficulty thinking beyond tomorrow, or next week, let alone our eternal destiny, yet this something that Jesus came to tell us about. Jesus comforted His apostles by saying He was going to the Father to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3). We should heed His words, considering this reality of eternal destiny, and allow our lives to be impacted, and changed. Viewing life from an eternal perspective should give us a new appreciation for that which is important and that that which will pass away.

A Faith Question

Recently I was listening to a couple of gentlemen, that I don't agree with, who were speaking about the heretical messages coming out of Bill Johnson and Mike Bickle regarding miracles, and the nature of Jesus. Without getting into the whole thing, they are talking about how these two teachers were teaching wrongly about Christ's divinity. They said they (Bill and Mike) were misinterpreting the passage from Philippians where Paul speaks about Jesus emptying himself to become like man. The speakers indicted that they (Bill and Mike) were wrong in how they said that passage relates to our lives as Christians, being called to do the same things as Jesus, because He was ministering not out of his divinity, but as a man, filled with the Holy Spirit. Quoting the verses here:

Philippians 2:5-11 NIV
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross! [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The NASB reads a bit different:

Philippians 2:5-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

5 Have this attitude [a] in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be [b] grasped, 7 but [c] emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [d] on a cross.

As one reads all the commentaries, and looks at so much of the scriptural foundation that relies on an understanding that these verses do clearly mean exactly what Bill and Mike say, there can be no other way of translating this that makes sense to the greater witness of our faith. Christ had to come as a man, to fulfill the requirements of the law, as a man. To do so as God, would have not satisfied the requirements set in place by God. To do all the things He did by relying on His own divine nature would have made it impossible for the apostles to do the same things, for they possessed no divine nature, yet they healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and cured lepers, as Jesus commanded them to do.

Paul, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, wrote that Jesus emptied Himself, speaking of His existing in the form of God. It was this form of God that He emptied himself of, not His divinity. He became a man, which required that He take on a new lesser nature than His form as God. This was a choice that Jesus made and the Father allowed. Paul speaks of Jesus being obedient, and that also requires the nature of a man, for Jesus in His Godly form, is an equal in the Trinity, and thus never subservient, but in unity with the Father. Obedience requires a higher entity or authority. In this case Paul says He was obedient unto death, which we know was under God, so Jesus was clearly operating as a man, in His obedience.

Finally, I believe that Jesus spoke quite clearly on the manner and called us do what He did, and even greater still. John 14:10-12 NIV:"Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. [11] Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. [12] Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

I always find it interesting to see how the Word gets interpreted by others. Other are so many who believe they have the truth, and yet are in significant disagreement with others. I know I don't know the truth fully, nor would I ever say I did, but I do know what I believe and what makes sense to me. I think it is healthy for us to be challenged in our believes, for this causes us to think things through, and hopefully understand why we believe as we do.

Lord we pray for clarity and unity to be poured out to Your Body here on earth. Let the truth of who You are be known to the whole world, for we know that one day every knee in Heaven and Earth will bow to Your name.

God Speaks, Are We Hearing?

This morning I fumbled around a bit in the scriptures, and finally settled on reading from Ezekiel 12:21-28 NIV:

[21] "The word of the Lord came to me: [22] “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? [23] Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. [24] For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. [25] But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord. ’ ” [26] The word of the Lord came to me: [27] “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’ [28] “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”

I find this warning of the Lord to the people of Israel very interesting. In essence they had stopped listening to the Word of the Lord, given to them through prophetic visions, because they said it was always for some future date, and didn't really concern them. The Lord then promised a day when visions and prophecy would be fulfilled without delay. I believe Ezekiel was seeing the last days and the new dispensation that we are all living under. Peter said that we entered the last days on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41). Later in the book of Acts we see the Word come forth from Peter concerning Ananias and Sapphira and it is fulfilled immediately (Acts 5) and both fall dead at his feet. There is clearly a prophetic quickening and new effectiveness that was demonstrated in the early church, and the same holds true for us today, as we are still in those "last days" and the Lord is constantly speaking to those that will hear.

That being said, I think there is still a common thought among people, that the Word of the Lord is not for them, or not concerned with them. Many of us do not believe the Lord would speak to us individually, or concern Himself with our lives. We think that the Lord might speak to those holy special people, but not to us. We live our lives unconcerned and unaware of the Word of the Lord going forth to all in His Body. The truth is that the Lord wants to speak to each of us, wants to communicate with us all. An author I am reading presently, Kris Vallaton, says that God is always speaking, but His first language is not English. He continues on saying that we need to learn to hear how the Lord speaks in our lives. Citing scripture, Kris speaks of dreams, visions, words of knowledge, prophecy, discernment and trances as some of the ways the Lord speaks, in addition to using His Word - the scriptures. What we need to cultivate in our own lives is a desire to hear God and a sensitivity to His speaking. We need to learn to expect that He will speak to us individually, for He promised that His sheep (we are all His flock) hear and know His voice (John 10:1-18).

Finally Jesus speaks about our hearing in Mark 4:23-25, "If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” [24] “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you---and even more. [25] Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Jesus is speaking of hearing, active listening in the last two verses. It could be rewritten as follows - With the measure we use to listen, His word will be spoken to us. Whoever has heard, has listened attentively, will be given more to hear....

Lord, help us to hear Your voice in our lives, believing that You will speak, and act. You desire to impart more and more to us, but require a people willing to listen and obey. Help us to be such a people!

