My “I AM” list
Many people routinely prepare daily “To Do” Lists to direct their activities and point them to higher levels of efficiency. This practice encourages better time and task management and is not to be discredited.
I am increasingly convinced that there is great value to be gained from maintaining an “I AM” list. The “I AM” list should reflect those things that we want to believe about ourselves. It is a description of “the person that I am” – with modifications.
The modifications come in two basic forms. The first type involves deletion of the negative beliefs that we have about ourselves that limit our capacity for outstanding positive achievement.
The second set of modifications involves visualizing a transformed self that is anchored by positive character traits that we now hold to be true about ourselves.
The principles on which the “I AM” list is based are grounded on a deeper understanding of the role and impact of our self-image.
I quote from Maxwell Malt’s “The New Pscho-Cybernetics” because of the clarity of his presentation.
“By understanding your self-image and by learning to modify and manage it to suit your purposes, you gain incredible confidence and power.
Whether we realize it or not, each of us carries within us a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves. It may be vague and ill-defined to our conscious gaze. In fact, it may not be consciously recognizable at all. But it is there, complete down to the last detail. This self-image is our own conception of the “sort of person I am.” It has been built up from our own beliefs about ourselves. Most of these beliefs about ourselves have unconsciously been formed from our past experiences, our successes and failures, our humiliations, our triumphs, and the way other people have reacted to us, especially in early childhood. From all these we mentally construct a self (or picture of a self.). Once an idea or belief about ourselves goes into this picture it becomes “truth”, as far as we personally are concerned. We do not question its validity, but proceed to act upon it just as if it were true.
The self-image then controls what you can and cannot accomplish, what is difficult or easy for you, even how others respond to you just as certainly and scientifically as a thermostat controls the temperature in your home.
Specifically, all your actions, feelings, behaviour, even your abilities, are always consistent with this self-image. Note the word: always. In short, you will “act like” the sort of person you conceive yourself to be. More importantly, you literally cannot act otherwise, in spite of all your conscious efforts or willpower. (This is why trying to achieve something difficult with teeth gritted is a losing battle. Willpower is not the answer. Self-image management is.)
….. The person who perceives himself to be a “failure type person” will find some way to fail, in spite of all his good intentions or his willpower, even if opportunity is literally dumped in his lap.
…. The self-image is a “premise”, a base, or a foundation upon which your entire personality, your behaviour, and even your circumstances are built.
…. Obviously, it’s not enough to say “it’s all in your head”. In fact, that’s insulting. It is more productive to explain that “it” is based on certain ingrained, possibly hidden patterns of thought that, if altered, will free you to tap more of your potential and experience vastly different results. This brings me to the most important truth about the self-image: It can be changed.
…. “Positive thinking” cannot be used effectively as a patch to the same old self-image. In fact, it is literally impossible to really think positively about a particular situation, as long as you hold a negative concept of self. Numerous experiments have shown that, once the concept of self is changed, other things consistent with the new concept of self are accomplished easily and without strain.”
Your “I AM” list then will be a key determinant of how life unfolds for you. Its purpose is to help you to modify your self-image such that:
* You find your self acceptable.
* You can trust your self and believe in it
* You have wholesome self-esteem.
* You believe that you have creative freedom.
* You have an honest understanding of your strengths and areas that are not yet developed to your satisfaction.
* You break the pattern of negative concepts about yourself that limit your ability to achieve.
* You incorporate positive beliefs about yourself that allow you to consistently achieve positive results.
By now you will realize that a firmly ingrained “I AM” will automatically dictate and direct your “TO DOs”. “What we do” flows directly from “Who we are.” There is a certain inevitability with which the two factors seek alignment with each other. We either bring our actions in line with our self-image or our persistent actions will cause us to modify our self-image to match our behaviour.
Maltz: "When you see a thing clearly in your mind, your creative "success mechanism" within you takes over and does the job much better than you could do it by conscious effort or willpower". This is in support of the practice of "mental picturing" or "visualization" or "imagination practice" or "The Theater of Your Mind" or "Act as if".
Maltz explains: "This exercise builds new "memories" or stored data into your midbrain and central nervous system. It builds a new image of self. After practicing it for a time, you will be surprised to find yourself "acting differently", more or less automatically and spontaneously, without trying."
He recommends, for example, setting aside 30 minutes per day during which you imagine in vivid detail watching yourself on a large motion picture screen. If the imagination is vivid and detailed enough, your imagination practice is equivalent to an actual experience, insofar as your nervous system is concerned.
So, during the 30 minutes you see yourself acting and reacting appropriately, successfully, ideally. See yourself acting, feeling, being as you want to be. Do not say to yourself, "I am going to act this way tomorrow." Just say to yourself, "I am going to imagine myself acting this way now - for 30 minutes today."
Visualization is not a substitute for prayer. Neither is it anti-religion or unscriptural. It can be seen as an active manifestation of asking believing. You watch the things that you pray for unfold before your very eyes. The scriptures support that approach. "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matt 21:22
Be a proactive and consistent “I AM” list user for the entire month of January and see the difference in your life!
Use the list as the platform for your movie script. The movie that you will work on developing and playing over and over in the "Theater of Your Mind" in a relaxed state all through the month of January. Thereafter, your automatic success mechanism can be initiated at will.
Maltz: It comes into operation as you act and as you place a demand on it by your actions. You must not wait to act until you have proof. You must act as if it is there, and it will come through. "Do the thing and you will have the power," said Emerson.
Monday, 31 December 2007
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Back door to Heaven
Back door to Heaven
How many of you have a genuine desire to go to Hell?
There are jokes going the rounds about the best parties being in hell and that all the “in” people will be there. Also, many feel that all their friends will be there so that is the place to be.
Visions of flowing alcohol and riotous living are added to Hell’s appeal. So, do you deeply want to go to Hell?
What about Heaven…..do you genuinely want to go to Heaven?
A certain level of discipline will be expected of you. Some of the habits that you now have will be frowned upon. Many of the people that you know will not be there. Throwing tantrums or sulking off when you do not get your own way might not be viewed as being loving and will be considered unacceptable behaviour.
So, do you still deeply want to go to Heaven?
Well, if you are really, really earnest about going to Heaven I want to share with a secret strategy for getting into Heaven without any hassle. Interested?
I am going to share with you how to access a Back Door to Heaven.
You know that we do things differently and we have to find a way to beat the system. General rules and procedures are for other people. We march to a different tune.
So while others have to join the long line at the front and go through detailed processing I am here to tell you that there is a back door and I can get you through that back door.
If you think about it huge operations tend to have a special entrance for “Employees” or other classifications of persons. Well, it is the Employees’ entrance that that we will exploit. That is the avenue that we will use.
The big break is that to speed up the process, persons who are members of a select union can get in by merely showing a card that identifies them as bonafide members of that union.
Would any of you like to get one of those cards?
Well stay with me. I am here to tell you that getting one of those cards is so easy that it would be a shame if you were to end up not having one.
Friend in Hell: “But I thought you were interested in going to Heaven. How come you ended up here?”
You: “I was just careless. A man even showed me an easy way to get in and I don’t know….I just did not pay proper attention and look at me now.”
Do you want that to be your story? I think not.
So listen carefully and make sure you follow my advice. It has worked for many and it will work for you. So, here is how you get through the Back door to Heaven.
The key is to become an active, card bearing member of one branch of the recognized union. It is as simple as that. Just be an active member of the union and entrance through the back to Heaven is guaranteed.
Now watch this! Some branches of the union are so easy to join that it is really ridiculous that someone could actually miss Heaven by accident. You have to set out to go to hell not to make it to Heaven.
Believe it or not, there is one branch of the recognized union for hungry people! Yes, all you have to do is love your belly and you can be a member of that union branch. Sign me up!!!
Now if you think that I am being heretical and frivolous turn with me to Matthew 5. Where we find Jesus himself identifying a special set up people. People who have special privileges. I am calling those union members. Jesus called them “Blessed” and so I am saying that they are members of the Blessed Union.
“Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” Matthew 5:1-13 By: Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003154
“One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word. In fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that.
If you want to be more “Piperian,” (John Piper) you would say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. I’m with Hughes in his commentary when he says that probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits my view as well.”
So, you see my point: I understand Jesus to be saying that if the characteristics that he lists become an active part of your trade – you will be approved by God - blessed. Members of the Blessed Union are approved by God.
Is it logical to expect that people who are approved by God will have a pass to get into Heaven? Of course!
Well then becoming an active member of the Blessed Union is your key to enter into Heaven.
Jesus identified branches of that union. I will not focus on all of them today.
One that jumps out at me is the one I mentioned: the branch for hungry people. It is nearing lunch time and so many of you might have being experiencing a rumbling in your stomachs. You might be thinking that starving yourself into Heaven is not really a favoured option.
Well, we are in fact talking about Matt 5: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
This is saying to us that we will be approved by God (blessed) and qualified to get a pass into Heaven if we hunger and thirst after righteousness.
All you need to do to secure your place in Heaven is to make your mouth water after being obedient to God as you are about the rice and peas that you are looking forward to after the service.
Be persistent and consistent in your desire to see righteousness prevail. Be vigilant and committed to doing what is right and helping others to do what is right. If you keep that focus you get a “no line, no hassle pass” through the Back door to Heaven.
This requires you to start thinking about yourself in a different way. Stop throwing up your arms thinking that you are only human and therefore your many diversions away from righteous thinking and behvaviour are to be expected.
That kind of thinking will not lead you to the pass. You have to rub out that image and replace it with one that recognizes that you are empowered by God and that through Christ you can do all things.
Heb 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (NIV)
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Friends, what a refreshing thought. Just by being hungry consistently you can be approved by God and qualify for entry into Heaven. Let us now salivate for righteousness.
But believe it or not friends, there is another simple way to get in through the special Back door to Heaven.
Matt 5: 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
“Jesus talks about the poverty of spirit. He’s talking spiritual bankruptcy. The problem with the word “bankruptcy” and the concept of bankruptcy is that you’re not really broke at all. Currently, American Airlines is losing money, but the reason they talk about filing for bankruptcy is to protect their assets. That’s not spiritual bankruptcy.
When we declare spiritual bankruptcy, there is nothing left in the bank. There are no airplanes on the field; there are no pilots; there is no retirement fund; there is nothing. When we recognize our spiritual poverty, there is nothing there to protect or preserve. It’s gone, and indeed to be more accurate, there would be a huge debt. There would be this monumental debt with no resources to repay. This is the kind of poverty we have. Theologically, we’re talking about the doctrine of the depravity of man. Man has nothing to offer God that will equal, earn, or merit God’s righteousness.”
