Quiet Time: The Annual Exam

The Annual Exam

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20

Easter is a good time for an annual exam (2 Cor. 13:5).

Galatians 2:20 is a great guide in helping us consider where we are in our walk with Christ.

A Christ follower :

• dies to self daily (Luke 9:23)
• realizes that he/she is not good without God (Romans 3:10)
• lives to please the Son of God (Hebrews 11:6)
• knows that he is loved by Jesus (John 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:16)
• knows he owes the One who loves him everything (Philippians 3:8)

Exams are good; they cover all a pupil has learned up to a specific point in time.and help him to seriously consider where he is as opposed to where he needs to be.

Sometimes, after a thorough exam, one may even realize that he was never actually part of the class.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Are you a Christ follower?

Quiet Time: There Is Only One Church

There Is Only One Church

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
 - John 3:3
 

Okay, okay, after reading yesterday's blog titled "Don't Go to Church" many readers thought, "Sure, Brother Doug, I'd grow in church if the preaching was better", and other comments were something like, "I don't have to go to church in order to grow", and of course there's always the perfectly American excuse of  "Sundays are my only day to relax. I work six days a week."

Hey guys, I hear you. Some preaching is better than others. I like the Charles Stanleys, John MacArthurs, and Chuck Swindols of the radio/television world too. And, as far as, growth is concerned, it is true that you can grow outside of church, and you certainly should; however, it doesn't negate the fact that you are breaking God's explicit direction and design for your maturity in Christ (Hebrews 10:25). Finally, working six days a week is simply no excuse for neglecting that which is necessary, good, and eternal, as our hard working sister, Martha discovered (Luke 10:41-42).

So, before we come up with even better excuses for not being part of a local body of believers, check out this list of what the bible says the church could and should be to us.

The Church is the:

• Only institution Christ promised to build and to bless (Matthew 16:18).
• Gathering place of true worshipers (Philippians 3:3).
• Most precious assembly on earth because Christ purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 1:18; Revelation 1:5).
• Earthly expression of the heavenly reality (Matthew 6:10; 18:18).
• Realm of spiritual fellowship (Hebrews 10:22-25; 1 John 1:3, 6-7).
• Proclaimer and protector of divine truth (1 Timothy 3:15; Titus 2:1, 15).
• Chief place for spiritual edification and growth (Acts 20:32; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18).
• Launch pad for world evangelization (Mark 16:15; Titus 2:11).
• Environment where strong spiritual leadership develops and matures (2 Timothy 2:2).

By the way, for those of you who don't know me personally, I've been a bi-vocational worship arts minister for over a quarter century now. That means I've always held a full time secular position while ministering in the church. (It's okay, Paul was a tent maker and a missionary Acts 18:3) Many times I get physically exhausted and mentally frustrated; but, then I remember that there is only One Person I desire to please, and He created the one and only place for me to be on Sundays.

That's why there truly is, only one church.

Quiet Time: Don't Go to Church

Don't Go to Church

 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not 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. - Hebrews 10:24-25

That's right, I'm saying, stop going to church!

Instead, grow in the church.

Notice, I didn't say grow the church. We have plenty of programs and market based ideas that will help anybody with have a mind to fill seats in an auditorium, but it takes an individual man or woman with an engaged head and open heart to the Word to actually grow in the church.

The apostle Paul encourages us to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds on a regular basis whenever we get together (Hebrews 10:24-25). Back in his day, they probably met in homes and public meeting places. Today, we build buildings, preferably with really good air conditioning systems if you live in the South, where several hundred of us can meet. Whether in a home or building, the command is the same, "...do not forsake assembling together..."

Did you go to church yesterday? Well, if your intent was to simply go, but instead you chose to do something else (it was a good beach day, in Florida, right?!) Then, I have to say you didn't miss much and you probably weren't missed much. But if your desire was to grow in church yesterday, and for whatever reason you didn't make it; sad to say, you really missed a lot and you were indeed greatly missed.

Okay, so you missed church and now you feel miserable. Then make sure you go .... uh....grow in your small group bible study this week; we need you as much as you need us.

And, make sure you never go to church again...

GROW IN CHURCH!

Quiet Time: Blessed to Bless

Blessed to Bless

Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:9

God has blessed me; therefore, I must bless others (Pulpit Commentary)

“Skin for skin”, “an eye for an eye”, and “Don’t get mad-get even” are all well known and well practiced idioms of the day.

