None so blind…..
The world is a dangerous place. We are constantly at risk from human and natural sources. Yet despite the dangers to which we are exposed it is amazing how many persons go about life as if they are in control of their environment. They seem to be unaware of the frailty of life. It is as if they are blind and deaf as it relates to reality of death.
Death and its implications is a reality that all humans must face at some point. Yet, so many ignore that fact while others fail to fully grasp how they ought to respond to the reality of death.
The Church has been presenting a solution for dealing with the reality of death day-in-day out for centuries. The solution is available to anyone who wants to use it. But make no mistake about it many will in fact come face to face with death’s reality without the solution. The cold hard fact is that many will be found wanting because they were unprepared.
I have tried to put the people who will be unprepared to meet death into different categories.
Group I: None so blind and deaf…
There will be a group of persons who will so close themselves off from certain kinds of information that they will not take time to recognize the reality of death until it is too late. These people just go on through life without seriously giving thought to the fact that life will come to an end at some point.
Why is this so? Why will people opt to lose their souls rather than heed the warnings and take the easy corrective steps?
Well, there is one set that will put their souls in danger because they fall in the None so blind and none so deaf category. They shut themselves off from any contact with anything to do with the soul or God. [Sleep late Sunday or beach early…don’t want to be reminded that people actually go to worship. Avoid contact with anyone who is likely to say something about God. ]
There is one set within this None So Blind group that should be of great concern for some of you here this morning. Many Christian parents have been taking their children to worship with them from they are infants. The shocking thing is that many of those who literally grow up in the Church walk away from it and end up facing the reality of death unprepared.
The problem is that they close their minds to the solution that is being presented. In that state, they are really blind and deaf. And there is none so blind as those who will not see.
It is indeed scary to contemplate the possibility that all your efforts to expose your children to the Gospel and to the hope that is in Christ actually come to nought because they have closed their minds. We need to be alert to this possibility and not to take things for granted. We must engage children in meaningful dialogue about Jesus and the need for His saving power.
Group II: There is no need…
Some people are going to end up facing the reality of death unprepared because they will refuse to accept that you need a solution for death. They just believe that when you die that is it. The idea that Heaven and Hell are man-made ideas is very prevalent. There is also the thought that Heaven is right here on earth.
Some will argue that the world was really created by some accident – Big Bang – and no there is really no intelligent hand guiding it.
Many of these people are going to be in for an eternal surprise when they come to find that there is in fact life after death. And that examining the solution that the Church offers for the reality of death does make a difference!
Some will run the risk of the clear and present danger to their souls because they replace the Creator with something that is created. This might range from human idols – Jah – down through objects made by man or even Nature itself.
Rom 1 tells us that we have no excuse in knowing about God because He can be seen from the things around us.
Rom 1: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Still others will not accept the role of Jesus the Christ in the protection of the soul. They will present sophisticated arguments to downplay the relevance and importance of Jesus.
John 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, many will lose their souls because they fail to be accept the central role of Jesus in matters of the soul.
Group III: Soon come…
There is another set of people who will not be ready for the reality of death not because they were not conscious about death. Not because they did not accept its reality. Their problem is that they put off doing anything about it. They will decide later to do something about it. Maybe next week. When next week comes…well next week … and then next week.
I call these the Soon Come group. They will be lost not because of unbelief. They will be lost because of procrastination.
They may well accept that Jesus is the way but still lose their souls because of procrastination. “I am going to become a Christian you know, but I have to do this or that or something else first.” They fail to fully grasp the urgency of the need to put on Christ! And then tragically – it is all too late –eternally!
Any case of someone who is lost is tragic. However, the next groups that we will look at will be truly sad.
Group IV: It is too inconvenient…
There are persons who will face the reality of death unprepared even after they actually make an attempt to get the solution. They will go to Church or attend a campaign. They will see the need for the solution. But they may think that baptism is not really convenient at this time or something else turns them off from actually making the commitment to get the solution. They do not see that facing the reality of death without the solution is much worse than any perceived inconvenience or problem that they could face.
