'Heavenly Father, we
come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your
direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call
evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our
spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.. We have exploit...ed the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics... We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
Thursday, December 31, 2009
From MT- story of faith and God manifesting
my 11 year old brother Jazz took two of his non christian friends to the youth group weekend away(2 weeks ago), and during one of the meetings (during worship time probably) Jazz heard one of his friends called Nick pray out loud to God:
"well God how do I know you exist?"
The next thing he knew he had gold dust on his hands, Jazz then got it and so did his other non-christian friend (Alex) and lots of other kids got gold dust on their hands as well.
I was talking to Alex two days ago and he told me that the gold dust stayed all the way till nighttime and had only disappeared when he woke up in the morning, Jazz also told me that he tried to wipe all the gold dust away but it just kept coming back!
As a consequence both of Jazz's non christian friends, both of them only 11 years old decided to give their lives to Jesus and receive His salvation! whoop whoop!
I was browsing through some of the other videos on youtube related to the one you sent and heres a clip with someone with gold dust on their hands, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZBmp6mpgTY&feature=related fast foward to 1:17 to see the gold dust.
God is just sharing His beautiful creation and revealing His glory to the ones who seek Him and have a child-like faith in Him, awesome huh?
"well God how do I know you exist?"
The next thing he knew he had gold dust on his hands, Jazz then got it and so did his other non-christian friend (Alex) and lots of other kids got gold dust on their hands as well.
I was talking to Alex two days ago and he told me that the gold dust stayed all the way till nighttime and had only disappeared when he woke up in the morning, Jazz also told me that he tried to wipe all the gold dust away but it just kept coming back!
As a consequence both of Jazz's non christian friends, both of them only 11 years old decided to give their lives to Jesus and receive His salvation! whoop whoop!
I was browsing through some of the other videos on youtube related to the one you sent and heres a clip with someone with gold dust on their hands, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZBmp6mpgTY&feature=related fast foward to 1:17 to see the gold dust.
God is just sharing His beautiful creation and revealing His glory to the ones who seek Him and have a child-like faith in Him, awesome huh?
Notes from Story times.
Story Time...
Board of Win'sWe believe the best measurement of the effectiveness of what we are doing here are stories... In addition to traditional numbers tracking, we share stories of life change every chance we get. We do this each week at our staff meeting, we do this when we get together, we started our last staff retreat filling up the board to the left with 100+ stories of changed life, of people taking a step or 100 steps toward Christ; of God working in our community. Enjoy, it's Story Time...
* She is a French Christian and was ready to leave France, having given up on God's Kingdom coming to France. But since she has been involved in ICCP she has been challenged, and feels that God has called her to stay in France and bring Jesus to French people.
* They took a few days to paint at Un Toile and this non Christian gal asked him to share about his faith. She described ICCP as "community"!
* They gave cookies to all of their neighbors and invited them to have dinner at their house... And some of them actually agreed! This DOES NOT happen here.
* Their older French neighbor has been reading the Bible a lot - says he has been waiting his whole life for God to reveal Himself to him, and he realizes now that he just needs to take a leap of faith to experience God.
* The French community group was awesome, lots of deep discussion of Scripture and prayer.
* She is having a really hard time, but ICCP has been so good for her kids; watching them all plug in has given her hope that she can find community for herself now too.
* Her French teacher held her after class to ask her about God and they talked for an hour.
* Dom was asked to give part of the Thanksgiving Mass at the Cathédrale.
Board of Win'sWe believe the best measurement of the effectiveness of what we are doing here are stories... In addition to traditional numbers tracking, we share stories of life change every chance we get. We do this each week at our staff meeting, we do this when we get together, we started our last staff retreat filling up the board to the left with 100+ stories of changed life, of people taking a step or 100 steps toward Christ; of God working in our community. Enjoy, it's Story Time...
* She is a French Christian and was ready to leave France, having given up on God's Kingdom coming to France. But since she has been involved in ICCP she has been challenged, and feels that God has called her to stay in France and bring Jesus to French people.
