Hold on for the Ride...

I want God to do something "God-like" in me.  I know that this sounds selfish, but I don't care.  Maybe He should start by removing my selfishness.  Maybe He should start with me telling Him what to do.  Anyway, this is easier said than done.  I say I want God to do something in me, but I don't know if I am going to like the process that I will have to go through to get there.  However, Psalm 24:3-6 gives me some insight about what I need to do.

#1--I must have clean hands.
#2--I must have a pure heart.
#3--I must not lift up my soul to what is false.
#4--I must not swear deceitfully.

What will this type of person receive from God?  I am glad you asked.

#1--He will receive blessing from the Lord.
#2--He will receive righteousness from the God of his salvation.
#3--He will be part of a generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

This is profoundly exciting and profoundly disturbing at the same time.  I want to "ascend the hill of the Lord."  I want to "stand in His holy place."

God, do whatever is necessary to make this true in my life.  I will hold on for the ride.

"Help Advance The Gospel..."

What is going on in your life right now?  I know.  This is may seem like a loaded question.  We could probably talk all day over coffee or diet Pepsi and still not exhaust the subject.  Do you know what was going on with the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:12?  If not, let me clue you in.

Paul was in prison, literally.  There is some debate as to where he was in prison.  More than likely, it was in Rome.  Paul was thrown in jail for spreading the gospel.  He was put in prison for preaching Christ crucified, risen, and coming again.  That is what was going on in Paul's life. 

What do we do when life doesn't go "our way"?  I guarantee that most of the time we don't do things that help advance the gospel.  Sounds crazy doesn't it?  Well, that is what happened with Paul and his life circumstances.  Paul's imprisonment served to advance the gospel.  How did this happen?  I am glad you asked.

Despite the fact that Paul was under lock and key, he made sure that everybody who he encountered knew why.  Listen to what verse 13 of Philippians 1 says.  "...it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ."  All of the people who were of the special guard of the emperor of Rome knew about why Paul was there.  HE WAS THERE BECAUSE OF CHRIST.

When life circumstances catch up with us we don't usually use it as a platform to help advance the gospel and when I say we that includes me.  Instead, we complain, go into denial, blame others, etc.  The very faith that we proclaim when life circumstance ares good seems to disappear. When others look at our lives when life stinks would see no trace of Christ.  However, this is exactly the opposite of what happened when others viewed Paul's life. 

"...most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, ARE MUCH MORE BOLD TO SPEAK THE WORD WITHOUT FEAR."--Philippians 1:14

Did you catch it?  The example of Paul, when faced with a life threatening situation, actually made speaking up for the cause of Christ easier.  I don't know about you, but telling others about Christ and what He has done on their behalf is scary sometimes.  Can you imagine doing it knowing that it could cost you your life?  Most of us wouldn't do it.  We would stay quiet.  We would run away and hide.  Not Paul.  When the Christians in Rome saw Paul's boldness, his example inspired them to be more courageous.  Paul's stance actually caused them to be much more bold in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. 

There are two different groups of people represented in this section of scripture that we can learn from. 
First of all, Paul.  Here is a simple fact that we must ask God to help us with.  Whether life's circumstances are good or bad, we must speak the good new of Jesus Christ to others. 
Second, the Christians watching Paul.  We must ask God to help us become more courageous and bold for Him.  He might chose to do this by helping us be more aware of people who are speaking for Christ in every situation of their lives. 

HERE IS MY PRAYER:

God do something in my life, whether good or bad, that will help advance the gospel.  God help me to be aware of those people around me who are living for Christ in all circumstances of life and use them to inspire me to boldness for you.  

Blessings!

"I Am Speaking From Experience..."

I am simply blown away.  I don't say what I am about to say with a prideful spirit.  Please know that!  I have chosen to become more faithful in my personal study of scripture.  I know what your thinking.  You are thinking, "Derek calls himself a christian, but he doesn't personally study scripture?"  You are right.  I am not always as faithful as I should be with regards to studying scripture.  Granted, I study for 3 lessons a week at church, but none of that is specifically geared for my personal walk with Christ.  I have got news for you, my friend.  YOU DON'T STUDY SCRIPTURE FOR "YOU" LIKE YOU SHOULD EITHER!!!  (If you do, well, ignore the "all caps" statement.)

Lately God has been challenging me, kicking me, slapping me, convicting me, breaking me, forming me, and speaking to me from the book of Philippians.  I think over the last several weeks I have read the book 5 times or more.  I can't get enough of it (remember what I said about being prideful above).  I am actually thinking of writing a short book on it (sounds crazy doesn't it?). 