A big part of this group is made up of people who are too attached to things in their life to make the change. Many are in relationships that they are not willing to give up or change. Some are kept away because of their friends. Far too many because of their parents.
Yes, people who have seen the light will still end up losing their souls. This by the way is a nice way to say “end up in hell.” They will lose their souls because it is not convenient to put on Christ at this time. Make sure you are not one of those!
Group V: I am OK.
Regrettably, some persons are going to come face to face with the reality of death unprepared because they will believe that their healthy lifestyle prepares them for death. They are kind, they try to be honest and they try to be good. They believe that their “goodness” should be enough to allow them to face death with confidence.
They fail to understand and accept that there are things that need to be done in this life to ensure that the transition into the next life goes well. They fail to accept the need for the solution.
They will lose their souls because they believe that they are in such good order. They think they that are living such a good life. What then could be wrong with their souls?
If I want to study at a tertiary institution, I have to meet certain conditions. If I want to drive legally in this country I have to meet certain conditions. If I want to travel I have to meet certain conditions. If I want to put my money in a bank I have to meet certain conditions.
Why is it then that we could assume that there are no conditions attached to moving from this life to the next?
All through this life, what we do at one stage plays an important role in what happens to us in the next stage. Why do we believe that it really does not matter how we live in this live? It’s just a matter of personal preference, we say.
I might be able to drive well, but I do so outside of the law unless I meet the conditions laid down for getting a driver’s licence.
Rev 20:12 The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
There are conditions attached to saving our souls. It is not a free for all. What happens to us in the next life will be dependent on how we live this life. And that should not come as a big surprise to anybody.
There is a good reason why good behaviour is not enough:
Rom 3: 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
1 John 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.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.
The real issue is that God is light and in Him is no darkness. A righteous God is unable to accept man in his sinful state. There is a need to reconcile man to Him. However, a just God needs to not only act justly but also to demonstrate justice in His actions. It is for this reason that Jesus had to be sent as an atoning sacrifice for man’s sin. And it is for that reason that our only hope of reconciliation to God is through the atoning blood of Jesus.
That is why to protect our souls in response to the reality of death we must put on Christ. This is vitally important not only for the next life but in this life.
Eph 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Friends, in this life and in the next it makes sense to follow the correct procedure to put on Christ. It is not wise to think that it is OK to live your life on the basis of what you think is OK.
Group VI: What’s the difference?
This is a hard one to take, but it is occurring all the time.
Sometimes when trouble or illness steps in some people will be in a mad scramble to find a solution. They are not discerning and accept things that they should have questioned. Others are just not careful. Still others are led astray.
This group includes people who will claim that they are very “spiritual”. You will have others who are very religious and are even fearful of God. Some are fervent in worship. There is a school of thought that we serve a loving God who is full of grace and so He is not particular about how we serve Him. Punishment is not a part of His loving make-up.
Governments insist that procedures that are laid down ought to be followed in a just society. Justice cannot be arbitrary. Why would we expect a just God to be less concerned about the consistent application of rules and regulations?
No matter how much good you are doing and how pure you think your heart is and how much zeal you are putting in serving your community, you will still be exposing your soul to danger unless you follow the correct procedures to put on Christ and to be in Him.
Rom: 10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
God is particular and specific. You can’t just serve Him the way you feel like it.
Lev 10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Is it likely that a God who has never been late for a sunrise or a sunset for thousands of years will be careless and arbitrary about something as vitally important as to how we can put on Christ and be reconciled to Him?
Friends it makes a difference how we seek to serve God. I think it is critical to emphasize the need for all of us to put on Christ.
Jesus says John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command."
Check the facts for yourself. Don’t rely soley on people like me who stand before you. Search the scriptures for yourself and ask questions.
There seems to be a tendency towards convenience salvation. It is too much trouble to follow the pattern laid down in the New Testament. God knows everything and so He will know that you agree with all the steps but because of time and convenience you have had to leave out some.