* They took a few days to paint at Un Toile and this non Christian gal asked him to share about his faith. She described ICCP as "community"!
* They gave cookies to all of their neighbors and invited them to have dinner at their house... And some of them actually agreed! This DOES NOT happen here.
* Their older French neighbor has been reading the Bible a lot - says he has been waiting his whole life for God to reveal Himself to him, and he realizes now that he just needs to take a leap of faith to experience God.
* The French community group was awesome, lots of deep discussion of Scripture and prayer.
* She is having a really hard time, but ICCP has been so good for her kids; watching them all plug in has given her hope that she can find community for herself now too.
* Her French teacher held her after class to ask her about God and they talked for an hour.
* Dom was asked to give part of the Thanksgiving Mass at the Cathédrale.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
God centered future, present, past
God has been convicting me more and more how important it is to make him the center of our lives instead of asking God to center around us. Three things He's taught me are:
1) Seek out God in advance for guidance, strength, and conviction. We will loose steam half way through if we are not convinced that this is what we are doing and we will fail to live in God's great plan for us even if we do 'succeed.'
2) Remember that it us who are God's servants and not God who is ours. Do we see ourselves as a simple instruments in the mighty hands of God? Or as someone who at the most, uses God as an instrument to get what we want?"
3) Thank God when what he had called you to do is done. It is too easy in the aftermath to forget that it was God who called us, equipped us and enabled us. Celebrate! It's too easy to look at all that is ahead and forget all that had been produced already. In silence or aloud remember that all good things come from God. Humility is not denying that you have done great things. It is admitting that you would be powerless to have done them without God. For in him we live and move and breathe.
1) Seek out God in advance for guidance, strength, and conviction. We will loose steam half way through if we are not convinced that this is what we are doing and we will fail to live in God's great plan for us even if we do 'succeed.'
2) Remember that it us who are God's servants and not God who is ours. Do we see ourselves as a simple instruments in the mighty hands of God? Or as someone who at the most, uses God as an instrument to get what we want?"
3) Thank God when what he had called you to do is done. It is too easy in the aftermath to forget that it was God who called us, equipped us and enabled us. Celebrate! It's too easy to look at all that is ahead and forget all that had been produced already. In silence or aloud remember that all good things come from God. Humility is not denying that you have done great things. It is admitting that you would be powerless to have done them without God. For in him we live and move and breathe.
Monday, December 21, 2009
God with us today
God gave us his presence on Christmas.
He gave us his presence but he still gives us his presence. There was a time when we were separated and far from God. Now we have access to God. We need to take Christmas. Remember that the first Advent already came. He is here amongst us. He is Immanuel, God with us. Now. Not only 2000 years ago. 2010.
He gave us his presence but he still gives us his presence. There was a time when we were separated and far from God. Now we have access to God. We need to take Christmas. Remember that the first Advent already came. He is here amongst us. He is Immanuel, God with us. Now. Not only 2000 years ago. 2010.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
David's temple. God wanted it clean and set apart for him. He talked to the kings and priests who entered the temple. Now our bodies are temples of the holy spirit. We need to set apart all in our life. I wonder how this means for exercise, food, what we watch, all set apart and sanctified to God. Everything in the temple was purified.
assumption
The unspoken assumption:
In all works based religion, even those who do not acknowledge God, is that there is a God who cares about morality and somehow leading a good moral life will please him in a way that will open up eternal life either through the way God set up the system or God allowing them in.
It doesn't work to say if I'm good enough I'll live forever if there is no God. It doesn't work.
In all works based religion, even those who do not acknowledge God, is that there is a God who cares about morality and somehow leading a good moral life will please him in a way that will open up eternal life either through the way God set up the system or God allowing them in.
It doesn't work to say if I'm good enough I'll live forever if there is no God. It doesn't work.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
YG talk family
What pushes your buttons most (gets you upset -angry, sad) most with your family?
