I don't understand fully the complicated workings of the Holy Spirit in the soul of each individual. Yet the spiritual warnings seem strong. Whether or not we can finally fall from Grace can be debated, but there is no doubt that love can grow cold, and believers can find themselves far from communion with their savior. This seems to be the epidemic of our age in North America. We are in danger of being those who are lukewarm.
I read a great post today. I'm not trying to plagerize, but for the sake of ease, I'll repost it here, since I think it is a timely message for our culture. This tied in perfectly with our Sunday School lesson today from Jude.
Please check out the original post: http://pastordavidholt.blogspot.com/2009/02/dont-let-your-love-grow-cold.html
I really enjoy drinking coffee in the morning. There is something soothing about sipping on a hot cup of coffee as I spend time with the Lord. I must confess that I have a pet peeve when it comes to my coffee – I like it hot and I like it to stay hot. However, this seldom occurs. I am amazed how quickly my cup of coffee can get cold. Often I have to put it back into the microwave to reheat it … several times throughout the morning.
Unfortunately, our hearts can be like a cup of coffee – quickly digressing from hot to lukewarm to cold.
The ease of which our hearts can grow cold concerns me, especially when I read Mathew 24. Of all the signs of the end times, the one that challenges me the most is when Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24:12-13).
I am bothered that Jesus said “the love of most will grow cold.” This means a higher percentage of people will experience a decline in their spiritual temperature than will experience an increase in their spiritual temperature. Ouch. I don’t know about you, but I sure do not want to be one that Jesus finds with a cold heart when He returns.
On top of this, remember what the book of Revelation says will happen to those who are neither hot nor cold: He will spew them out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16)!
What kind of love is Jesus speaking of here? Since He said the most important commandments are to love the Lord with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, it is safe to assume He is addressing our love for God and others.
So, if “the love of most will grow cold”, what are some contributing factors to this eternally tragic spiritual condition? I can think of at least six. You may come up with more. Here are my six:
1. Neglecting certain vital spiritual disciplines, such as time with God, meditating on the Word, prayer, fellowship with others, service, etc. If the liquid in a cup is not externally stimulated in some manner, it will get cold. Spiritual disciplines are one way of externally stimulating our heart.
2. Allowing a situational difficulty set our heart against the Lord. When we go through something challenging (i.e. health issue, divorce, loss of job, mistreatment by others, death of a loved one, etc.), we can either allow that difficulty to drive us to greater dependence on God or we can take up an offense toward God. The former will lead to growth, the latter will lead to stagnation.
3. Busyness in life. Here is the one most Americans are vulnerable to – getting so busy with life and demands that we simply neglect our relationship with God. Like any relationship, it takes effort for it to continue growing and deepening.
4. Materialism. Jesus said “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Mt. 4:19). The question to ask with possessions is, “Do I own it or does it own me?” Perhaps the current recession in America is God’s way of weaning us from the grip of materialism?
5. The sins of the flesh and desire for pleasure. We are a pleasure-crazy culture. So much of what people focus on is pleasure, whether sexual, physical, emotional or relational. We spend a great deal of time, effort and money or what gives us pleasure. This can lead to a very self oriented life which will cause one’s heart to grow cold toward the Lord. Josh McDowell once said that sexual sin is the number one cause of people digressing spiritually.
6. Insulating ourselves from the pain of others. Many of us purposefully isolate ourselves from the hurt and pain of others. We don’t want to know what is really going on in other’s lives so that we can keep a safe distance – not having to show real care. However, Jesus wants our heart of compassion to stay hot by seeing real needs and responding to those needs where we are able.
Since these are some of the reasons people’s love will grow cold, what can we do to prevent this from occurring? Like my cup of coffee, I need to repeatedly put my heart in the microwave of the Spirit. How do I do this? I have six suggestions:
1. Hang around others with a hot heart. Fellowship with godly people is so important in our walk with God. Just like a campfire stays burning when the logs are together, so do we burn brighter when we are around other committed Christians.
2. Spend quality time with God. This goes without saying, but I must still say it. No other practice is more important than spending quality time with God every day in the Word and prayer.
3. Read biblically-accurate and Spirit-anointed books and articles. One reason I get David Wilkerson’s monthly mailings is because of how he always stirs my heart.