How many of us listen to the disaster preparedness plan of action and decide well, I will buy a flashlight and battery radio but I can’t be bothered with taping up the glass and securing the things that might be blown away?
If we take a logical approach to such matters, why would we not approach the critical matter of how to protect our souls – eternally – in a similar manner? Should we not examine all the examples of persons who have put on Christ that are presented for our learning and try to pattern what they did?
SO HOW DO YOU PUT ON CHRIST?
You are here and you are convinced that you no longer want to expose your soul to the clear and present danger that threatens it. You want to enjoy the spiritual blessings that are to be found only in Christ.
A review of all the conversions in the New Testament and supporting passages point to the following process for putting on Christ:
You 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.
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. Now you are ready to face the reality of death.
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?
Baptism is also for the remission of sins. Therefore, baptizing infants who are without sin does not appear to fit the pattern laid down for us in the New Testament.
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 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.
This next group is the real tear jerker.
Group VII: Over exposed
As we come to a close, we have one category of persons whose souls are in clear and present danger that we need to touch on briefly. These persons have actually gone through the correct procedures to put on Christ and yet they are in critical danger of losing their souls.
These persons overexposed themselves to the world and have got too caught up in it. Also, in many instances they stayed away from the fellowship for so long that they have lost out on the benefit of the Word and the support of the brotherhood.
The key is that when you find yourself in a spiritual rut NEVER stay away from the fellowship. Let the world call you a hypocrite. That is their problem. Draw near so that you can access the support that is available.
Today, I remind you of the story of the prodigal son who recognized the folly of his ways and returned to his father. You know the blessings that are available in Christ. You know that whatever it is that is keeping you in the world and away from Him is like fool’s gold. It only glitters on the outside. Deep inside you feel the frustration that accompanies the life of those who have put their hands on the plough and then turn away.
You feel the emptiness that once was filled by the joy that comes from knowing Christ.
I say to you today, enough is enough. Come back to truth that you accepted in the beginning. Come back to the peace that is only possible when you are firmly grounded in Christ. Set aside the human factors that led you to stray from the path and set your sights on the prize….. the crown that awaits you. Make the commitment to be once again proud to be called a Christian!
Friday 21 March 2008
Sunday 9 March 2008
Going beyond...living a transformed life
Going beyond - Living a transformed life
Our mindset is a key factor in determining what we achieve in life. Working on the transformation of our minds is essential in our quest for success.
Today, we will take encouragement from examples of the impact of a “different way of thinking.” As we look at these case studies, we should draw lessons for our own development and growth.
Case Study 1: The Philosophers at Athens (Acts 17: 16 – 21)
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then[b] certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”
Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
The key lesson here is the willingness to keep an open mind. Paul is telling them strange things THEREFORE they want know what he means. The transformed mind is open to examining new ideas. It does not block its ears from strange sounding ideas. Truth can stand the test of examination.
What is your mindset? Are you the kind of person who is willing to examine new ideas?
Are you keen to “hear some new thing?”
Personal growth comes from examining all the available information and distilling objectively what you hold to be true. The fact of having exposed your beliefs to contending views and new ideas actually serves to increase your faith in the truths you hold dear.
Today, I challenge you to go beyond the norm. Go beyond what is comfortable. Be open to examine “some strange things.”
Case Study 2: Rahab hides the spies Joshua 2
1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”
So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
The lesson that we draw from this case is that there are times when we will have to make tough decisions that put us at risk and might be difficult to justify to those with whom we normally associate.
The transformed mind is capable of clear-minded, independent thought. It is not guilty of blindly following the herd. Your personal growth demands a mindset that carefully examines the facts and makes wise choices.
What kind of person are you? Do you consistently weigh the evidence and come to your own conclusions?
Are your decisions made by the majority or by people in authority?
Are you the kind of person who is willing to go against the flow – even if doing so is risky?