Why?
How can you deal with this in a loving way?
What is the most important thing for your family?
What is most important to you?
What does your family like when you do/ say most? Least?
One trait of a perfect family (on an index card)
Why is it so hard to be a perfect family in real life?
What's the most difficult thing for you personally about contributing to a better family ife in your own home?
Stories of family..
Most surprising thing to learn about your dad
When your mom was a little girl she wanted to be a...
Our best/ worst family vacation
toughest time our family faced
greatest time of joy your family ever had
our family is unique because...
No one's family is perfect. We ALL come from weird family backgrounds. (We may not be able to recognize it yet but it's true) No one's family is normal.
Can you control other people's behaviors? Do people in your family always act the way that you would like them to?
Can't control others in their family but you can control your own actions and attitudes in your family.
We can be a part of God's family. Remember the patterns? We can take on the pattern of heaven instead of the negative patterns we see and experience around us. What ways can you take on the pattern of Jesus?
Colossians 3: 20-25 –The Message
20Children, do what your parents tell you (Obey). This delights the Master no end.
21Parents, don't come down too hard on your children (do not embitter) or you'll crush their spirits (become discouraged)
Q. Does this happen in any of your lives? Do people come down too hard on you? How does God help you to deal with that?
22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. (Students/ Teachers) And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance (This is your motivation. Even when others don’t recognize all your hard work you put into something and your grades don’t reflect your attitudes, God sees it. And he will reward you both in this life and the afterlife). Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ (Do everything for Jesus. Even when people aren’t watching, God is. And his view on who we are is more important than anyone else’s). The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.
If your parents are coming down too hard on you scripture does not say to rebel against them; but it does say to believe the truth and not lies. What lies do you believe?
Ephesians 6
Children and Parents
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[a] 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 5: 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (of God)2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Why?
How can you deal with this in a loving way?
What is the most important thing for your family?
What is most important to you?
What does your family like when you do/ say most? Least?
One trait of a perfect family (on an index card)
Why is it so hard to be a perfect family in real life?
What's the most difficult thing for you personally about contributing to a better family ife in your own home?
Stories of family..
Most surprising thing to learn about your dad
When your mom was a little girl she wanted to be a...
Our best/ worst family vacation
toughest time our family faced
greatest time of joy your family ever had
our family is unique because...
No one's family is perfect. We ALL come from weird family backgrounds. (We may not be able to recognize it yet but it's true) No one's family is normal.
Can you control other people's behaviors? Do people in your family always act the way that you would like them to?
Can't control others in their family but you can control your own actions and attitudes in your family.
We can be a part of God's family. Remember the patterns? We can take on the pattern of heaven instead of the negative patterns we see and experience around us. What ways can you take on the pattern of Jesus?
Colossians 3: 20-25 –The Message
20Children, do what your parents tell you (Obey). This delights the Master no end.
21Parents, don't come down too hard on your children (do not embitter) or you'll crush their spirits (become discouraged)
Q. Does this happen in any of your lives? Do people come down too hard on you? How does God help you to deal with that?
22-25Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. (Students/ Teachers) And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance (This is your motivation. Even when others don’t recognize all your hard work you put into something and your grades don’t reflect your attitudes, God sees it. And he will reward you both in this life and the afterlife). Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ (Do everything for Jesus. Even when people aren’t watching, God is. And his view on who we are is more important than anyone else’s). The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.
If your parents are coming down too hard on you scripture does not say to rebel against them; but it does say to believe the truth and not lies. What lies do you believe?
Ephesians 6
Children and Parents
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[a] 4Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 5: 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (of God)2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
encouragements
"We asked one of our close French friends about what they thought the hope for France was in the future. They paused and then said something close to, "I had pretty much given up on my own country and its relationship with God. I have lived in the UK through my studies and had planned to just move there and leave France. But after the last several weeks, I am reconsidering staying living here to share Jesus with people from my country."