4. Intentionally expose yourself to needs. One must have balance here. You can become overwhelmed with needs and burn-out trying to meet all needs. Jesus did not respond to every need, but He spent enough time with hurting people to keep a compassionate heart and respond as the Father directed Him. I just learned of a ministry in my area to the homeless, and I am planning to check it out.
5. Deal with sins as they occur. Do not let sins build up. Dr. Bill Bright used to call this “keeping short accounts with God.” In other words, confess and repent of any and all sins as they occur in your life. This keeps your heart honest and tender.
6. Get surgery if you need it. When someone has a heart attack, they need surgery. Some Christians have grown so cold in their relationship with God that they need spiritual surgery from a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor.
We must do whatever it takes to insure that our love does not grow cold. This is more important than our retirement account, job, golf score, weekend source of entertainment, getting the best deal on something at the store, or next vacation. Just as we have to be intentional about staying in good physical condition, so do we have to be intentional about maintaining a vibrant relationship with God.
One final thing I must add that applies to all of the above: We cannot make our heart hot for God. This is not a matter of striving in our own flesh to be hot for God. Instead, it is relying on the supernatural power of the Spirit to keep our heart hot for God (see my blog on the “Exchanged Life” for more on this). God must do a divine work in our heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, with all that I have said, perhaps the most important thing you can do for your heart is to honestly admit the condition you are in – whatever that is – and sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence. The Spirit “works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:1).
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
"The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men...men of prayer." - E.M.Bounds.
Let the fires go out in the broiler room of the church and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The Prayer Room is the broiler room for its spiritual life." -Leonard Ravenhill
"I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shortening of devotions starves the sould, it grows lean and faint." William Wilberforce
"What will suffer [if a man does note pray] is the life of the Son of God within him, which is nourished not by food but by prayer...prayer is the way the life of God is nourished." - Oswald Chambers
Let the fires go out in the broiler room of the church and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The Prayer Room is the broiler room for its spiritual life." -Leonard Ravenhill
"I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shortening of devotions starves the sould, it grows lean and faint." William Wilberforce
"What will suffer [if a man does note pray] is the life of the Son of God within him, which is nourished not by food but by prayer...prayer is the way the life of God is nourished." - Oswald Chambers
Friday, February 4, 2011
Proverbs 10:11 begins, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life…” Three verses later we read, “Wise men store up knowledge.”
I am struck by the idea of “storing up” something in my heart, so that my mouth would become a “fountain of life.”
I was thinking about the life of Joseph in the Bible. God allowed him to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, predicting 7 years of bumper crops, followed by 7 years of famine. God allowed Joseph to have a part in urging Pharaoh to store up, so that in an economical sense they could feed not only themselves, but also neighboring nations who would come when times would get tougher. It seems like Christians are meant to be healthy, and in that healthiness, provide fruit to refresh and nourish others.
What are the things we typically “store up?” Food? Firewood? Retirement? Why do we store up? Obviously, we do this so that when harder times come, we will have something saved up to carry us through. The reality is tha life has ups and downs, and there are times of want, and times of plenty. Is it possible to store up praise in our hearts, so that when times of trials come, we enter those times with our “cup full.”
What about Christians? It seems that even in a land of plenty, Christians are becoming more and more Biblically ignorant, trading true meals for 5 minute snacks. (Listen to Christian radio and see how much teaching you find) If we are not eating right in times of plenty, what will happen when even harder times come? I fear we may find ourselves foolishly weak when we need to be strong – unprepared, unhealthy, and at risk.
Three of the many things that come to mind, that we can be storing up, are:
1. Praise – It seems praising and setting our affection on our Maker somehow restores our soul and gives us a sense of healthy joy. When trials come, we have learned to live a life of joy and trust, rooted in who God is
2. Knowledge: again, the key to fighting spiritual battles, and temptation, and doubts, and fears, and lies, and spiritual attacks, is to know in the depths of our soul the truths of who our unchanging God is (which leads us back to praise!)
3. love - I'm not sure exactly how this one grows. Anybody out there have any comments? Its probably the most important.
IF we possess these, even storing them up, then we may even feed others in the midst of incredibly trying times. If not, how will we have anything to say? One of my greatest fears is that I wouldn't have anything to say. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Lord Jesus, please create a fountain of your Life in the depths of my heart.
Here's a video I found along these lines. It should play after a 15 second commercial.
I am struck by the idea of “storing up” something in my heart, so that my mouth would become a “fountain of life.”