Rom 3: 10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know."
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
“When Jesus talks about the poor in spirit, He’s talking about a select group, a subset of all those who are totally depraved, and that subset (that smaller group) is the group who knows it. It’s one thing to be broke; it’s one thing to be depraved; it’s one thing to have a load of sin and to be under God’s wrath. But is is quite another thing to recognize that we, apart from God’s grace and His mercy, are hopelessly lost in our sins and spiritual debt. These are the people who are not only spiritually bankrupt, but well aware of it.” Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
Luke 18: 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
“Let’s talk about the implications of this for the gospel. As many commentators have noted, Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” is the foundation for all that is said in the Beatitudes. It is the foundation because spiritual poverty is the prerequisite for eternal life. Nobody gets into heaven who thinks they have cause to be there, other than Christ. Your hands have to be empty before they can be filled by Him. There must be nothing there.
This is not something that we do in and of ourselves. We do not empty ourselves; we do not make ourselves poor. We don’t even, in and of ourselves, recognize our poverty. That too is a work of God’s grace. It is evidence of God’s work in us that we see ourselves for who we are and therefore are willing to turn to Him because He has turned our hearts toward Him. We have nothing to bring to Him. We have nothing to lay claim to Him. We have nothing to cause God to act graciously in our behalf. It is all of His mercy; it is all of His grace.” Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
Friends, do you realize here that all that is required to get in through the special Back door to Heaven is to recognize that there is nothing that we can do? We only have to accept our helpless, sinful state and leave it to God’s grace. Christ assures that that if we find ourselves in that state where we recognize and accept our spiritual poverty we will win God’s approval. We become a card bearing member of the Blessed Union. The select group that is called out for special treatment.
But it gets even more interesting. Sometimes you get invited to becoming a member of this branch of the Blessed Union even against your will. Far from doing anything to get in you get in even when you resist. Sounds crazy but true.
Consider how Naaman was humbled by leprocy and Elisha to finally get to a state in which he could see God for who He really is.
Sometimes we have to be abased in order for us to humble ourselves and recognize the poverty of our spirit. It is only when the futility of our human arrogance stares us in the face that we come to a full stop and recognize the need for God’s grace.
So, maybe the next time we face hardship and calamity we should welcome it as a reminder of our need for God and our helplessness without His grace.
Sing: Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. + Amazing grace.
Finally, we want to look at one other branch of the Blessed Union:
Matt: 5 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Becoming an active member of the Persecuted Branch of the Blessed Union is another way to win God’s approval and gain safe passage into Heaven. Your task is simple. All you need to do is to actively and consistently defend the Gospel of Christ on earth.
You are guaranteed to face some form of persecution or reviling or false accusation if you defend the Gospel diligently. Then….that qualifies you to be called Blessed or approved of God. You are then a member of that select group that gets to spend eternity in Heaven with God.
Consider Stephen: Acts 7: 51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." 54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Just by standing up for what you believe in and holding firm to your faith – no matter what the consequences – you put yourself in a position to be rewarded not only with a pass into Heaven but to receive great rewards when you get there.
I am reluctant to share my personal strategy for selfish reasons. But, that is not a good spirit so here goes.
I believe that when you are choosing a career you should look for an area where the skills are in great demand. Also, the demand should be great wherever you go in the world. Then the next thing is that despite the high demand there should always be a shortage of people with the skills.
One thing about me is that I do not like to join long lines. So taking all these things into consideration my first choice branch will be the Peacemakers branch of the Blessed Union.
[Secretly, my plan is to join ALL the branches just to make sure that I can get in, but I think the Peacemakers line will be the shortest one.]
Just think about it. From the earliest of times right up until today, there has been the need for peacemakers yet there is a consistent shortage. Peacemakers are needed right across the globe.
Amazingly, the requirements of the profession are not onerous. Anyone can get into the Peacemakers branch. First of all, you just have to have a calm spirit yourself. This is easier if you have high self esteem. If you accept who are and are comfortable with yourself then you are not going to be easily offended. That way you can overlook provocations and maintain the peace.
Another thing is for you to dislike being around conflict and strife. So that whenever you see that strife is about to take place you immediately jump into action to prevent it. You try to get the parties to look at things from another angle. Or you get them to clarify their actions or to make required adjustments.
It really is so easy to do!
Although I would hate for the line to get too long, I would really encourage you this morning to start out on a career as a Peacemakers. Focus on that night and day. Be always on the alert to hone your skills as a peacemaker more and more everyday. I promise that you will be filled with perpetual joy and you will have a pass to get in through the Back door to Heaven. And…through the shortest line….”no wait, no hassle”.
Now, before you run off I need to make it clear that you can only join the Blessed Union if you meet a pre-condition. Entry is only available to Christians. A Christian is one who has obeyed the Gospel and put on Christ. Access to Heaven is gained only through Jesus the Christ.
A review of all the conversions in the New Testament and supporting passages point to the following process for putting on Christ:
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Baptism comes from the Greek baptizo which means to immerse. Sprinkling and immersion are not the same thing. We have to ask if God who is fussy about the kind of fire that is used to light sacrifices to Him and who will punish one of His leaders for using a tried and proven method to get water for his people will notice the difference. Is it worth it to take the chance? Why not just do what He commands, however childish and petty it may appear to our human minds?
If you are here today and you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now.
If you have questions as to whether the process for putting on Christ that you have gone through is in keeping with what I have just outlined, make a commitment to investigate your status fully. We are willing to have someone go through any questions you may have.
If you have not been immersed for the remission/removal of your sins, then I urge you to do so before it is eternally too late.
If you are a Christian, commit today to becoming a member of one or more branches of the Blessed Union. There is a special “no line, no hassle” entrance waiting for you.
Step up now and make your calling and election sure! See you over there!
How many of you have a genuine desire to go to Hell?
There are jokes going the rounds about the best parties being in hell and that all the “in” people will be there. Also, many feel that all their friends will be there so that is the place to be.
Visions of flowing alcohol and riotous living are added to Hell’s appeal. So, do you deeply want to go to Hell?
What about Heaven…..do you genuinely want to go to Heaven?
A certain level of discipline will be expected of you. Some of the habits that you now have will be frowned upon. Many of the people that you know will not be there. Throwing tantrums or sulking off when you do not get your own way might not be viewed as being loving and will be considered unacceptable behaviour.
So, do you still deeply want to go to Heaven?
Well, if you are really, really earnest about going to Heaven I want to share with a secret strategy for getting into Heaven without any hassle. Interested?
I am going to share with you how to access a Back Door to Heaven.
You know that we do things differently and we have to find a way to beat the system. General rules and procedures are for other people. We march to a different tune.
So while others have to join the long line at the front and go through detailed processing I am here to tell you that there is a back door and I can get you through that back door.
If you think about it huge operations tend to have a special entrance for “Employees” or other classifications of persons. Well, it is the Employees’ entrance that that we will exploit. That is the avenue that we will use.
The big break is that to speed up the process, persons who are members of a select union can get in by merely showing a card that identifies them as bonafide members of that union.
Would any of you like to get one of those cards?
Well stay with me. I am here to tell you that getting one of those cards is so easy that it would be a shame if you were to end up not having one.
Friend in Hell: “But I thought you were interested in going to Heaven. How come you ended up here?”
You: “I was just careless. A man even showed me an easy way to get in and I don’t know….I just did not pay proper attention and look at me now.”
Do you want that to be your story? I think not.
So listen carefully and make sure you follow my advice. It has worked for many and it will work for you. So, here is how you get through the Back door to Heaven.
The key is to become an active, card bearing member of one branch of the recognized union. It is as simple as that. Just be an active member of the union and entrance through the back to Heaven is guaranteed.
Now watch this! Some branches of the union are so easy to join that it is really ridiculous that someone could actually miss Heaven by accident. You have to set out to go to hell not to make it to Heaven.
Believe it or not, there is one branch of the recognized union for hungry people! Yes, all you have to do is love your belly and you can be a member of that union branch. Sign me up!!!
Now if you think that I am being heretical and frivolous turn with me to Matthew 5. Where we find Jesus himself identifying a special set up people. People who have special privileges. I am calling those union members. Jesus called them “Blessed” and so I am saying that they are members of the Blessed Union.
“Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” Matthew 5:1-13 By: Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003154
“One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word. In fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that.
If you want to be more “Piperian,” (John Piper) you would say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. I’m with Hughes in his commentary when he says that probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits my view as well.”
So, you see my point: I understand Jesus to be saying that if the characteristics that he lists become an active part of your trade – you will be approved by God - blessed. Members of the Blessed Union are approved by God.
Is it logical to expect that people who are approved by God will have a pass to get into Heaven? Of course!
Well then becoming an active member of the Blessed Union is your key to enter into Heaven.
Jesus identified branches of that union. I will not focus on all of them today.
One that jumps out at me is the one I mentioned: the branch for hungry people. It is nearing lunch time and so many of you might have being experiencing a rumbling in your stomachs. You might be thinking that starving yourself into Heaven is not really a favoured option.
Well, we are in fact talking about Matt 5: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
This is saying to us that we will be approved by God (blessed) and qualified to get a pass into Heaven if we hunger and thirst after righteousness.
All you need to do to secure your place in Heaven is to make your mouth water after being obedient to God as you are about the rice and peas that you are looking forward to after the service.
Be persistent and consistent in your desire to see righteousness prevail. Be vigilant and committed to doing what is right and helping others to do what is right. If you keep that focus you get a “no line, no hassle pass” through the Back door to Heaven.
This requires you to start thinking about yourself in a different way. Stop throwing up your arms thinking that you are only human and therefore your many diversions away from righteous thinking and behvaviour are to be expected.
That kind of thinking will not lead you to the pass. You have to rub out that image and replace it with one that recognizes that you are empowered by God and that through Christ you can do all things.
Heb 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (NIV)
James 4: 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Friends, what a refreshing thought. Just by being hungry consistently you can be approved by God and qualify for entry into Heaven. Let us now salivate for righteousness.
But believe it or not friends, there is another simple way to get in through the special Back door to Heaven.
Matt 5: 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
“Jesus talks about the poverty of spirit. He’s talking spiritual bankruptcy. The problem with the word “bankruptcy” and the concept of bankruptcy is that you’re not really broke at all. Currently, American Airlines is losing money, but the reason they talk about filing for bankruptcy is to protect their assets. That’s not spiritual bankruptcy.