"Today i went on the caroling "flash mob" and an old french lady came up
and started trying to sing in english with me, when we were done she told
me her friend of 30 years had died today and it was nice for her to sing
and pray today. I felt so blessed to be able to help her greive and praise
god for her friends life even if for only a few minutes.
This reminded me of how many times I've felt truly blessed by things
related to ICCP since I've been in Aix. From feeling alone when I first
arrived and being able to meet a group of christians who felt like family
to being able to lead praise worship with you and your band i can't count
how many times i've felt SO blessed by ICCP while being here, and i dont
even make it out every week!
I should see you tomorrow at the caorling service at the cathedral, but
thank you and all the ICCP staff and folks invovled for what you do, its
really great and i really think its making a difference and touching
lives, it has certainly touched mine.
Thanks and god bless,
Emily"
"Today i went on the caroling "flash mob" and an old french lady came up
and started trying to sing in english with me, when we were done she told
me her friend of 30 years had died today and it was nice for her to sing
and pray today. I felt so blessed to be able to help her greive and praise
god for her friends life even if for only a few minutes.
This reminded me of how many times I've felt truly blessed by things
related to ICCP since I've been in Aix. From feeling alone when I first
arrived and being able to meet a group of christians who felt like family
to being able to lead praise worship with you and your band i can't count
how many times i've felt SO blessed by ICCP while being here, and i dont
even make it out every week!
I should see you tomorrow at the caorling service at the cathedral, but
thank you and all the ICCP staff and folks invovled for what you do, its
really great and i really think its making a difference and touching
lives, it has certainly touched mine.
Thanks and god bless,
Emily"
Monday, December 7, 2009
Am I a secret kind of person
Delight
It is a different drive than "should" "duty" "have to" "supposed to"
Desire
All desires can be made good or bad. The same desire that is used to glorify, search after, and love God can be twisted into the desire to lust after things. We try to ignore the desire. Cut it out of our tree. It is wrong. But the desire is not wrong. We do not need less desire. We need more.
Being satisfied in the right places. Delight yourself in the Lord.
He will recognize. He will reward. He see all that is done in secret. He fulfills our desires. Where lust can Not. Ever. Ever. It only gets stronger. But God gives us the desires of our true self. In purity. Richer than any mutated desire ever could.
Let me be as wild with passion and uncontrolled in my need to fulfill them with you and delight in You than I ever could be for anything on Earth!
I wand fire and joy and passion in the right person.
It is a different drive than "should" "duty" "have to" "supposed to"
Desire
All desires can be made good or bad. The same desire that is used to glorify, search after, and love God can be twisted into the desire to lust after things. We try to ignore the desire. Cut it out of our tree. It is wrong. But the desire is not wrong. We do not need less desire. We need more.
Being satisfied in the right places. Delight yourself in the Lord.
He will recognize. He will reward. He see all that is done in secret. He fulfills our desires. Where lust can Not. Ever. Ever. It only gets stronger. But God gives us the desires of our true self. In purity. Richer than any mutated desire ever could.
Let me be as wild with passion and uncontrolled in my need to fulfill them with you and delight in You than I ever could be for anything on Earth!
I wand fire and joy and passion in the right person.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Drivers, Desire, Treasure and Redemption in Chirst's Way.
Drivers, Desire, Treasure and Redemption in Chirst's Way.
There is a difference between deep love for someone and being pleased with what they are doing. Any parent will tell you that they love their children but shortly after we can see that they are not always pleased with the actions they take. Sometimes punishment is the way parents respond but more often we see that a parent's pleasure will drive the behavior of a child who loves them.
I look at my own life and wonder why it is so hard to uphold my duties and why after time has passed and I know that I can succeed in them that my delight in the task is diminished and I am left with feelings of drudgery, zapped energy, and thoughts like "do I have to?". While at the same time I have the energy to do other things that seem more rewarding to me. I can remember coming into the kitchen not long ago and noticing two things that needed to be done; one, the laundry folding was my duty, and the other, washing the dishes was Tasha's duty. Right away I decided that I didn't want to go near the laundry but I could be nice and do something extra for Tasha by doing her dishes. Why is this? Why did I feel zapped thinking about the laundry and energized thinking about the dishes?