Today, I challenge you to go beyond and examine more closely what you do and why you are in fact doing those things. Take another look as to whether you are in fact being what God would have you to be or whether peer-pressure has distracted you.
Case study 3: Mordecai made it his business Esther 2
2:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Chap 4: 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
Mordecai presents us with a wonderful example of the kind of mindset that we should seek to cultivate as part of our drive for personal growth. Mordecai made it HIS business!
Apathy and withdrawal into our personal spaces is one of major challenges faced by 21st century society. Most of us just prefer not to see, not to hear, not to speak. It is not our business. This large scale abstention affects virtually all aspects of our relations and organization.
Parents no longer think that the PTA is an important part of their business. Neighbours are focused on minding their own narrow business and not the business of the neighbourhood.
All too many people let criminal wrongdoing and anti-social behaviour pass before them because they hold the view that it is not their business.
The transformed mind does not hide its head in the sand so as to avoid taking required action. Like Mordecai we claim things to be our business in order to make a difference.
What kind of person are you? Do you intervene in situations that require action?
Are you the kind of person who turns a blind eye even though you know you ought to have stepped in?
Are you a perpetual fence-sitter who opts to abstain instead of getting involved?
Today, the challenge is for you to go beyond and get involved. Be different. Refuse to join the growing ranks of persons who refuse to take a position on anything.
Stay clear of the temptation to throw up your hands-on and sit in your safe corner thinking that you will not make a difference. Mordecai’s action saved his people!
Case study 4: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers Genesis 45
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Joseph is a remarkable example of a transformed mind in action. His entire life is marked by his capacity and willingness to go beyond the norm.
The core lesson that we want to focus on at this time is the fact that Joseph did not take the well trodden path of leaving his relationship with his brothers hanging. Oh, so many people adopt the policy of just staying clear of those with whom there is a conflict.
They make no genuine attempt to resolve differences and instead they simply drift apart.
What kind of person are you? Are you committed to resolving issues and resolving conflicts?
Are you the kind of person who just let things slide instead of taking positive action to restore relationships?
Are you the kind of person who harbours past hurts and wear your status as a “victim” like a badge?
Are you a forgiving person?
Today, the challenge is for us to seek the transformation of our minds such that we ready to exchange our role as victims for that of reconcilers.
Today, we implore you to remember that vengeance is not ours but God’s. We invite you to consider the unbridled joy that would have filled Joseph and his family when hate and guilt are replaced by love!
Case study 5: Stephen the martyr Acts 7
54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Being someone who lives a transformed life is not without danger. Personal social, financial, mental and even physical harm might be your lot when you hold principled positions. Saying what needs to be said does not always produce endearing responses.
What kind of person are you? Are you willing to say what needs to be said even though you stand to lose much?
Are you someone who stifles your conscience “for a peaceful life?”
Can you recall instances when you needed to have spoken out but you kept silent because of fear?
Have you had the experience of taking a stand in the face of strong opposition and walking away feeling good about yourself and your principled stance?
Today, the challenge is for us to be willing to be bold in defence of the things we hold dear.
Today, we invite you to adopt a mindset that requires you to speak out on important issues of principle.
Case study 6: The Anointing at Bethany Matt 26
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Many people live strictly within the norm. They conform to what is expected of them. This case highlights the kind of powerful impact that is possible when we do the unexpected.
What kind of person are you? Do you operate within established guidelines and conform to the norm?
Are you the kind of person who is willing to experiment?
Are you the kind of person who will do the unexpected and enjoy the rush that you get from doing so?
Are you the kind of person who has the knack for showing you care by doing something really special and memorable?
Today, the challenge is for you to explore new vistas. Step out from your safe zone and create memorable moments for others. Forget for once what others might think or say – just do it!
Case study 7: A Lame Man Healed Acts 3
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
The transformed mind is discerning. It is able to identify the real needs of others. It looks beneath the surface. It recognizes that what is being requested might not be the core issue.