When we declare spiritual bankruptcy, there is nothing left in the bank. There are no airplanes on the field; there are no pilots; there is no retirement fund; there is nothing. When we recognize our spiritual poverty, there is nothing there to protect or preserve. It’s gone, and indeed to be more accurate, there would be a huge debt. There would be this monumental debt with no resources to repay. This is the kind of poverty we have. Theologically, we’re talking about the doctrine of the depravity of man. Man has nothing to offer God that will equal, earn, or merit God’s righteousness.”
Rom 3: 10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know."
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
“When Jesus talks about the poor in spirit, He’s talking about a select group, a subset of all those who are totally depraved, and that subset (that smaller group) is the group who knows it. It’s one thing to be broke; it’s one thing to be depraved; it’s one thing to have a load of sin and to be under God’s wrath. But is is quite another thing to recognize that we, apart from God’s grace and His mercy, are hopelessly lost in our sins and spiritual debt. These are the people who are not only spiritually bankrupt, but well aware of it.” Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
Luke 18: 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
“Let’s talk about the implications of this for the gospel. As many commentators have noted, Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” is the foundation for all that is said in the Beatitudes. It is the foundation because spiritual poverty is the prerequisite for eternal life. Nobody gets into heaven who thinks they have cause to be there, other than Christ. Your hands have to be empty before they can be filled by Him. There must be nothing there.
This is not something that we do in and of ourselves. We do not empty ourselves; we do not make ourselves poor. We don’t even, in and of ourselves, recognize our poverty. That too is a work of God’s grace. It is evidence of God’s work in us that we see ourselves for who we are and therefore are willing to turn to Him because He has turned our hearts toward Him. We have nothing to bring to Him. We have nothing to lay claim to Him. We have nothing to cause God to act graciously in our behalf. It is all of His mercy; it is all of His grace.” Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M. April 27, 2003
Friends, do you realize here that all that is required to get in through the special Back door to Heaven is to recognize that there is nothing that we can do? We only have to accept our helpless, sinful state and leave it to God’s grace. Christ assures that that if we find ourselves in that state where we recognize and accept our spiritual poverty we will win God’s approval. We become a card bearing member of the Blessed Union. The select group that is called out for special treatment.
But it gets even more interesting. Sometimes you get invited to becoming a member of this branch of the Blessed Union even against your will. Far from doing anything to get in you get in even when you resist. Sounds crazy but true.
Consider how Naaman was humbled by leprocy and Elisha to finally get to a state in which he could see God for who He really is.
Sometimes we have to be abased in order for us to humble ourselves and recognize the poverty of our spirit. It is only when the futility of our human arrogance stares us in the face that we come to a full stop and recognize the need for God’s grace.
So, maybe the next time we face hardship and calamity we should welcome it as a reminder of our need for God and our helplessness without His grace.
Sing: Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. + Amazing grace.
Finally, we want to look at one other branch of the Blessed Union:
Matt: 5 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Becoming an active member of the Persecuted Branch of the Blessed Union is another way to win God’s approval and gain safe passage into Heaven. Your task is simple. All you need to do is to actively and consistently defend the Gospel of Christ on earth.
You are guaranteed to face some form of persecution or reviling or false accusation if you defend the Gospel diligently. Then….that qualifies you to be called Blessed or approved of God. You are then a member of that select group that gets to spend eternity in Heaven with God.
Consider Stephen: Acts 7: 51"You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." 54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Just by standing up for what you believe in and holding firm to your faith – no matter what the consequences – you put yourself in a position to be rewarded not only with a pass into Heaven but to receive great rewards when you get there.
I am reluctant to share my personal strategy for selfish reasons. But, that is not a good spirit so here goes.
I believe that when you are choosing a career you should look for an area where the skills are in great demand. Also, the demand should be great wherever you go in the world. Then the next thing is that despite the high demand there should always be a shortage of people with the skills.
One thing about me is that I do not like to join long lines. So taking all these things into consideration my first choice branch will be the Peacemakers branch of the Blessed Union.
[Secretly, my plan is to join ALL the branches just to make sure that I can get in, but I think the Peacemakers line will be the shortest one.]
Just think about it. From the earliest of times right up until today, there has been the need for peacemakers yet there is a consistent shortage. Peacemakers are needed right across the globe.
Amazingly, the requirements of the profession are not onerous. Anyone can get into the Peacemakers branch. First of all, you just have to have a calm spirit yourself. This is easier if you have high self esteem. If you accept who are and are comfortable with yourself then you are not going to be easily offended. That way you can overlook provocations and maintain the peace.
Another thing is for you to dislike being around conflict and strife. So that whenever you see that strife is about to take place you immediately jump into action to prevent it. You try to get the parties to look at things from another angle. Or you get them to clarify their actions or to make required adjustments.
It really is so easy to do!
Although I would hate for the line to get too long, I would really encourage you this morning to start out on a career as a Peacemakers. Focus on that night and day. Be always on the alert to hone your skills as a peacemaker more and more everyday. I promise that you will be filled with perpetual joy and you will have a pass to get in through the Back door to Heaven. And…through the shortest line….”no wait, no hassle”.
Now, before you run off I need to make it clear that you can only join the Blessed Union if you meet a pre-condition. Entry is only available to Christians. A Christian is one who has obeyed the Gospel and put on Christ. Access to Heaven is gained only through Jesus the Christ.
A review of all the conversions in the New Testament and supporting passages point to the following process for putting on Christ:
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Baptism comes from the Greek baptizo which means to immerse. Sprinkling and immersion are not the same thing. We have to ask if God who is fussy about the kind of fire that is used to light sacrifices to Him and who will punish one of His leaders for using a tried and proven method to get water for his people will notice the difference. Is it worth it to take the chance? Why not just do what He commands, however childish and petty it may appear to our human minds?
If you are here today and you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now.
If you have questions as to whether the process for putting on Christ that you have gone through is in keeping with what I have just outlined, make a commitment to investigate your status fully. We are willing to have someone go through any questions you may have.
If you have not been immersed for the remission/removal of your sins, then I urge you to do so before it is eternally too late.
If you are a Christian, commit today to becoming a member of one or more branches of the Blessed Union. There is a special “no line, no hassle” entrance waiting for you.
Step up now and make your calling and election sure! See you over there!
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Lessons from Cycling
Lessons from bicycle riding
I believe that life is a great teacher. If we just take the time to look at things that happen around us we can take away important lessons that we can apply to other aspects of our lives. I am fascinated by such explorations and I have the fortunate or unfortunate habit of wanting to share the findings with others.
Today is no different. I am going to invite you to join me in drawing lessons from riding a bicycle – Lessons from cycling.
The first lesson I want us to draw is the observation that being a cyclist requires personal involvement in the act of riding a bicycle. There is a famous champion cyclist who dominated cycling before my time and yours at Race Course down in Kingston Gardens. His name was Frank “Gungoo” Minott. Now if Gungoo had a son who also dominated cycling and he in turn had a son. While schoolmates might give the grandson the nickname “Cyclist”, that name will not become reality until grandson gets up on a bike and rides it.
Being a true cyclist is not something that is inherited. It is not something that is conferred on you as some honour. Even if grandson joined a cycling club and attended all their functions he would not be a genuine cyclist until he rides one himself.
Well, of what relevance is that to us in the spiritual realm?
Christianity is like cycling. Being a Christian is not something that can be inherited. It is not something that is conferred upon us as a special honour. It does not rub off by mere association. We have to take action on a personal basis to become a Christian.
There might be one here today that has never made the personal move to ride the Christian bicycle. You might have had a family that are Christians. You might have many friends who are Christians. You might have visited congregations of Christians and might even consider yourself to be a good person.
If that is your state this morning, you need to consider the following thoughts. We will be happy to explore them more fully with you than time allows me to do now:
God made man and planned that man would live eternally (Gen 1:27;2:17). Man disobeyed God in an act that is called sin. Sin separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to share eternity with God. We have all sinned and face God’s judgement. God in a supreme act of love decided to give man a chance to avoid eternal condemnation. This was achieved by having his Son Jesus Christ die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead so that we too might have victory over the grave. (Rom 3 and 6). To do so, having heard what I just said, you must believe that there is an escape from being lost in sin.
You must decide that you will no longer remain in your sinful state. You should be ready to make it known publicly that you are going to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. You must then submit to baptism for the remission of your sins and commit to living in accordance with the doctrine that is set out for us in the New Testament.
Whatever you do, please take steps to get right with your maker today. Too many people want to get the best of both worlds. There is nothing in the world that is worth a fraction of your soul. Protect it now before it is eternally too late.
Rom 6: 19
19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is a secondary point from this first lesson:
Spiritual growth and development is also a personal matter. If 4 generations in your family were able to recite the entire Bible backwards, your personal development will be stunted unless you study and expose yourself to Bible study personally.
The second lesson we want to draw from cycling is the recognition that if I want to commit and stay committed to cycling I must come to identify some lasting value in cycling. I must find some intrinsic – some core - value that will stand the test of time. I might get attracted to the activity for a variety of reasons but unless I am able to extract something of special significance and lasting value, I might not be able to remain committed for the long haul. I might bask in Daddy’s legacy and enjoy the time I spend with club members but unless and until I find some personal connection that is lasting and real, there is no guarantee that I will not simply slip away when conditions change.
Of what relevance is that to us in the spiritual realm?
Christianity is something that is a long term project. We make a commitment to be Christians forever. That kind of commitment requires strong backing. It cannot be based on what others are doing or what is fashionable at a particular point in time. We have to find a personal anchor for our own life as a Christian. If we do not find some special intrinsic value for ourselves we stand a great chance of losing our way.
This lesson goes beyond just the spiritual realm. Whenever we make long term commitments we had better be sure that there is something special and lasting there to make us want to honour our promises and commitments. Marriage is one such area.
What is it that you use to anchor your life as a Christian? What is it that gives you the confidence that you could withstand difficult challenges that shake you to the core?
Is Christianity going to be a source of annoyance to you when your circumstances change for the worse? Is Christianity your solution of first choice? Is it your answer to every problem?
Matt 13: 44 -45
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The third lesson explores the observation that the essential secret of being able to ride the bicycle is the concept of balance.
Balance in this context should be understood in the context of something in relation to an objective standard. When it matches that standard it is in balance.
By placing a valid one kilo weight on one end of a balance one can identify when a variety of other items weigh one kilo. The kilo weight is the objective standard.
The objective standard in cycling is that the rider should be perpendicular to the ground. If that relationship is maintained they could ride forever without ever falling.