I think it is because I knew that Tasha would come in shortly after I was done and be very pleased and happy. She would thank me and I would be the hero. (meanwhile my own duties are not getting done and I am sure that would not be too pleasing to her). While I knew that I would not receive any recognition through folding the laundry. The only acknowledgment I would receive there was acknowledgment that I didn't do my job.
So, I know that this is not a healthy way to be. I can not depend on the thanks and acknowledgment I get from Tasha or other people. It does not come all the time, it gets weaker the more it is said (everyone has met someone who thanks them for everything and eventually this looses it's meaning), and in doing this I am still disregarding my duties. What motivation does God give us to do our jobs?
He says that he acknowledges what is done in secret and rewards us. (MT 6)Jesus tells us about heavenly rewards that are different from earthly rewards. Earthly rewards are to be seen by men while heavenly rewards are to be seen by God who see what we do when no one else is around. People may not take notice when we do our duties, but the LORD does. He is pleased with our actions and will reward us somehow. God calls himself Father and love us more than any Father ever has. But love of who we are is different from being happy or pleased with how we are living. No father would be happy when one child hurts his/her brother or sister or him/herself. God want what's best for all of us in his love and he also is considering other.
Our desires play a big part in this. Jesus asks us "where is our treasure?". Do we desire to be seen by men? Or do we know and trust that God sees us. Hebrews 11 says that "it is impossible to please God without faith." And it says that anyone who wants to come to God must.. "believe that God exists" and "that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Reward is a God given driver. He rewards the people who seek after him (not those who seek reward, but those who seek God). The motivating thing is to get closer to God. Is the reward to get closer to God? Jesus says in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Jesus says that if love for him (a good desire) is our driver we will obey him.
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." If we delight ourselves in the Lord, find joy in him, he will meet the truest desires of our heart. Not the false desires like the consumeristic more that drives so many of us but the God redeemed desires of the deepest part of ourselves, our heart. This sounds similar to what Jesus says in MT 6 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." All these earthly desires (food, clothes, etc) will be met if our first desire it to seeking after God's kingdom and the righteousness that comes from God.
What are drivers? Desires, things that motivate.
How does God motivate?
Rewards- what are they? Some we know will not be seen until we are with the Lord as Paul talks about some rewards being in the future while other rewards are seen in the present. We believe the kingdom is both now and not yet and I think the same can be said for rewards. We are changed as we are molded into Christ's image by the potter Spirit, we experience joy and life that are impossible without obedience and yielding to the Father. Romans 8:5 "those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." If we are delighting ourselves in the Spirit it will be a joy for us to see the Spirit's desires met. (Knowing especially that The Spirit brings life, is trustworthy, and love us, and is looking out for our interest, working out all things for the good of those who love Him).
Knowing him who we love more, visions of the kingdom, our love and delight for God which in turn leads to met desires.
Pleasing God is a reward. I was rewarded when Tasha was pleased that I did the dishes. The pharisees are rewarded when they are seen by men and we are rewarded when we are seen by God.
Let's look at what God has to say about our drivers...
1)pleasing others-
"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness." 1Thes 2:3-5
Paul talks about motives. His motive is not to please men but God.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
A healthy person knows they are love by God and is driven by a desire to please Him.
Hebrews 13:15-17 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. "
Does this mean that we don't care about what other people want? Not at all. God tells us to love others. He says to consider their needs about our own. But the difference is the way we are motivated to do good things. Is it for our own salvation? God says that we do not earn our salvation through works, it is a gift. Is it to be seen by men? Or in reaction to the love of God, to please him?
2)Hurry up
Are you worried about not doing enough? What will happen of you stop?