What kind of person are you? Are you discerning?
Are you the kind of person who seeks to get to the heart of the problem?
Are you someone who looks for a quick “band aid” solution and scoots away?
Are you the kind of person who has the patience to strive to find lasting and sustainable solutions?
Today, we challenge you to look deeper. Go beyond by going below the surface. Take the time to make your input really matter.
Case study 8: Joshua’s farewell speech Joshua 23
14. Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.
Going beyond requires a strong and abiding faith. We have to proceed on the basis that we know that God’s promises are real and will become reality. There is no room for doubt.
What kind of person are you? Are you the kind of person who prays believing and acting as if that belief is assured?
Are you the kind of person who is hampered by doubt and fear?
Today, we challenge you to be like Joshua and trust God to deliver unconditionally. And when you ask and trust…ACT. Proceed on the basis that God has heard your plea and He is granting it.
We charge you to follow through on your prayers in the faith that we serve a benevolent and all-wise God who is full of Grace.
In the final analysis, like Joshua we need to get the job done. God will be doing His part, what about you?
Let us not put off the need to be right in the sight of God. Let us be proactive in setting things right. Now is the appointed hour….it is time to go beyond!
Our mindset is a key factor in determining what we achieve in life. Working on the transformation of our minds is essential in our quest for success.
Today, we will take encouragement from examples of the impact of a “different way of thinking.” As we look at these case studies, we should draw lessons for our own development and growth.
Case Study 1: The Philosophers at Athens (Acts 17: 16 – 21)
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then[b] certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”
Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
The key lesson here is the willingness to keep an open mind. Paul is telling them strange things THEREFORE they want know what he means. The transformed mind is open to examining new ideas. It does not block its ears from strange sounding ideas. Truth can stand the test of examination.
What is your mindset? Are you the kind of person who is willing to examine new ideas?
Are you keen to “hear some new thing?”
Personal growth comes from examining all the available information and distilling objectively what you hold to be true. The fact of having exposed your beliefs to contending views and new ideas actually serves to increase your faith in the truths you hold dear.
Today, I challenge you to go beyond the norm. Go beyond what is comfortable. Be open to examine “some strange things.”
Case Study 2: Rahab hides the spies Joshua 2
1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”
So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
The lesson that we draw from this case is that there are times when we will have to make tough decisions that put us at risk and might be difficult to justify to those with whom we normally associate.
The transformed mind is capable of clear-minded, independent thought. It is not guilty of blindly following the herd. Your personal growth demands a mindset that carefully examines the facts and makes wise choices.
What kind of person are you? Do you consistently weigh the evidence and come to your own conclusions?
Are your decisions made by the majority or by people in authority?
Are you the kind of person who is willing to go against the flow – even if doing so is risky?
Today, I challenge you to go beyond and examine more closely what you do and why you are in fact doing those things. Take another look as to whether you are in fact being what God would have you to be or whether peer-pressure has distracted you.
Case study 3: Mordecai made it his business Esther 2
2:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Chap 4: 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words.
13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
Mordecai presents us with a wonderful example of the kind of mindset that we should seek to cultivate as part of our drive for personal growth. Mordecai made it HIS business!
Apathy and withdrawal into our personal spaces is one of major challenges faced by 21st century society. Most of us just prefer not to see, not to hear, not to speak. It is not our business. This large scale abstention affects virtually all aspects of our relations and organization.
Parents no longer think that the PTA is an important part of their business. Neighbours are focused on minding their own narrow business and not the business of the neighbourhood.
All too many people let criminal wrongdoing and anti-social behaviour pass before them because they hold the view that it is not their business.
The transformed mind does not hide its head in the sand so as to avoid taking required action. Like Mordecai we claim things to be our business in order to make a difference.
What kind of person are you? Do you intervene in situations that require action?
Are you the kind of person who turns a blind eye even though you know you ought to have stepped in?
Are you a perpetual fence-sitter who opts to abstain instead of getting involved?