The further one moves away from the objective standard and the longer that situation prevails the more likely and imminent the fall.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
We have been provided with an objective standard for how we ought to live our lives. Christ demonstrated the model through His Life and teachings. We need to examine ourselves and take care that we are not off balance.
If we find ourselves in a state in which we are off balance we must like the cyclist take quick action to restore balance or face the risk of falling.
Gal 5:19
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, 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 sinful nature 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.
That leads us to our fourth lesson. It brings with it the realization that spills and bruises are an integral part of cycling.
The essential difference between people who persevere with the cycling and those who gave up while learning to ride is that one set got back on the bicycle after falling down and the other set quit.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
We have to keep in the forefront of our minds that Christianity does not guarantee comfort. Christians must expect to find themselves in unpleasant circumstances from time to time. That comes with the territory and should be taken in stride. The cyclist who climbs back onto the bicycle after a fall is more concerned about the overall cycling experience than on his weeping wounds and aching body. THIS TOO WILL PASS!
Consider Paul, the highly respected Apostle. He was roundly criticized by some members of the Corinthian Church about things that would cause a lesser person to walk and talk to themselves. Even His status as an Apostle was questioned. Paul’s response to the challenge is instructive for us as to how we ought to deal with challenging situations. We should strive to be able to present with a clear conscience the responses that Paul gave. Look for example at:
2 Cor 6:1 – 13
6 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Many of the spills and bruises that take place in life come from inter-personal relations. We cause each other a lot of pain and suffering. We could dramatically reduce this pain and suffering by adopting principles from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Three critical questions should underpin how we relate to others in any and every situation:
1. Have I spoken freely to the other party?
2. Have I opened wide my heart to the other party?
3. Have I withheld my affection from the other party?
That is the objective standard that we must bring to bear in our relations with others.
Of major importance, is the need for us to use those questions as our guide when we observe or find ourselves being asked to comment on relations among others.
Instead of seeking to take sides, we should objectively walk the individuals involved through the 3-step questioning process:
1. Have you spoken freely to the other party about this?
2. Have you opened wide your heart to the other party?
3. Have you withheld your affection from the other party?
There is usually no need for you to set up yourself as judge and jury. Every single one of us needs to see ourselves as stepping stones and not stumbling blocks.
I promise you today that if as an individual you use the 3-step yardstick as the measure of your relationship with others, you will attain eternal joy and happiness.
I promise you this morning that if as a congregation we can truly use the 3-step process in our dealings with each other, there will be no limit to what we can achieve in Christ.
Our fifth and final lesson unearths the reality that cycling is about moving from one point to another and to get there we need to be focused.
Safe and successful cycling must be based on the principles of shutting out distractions on the one hand and keeping one’s eye on the goal on the other.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
The road of life is full of distractions. They come in so many varieties that sometimes it is hard to identify them. But they are there. They slow our forward progress and may even take us off course.
We have to be vigilant to shut the distractions out of our lives and to keep our eyes on the goal. The focus on the goal is paramount. When that is in place even when major obstacles are placed before us we still insist on moving towards our goal. Nothing will stop from getting there and from helping others to do the same.
Phil 3:13
13 Brothers, 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.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Brethren, you cannot be a Christian by looking on or by association. It is a very personal experience. YOU have to take personal action.
I am saying that finding something about being a Christian that inspires us personally and responding to it is a wonderful idea. That is what will keep you faithful and stop you from backsliding. Cyclists usually join a club or ride with friends….that helps them to keep going even when they might feel somewhat down. If you keep close to God’s family you too will remain faithful.
Staying faithful and claiming the prize is directly linked to staying in balance with the objective standards. The closer you stick to the standard the safer will be your Christian ride. People only fall when they stray from the objective standard that is laid out for us in the Bible.
At the same time we have to realize that even good riders have spills. The key is to get up and get back on track. Unfortunately, sometimes we are thrown off balance by the devil. We should not give up our Christian ride in frustration. God’s grace is available to restore us. Repent, ask for forgiveness, make a commitment to resist the devil and move on with your Christian ride.
Finally, keep your focus. Your goal is to spend eternity with God in Heaven. Do not let the world’s distractions pull you off course. Keep your eyes on the prize.
I believe that life is a great teacher. If we just take the time to look at things that happen around us we can take away important lessons that we can apply to other aspects of our lives. I am fascinated by such explorations and I have the fortunate or unfortunate habit of wanting to share the findings with others.
Today is no different. I am going to invite you to join me in drawing lessons from riding a bicycle – Lessons from cycling.
The first lesson I want us to draw is the observation that being a cyclist requires personal involvement in the act of riding a bicycle. There is a famous champion cyclist who dominated cycling before my time and yours at Race Course down in Kingston Gardens. His name was Frank “Gungoo” Minott. Now if Gungoo had a son who also dominated cycling and he in turn had a son. While schoolmates might give the grandson the nickname “Cyclist”, that name will not become reality until grandson gets up on a bike and rides it.
Being a true cyclist is not something that is inherited. It is not something that is conferred on you as some honour. Even if grandson joined a cycling club and attended all their functions he would not be a genuine cyclist until he rides one himself.
Well, of what relevance is that to us in the spiritual realm?
Christianity is like cycling. Being a Christian is not something that can be inherited. It is not something that is conferred upon us as a special honour. It does not rub off by mere association. We have to take action on a personal basis to become a Christian.
There might be one here today that has never made the personal move to ride the Christian bicycle. You might have had a family that are Christians. You might have many friends who are Christians. You might have visited congregations of Christians and might even consider yourself to be a good person.
If that is your state this morning, you need to consider the following thoughts. We will be happy to explore them more fully with you than time allows me to do now:
God made man and planned that man would live eternally (Gen 1:27;2:17). Man disobeyed God in an act that is called sin. Sin separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to share eternity with God. We have all sinned and face God’s judgement. God in a supreme act of love decided to give man a chance to avoid eternal condemnation. This was achieved by having his Son Jesus Christ die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead so that we too might have victory over the grave. (Rom 3 and 6). To do so, having heard what I just said, you must believe that there is an escape from being lost in sin.
You must decide that you will no longer remain in your sinful state. You should be ready to make it known publicly that you are going to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. You must then submit to baptism for the remission of your sins and commit to living in accordance with the doctrine that is set out for us in the New Testament.
Whatever you do, please take steps to get right with your maker today. Too many people want to get the best of both worlds. There is nothing in the world that is worth a fraction of your soul. Protect it now before it is eternally too late.
Rom 6: 19
19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is a secondary point from this first lesson:
Spiritual growth and development is also a personal matter. If 4 generations in your family were able to recite the entire Bible backwards, your personal development will be stunted unless you study and expose yourself to Bible study personally.
The second lesson we want to draw from cycling is the recognition that if I want to commit and stay committed to cycling I must come to identify some lasting value in cycling. I must find some intrinsic – some core - value that will stand the test of time. I might get attracted to the activity for a variety of reasons but unless I am able to extract something of special significance and lasting value, I might not be able to remain committed for the long haul. I might bask in Daddy’s legacy and enjoy the time I spend with club members but unless and until I find some personal connection that is lasting and real, there is no guarantee that I will not simply slip away when conditions change.
Of what relevance is that to us in the spiritual realm?
Christianity is something that is a long term project. We make a commitment to be Christians forever. That kind of commitment requires strong backing. It cannot be based on what others are doing or what is fashionable at a particular point in time. We have to find a personal anchor for our own life as a Christian. If we do not find some special intrinsic value for ourselves we stand a great chance of losing our way.
This lesson goes beyond just the spiritual realm. Whenever we make long term commitments we had better be sure that there is something special and lasting there to make us want to honour our promises and commitments. Marriage is one such area.
What is it that you use to anchor your life as a Christian? What is it that gives you the confidence that you could withstand difficult challenges that shake you to the core?
Is Christianity going to be a source of annoyance to you when your circumstances change for the worse? Is Christianity your solution of first choice? Is it your answer to every problem?
Matt 13: 44 -45
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The third lesson explores the observation that the essential secret of being able to ride the bicycle is the concept of balance.
Balance in this context should be understood in the context of something in relation to an objective standard. When it matches that standard it is in balance.
By placing a valid one kilo weight on one end of a balance one can identify when a variety of other items weigh one kilo. The kilo weight is the objective standard.
The objective standard in cycling is that the rider should be perpendicular to the ground. If that relationship is maintained they could ride forever without ever falling.
The further one moves away from the objective standard and the longer that situation prevails the more likely and imminent the fall.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
We have been provided with an objective standard for how we ought to live our lives. Christ demonstrated the model through His Life and teachings. We need to examine ourselves and take care that we are not off balance.
If we find ourselves in a state in which we are off balance we must like the cyclist take quick action to restore balance or face the risk of falling.
Gal 5:19
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, 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 sinful nature 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.
That leads us to our fourth lesson. It brings with it the realization that spills and bruises are an integral part of cycling.
The essential difference between people who persevere with the cycling and those who gave up while learning to ride is that one set got back on the bicycle after falling down and the other set quit.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
We have to keep in the forefront of our minds that Christianity does not guarantee comfort. Christians must expect to find themselves in unpleasant circumstances from time to time. That comes with the territory and should be taken in stride. The cyclist who climbs back onto the bicycle after a fall is more concerned about the overall cycling experience than on his weeping wounds and aching body. THIS TOO WILL PASS!
Consider Paul, the highly respected Apostle. He was roundly criticized by some members of the Corinthian Church about things that would cause a lesser person to walk and talk to themselves. Even His status as an Apostle was questioned. Paul’s response to the challenge is instructive for us as to how we ought to deal with challenging situations. We should strive to be able to present with a clear conscience the responses that Paul gave. Look for example at:
2 Cor 6:1 – 13
6 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Many of the spills and bruises that take place in life come from inter-personal relations. We cause each other a lot of pain and suffering. We could dramatically reduce this pain and suffering by adopting principles from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Three critical questions should underpin how we relate to others in any and every situation:
1. Have I spoken freely to the other party?
2. Have I opened wide my heart to the other party?
3. Have I withheld my affection from the other party?
That is the objective standard that we must bring to bear in our relations with others.
Of major importance, is the need for us to use those questions as our guide when we observe or find ourselves being asked to comment on relations among others.
Instead of seeking to take sides, we should objectively walk the individuals involved through the 3-step questioning process:
1. Have you spoken freely to the other party about this?
2. Have you opened wide your heart to the other party?
3. Have you withheld your affection from the other party?
There is usually no need for you to set up yourself as judge and jury. Every single one of us needs to see ourselves as stepping stones and not stumbling blocks.