Faith and Love, Not Works

This morning I am continuing my reading of Paul's letter to the Galatians 5:1-6 NIV:

[1] "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [2] Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. [3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. [4] You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. [5] For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

As I read through these verses, verse 4 really stood out as a significant truth. Those who are trying to be justified by the law, is the same as having a works mentality. It has to do with adhering to set of rules that are supposed to make us righteous and justified to stand before God. This is such an attractive message to us, because we like things in black and white. We like a simple plan with a list of do's and don'ts. If you do this its wrong and sinning, but if you do this then you are righteous. It is simple for us to track our own progress against a set of rules, and easy to judge others as well.

Paul says that if we give ourselves over to that (justified by our own works) mindset, we have been alienated from Christ! That is a hugely significant message! The word Paul uses, that is translated in the NIV as alienated, actually has a much more significant meaning. Alienated, speaks to me of a separation in relationship, but the Greek word is Katargeo and the definition follows:

1. to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
a. to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
b. to deprive of force, influence, power

2. to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
a. to cease, to pass away, be done away
b. to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
c. to terminate all communication with one

Pretty much any of the definitions or sub-definitions above seems to me to be more significant and permanent than alienated. We must look very closely at the message we follow and the way it is worked out in our lives, as we want to remain in loving relationship with Jesus.

Paul goes on to say that these people, who are pursuing righteousness through there own works, have fallen away from Grace, which certainly makes sense. Grace is not necessary, if works can attain the same result, for it is the Grace of God that is applied through faith, that brings us to salvation. It is the works of Jesus, His sacrifice alone that makes us righteous. Nothing we do, nothing we say, can justify us enough to enter into relationship with God or our own, nor keep us in that place. It is the unmerited favor of God - His grace that brings us to Him. Unmerited means that there are no actions we can do to earn this favor.

Paul speaks of all this in his letter to the Romans 3:21-25, 28 NIV:

[21] "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. [25] God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood---to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, ...

[28] For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

Paul is clearly speaking about the very same issue in these verses. It is not our works, not our activity, not our purity that brings us to salvation, but rather the grace of God. As Paul says at the end of the verses I quoted from Galatians, " The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." We are called to relationship wit God, and there is no simple list of things to do, or not to do that will enable us to grow in relationship and love. We are called to interact, to spend time, to get to know, to listen, to embrace the Lord. For each of us, this can look different, for we are al unique and treasured by the Lord. God doesn't want us to be pursuing works apart from relationship, for that is what can happen when we create our list of actions and behaviors that will justify us, we can accomplish them in a relationship vacuum. However, we will, out of affection and interaction with Jesus, desire to please Him and become more like Him, but that comes after relationship is established and is not the way to get into relationship wth the Lord.

Let us examine our lives, and live a life of faith expressing itself through love. We want to remain connected with the Lord, fully receiving all the grace that He has for us.

Spiritual Fruit Stands

This morning I am reading from Galatians 5:22-26 NIV:

[22] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

I love these verses, as they are so rich in meaning and encouragement. I realty like what David Guzick writes about the first two verses here:

5. (22-23) Examples of the fruit of the Spirit that walking in the Spirit produces in our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

a. But the fruit of the Spirit: The works of the flesh seem overwhelming – both in us and around us. God is good enough, and big enough, to change everything with but (only) the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit can always conquer the works of the flesh.

i. Significantly, it is the fruit of the Spirit set across from the works of the flesh. Works are works, and fruit is fruit. Fruit has several important characteristics.
· Fruit isn't achieved by working, but is birthed by abiding.

· Fruit is fragile.

· Fruit reproduces itself.

· Fruit is attractive.

· Fruit nourishes.

b. Fruit of the Spirit: Paul used the plural is describing life after the flesh (works of the flesh), but he uses the singular (fruit, not fruits, of the Spirit). In the big picture, the Spirit has one work to do in all of us. These aren't the gifts of the Spirit, which are distributed on an individual basis by the will of the Spirit; this is something for every Christian.

i. "It may be significant that the word fruit is singular; Paul is not speaking of a series of fruits that would be shared around, so that one believer has one, another another. Rather he is referring to a cluster, such that all the qualities are to be manifested in each believer." (Morris)

As Paul continues the discourse, he speaks of those who walk in the Spirit as having crucified the flesh. That is a very severe image, but in reality it is true, as we have been crucified with Christ, our old man and sin, nailed to the cross with Jesus (Romans 6:6). On this side of the cross, we are set free from those things, becoming a new creation.

Paul then encourages us to stay in step with the Spirit, to walk in unison with Him. Walking this way requires a continual connection and listening and seeing. When I used to march with a marching band, we were supposed to stay in step with our line, and one did this by adapting ones walk to match the steps of the others. We listened to the cadence, and watched the line making sure our steps matched the steps of others. In the same way, we need to stay in step, listening, looking at what the Spirit is doing and adjusting our steps, our walk to stay in step with Him.

Finally we should not become conceited if we have fruit present in our lives. We all should have fruit, as it comes from abiding in Him. We are not the source, we merely reflect externally what He is establishing internally. We are not to be envious of other's fruit, but rather encouraged that other levels of fruitfulness are available.

Let us learn to abide in the Spirit, allowing our lives to resonate with what the Spirit brings, namely, His fruit. As David Guzick says, fruit is attractive, and meant to be one of things that draw others to Christ. As I was thinking about that, I had the image of a road-side fruit stand pop into my mind. What a great image, we are supposed to live in such a way that the Spirit's fruit in us is visible to all, and attracts people to him. We are called to be Spiritual Fruit Stands.