God commands us to rest. To take a sabbath. He will provide, don't worry (Mt 6).
"9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11
Heaven will include rest. If we do not like rest we will not like heaven. Rest is an essential component of the kingdom.
Are you anxiously trying to earn your way into heaven?
Scripture says, Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast."
God wants you to accept his gift (Romans 5:15-17) and stop trying to earn his salvation.
Are you worried about death?
God promises to those who believe in him eternal life. We have all of eternity. There is no need to hurry.
3)Be perfect
John 7:19"Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law?
Is this rooted in pride or fear?
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1peter 5:5
"The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 Jn 4:19
Do we delight in other people's perfection?
"We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection." 2 Cor 13:9
or are you trying to be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect? Mt 5:48. In this God tells us to, "Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you." Mt 5:44
Mt 19:21 "Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." That is the type of perfection Jesus is looking for. Be made perfect in love.
4) Be strong
Who is your hope in? You or God?
"that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us." 2Cor 1:9b-10
Can you be vulnerable in your weaknesses? We all have strengths and weakness. There is not one person who does not need others. If fact, the original sin was independence from God. They no longer trusted in God but in themselves to be their own gods; their own saviors.
Being strong is good if we use it to help other ""Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."" (1Cor 12:7) and know that God set us up so that we will always be reliant on all the other members of the body, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." (1Cor 12:21-23) .
[See also..
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2Cor12: 9-10
"25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1Cor 1:25]
5)Try hard/ strive
It is God who changes us from the inside out. We can not earn salvation. We cannot transform ourselves into His image. We need to rely on God.
Run the race, make sure you are going in the right direction. What is the treasure you are trying to get to? Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The kingdom turns things upside-down.
There is a difference between deep love for someone and being pleased with what they are doing. Any parent will tell you that they love their children but shortly after we can see that they are not always pleased with the actions they take. Sometimes punishment is the way parents respond but more often we see that a parent's pleasure will drive the behavior of a child who loves them.
I look at my own life and wonder why it is so hard to uphold my duties and why after time has passed and I know that I can succeed in them that my delight in the task is diminished and I am left with feelings of drudgery, zapped energy, and thoughts like "do I have to?". While at the same time I have the energy to do other things that seem more rewarding to me. I can remember coming into the kitchen not long ago and noticing two things that needed to be done; one, the laundry folding was my duty, and the other, washing the dishes was Tasha's duty. Right away I decided that I didn't want to go near the laundry but I could be nice and do something extra for Tasha by doing her dishes. Why is this? Why did I feel zapped thinking about the laundry and energized thinking about the dishes?
I think it is because I knew that Tasha would come in shortly after I was done and be very pleased and happy. She would thank me and I would be the hero. (meanwhile my own duties are not getting done and I am sure that would not be too pleasing to her). While I knew that I would not receive any recognition through folding the laundry. The only acknowledgment I would receive there was acknowledgment that I didn't do my job.
So, I know that this is not a healthy way to be. I can not depend on the thanks and acknowledgment I get from Tasha or other people. It does not come all the time, it gets weaker the more it is said (everyone has met someone who thanks them for everything and eventually this looses it's meaning), and in doing this I am still disregarding my duties. What motivation does God give us to do our jobs?
He says that he acknowledges what is done in secret and rewards us. (MT 6)Jesus tells us about heavenly rewards that are different from earthly rewards. Earthly rewards are to be seen by men while heavenly rewards are to be seen by God who see what we do when no one else is around. People may not take notice when we do our duties, but the LORD does. He is pleased with our actions and will reward us somehow. God calls himself Father and love us more than any Father ever has. But love of who we are is different from being happy or pleased with how we are living. No father would be happy when one child hurts his/her brother or sister or him/herself. God want what's best for all of us in his love and he also is considering other.