I promise you today that if as an individual you use the 3-step yardstick as the measure of your relationship with others, you will attain eternal joy and happiness.
I promise you this morning that if as a congregation we can truly use the 3-step process in our dealings with each other, there will be no limit to what we can achieve in Christ.
Our fifth and final lesson unearths the reality that cycling is about moving from one point to another and to get there we need to be focused.
Safe and successful cycling must be based on the principles of shutting out distractions on the one hand and keeping one’s eye on the goal on the other.
What is the relevance of this for us in the spiritual realm?
The road of life is full of distractions. They come in so many varieties that sometimes it is hard to identify them. But they are there. They slow our forward progress and may even take us off course.
We have to be vigilant to shut the distractions out of our lives and to keep our eyes on the goal. The focus on the goal is paramount. When that is in place even when major obstacles are placed before us we still insist on moving towards our goal. Nothing will stop from getting there and from helping others to do the same.
Phil 3:13
13 Brothers, 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.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Brethren, you cannot be a Christian by looking on or by association. It is a very personal experience. YOU have to take personal action.
I am saying that finding something about being a Christian that inspires us personally and responding to it is a wonderful idea. That is what will keep you faithful and stop you from backsliding. Cyclists usually join a club or ride with friends….that helps them to keep going even when they might feel somewhat down. If you keep close to God’s family you too will remain faithful.
Staying faithful and claiming the prize is directly linked to staying in balance with the objective standards. The closer you stick to the standard the safer will be your Christian ride. People only fall when they stray from the objective standard that is laid out for us in the Bible.
At the same time we have to realize that even good riders have spills. The key is to get up and get back on track. Unfortunately, sometimes we are thrown off balance by the devil. We should not give up our Christian ride in frustration. God’s grace is available to restore us. Repent, ask for forgiveness, make a commitment to resist the devil and move on with your Christian ride.
Finally, keep your focus. Your goal is to spend eternity with God in Heaven. Do not let the world’s distractions pull you off course. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Loving self – an alternative path III
Loving self – an alternative path III
We have been exploring the G.R.O.W.T.H. model for developing and loving self. Loving self is a healthy practice and should not be confused with being selfish. We have emphasized the importance of a firm grounding and clearly defined goals. Respect for others, the environment and God were identified as essential elements of your programme. We pointed to the value of maintaining a positive outlook and being open-minded. We also indicated that your command of words and your ability to listen to them effectively are major steps in your quest for personal development.
Today, we examine the T and H zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model. As we enter the T zone, we highlight the central position of communication as we focus on the nature of your talk. We are admonished in the Scriptures to speak the truth in love. That demands a degree of tactfulness. We must recognize the potential for a verbal assault to produce deeper and more enduring hurt than some physical assaults. In a culture in which, increasingly, the language, tone and content matches the ‘screw face’ of the speaker, your tact will confirm your class.
Your talk with others and with your Creator should be heavily seasoned with thankfulness. People are not fond of ingrates and the readiness to acknowledge the contribution of others is a universally endearing feature. You will notice also that there is a powerful psychic payback that you get from recognizing your blessings and the appreciating just how special you are to others.
We urge you to position yourself to teach. We all have the capacity to present insights that may be helpful to others. Develop an interest in gaining knowledge that you can share. Passing on useful information is a most fulfilling experience.
We cannot leave the T zone without drawing attention to the need to develop your time management skills. There is an angle from which we could regard time as our most fundamental resource and yet it literally here this second and gone the next. Do yourself the favour of completing a log of your time usage for at least a week. We contend that after you deduct sleeping, commuting, eating and hygiene related activities there are two full workweeks available to you each calendar week. Compare your usage of one or both of those shifts to your vision and goals. Are you impressed?
Our final stop in the T zone relates to embracing appropriate technology. You have mastered the use of the wheel to the extent that you no longer think about it. Put yourself on the same footing in the area of Information and Communications Technology. Here is an opportunity in waiting – be ready.
Elements in the T zone to avoid include: temper tantrums, talking down to others, truancy, tearing others down.
We open the doors to the H zone to examine your level of health consciousness. As we get a better understanding of how closely inter-connected mind, body and soul are, the issue of health demands attention. It has direct implication for all your aspirations.
Critically, you must evaluate your current state of health at least once per year with a health care professional. Remember, it is your health and your funds. Do not be afraid to ask questions and to seek alternative opinions. The life you save may be your own. You also need to be hungry for information on proper nutrition and to develop the discipline to eat wisely. Many experts believe that nutrition is at the core of all medical problems.
Your health watch must also include an exercise regime. We suggest that you view your exercise period as an opportunity for bonding with others.
When hope is lost, things fall apart. You must device mechanisms that you will use to fan the flame of hope and drive away the clouds of doom.
Our next task in the H zone is to re-visit some old home truths and to state honestly that honesty is the best policy. There are very many reasons why we fail to adhere to this rule but there is invariably a price to pay and the price is always too high.
We recognize also as the song says that it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in so many ways. However, humility is not synonymous with weakness and we are touched when an obviously powerful individual puts his might under subjection. We have marvelled for 2000 years at the fact that Jesus refrained from using His powers to protect Himself.
We leave the H zone with an appeal for you to try to be helpful. The two fundamental spiritual laws are loving God with all our heart and loving our neighbour as ourselves, where neighbour is defined as any other person. Achieving the second in effect means that whatever we wish for ourselves we should try to make available to everyone else. That’s a challenging thought but you can at least make a serious effort to improve the lot of other people on an ongoing basis. Once again, the twist is that once you get into that mindset your giving will never be able to keep pace with the abundance that you receive!
We encourage you to avoid:
* Hiding behind others - -- do your own bidding.
* Hasty judgement --- be rational and thorough in your decision-making.
* Hassling others --- be a peacemaker not a warmonger.
Don Miguel Ruiz in "The Four Agreements" identifies a major obstacle to loving self. He identifies the prospect of self-rejection that comes from having an image of what it means to be perfect and never measuring up to that ideal. He suggests that you make and keep agreement with yourself. Tell yourself who you are, what you feel, what you believe and how to behave.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions,, including the acclaimed “Success with People” series. E-mail: trevor.smith@extendeddisc.com
We have been exploring the G.R.O.W.T.H. model for developing and loving self. Loving self is a healthy practice and should not be confused with being selfish. We have emphasized the importance of a firm grounding and clearly defined goals. Respect for others, the environment and God were identified as essential elements of your programme. We pointed to the value of maintaining a positive outlook and being open-minded. We also indicated that your command of words and your ability to listen to them effectively are major steps in your quest for personal development.
Today, we examine the T and H zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model. As we enter the T zone, we highlight the central position of communication as we focus on the nature of your talk. We are admonished in the Scriptures to speak the truth in love. That demands a degree of tactfulness. We must recognize the potential for a verbal assault to produce deeper and more enduring hurt than some physical assaults. In a culture in which, increasingly, the language, tone and content matches the ‘screw face’ of the speaker, your tact will confirm your class.
Your talk with others and with your Creator should be heavily seasoned with thankfulness. People are not fond of ingrates and the readiness to acknowledge the contribution of others is a universally endearing feature. You will notice also that there is a powerful psychic payback that you get from recognizing your blessings and the appreciating just how special you are to others.
We urge you to position yourself to teach. We all have the capacity to present insights that may be helpful to others. Develop an interest in gaining knowledge that you can share. Passing on useful information is a most fulfilling experience.
We cannot leave the T zone without drawing attention to the need to develop your time management skills. There is an angle from which we could regard time as our most fundamental resource and yet it literally here this second and gone the next. Do yourself the favour of completing a log of your time usage for at least a week. We contend that after you deduct sleeping, commuting, eating and hygiene related activities there are two full workweeks available to you each calendar week. Compare your usage of one or both of those shifts to your vision and goals. Are you impressed?
Our final stop in the T zone relates to embracing appropriate technology. You have mastered the use of the wheel to the extent that you no longer think about it. Put yourself on the same footing in the area of Information and Communications Technology. Here is an opportunity in waiting – be ready.
Elements in the T zone to avoid include: temper tantrums, talking down to others, truancy, tearing others down.
We open the doors to the H zone to examine your level of health consciousness. As we get a better understanding of how closely inter-connected mind, body and soul are, the issue of health demands attention. It has direct implication for all your aspirations.
Critically, you must evaluate your current state of health at least once per year with a health care professional. Remember, it is your health and your funds. Do not be afraid to ask questions and to seek alternative opinions. The life you save may be your own. You also need to be hungry for information on proper nutrition and to develop the discipline to eat wisely. Many experts believe that nutrition is at the core of all medical problems.
Your health watch must also include an exercise regime. We suggest that you view your exercise period as an opportunity for bonding with others.
When hope is lost, things fall apart. You must device mechanisms that you will use to fan the flame of hope and drive away the clouds of doom.
Our next task in the H zone is to re-visit some old home truths and to state honestly that honesty is the best policy. There are very many reasons why we fail to adhere to this rule but there is invariably a price to pay and the price is always too high.
We recognize also as the song says that it is hard to be humble when you are perfect in so many ways. However, humility is not synonymous with weakness and we are touched when an obviously powerful individual puts his might under subjection. We have marvelled for 2000 years at the fact that Jesus refrained from using His powers to protect Himself.
We leave the H zone with an appeal for you to try to be helpful. The two fundamental spiritual laws are loving God with all our heart and loving our neighbour as ourselves, where neighbour is defined as any other person. Achieving the second in effect means that whatever we wish for ourselves we should try to make available to everyone else. That’s a challenging thought but you can at least make a serious effort to improve the lot of other people on an ongoing basis. Once again, the twist is that once you get into that mindset your giving will never be able to keep pace with the abundance that you receive!
We encourage you to avoid:
* Hiding behind others - -- do your own bidding.
* Hasty judgement --- be rational and thorough in your decision-making.
* Hassling others --- be a peacemaker not a warmonger.
Don Miguel Ruiz in "The Four Agreements" identifies a major obstacle to loving self. He identifies the prospect of self-rejection that comes from having an image of what it means to be perfect and never measuring up to that ideal. He suggests that you make and keep agreement with yourself. Tell yourself who you are, what you feel, what you believe and how to behave.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions,, including the acclaimed “Success with People” series. E-mail: trevor.smith@extendeddisc.com
Loving self – an alternative path II
Loving self – an alternative path II
Last week we started out on an exploration of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model for developing and loving self. This is being presented as an alternative approach to strategies that seek to help women attain happiness by listing a series of things they should do to find a suitable male companion.