I was thinking about the life of Joseph in the Bible. God allowed him to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, predicting 7 years of bumper crops, followed by 7 years of famine. God allowed Joseph to have a part in urging Pharaoh to store up, so that in an economical sense they could feed not only themselves, but also neighboring nations who would come when times would get tougher. It seems like Christians are meant to be healthy, and in that healthiness, provide fruit to refresh and nourish others.
What are the things we typically “store up?” Food? Firewood? Retirement? Why do we store up? Obviously, we do this so that when harder times come, we will have something saved up to carry us through. The reality is tha life has ups and downs, and there are times of want, and times of plenty. Is it possible to store up praise in our hearts, so that when times of trials come, we enter those times with our “cup full.”
What about Christians? It seems that even in a land of plenty, Christians are becoming more and more Biblically ignorant, trading true meals for 5 minute snacks. (Listen to Christian radio and see how much teaching you find) If we are not eating right in times of plenty, what will happen when even harder times come? I fear we may find ourselves foolishly weak when we need to be strong – unprepared, unhealthy, and at risk.
Three of the many things that come to mind, that we can be storing up, are:
1. Praise – It seems praising and setting our affection on our Maker somehow restores our soul and gives us a sense of healthy joy. When trials come, we have learned to live a life of joy and trust, rooted in who God is
2. Knowledge: again, the key to fighting spiritual battles, and temptation, and doubts, and fears, and lies, and spiritual attacks, is to know in the depths of our soul the truths of who our unchanging God is (which leads us back to praise!)
3. love - I'm not sure exactly how this one grows. Anybody out there have any comments? Its probably the most important.
IF we possess these, even storing them up, then we may even feed others in the midst of incredibly trying times. If not, how will we have anything to say? One of my greatest fears is that I wouldn't have anything to say. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Lord Jesus, please create a fountain of your Life in the depths of my heart.
Here's a video I found along these lines. It should play after a 15 second commercial.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What the Bible says about $$$
Taken from one of our youth group talks:
What The Bible Has To Say About Money
1. God Owns Everything –
1 Chronicles 29:11 (New International Version)
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
2. You Are A Steward -
1 Corinthians 4:2 (New International Version)
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
3. Work Hard
Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
4. The Bible Tells Us To Be Honest, Even In Little Things
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.
Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:15-16 – You shall not lie, You shall not steal.
5. The Bible Tells Us To Spend Wisely and Be Content
Philippians 4:13
For I have learned to get along happily whether I have much or little.
6. Jesus Says Giving Is A Way To Worship Him
Acts 20:35
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
7. It’s Wise To Save Some Of Our Money
Proverbs 21:20
The wise man saves for the future; the foolish man spends whatever he gets.
8. Too Much Money Can Make Us Forget God
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money
9. You Can’t Take Money With You
Luke 12:13-21 – Parable of the Rich Fool
What The Bible Has To Say About Money
1. God Owns Everything –
1 Chronicles 29:11 (New International Version)
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
2. You Are A Steward -
1 Corinthians 4:2 (New International Version)
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
3. Work Hard
Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
4. The Bible Tells Us To Be Honest, Even In Little Things
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.
Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:15-16 – You shall not lie, You shall not steal.
5. The Bible Tells Us To Spend Wisely and Be Content
Philippians 4:13
For I have learned to get along happily whether I have much or little.
6. Jesus Says Giving Is A Way To Worship Him
Acts 20:35
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
7. It’s Wise To Save Some Of Our Money
Proverbs 21:20
The wise man saves for the future; the foolish man spends whatever he gets.
8. Too Much Money Can Make Us Forget God
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money
9. You Can’t Take Money With You
Luke 12:13-21 – Parable of the Rich Fool
Monday, January 31, 2011
From Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Can we change the future?
I am intrigued by a phenomena I can’t get my mind around:
My brother in law and his wife recently had their first child. You have to understand the great lengths that they went through for this to happen. After months (maybe years) of trying very hard, they almost gave up. But they decided to try a very expensive procedure of invetro fertilization. 15 or 30 thousand dollars later, they now hold Abigail in their arms.
Was Abigail planned by God since the beginning of time? Did he know her by name? What if Nate and Becca didn’t do invetro fertilization? Did their effort make a difference on who will literally be around for all of eternity? It seems so.
God is sovereign, certainly, over who will be born. But he has somehow given us the mind-boggling ability to procreate, or not procreate! Certainly, he gives us desires that should lead to multiplication. But it is possible to use contraceptives to the degree that no children are born, even though this is contrary to what he has willed in us.