When Jennifer and I got married in May of 2005, we recited a section of verses from the book of Philippians at our wedding.  I didn't really even think about what I was reciting.  I was just wanting the ceremony to be over.  I know that sounds harsh, but you know what I mean.  Well, at least the men reading this do. 

Anyway, God is using that section of verses in my life as of late.  As I write this post, it is Friday afternoon and I have little to do.  If you are from my church reading this post, ignore that last statement.  I decided to get my ESV Study Bible out and begin the process of really tearing the book of Philippians apart.  The following information in this post is where I have stopped and camped out today. 

Here is what Philippians 1:9-11 says, "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Let's break this down some.

1. It is my prayer.
1. What is my prayer?
1. That love may abound more and more.
1. How?
1. With knowledge
2. With all discernment
2. Why?
1. So that I can approve what is excellent.
2. So that I can be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
3. So that I can be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ
4. So that GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED AND PRAISED!!!

THIS IS MY PRAYER.  

I desire that my love for God and for others would continually, day after day, increase.  That I would couple love with knowledge (wisdom) and discernment (good judgment).  Why do I want to do this?  Great question.  I want to do this so that I can approve and practice those things that are excellent in the eyes of God.  I want to do this so that when Christ returns He will find a joyful obedience in me.  I want to do this so that I can be filled with all those things that come from being a righteous person, knowing that those things only come through Christ.  The main reason that I want to do this is so that my God would be glorified and praised.

I want to challenge you to read and study scripture.  If you are anything like me, and I think you are, you are not as faithful to scripture as you once were or as you "once said or tricked yourself into thinking" you were.  Blessing to you and I can't wait to see what God is going to do in your life once you decide to devote yourself to His Word.  He will do something in you.  Trust me.  I am speaking from experience.

Qualifications for Overseers...

Every so often I like to revisit what the Bible has to stay about what qualifies someone to be a pastor (overseer).  Today, in my personal Bible reading time, I came to 1 Timothy 3.  This is the main passage in scripture where we find the qualifications.  Let's take a brief overview of these qualifications.

1. This is a trustworthy saying:  IF ANYONE ASPIRES TO THE OFFICE OF OVERSEER, HE DESIRES A NOBLE TASK.
2. An overseer must be:
1. Above reproach
2. The husband of one wife
3. Sober-minded
4. Self-controlled
5. Respectable
6. Hospitable
7. Able to teach
8. Not a drunkard
9. Not violent but gentle 
10. Not quarrelsome
11. Not a lover of money
12. He must manage his own household well
13. With all dignity keeping his children submissive
1. Why? (For #12 & #13)
1. If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
14. He must not be a recent convert
1. Why?
1. He may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
15. He must be well thought of by outsiders 
1. Why?
1. So that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

If you are a pastor, I want to challenge you to review these qualifications often.  Ask God to reveal the things in your life that need some attention.  Ask God to help you give them attention.

If you are not a pastor, pray that your pastor would be defined by these qualifications.  Also, hold them accountable to them.

"To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever (ages to ages).  Amen."

Just a Reminder...

Just a reminder of a few things from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22.

1. Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
2. Be at peace among yourselves.
3. Admonish the idle (disorderly or undisciplined)
4. Encourage the fainthearted
5. Help the weak
6. Be patient with them all.
7. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil
8. Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone
9. Rejoice always
10. Pray without ceasing
11. Give thanks in all circumstances
1. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
12. Don't quench the Spirit.
13. Don't despise prophecies
14. Test everything
15. Hold fast what is good
16. Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessings!!!

Philippians 3...

Let God's Word soak in today!  Blessings!

1. Look out for...--v. 2
1. Dogs
2. Evildoers
3. Those who mutilate the flesh
2. We are circumcision...--vv. 3-9
1. Who worship by the Spirit of God
2. Who glory in Christ Jesus
3. Who put no confidence in the flesh
1. Paul has reason for confidence in the flesh.
1. If anyone thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, Paul has more.
1. Circumcised on the 8th day
2. Of the people of Israel
3. Of the tribe of Benjamin
4. A Hebrew of Hebrews
5. As to the law, a Pharisee
6. As to zeal
7. A persecutor of the church
8. As to righteousness under the law
9. Blameless
2. Paul counts it all as nothing.
1. "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ."
2. "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."
3. "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which come through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."
3. Paul wants to become like Christ.--vv. 10-11
1. That I (Paul) may know Him.
2. The power of his resurrection.
3. Share his sufferings.
4. Becoming like him in his death.
5. That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.