We suggest a shift from equating your happiness to the presence of a male companion in your life. We invite you instead to enter a state of sustainable joy that is linked to unconditional love of yourself. Please note, loving self is a healthy practice and is by no means to be confused with being selfish.
In our look at the G and R aspects of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model, we emphasized the value of firm grounding and the importance of monitoring your progress in pursuit of clearly defined goals. Respect for self, for others, for time, for the environment and for God were central to the R zone of the model. This week we explore the O and W aspects of the model.
Open mindedness is the cornerstone of the O zone.
* Try to see the bigger picture. Do not be narrow in your outlook.
* Open your mind to new information. Be hungry for knowledge. Ask pertinent questions. Be inquisitive.
* Put new ideas and your cherished views to the test. Learn to distil facts.
* Pursue self-development. Get the education and training that will prepare you for the attainment of your goals.
* Anticipate and accept change. The only thing you can be sure about is that you will face rapid and frequent change.
It is important that you adopt an outlook that recognizes that traditional ‘book learning’ and academic intellect is not enough. You will have to develop your emotional intelligence. Learn to identify your true feelings and how to channel them into appropriate behaviour. Develop the skill to read and respond to the behavioural styles of other people and push yourself to slip more easily into behaviours with which you may be uncomfortable.
Learn from nature the fundamental truth that diversity is to be celebrated. Think, “not better not worse, just different”. Hone your skills in the areas of your ability to inspire trust and to bounce back from adversity. Embrace empathy, honesty and compassion.
Ugly O’s to avoid include obstinacy – you cannot always have your own way. Then there is objecting without good cause and without having listened first. Do not over-react. Throwing tantrums is not cute. Also, remember that obligations reduce your options. Do not be overly dependent!
Making a meaningful contribution to winning is one of the most important things you can learn to do. Winning covers over a multitude of shortcomings. Many people have tamed their spirit of dominance to the point that they actually fear the prospect of winning. This is sometimes manifested in a deliberate pattern of under-performance. Keep your competitive edge and try to cultivate the habit of doing your very best at all times. Get mentally ready to cope with your attainment of outstanding success.
Your command of words is a major determinant of your success. Even as you learn to use words to express yourself with precision, you need to develop the skill to listen to them effectively. So many of life’s challenges arise from ineffective listening. Take time to appreciate the presence of filters and screens when you communicate. You must also recognize that words represent only a small fraction of the message that you are sending to others. You have to take into consideration your body language, your tone and the position from which others are listening. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Work is the final aspect of the W zone that we will cover. Strive continually to move closer to earning your living by doing something that you find rewarding and satisfying. However, never under-perform in response to low financial rewards. Leave no doubt about your willingness to get the desired results. A tip that will enhance your productivity is to complete a high impact task first thing in the morning and then strive to maintain the momentum.
In the W zone, you need to watch out for the pitfalls of whining. Get proactive and bring solutions to the table. Avoid waste. Money saved is money earned. Aimless wandering is a no go. Make sure you can be found where you are posted.
Next week we will guide you through the T and H zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions,, including the acclaimed “Success with People” series. E-mail: trevor.smith@extendeddisc.com
Last week we started out on an exploration of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model for developing and loving self. This is being presented as an alternative approach to strategies that seek to help women attain happiness by listing a series of things they should do to find a suitable male companion.
We suggest a shift from equating your happiness to the presence of a male companion in your life. We invite you instead to enter a state of sustainable joy that is linked to unconditional love of yourself. Please note, loving self is a healthy practice and is by no means to be confused with being selfish.
In our look at the G and R aspects of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model, we emphasized the value of firm grounding and the importance of monitoring your progress in pursuit of clearly defined goals. Respect for self, for others, for time, for the environment and for God were central to the R zone of the model. This week we explore the O and W aspects of the model.
Open mindedness is the cornerstone of the O zone.
* Try to see the bigger picture. Do not be narrow in your outlook.
* Open your mind to new information. Be hungry for knowledge. Ask pertinent questions. Be inquisitive.
* Put new ideas and your cherished views to the test. Learn to distil facts.
* Pursue self-development. Get the education and training that will prepare you for the attainment of your goals.
* Anticipate and accept change. The only thing you can be sure about is that you will face rapid and frequent change.
It is important that you adopt an outlook that recognizes that traditional ‘book learning’ and academic intellect is not enough. You will have to develop your emotional intelligence. Learn to identify your true feelings and how to channel them into appropriate behaviour. Develop the skill to read and respond to the behavioural styles of other people and push yourself to slip more easily into behaviours with which you may be uncomfortable.
Learn from nature the fundamental truth that diversity is to be celebrated. Think, “not better not worse, just different”. Hone your skills in the areas of your ability to inspire trust and to bounce back from adversity. Embrace empathy, honesty and compassion.
Ugly O’s to avoid include obstinacy – you cannot always have your own way. Then there is objecting without good cause and without having listened first. Do not over-react. Throwing tantrums is not cute. Also, remember that obligations reduce your options. Do not be overly dependent!
Making a meaningful contribution to winning is one of the most important things you can learn to do. Winning covers over a multitude of shortcomings. Many people have tamed their spirit of dominance to the point that they actually fear the prospect of winning. This is sometimes manifested in a deliberate pattern of under-performance. Keep your competitive edge and try to cultivate the habit of doing your very best at all times. Get mentally ready to cope with your attainment of outstanding success.
Your command of words is a major determinant of your success. Even as you learn to use words to express yourself with precision, you need to develop the skill to listen to them effectively. So many of life’s challenges arise from ineffective listening. Take time to appreciate the presence of filters and screens when you communicate. You must also recognize that words represent only a small fraction of the message that you are sending to others. You have to take into consideration your body language, your tone and the position from which others are listening. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Work is the final aspect of the W zone that we will cover. Strive continually to move closer to earning your living by doing something that you find rewarding and satisfying. However, never under-perform in response to low financial rewards. Leave no doubt about your willingness to get the desired results. A tip that will enhance your productivity is to complete a high impact task first thing in the morning and then strive to maintain the momentum.
In the W zone, you need to watch out for the pitfalls of whining. Get proactive and bring solutions to the table. Avoid waste. Money saved is money earned. Aimless wandering is a no go. Make sure you can be found where you are posted.
Next week we will guide you through the T and H zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions,, including the acclaimed “Success with People” series. E-mail: trevor.smith@extendeddisc.com
Loving self – an alternative path I
Loving self – an alternative path I
Much interest has been generated by recent publications like "The Rules", a best-seller by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider that purport to help females to attain happiness by finding a suitable male companion. There is considerable pressure on our young women to design and implement strategies that will lead to a relationship with a man, ideally ending in marriage. This focus on getting some sort of a relationship in place often pushes young women into making a series of bad choices. We suggest an alternative approach. We believe that the emphasis should be on developing and loving self.
The G.R.O.W.T.H. model that we present in this series provides a pathway to sustainable happiness that is not necessarily tied to having a man in your life. However, the beauty of the concept is that it inevitably produces the qualities that real men want to see in their life partners.
The G.R.O.W.T.H. model starts off with the need for Grounding. You need to get to know yourself and to become more comfortable with the person that you are. You are unique and you should learn to cherish that difference and be proud of yourself. The process of grounding is made so much easier if you use the anchor of a personal relationship with your Creator. This allows you better understand your true value and puts you in a position to be truly amazed by how richly blessed you are. Accept your self worth. Do not allow past experiences and the opinion of others to snatch away the treasures that are yours.
From the solid platform on which you now stand, you can put in place a new vision of the future. The unwavering commitment to yourself and to your future that you make must be directed by clear goals.
* Start the process by preparing a comprehensive list of possibilities.
* Do not eliminate any idea while you are preparing the list.
* Write down the things that you have dreamed about in your private moments.
* Add to that a list of things that you like to do or that you find really interesting.
* Jot down those areas in which you think you can perform better than many others.
* Make a note of anything that people have said that you are good at doing.
* Take time to examine every item on the list carefully, even if the option appears to be highly unlikely on the surface.
* Do not get bogged down by your realities. In all likelihood you are going to have to shake loose from some of them if you are going to soar to new heights.
* Discuss the list with friends and mentors, even at the risk of appearing to have lost your sanity.
* Gather as much information as possible about each item on your list.
On completion of the information gathering exercise (one month?), you need to identify the things that are relevant to the vision that you have for yourself. Write down what you could reasonably stretch yourself to achieve in those areas within specified time frames (3 – 6 months, 12 – 18 months, 3 years, 5 years).
Spell out the things that will indicate that you have achieved your targets. You will also need yardsticks that will help you to know how much progress you are making. Now you are grounded with clear goals that give direction and purpose to your life.
While in the G zone, it is important to avoid the pitfalls of greed, gossiping and goofing off. Any one of these has the potential to derail your plans.
You are now ready to move the R zone of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
* Respect is the cornerstone of this aspect. Respect for self, for others, for time, for the environment, for God.
* Then you are required to take responsibility for your actions and for how life unfolds for you. Blaming others is not a useful practice.
* You should also make every effort to be more responsive. The spirit of volunteerism is dying. Be a willing, caring soul and move to the front of the pack. When the answers to your ‘What’s in it for me?’ questions are linked to benefits to accrue to someone else you know that you are on the right track.
* References play an important role in our lives. The trick is to ensure that wherever we interact with people, we will have given them every reason to present us in a favourable light.
* A central building block of the R zone is reading. Reclaim several hours per week and channel them into reading worthwhile material. Keep abreast of current events, provide spiritual food for your soul and deepen your understanding of topics that are of interest to you.
As you go through this process, you will marvel at how much more interesting and meaningful your conversations have become. By the time you get well entrenched into this phase, you will notice that your interaction with others will have a new edge to it and people may already be making a special effort to be in your company.
Key pitfalls to avoid in the R zone include a spirit that requires revenge. In a world that is degenerating into acceptance of the eye for an eye philosophy, people who are long-suffering and ready to forgive will be very special. Be one of those persons.
Next week we will guide you through the O and W zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions, including the acclaimed "Success with People" series.
Much interest has been generated by recent publications like "The Rules", a best-seller by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider that purport to help females to attain happiness by finding a suitable male companion. There is considerable pressure on our young women to design and implement strategies that will lead to a relationship with a man, ideally ending in marriage. This focus on getting some sort of a relationship in place often pushes young women into making a series of bad choices. We suggest an alternative approach. We believe that the emphasis should be on developing and loving self.