If this is true in the natural sense, isn’t it also possible in the spiritual sense? He works in us to will to produce spiritual fruit, leading to spiritual multiplication. This is the natural tendency. But somehow, mysteriously, he also seems to have ceded over to us the choice to be involved in the Work, or to live selfish lives. Will we, or can we, spiritually procreate? Will others be in heaven, or not be in heaven, due to us? God forbid that he would give us that substantial of an impact. Unfortunately, though, it appears that he has. What are the implications for my neighbors? I am just wondering….
My brother in law and his wife recently had their first child. You have to understand the great lengths that they went through for this to happen. After months (maybe years) of trying very hard, they almost gave up. But they decided to try a very expensive procedure of invetro fertilization. 15 or 30 thousand dollars later, they now hold Abigail in their arms.
Was Abigail planned by God since the beginning of time? Did he know her by name? What if Nate and Becca didn’t do invetro fertilization? Did their effort make a difference on who will literally be around for all of eternity? It seems so.
God is sovereign, certainly, over who will be born. But he has somehow given us the mind-boggling ability to procreate, or not procreate! Certainly, he gives us desires that should lead to multiplication. But it is possible to use contraceptives to the degree that no children are born, even though this is contrary to what he has willed in us.
If this is true in the natural sense, isn’t it also possible in the spiritual sense? He works in us to will to produce spiritual fruit, leading to spiritual multiplication. This is the natural tendency. But somehow, mysteriously, he also seems to have ceded over to us the choice to be involved in the Work, or to live selfish lives. Will we, or can we, spiritually procreate? Will others be in heaven, or not be in heaven, due to us? God forbid that he would give us that substantial of an impact. Unfortunately, though, it appears that he has. What are the implications for my neighbors? I am just wondering….
Yoked to Jesus
January 26th, 2010
His yoke is easy and his burden is light. I was amazed tonight how easy it is to bear the Lord’s burden, because He is doing the lifting, if we are walking in the same direction as Him! Tonight I was working in the harvest field, arriving at youth group feeling completely “on empty.” I was tempted to think for a second, “Boy, it would be nice to quit for a year – take a break, and get renewed.” But then God’s spirit led the whole time, and his spirit spoke the Danilo Montero song to my heart afterwards, while I was giving Lydia a bedtime bath, “Mi yugo es facil y ligera es mi carga. Ven a mi y te hare descansar.” Las mismas palabras de Jesus. Potentes. Absolutamente verdaderas. El cumplira su promesa.
His yoke is easy and his burden is light. I was amazed tonight how easy it is to bear the Lord’s burden, because He is doing the lifting, if we are walking in the same direction as Him! Tonight I was working in the harvest field, arriving at youth group feeling completely “on empty.” I was tempted to think for a second, “Boy, it would be nice to quit for a year – take a break, and get renewed.” But then God’s spirit led the whole time, and his spirit spoke the Danilo Montero song to my heart afterwards, while I was giving Lydia a bedtime bath, “Mi yugo es facil y ligera es mi carga. Ven a mi y te hare descansar.” Las mismas palabras de Jesus. Potentes. Absolutamente verdaderas. El cumplira su promesa.
Great Thought from Francis Chan's blog
“I dare you to pray this prayer.” So challenges Francis Chan in a video in which he dares us to pray, “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” Proverbs 30:8. Do we really want God to answer this prayer for us? Then he would have to be our sustenance. What are the other prayers in the Bible that we might be afraid to prayer? These reluctancies might reveal in us an inconsistency, an area that God needs to change something. Or perhaps its not that he needs to make the move. Maybe we need to, and he will respond to help us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2oi6y292kE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2oi6y292kE
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
day 1
entry #1–On “Training”
video link of the day: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DW76GNNX
Rationale:
Why create a blog? I guess it is part of a sense that the Lord wants me to be contributing to the Work of his Kingdom. Maybe this blog is also motivated out of a sense that I will grow as well. I could use a little more effort, training, and discipline. I am reminded that an athlete must run even when it is not race day. He must get up early in the morning, sometimes in the cold or the dark, because he wants to be prepared when the day of his race comes. But perhaps more importantly, he knows that it is not even about one race. He trains because he wants fitness to be a part of who he is. He may win the race only if he becomes a fast runner who is well developed. A fat, lazy man cannot suddenly become a winner on race day. In the same way, spiritually speaking the analogy is similar. Preparing for a future event such as a sermon or an opportunity to witness is not the point. The point is to become more mature as Christ develops in me. Otherwise, the day will come when I have to say something to someone, and I will have nothing to say. Not because God doesn’t want to use me, or because its not my gifting, but because I have become fat and lazy. “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Too many times I have had nothing to say. I am hoping to work on this area in my life. I want to experience Christ’s presence as I seek him through this journal. Is that presumptuous? I know that if I seek, He will be found by me. Not because I have a handle to control God’s workings, but because he is willing found by those who seek Him with all their heart and strength. This is part of my obedience to love God with all my strength.