Our desires play a big part in this. Jesus asks us "where is our treasure?". Do we desire to be seen by men? Or do we know and trust that God sees us. Hebrews 11 says that "it is impossible to please God without faith." And it says that anyone who wants to come to God must.. "believe that God exists" and "that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Reward is a God given driver. He rewards the people who seek after him (not those who seek reward, but those who seek God). The motivating thing is to get closer to God. Is the reward to get closer to God? Jesus says in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Jesus says that if love for him (a good desire) is our driver we will obey him.
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." If we delight ourselves in the Lord, find joy in him, he will meet the truest desires of our heart. Not the false desires like the consumeristic more that drives so many of us but the God redeemed desires of the deepest part of ourselves, our heart. This sounds similar to what Jesus says in MT 6 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." All these earthly desires (food, clothes, etc) will be met if our first desire it to seeking after God's kingdom and the righteousness that comes from God.
What are drivers? Desires, things that motivate.
How does God motivate?
Rewards- what are they? Some we know will not be seen until we are with the Lord as Paul talks about some rewards being in the future while other rewards are seen in the present. We believe the kingdom is both now and not yet and I think the same can be said for rewards. We are changed as we are molded into Christ's image by the potter Spirit, we experience joy and life that are impossible without obedience and yielding to the Father. Romans 8:5 "those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." If we are delighting ourselves in the Spirit it will be a joy for us to see the Spirit's desires met. (Knowing especially that The Spirit brings life, is trustworthy, and love us, and is looking out for our interest, working out all things for the good of those who love Him).
Knowing him who we love more, visions of the kingdom, our love and delight for God which in turn leads to met desires.
Pleasing God is a reward. I was rewarded when Tasha was pleased that I did the dishes. The pharisees are rewarded when they are seen by men and we are rewarded when we are seen by God.
Let's look at what God has to say about our drivers...
1)pleasing others-
"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness." 1Thes 2:3-5
Paul talks about motives. His motive is not to please men but God.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
A healthy person knows they are love by God and is driven by a desire to please Him.
Hebrews 13:15-17 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. "
Does this mean that we don't care about what other people want? Not at all. God tells us to love others. He says to consider their needs about our own. But the difference is the way we are motivated to do good things. Is it for our own salvation? God says that we do not earn our salvation through works, it is a gift. Is it to be seen by men? Or in reaction to the love of God, to please him?
2)Hurry up
Are you worried about not doing enough? What will happen of you stop?
God commands us to rest. To take a sabbath. He will provide, don't worry (Mt 6).
"9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11
Heaven will include rest. If we do not like rest we will not like heaven. Rest is an essential component of the kingdom.
Are you anxiously trying to earn your way into heaven?
Scripture says, Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast."
God wants you to accept his gift (Romans 5:15-17) and stop trying to earn his salvation.
Are you worried about death?
God promises to those who believe in him eternal life. We have all of eternity. There is no need to hurry.
3)Be perfect
John 7:19"Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law?
Is this rooted in pride or fear?
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1peter 5:5
"The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 Jn 4:19
Do we delight in other people's perfection?
"We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection." 2 Cor 13:9
or are you trying to be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect? Mt 5:48. In this God tells us to, "Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you." Mt 5:44
Mt 19:21 "Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." That is the type of perfection Jesus is looking for. Be made perfect in love.
4) Be strong
Who is your hope in? You or God?
"that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us." 2Cor 1:9b-10
Can you be vulnerable in your weaknesses? We all have strengths and weakness. There is not one person who does not need others. If fact, the original sin was independence from God. They no longer trusted in God but in themselves to be their own gods; their own saviors.
Being strong is good if we use it to help other ""Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."" (1Cor 12:7) and know that God set us up so that we will always be reliant on all the other members of the body, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." (1Cor 12:21-23) .
[See also..
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2Cor12: 9-10
"25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1Cor 1:25]
5)Try hard/ strive
It is God who changes us from the inside out. We can not earn salvation. We cannot transform ourselves into His image. We need to rely on God.
Run the race, make sure you are going in the right direction. What is the treasure you are trying to get to? Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The kingdom turns things upside-down.
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