(1 Peter 3:9) tells us not to return: apodidontes: to give up, give back, return, restore; evil: kakon: bad, evil for evil or insult: loidorian: abuse, railing for railing. Then it goes on to say we are to give a blessing: eulogountes: to speak well of, to praise the person who insults us.

Why would God command such a realistically implausible and practically impossible response to verbal abuse? It is because He knows us better than we know ourselves. We need to do this. Also it is the fact that His Holy Spirit indwells and empowers the believer to do the seemingly impossible.

Actually, though, in this case, we are told to follow Him in this response because of our future, our inheritance. In other words, this world is where we walk by faith knowing that one day our faith will be sight and we will see Him face to face.

Just in case we think that it really is impossible to accomplish this command, God has given us several examples to follow:

• Joseph could’ve gotten back at his brothers but instead he, “Gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey.” – Genesis 42:25

• David had could’ve killed Saul. Instead he said, “But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." – 1 Samuel 26:11

• Solomon tells us “Do not say, ‘I'll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you”. – Proverbs 20:22

• Jesus, the ultimate example tells us to, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. – Luke 6:28.

"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). I think that something happens in our heart when we walk out the word. In that instant we experience a little bit of heaven here on earth. We are blessed by God at that moment so that we can give Him glory.

Be a blessing. (Romans 12:14)

 

 

 

Quiet Time: Dealing With Disappointment

Dealing With Disappointment

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
    but a sudden good break can turn life around. – Proverbs 13:12

Everyone understands what it means to be heart sick. 

I’ve met people over the years that have developed personal philosophies to help them deal with disappointment. 

One friend builds his life around two words, “Never settle”.  Consequently, he has made and lost millions of dollars over the years. I asked him what that feels like. He said, basically, the difference between being rich and being broke is where he eats and what he drives. 

Another friend faces life by simply asking, “Who cares?” This guy is pretty steady, actually. He doesn’t take anything too seriously. He has suffered many life setbacks, as well as, his fair share of personal losses. But, all in all, he keeps a positive attitude and never seems flustered or stressed about anything.

Most of us are probably somewhere in between these two perspectives. Solomon, in Proverbs 13:12, does a good job in reminding the reader of how easily people are pushed from one emotional extreme to another. In short: when things are bad, life is bitter, and when they’re good, it’s great! 

So, how do we stop being tossed about by life’s circumstances; read the next verse (Proverbs 13:13)

We stop scorning the Word and start stepping in faith toward what God says is true. 

We have a hope and a future that is unshakable. (Proverbs 23:17-18)

Quiet Time: Personal Convictions

Personal Convictions

"I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share."- Genesis 14:22-23

Personal convictions are, well, personal. It is frustrating to expect others to keep your creed.

During a battle between several kings in and around the region of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram’s nephew, Lott, and everyone in his household were taken captive. 

Abram found out about the raid from an escaped prisoner and immediately took off after them with a few of his neighbors and several of his own trained fighting men. 

A battle ensued, Abram and his allies prevailed, and not long afterward the king of Sodom, who was still licking his wounds from the defeat suffered at the hands of the army Abram just conquered, came forward to thank Abram for his help in knocking off his enemies. Naturally, this king wanted to lavish gifts upon him for his bravery. (Again, everyone loves a winner)

What the king of Sodom didn’t realize was that Abram was a God fearing man who had already made up his mind (Gen. 14:22) not to take any of the spoil from his defeated enemies (which, by the way, was common practice back in those days). 

Interestingly, Abram, who was obviously the leader of the rescue party, made it very clear to the king that these were his personal convictions, and although he didn’t want anything from anyone, he still expected his allies to receive the customary spoils of war (Gen. 14:24).

Principles are powerful tools in helping us give glory to God. But, when we expect others to live according to our creed, we’ve crossed the line from teacher to tyrant. God changes the heart; not us.

Do you have a personal conviction? 

Live it out for the glory of God. Perhaps He will use you to help others develop their own biblical  world view as well.

Quiet Time: Beware the Winner

Beware the Winner

When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. – Genesis 14:20

And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all. – Genesis 14:20

Abram had his household trained and ready to fight, but God immediately sent Melchizedek, the priest, to remind him Who gave the victory.

Winning can tempt us into believing that we are somehow better than the next man. Since everyone loves a winner, the victor is often celebrated and lifted up by those around him. That’s where the danger lies. 

The bible tells us that a man tested by the praise accorded him (Proverbs 27:21). We see also, that many trust in the strength of their arsenal or their own preparations and personal skill.  (Proverbs 21:31; Psalm 20:7). 

As Christ followers, we must always remember that our Father God is the giver of all things good, and that includes every victory.