Our lives impact the lives of those around us. As we are ready, others will benefit. This is my attempt to prepare myself for action and battle, for encouragement and edification, for discernment. I am attempting to learn to wield the sword in faith, tenacity, boldness, and tender love.
2 Tim 4:2-3 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season ; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
What would it look like if all followers of Christ believed they were pastors? If they came to church prepared to give a sermon. Instead of saying, “This church should reach out more to visitors,” to in fact be the hand that does so. If any man comes to Christ for salvation, God also begins to restore His purpose for that person. As little “Christs,” he will do and work in us the same DNA that was in Christ. We were made to be administrators, workers, builders of the kingdom. Not everyone has the same gift, yet all believers in Christ are priests! (See I Peter 2:9) There should be no passive Christians. I think part of the spiritual passivity in our culture today is not because the pastors are not working hard enough. Its because we the congregation are in sleeping mode, leaving the work for the professional to do, assuming that we are off the hook. We show up to church lazy, unprepared to lead. We are prepared to sit back in the pew and receive. Somehow, though, faith pushes towards an active pursuit. Passivity threatens to woo us into slumber.
The truth is that we do not know how many people have needed us when we slacked off and didn’t produce fruit.
video link of the day: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DW76GNNX
Rationale:
Why create a blog? I guess it is part of a sense that the Lord wants me to be contributing to the Work of his Kingdom. Maybe this blog is also motivated out of a sense that I will grow as well. I could use a little more effort, training, and discipline. I am reminded that an athlete must run even when it is not race day. He must get up early in the morning, sometimes in the cold or the dark, because he wants to be prepared when the day of his race comes. But perhaps more importantly, he knows that it is not even about one race. He trains because he wants fitness to be a part of who he is. He may win the race only if he becomes a fast runner who is well developed. A fat, lazy man cannot suddenly become a winner on race day. In the same way, spiritually speaking the analogy is similar. Preparing for a future event such as a sermon or an opportunity to witness is not the point. The point is to become more mature as Christ develops in me. Otherwise, the day will come when I have to say something to someone, and I will have nothing to say. Not because God doesn’t want to use me, or because its not my gifting, but because I have become fat and lazy. “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Too many times I have had nothing to say. I am hoping to work on this area in my life. I want to experience Christ’s presence as I seek him through this journal. Is that presumptuous? I know that if I seek, He will be found by me. Not because I have a handle to control God’s workings, but because he is willing found by those who seek Him with all their heart and strength. This is part of my obedience to love God with all my strength.
Our lives impact the lives of those around us. As we are ready, others will benefit. This is my attempt to prepare myself for action and battle, for encouragement and edification, for discernment. I am attempting to learn to wield the sword in faith, tenacity, boldness, and tender love.
2 Tim 4:2-3 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season ; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
What would it look like if all followers of Christ believed they were pastors? If they came to church prepared to give a sermon. Instead of saying, “This church should reach out more to visitors,” to in fact be the hand that does so. If any man comes to Christ for salvation, God also begins to restore His purpose for that person. As little “Christs,” he will do and work in us the same DNA that was in Christ. We were made to be administrators, workers, builders of the kingdom. Not everyone has the same gift, yet all believers in Christ are priests! (See I Peter 2:9) There should be no passive Christians. I think part of the spiritual passivity in our culture today is not because the pastors are not working hard enough. Its because we the congregation are in sleeping mode, leaving the work for the professional to do, assuming that we are off the hook. We show up to church lazy, unprepared to lead. We are prepared to sit back in the pew and receive. Somehow, though, faith pushes towards an active pursuit. Passivity threatens to woo us into slumber.
The truth is that we do not know how many people have needed us when we slacked off and didn’t produce fruit.
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