The G.R.O.W.T.H. model that we present in this series provides a pathway to sustainable happiness that is not necessarily tied to having a man in your life. However, the beauty of the concept is that it inevitably produces the qualities that real men want to see in their life partners.
The G.R.O.W.T.H. model starts off with the need for Grounding. You need to get to know yourself and to become more comfortable with the person that you are. You are unique and you should learn to cherish that difference and be proud of yourself. The process of grounding is made so much easier if you use the anchor of a personal relationship with your Creator. This allows you better understand your true value and puts you in a position to be truly amazed by how richly blessed you are. Accept your self worth. Do not allow past experiences and the opinion of others to snatch away the treasures that are yours.
From the solid platform on which you now stand, you can put in place a new vision of the future. The unwavering commitment to yourself and to your future that you make must be directed by clear goals.
* Start the process by preparing a comprehensive list of possibilities.
* Do not eliminate any idea while you are preparing the list.
* Write down the things that you have dreamed about in your private moments.
* Add to that a list of things that you like to do or that you find really interesting.
* Jot down those areas in which you think you can perform better than many others.
* Make a note of anything that people have said that you are good at doing.
* Take time to examine every item on the list carefully, even if the option appears to be highly unlikely on the surface.
* Do not get bogged down by your realities. In all likelihood you are going to have to shake loose from some of them if you are going to soar to new heights.
* Discuss the list with friends and mentors, even at the risk of appearing to have lost your sanity.
* Gather as much information as possible about each item on your list.
On completion of the information gathering exercise (one month?), you need to identify the things that are relevant to the vision that you have for yourself. Write down what you could reasonably stretch yourself to achieve in those areas within specified time frames (3 – 6 months, 12 – 18 months, 3 years, 5 years).
Spell out the things that will indicate that you have achieved your targets. You will also need yardsticks that will help you to know how much progress you are making. Now you are grounded with clear goals that give direction and purpose to your life.
While in the G zone, it is important to avoid the pitfalls of greed, gossiping and goofing off. Any one of these has the potential to derail your plans.
You are now ready to move the R zone of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
* Respect is the cornerstone of this aspect. Respect for self, for others, for time, for the environment, for God.
* Then you are required to take responsibility for your actions and for how life unfolds for you. Blaming others is not a useful practice.
* You should also make every effort to be more responsive. The spirit of volunteerism is dying. Be a willing, caring soul and move to the front of the pack. When the answers to your ‘What’s in it for me?’ questions are linked to benefits to accrue to someone else you know that you are on the right track.
* References play an important role in our lives. The trick is to ensure that wherever we interact with people, we will have given them every reason to present us in a favourable light.
* A central building block of the R zone is reading. Reclaim several hours per week and channel them into reading worthwhile material. Keep abreast of current events, provide spiritual food for your soul and deepen your understanding of topics that are of interest to you.
As you go through this process, you will marvel at how much more interesting and meaningful your conversations have become. By the time you get well entrenched into this phase, you will notice that your interaction with others will have a new edge to it and people may already be making a special effort to be in your company.
Key pitfalls to avoid in the R zone include a spirit that requires revenge. In a world that is degenerating into acceptance of the eye for an eye philosophy, people who are long-suffering and ready to forgive will be very special. Be one of those persons.
Next week we will guide you through the O and W zones of the G.R.O.W.T.H. model.
Trevor & Althea Smith
The Smiths are directors of INFOSERV INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, an Accredited Training Organization. They have been happily married since 1972 and have been engaged in providing coaching for their 3 daughters and for groups and corporations in personal development workshop sessions, including the acclaimed "Success with People" series.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Pressing towards the goal
Pressing towards the goal
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, 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.
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, 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.
Today as we reflect on our lives and the lives of those around us we might notice that one common thread that links us is that we all have some goal that we have not yet attained. There are things that we would like to achieve that have so far eluded our grasp.
In the main – like Apostle Paul – we are pressing towards those goals. Unfortunately, in many instances we have failed to define in clear terms some goals that are essential to successful completion of our time here on earth.
Performance enhancement professionals rely heavily on the setting of stretch targets as a means of getting the best out of people. Life without goals lacks meaning. When we decide on a destination we give purpose to the journey.
Setting goals and keeping our eyes on the objectives is an essential ingredient in successful living.
Peter sums up the core goal of the Christian:
1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This morning I want to share with you on the subject “Pressing toward the goal” and to look at 5 areas in which each of us must seek to have clearly defined goals that we are working hard to attain.
The five spheres for development are:
Mental
Physical
Social
Material
Spiritual
Mental
In 1972, the United Negro College Fund – UNCF- partnered with the Ad Council to launch a public service advertising campaign encouraging Americans to support the fund. The campaign slogan, "A Mind is a Terrible Thing To Waste," has remained unchanged for more than three decades and has become part of the American vernacular.
The human brain is perhaps the most sophisticated device that has ever been designed. We walk around with this extraordinarily valuable asset, but how many of us truly respect its value and take steps to maximize its use and to protect and preserve it?
We need to commit to the ongoing development of our intellectual capacity. We need to take special care to enhance our mental faculties on a daily basis. We need to ensure that our capacity for thinking and reasoning is not diminished with time.
We live in a time in which the need for lifelong learning is being heavily promoted. We are in the Information Age and the bringing into being of the so-called Knowledge-based Society is a shared goal.
What are your goals for the development and preservation of your mind this morning? Are you feeding your mind with rich, healthy food? Are you exercising your “mental muscles” or are they getting loose and flabby as a result of a lack of use?
Prov 12:8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.
Prov 8: 10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Prov 18: 15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
Can I invite you this morning to review the material that you read, watch or listen to? Can I motivate you to make a commitment to dedicate a block of time each week to learning something new or developing some skill or to challenging your minds in some way?
It may be the completion of puzzles or quizzes. Or you may choose to enrol in a course. Or you may decide to revive some skill that you once had but has now gone rusty.
Discernment is one of the platforms on which spiritual maturity is built:
Discernment is one of the platforms on which spiritual maturity is built:
Ps 119: 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
Deut 32: 28 They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.
There is no escaping the fact that we are expected to develop and preserve our minds!
Physical
The human body is also a marvel of design. We are entrusted with its development and protection. What account can you give with respect to your stewardship of the body that has been entrusted to your care?
What are your plans for caring for your body? Do you have goals that you have set with respect to the treatment of your body?
Why am I asking these questions?
1 Corinthians 6:19 - 20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
We are mere stewards and we had better respect that fact and behave in a manner that is more reflective of how we ought to treat the property of others.
I want to prod you today to reflect on how you have been treating your body and to make a commitment to take better care of it. A songwriter speaks of “the needless pain we bear” and much of physical pain and suffering that we encounter in our lives is as a direct result of improper treatment of our bodies.
Social
Man is a social being. We live with and among others and social interaction is inevitable. I am of the view that we should prepare for those things in life that are inevitable. Since social interaction is a fact of life, it makes sense for us to be ready for it and to work at being good at it.
Too many of us see social interaction as a chore that we cannot avoid. So we go into encounter with clenched teeth and a commitment to getting it over as quickly as possible. This is not a task for which some of us would volunteer to do overtime.
The Christian walk requires us to see others as our neighbours and to love them.
Mark 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
We are mere stewards and we had better respect that fact and behave in a manner that is more reflective of how we ought to treat the property of others.
I want to prod you today to reflect on how you have been treating your body and to make a commitment to take better care of it. A songwriter speaks of “the needless pain we bear” and much of physical pain and suffering that we encounter in our lives is as a direct result of improper treatment of our bodies.
Social
Man is a social being. We live with and among others and social interaction is inevitable. I am of the view that we should prepare for those things in life that are inevitable. Since social interaction is a fact of life, it makes sense for us to be ready for it and to work at being good at it.
Too many of us see social interaction as a chore that we cannot avoid. So we go into encounter with clenched teeth and a commitment to getting it over as quickly as possible. This is not a task for which some of us would volunteer to do overtime.
The Christian walk requires us to see others as our neighbours and to love them.
Mark 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
Social interaction may appear to be uncomfortable or inconvenient to many of us. However, setting goals for the development of our social skills is an essential element of our march to maturity. This needs to get at least as much attention and devotion as we give to our academic and other pursuits.
Can I invite you today to take the bold step to connect in meaningful ways with more persons? Can I prod you to put your feelings of being shy behind you and open up to others?
Can I convince you today to make a commitment to set aside more time in your busy schedule for social interaction?
Material
In this life we are not only stewards of a mighty fine brain, a wonderfully made body and a vast company of neighbours, we are also entrusted with material resources.
2 Cor 9: 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This passage supported by the parable of the talent is sending us the message that our responsibilities in this life include the management of material resources. We are expected to convert that with which we have been blessed in such a manner as to be able to show generosity to others….on every occasion.
Many of us as Christians are so focused on the spiritual realm that we fail to recognize our material responsibilities. The passage in 2 Cor that we just read seems to suggest that in the material realm our responsibilities extend beyond ourselves and our immediate families. There is an indication that in the overall context of loving our neighbour as ourselves, we need to make provision for extending generosity to others.
When we look at things from that perspective then some of the spurning of material gains that is manifested in the attitudes and behaviour of many Christians seems to be at odds with this more expansive view of the Scriptures.
We are challenged to move beyond just not being idle.
2 Thess 3:
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Our charge is to be the very best that we can be and to maximize the returns from that which has been entrusted to us – mind, body and material blessings – so as to better serve God and our neighbour. Anything less is similar to burying our talents and gifts.
Can I challenge you this morning to awaken from your slumber and to take serious, proactive control over the opportunities for material development that have been made available to you?
Will you commit now to putting yourself in a position where in the words of the Apostle Paul “…11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”?
When you reflect on your stewardship of material resources will you lament over the fact that you have been less than responsible and will now earnestly set about making the best of the opportunities and assets with which you have been blessed?
Spiritual
Ecc 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The wise man indicates the critical importance of the spiritual component of our lives. If fearing God and keeping His commandments is our WHOLE duty then what is our response to discharging our responsibility?
How do we approach the responsibilities that are given to us in other areas of our lives? Do we seek to have a clear understanding of what is required of us and how we are to go about completing the tasks?
Do we try to put in place measures to determine if we are in fact doing what is required of us? If not, how will we know if our performance is up to the mark?
As we reflect on the spiritual side of our lives we can start by trying to better understand the God who we are to fear and whose commandments we are to obey.
