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: A Walk With God

A Walk With God
 
Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. – Genesis 5:24
 
Imagine being so close to God that instead of everyone seeing you grow old and die, God just showed up one day and took you home to be with him. That’s exactly what happened to Enoch.

As a boy, I would read this passage in awe of Enoch. It seems that by sheer faith Enoch skipped the process of dying all together. We also understand that Enoch was known by those around him as a man with whom God found pleasure. That’s how we know that Enoch had great faith, because without faith it is impossible to please God.

A reasonable question then is, “In what exactly did Enoch believe?”

Enoch believed that anyone who wants to get close to God must believe not only that He exists but also that God actually desires to get involved in the lives of those who are looking for Him (Hebrews 11:5-6).  

I think that Enoch was a man who saw God intimately involved in every aspect of His life. So much so, that he walked with Him from earth right into eternity.

That’s how I want to know God, don’t you? Intimately.

Quiet Time: Why Be Sad

Why Be Sad

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." 

– Genesis 4:7

Sin makes us sad.

We are happiest when we do well, right, and follow the light.

Mastering anything, according to Robert Greene, author of the book Mastery  says the secret ingredients to becoming a world master at something are “desire and time”. Perhaps this helps us understand why Christ followers often find themselves overcome by sin. 

There are two desires within every Christian, the flesh and the Spirit (Gal. 5:17) therefore, we must determine to desire and allocate time for the things that build up the Spirit’s ability to work within us.

A Christ follower is happiest when following Jesus and sad when he sins.Why be sad?

Quiet Time: What Can I Do

What Can I Do

I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, Lord, I will sing praise.

I will be careful to lead a blameless life—

when will you come to me? 

– Psalm 101:1-2

I am convinced that we “do” quite a bit less than we pretend we can do.

 Perhaps that’s why it doesn’t take much to trip us up from doing what we know we ought to do. 

There are no less than eleven “I will” statements in Psalm 101 where David sings about his determination to make God’s wills his way. 

So, if this morning we need a little kick in the pants to get us moving in the right direction (like attending worship service with other believers) here’s a “to do” list directly from God’s hand to your heart.

It would probably be a good idea to make it personal.

(          your name here           )   will:

1. Sing of God’s love and justice (Psalm 101:1)
2. Sing God’s praise (Ps. 101:1)
3. Walk the road of righteousness (Ps. 101:2)
4. Lead my family to live right (Ps. 101:2)
5. Look away from worthlessness (bliya-al) naughty, ungodly (Ps. 101:3)
6. Will not live like the faithless (Ps. 101:3)
7. Have nothing to do with evil (Ps. 101:4)
8. Put to silence the slanderer (Ps. 101:5)
9. Not tolerate the proud (Ps. 101:5)
10. Hush the heinous (Ps. 101:8)
11. Block the bad (Ps. 101:8)

What can I do?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me 

(Philippians 4:13)

Song Series: Christ Is Enough

Christ Is Enough

First place in everything

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything – Colossians 1:18

Any Christian musician worth his salt longs for the day of writing a song that impacts God’s people toward a deeper love and walk with Christ. It looks like pastor Morgan has done  just that… again! 

 “Christ Is Enough” by Reuben Morgan, is  a foundational  song from the Hillsong Live Glorious Ruins album . By now most contemporary worship teams are quite familiar with Reuben’s work, as the Hillsong church worship pastor. Over the years his songs “Mighty to Save”, “God Is Able”, and “Believe” have become staples on many church song sets.

Brian Houston, senior pastor at Hillsong Church, was so moved by the message in this piece, that he actually built a two part sermon around it. (here’s the link for part 1: http://audacious.me/library_items/sermons/5216d0bb47ef506b89000005)

I love music that re-calibrates my thinking and enlivens my love for the Messiah, the firstborn over all creation. I want Him to be the firstborn of my heart, don't you? 

Firstborn (prōtotokos: the first born of an Israelite family inherited everything that the Father owned; he was the heir apparent, the owner of it all)

 "Christ Is Enough"

(Our worship team will begin learning the song this week and our congregation will begin worshipping with it by mid-October, LORD willing)