Today, the challenge is for you to go beyond and get involved. Be different. Refuse to join the growing ranks of persons who refuse to take a position on anything.
Stay clear of the temptation to throw up your hands-on and sit in your safe corner thinking that you will not make a difference. Mordecai’s action saved his people!
Case study 4: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers Genesis 45
1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Joseph is a remarkable example of a transformed mind in action. His entire life is marked by his capacity and willingness to go beyond the norm.
The core lesson that we want to focus on at this time is the fact that Joseph did not take the well trodden path of leaving his relationship with his brothers hanging. Oh, so many people adopt the policy of just staying clear of those with whom there is a conflict.
They make no genuine attempt to resolve differences and instead they simply drift apart.
What kind of person are you? Are you committed to resolving issues and resolving conflicts?
Are you the kind of person who just let things slide instead of taking positive action to restore relationships?
Are you the kind of person who harbours past hurts and wear your status as a “victim” like a badge?
Are you a forgiving person?
Today, the challenge is for us to seek the transformation of our minds such that we ready to exchange our role as victims for that of reconcilers.
Today, we implore you to remember that vengeance is not ours but God’s. We invite you to consider the unbridled joy that would have filled Joseph and his family when hate and guilt are replaced by love!
Case study 5: Stephen the martyr Acts 7
54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Being someone who lives a transformed life is not without danger. Personal social, financial, mental and even physical harm might be your lot when you hold principled positions. Saying what needs to be said does not always produce endearing responses.
What kind of person are you? Are you willing to say what needs to be said even though you stand to lose much?
Are you someone who stifles your conscience “for a peaceful life?”
Can you recall instances when you needed to have spoken out but you kept silent because of fear?
Have you had the experience of taking a stand in the face of strong opposition and walking away feeling good about yourself and your principled stance?
Today, the challenge is for us to be willing to be bold in defence of the things we hold dear.
Today, we invite you to adopt a mindset that requires you to speak out on important issues of principle.
Case study 6: The Anointing at Bethany Matt 26
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Many people live strictly within the norm. They conform to what is expected of them. This case highlights the kind of powerful impact that is possible when we do the unexpected.
What kind of person are you? Do you operate within established guidelines and conform to the norm?
Are you the kind of person who is willing to experiment?
Are you the kind of person who will do the unexpected and enjoy the rush that you get from doing so?
Are you the kind of person who has the knack for showing you care by doing something really special and memorable?
Today, the challenge is for you to explore new vistas. Step out from your safe zone and create memorable moments for others. Forget for once what others might think or say – just do it!
Case study 7: A Lame Man Healed Acts 3
1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
The transformed mind is discerning. It is able to identify the real needs of others. It looks beneath the surface. It recognizes that what is being requested might not be the core issue.
What kind of person are you? Are you discerning?
Are you the kind of person who seeks to get to the heart of the problem?
Are you someone who looks for a quick “band aid” solution and scoots away?
Are you the kind of person who has the patience to strive to find lasting and sustainable solutions?
Today, we challenge you to look deeper. Go beyond by going below the surface. Take the time to make your input really matter.
Case study 8: Joshua’s farewell speech Joshua 23
14. Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.
Going beyond requires a strong and abiding faith. We have to proceed on the basis that we know that God’s promises are real and will become reality. There is no room for doubt.
What kind of person are you? Are you the kind of person who prays believing and acting as if that belief is assured?
Are you the kind of person who is hampered by doubt and fear?
Today, we challenge you to be like Joshua and trust God to deliver unconditionally. And when you ask and trust…ACT. Proceed on the basis that God has heard your plea and He is granting it.
We charge you to follow through on your prayers in the faith that we serve a benevolent and all-wise God who is full of Grace.
In the final analysis, like Joshua we need to get the job done. God will be doing His part, what about you?
Let us not put off the need to be right in the sight of God. Let us be proactive in setting things right. Now is the appointed hour….it is time to go beyond!
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