John 4: 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The problem that mankind had is graphically presented in Romans 3:
10As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.""The poison of vipers is on their lips."14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know."18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
But there is a solution:
Romans 5:
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A review of all the conversions in the New Testament and supporting passages point to the following process for accessing grace through Christ:
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Through your obedience in following the plan of salvation you would have demonstrated that you do fear God and you have taken very important steps to demonstrate that are willing to obey His commandments.
Ez 18: 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
If you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now. This must be your most important objective at this time. Remember, nothing can be more important since obedience to God is in fact your whole duty.
For those who have already obeyed the gospel, what are your spiritual goals? Are you clear about what you would like to achieve with respect to your personal spiritual development?
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Through your obedience in following the plan of salvation you would have demonstrated that you do fear God and you have taken very important steps to demonstrate that are willing to obey His commandments.
Ez 18: 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
If you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now. This must be your most important objective at this time. Remember, nothing can be more important since obedience to God is in fact your whole duty.
For those who have already obeyed the gospel, what are your spiritual goals? Are you clear about what you would like to achieve with respect to your personal spiritual development?
Do you have clear commitments with respect to your role in the spiritual growth of others?
Have you really given serious thought to issues related to spiritual development and worked out game plans that you are actively implementing?
Have you really given serious thought to issues related to spiritual development and worked out game plans that you are actively implementing?
Most of us have clear career development plans or plans to acquire a car or a home. Is that level of detail and commitment present with respect to the spiritual areas of our lives?
I want to challenge you this morning to pay special attention to developing an Action Plan for your spiritual development and the spiritual growth of others…remember this is our whole duty!
I want to challenge you this morning to pay special attention to developing an Action Plan for your spiritual development and the spiritual growth of others…remember this is our whole duty!
Sunday, 22 July 2007
7 Ps of Parent Child Relationships and Godly Living
The 7 Ps of Parent Child Relationships and Godly living
1. Protection
Parents are in the protection business. However it may appear on the surface, parents feel an obligation to protect their children. Equally, children rely on parents for protection. Life is not too dangerous under the protective wings of the parent.
The implication for Godly living is that this is the type of relationship that God wants to have with us as His children. He is clear about His commitment to protecting His children and He wants us to shelter under His wings.
14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Deut 23:14
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Jn 17:15
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2Thes 3:3
2. Providence
Parents have a sense of obligation to provide for the ones that they helped to bring into this world. No one looks favourably upon a father who is unable or unwilling to provide for his children. Children learn to rely on good parents to provide for their needs. This fundamental assurance provides a solid foundation for them to get on with their daily living. They do not have to worry about their next meal and they are able to channel their thoughts into other areas.
What about our heavenly Father? Is He a reliable provider? Can we reasonably leave Him to take care of us?
Gen 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
1. Protection
Parents are in the protection business. However it may appear on the surface, parents feel an obligation to protect their children. Equally, children rely on parents for protection. Life is not too dangerous under the protective wings of the parent.
The implication for Godly living is that this is the type of relationship that God wants to have with us as His children. He is clear about His commitment to protecting His children and He wants us to shelter under His wings.
14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Deut 23:14
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Jn 17:15
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2Thes 3:3
2. Providence
Parents have a sense of obligation to provide for the ones that they helped to bring into this world. No one looks favourably upon a father who is unable or unwilling to provide for his children. Children learn to rely on good parents to provide for their needs. This fundamental assurance provides a solid foundation for them to get on with their daily living. They do not have to worry about their next meal and they are able to channel their thoughts into other areas.
What about our heavenly Father? Is He a reliable provider? Can we reasonably leave Him to take care of us?
Gen 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
Parents will happily lavish bountiful gifts on obedient children.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Parents will happily lavish bountiful gifts on obedient children.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matt 7:7 – 11
Rom 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
An aside: Note that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God. The love for God must transcend all other loves. Love for sons, wife, things, even self. Parents should not protect and defend their children at the risk at losing favour with God.
3. Prodding
Children are not cattle, but sometimes they need a little prodding to get them moving and moving in the right direction.
Our heavenly Father also has that problem with us!
Jonah 1: 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”
Rom 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
An aside: Note that Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God. The love for God must transcend all other loves. Love for sons, wife, things, even self. Parents should not protect and defend their children at the risk at losing favour with God.
3. Prodding
Children are not cattle, but sometimes they need a little prodding to get them moving and moving in the right direction.
Our heavenly Father also has that problem with us!
Jonah 1: 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”
10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
3:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh.
Some parents tell their children that they do not expect to have to issue the same instructions more than once to get obedience. How much more should we be quick to obey the all powerful God, our maker?
Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
4. Pride
Most parents have a sense of pride about their children. They somehow feel that having been involved with the processing of the other Ps that we have dealt with, they have earned the right to feel that they are linked to end product. The more the child fits the pattern that they consider desirable the greater the feeling of satisfaction and level of pride. This in turn sometimes motivates children to make an extra effort to achieve certain objectives. “This one is for you Mom or Dad”.
What about God? Does He take pride in His obedient children who fit the pattern that He has established? Ought we not to strive to be obedient to His will so that He too can take pride in our achievements?
1 Peter 2 :9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (Am Standard)
“That is MY child!!” What should we give to able to have God recognize us as being one of His elect, a part of His royal priesthood, one of His people???
5. Patience
Some parents have to face the reality that their offspring have not quite made it to the lofty standards that they have set for the children. They are concerned about the pace of development and get frustrated at persistent weaknesses and failings. They may even wonder if all their efforts have been in vain.
Other parents understand that it might take time for their children to fit the pattern that they have set for them. They take this into consideration and set aside their concern and frustration. Instead they lavish love, support and encouragement. Those things are available to you not from what you do but from who you are.
Sensitive children can detect the growing concern of parents and try to adjust their behaviour to give hope to them. They try to avoid pushing their parents to frustration by re-doubling their efforts. There is renewed motivation to achieve goals.
All children get a boost to their self-worth when they are made to feel confident that father’s love and support is not dependent on what they achieve but on who they are.
What about our Eternal Father?
He is patient and understanding when we fall short of His requirements. He actually makes arrangements to deal with our failings.
2 Peter 3 :8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
6. Punishment
Earthly parents punish their children in the hope that it will help them to develop along acceptable lines. Two passages give us clear insight into the philosophy of our heavenly Father.
Sometimes as parents we are reluctant to discipline our children out of some mistaken sense of love. The account of Saul and Jonathan shows the level of earnestness that one father had with respect to obedience to God, above all else!!!!
1 Sam 14:41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give me the right answer.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I die?”
3:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh.
Some parents tell their children that they do not expect to have to issue the same instructions more than once to get obedience. How much more should we be quick to obey the all powerful God, our maker?
Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
4. Pride
Most parents have a sense of pride about their children. They somehow feel that having been involved with the processing of the other Ps that we have dealt with, they have earned the right to feel that they are linked to end product. The more the child fits the pattern that they consider desirable the greater the feeling of satisfaction and level of pride. This in turn sometimes motivates children to make an extra effort to achieve certain objectives. “This one is for you Mom or Dad”.
What about God? Does He take pride in His obedient children who fit the pattern that He has established? Ought we not to strive to be obedient to His will so that He too can take pride in our achievements?
1 Peter 2 :9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (Am Standard)
“That is MY child!!” What should we give to able to have God recognize us as being one of His elect, a part of His royal priesthood, one of His people???
5. Patience
Some parents have to face the reality that their offspring have not quite made it to the lofty standards that they have set for the children. They are concerned about the pace of development and get frustrated at persistent weaknesses and failings. They may even wonder if all their efforts have been in vain.
Other parents understand that it might take time for their children to fit the pattern that they have set for them. They take this into consideration and set aside their concern and frustration. Instead they lavish love, support and encouragement. Those things are available to you not from what you do but from who you are.
Sensitive children can detect the growing concern of parents and try to adjust their behaviour to give hope to them. They try to avoid pushing their parents to frustration by re-doubling their efforts. There is renewed motivation to achieve goals.
All children get a boost to their self-worth when they are made to feel confident that father’s love and support is not dependent on what they achieve but on who they are.
What about our Eternal Father?
He is patient and understanding when we fall short of His requirements. He actually makes arrangements to deal with our failings.
2 Peter 3 :8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
6. Punishment
Earthly parents punish their children in the hope that it will help them to develop along acceptable lines. Two passages give us clear insight into the philosophy of our heavenly Father.
Sometimes as parents we are reluctant to discipline our children out of some mistaken sense of love. The account of Saul and Jonathan shows the level of earnestness that one father had with respect to obedience to God, above all else!!!!
1 Sam 14:41 Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give me the right answer.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared. 42 Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.”
So Jonathan told him, “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff. And now must I die?”
44 Saul said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan.”
45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
What about our heavenly Father? What is His approach to punishment and discipline?
Acts 17:29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Hebrews 12: 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
45 But the men said to Saul, “Should Jonathan die—he who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he did this today with God’s help.” So the men rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
What about our heavenly Father? What is His approach to punishment and discipline?
Acts 17:29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
Hebrews 12: 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human parents who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our parents disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
7. Place
Finally, parents seek to find a safe and secure place for their children. Parents take great comfort from the fact that offspring have safe shelter. Part of the joy that would have come to the father of the prodigal son is the fact that that night he could sleep with the assurance that his son was in a secure place and not at risk.
What about our heavenly Father? What is His take on this?
He has provided a safe and secure place for us. It is called the Church.
Matt 16: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
7. Place
Finally, parents seek to find a safe and secure place for their children. Parents take great comfort from the fact that offspring have safe shelter. Part of the joy that would have come to the father of the prodigal son is the fact that that night he could sleep with the assurance that his son was in a secure place and not at risk.
What about our heavenly Father? What is His take on this?
He has provided a safe and secure place for us. It is called the Church.
Matt 16: 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Acts 2: 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What about you? Are you an obedient child to your heavenly Father? Are you in residence in the secure place He has provided for you? Are you part of His elect, His royal priesthood? Will He be pleased to number you among His children?
If you are a part of His elect, are you frustrating Him? Are you living to the standards that He has set for you? Are you keen to make Him proud of you?
This is the challenge to you today. Make this day a happy day for your heavenly Father!!!!
Acts 2: 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What about you? Are you an obedient child to your heavenly Father? Are you in residence in the secure place He has provided for you? Are you part of His elect, His royal priesthood? Will He be pleased to number you among His children?
If you are a part of His elect, are you frustrating Him? Are you living to the standards that He has set for you? Are you keen to make Him proud of you?
This is the challenge to you today. Make this day a happy day for your heavenly Father!!!!
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