Tuesday, November 29, 2011
J.D. Greear
I tweeted, "To share Christ and minister to people you must be in their lives more than once a week." Teresa called this morning with a ministry idea, which confirmed some things on my heart. Excited, for everything I read has a golden thread of the same theme. Pray God speaks to you through J.D. Greear's blog. Clarity is coming!
I picked up John Piper’s new book, Bloodlines and thought this was a great passage on how the gospel transforms a heart from passionless apathy to fervent living.
“Apathy is passionless living. It is sitting in front of the television night after night and living your life from one moment of entertainment to the next. It is the inability to be shocked into action by the steady-state lostness and suffering of the world. It is the emptiness that comes from thinking of godliness as the avoidance of doing bad things instead of the aggressive pursuit of doing good things.
If that were God’s intention for the godliness of his people, why would Paul say, ‘All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12)? People who stay at home and watch clean videos don’t get persecuted. Godliness must mean something more public, more aggressively good.
In fact, the aim of the gospel is the creation of people who are passionate for doing good rather than settling for the passionless avoidance of evil. ‘[Christ] gave himself for us…to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works’ (Titus 2:14). The gospel produces people who are created for good works (Eph. 2:10), and have a reputation for good works (1 Tim. 5:10), and are rich in good works (1 Tim. 6:18), and present a model of good works (Titus 2:7), and devote themselves to good works (Titus 3:8,14), and stir each other up to good works (Heb. 10:24).
And when they set about them, the word they hear form God is, ‘Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord’ (Rom. 12:11). The gospel does not make us lazy. It makes us fervent. The Greek for fervent signifies boiling. The gospel opens our eyes to the eternal significance of things. Nothing is merely ordinary anymore.
Christ did not pursue us halfheartedly. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the uttermost (John 13:1). His death gives the deepest meaning to the word passion. Now he dwells in us. How will we not pray for the fullest experience of his zeal for the cause of justice and love? ‘So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith’ (Gal. 6:10).
The gospel makes us fervant
Nov 29 | Pastor J.D. | No Comments | I picked up John Piper’s new book, Bloodlines and thought this was a great passage on how the gospel transforms a heart from passionless apathy to fervent living.
“Apathy is passionless living. It is sitting in front of the television night after night and living your life from one moment of entertainment to the next. It is the inability to be shocked into action by the steady-state lostness and suffering of the world. It is the emptiness that comes from thinking of godliness as the avoidance of doing bad things instead of the aggressive pursuit of doing good things.
If that were God’s intention for the godliness of his people, why would Paul say, ‘All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12)? People who stay at home and watch clean videos don’t get persecuted. Godliness must mean something more public, more aggressively good.
In fact, the aim of the gospel is the creation of people who are passionate for doing good rather than settling for the passionless avoidance of evil. ‘[Christ] gave himself for us…to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works’ (Titus 2:14). The gospel produces people who are created for good works (Eph. 2:10), and have a reputation for good works (1 Tim. 5:10), and are rich in good works (1 Tim. 6:18), and present a model of good works (Titus 2:7), and devote themselves to good works (Titus 3:8,14), and stir each other up to good works (Heb. 10:24).
And when they set about them, the word they hear form God is, ‘Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord’ (Rom. 12:11). The gospel does not make us lazy. It makes us fervent. The Greek for fervent signifies boiling. The gospel opens our eyes to the eternal significance of things. Nothing is merely ordinary anymore.
Christ did not pursue us halfheartedly. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the uttermost (John 13:1). His death gives the deepest meaning to the word passion. Now he dwells in us. How will we not pray for the fullest experience of his zeal for the cause of justice and love? ‘So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith’ (Gal. 6:10).
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Holy Spirit and Prayer
The Spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is , because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to pray.
The Holy Spirit lays burdens on our heart.
The Holy Spirit produces faith in our life.
The Holy Spirit warns us of danger.
The Holy Spirit brings into remembrance all He has taught us.
The Holy Spirit brings comfort and peace.
The Holy Spirit directs all things towards Christ.
The Holy Spirit stirs our heart to love Jesus.
It is a cool thing that we can be apart of the ministry of God. God in all His wisdom will place a specific burden or warning upon our heart. We have the awesome privilege of going before the throne in intercession for the specific request. As we pray, fellowship, and adore our Savior we begin to see the request being answered. What a blessing it is when God answers this requests. He is glorified and our faith has increased. Take time to pray and adore your Savior today.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tips for Thin-Skinned Leaders
3 Tips for Thin-Skinned Leaders
Receiving criticism gracefully shows that you trust others.
Why is it that people often don’t want to hear feedback? Are you that kind of person? Are you the person with thin skin who can’t hear honest criticism without getting deeply offended? If so, today’s post is for you.
If you’re reading this and getting mad you’ve just proven all three of my points. I dare you to quiet your anger, calm yourself down and ask yourself the following three questions. If you’ll do this and face the answers honestly, you’ll probably become a much happier person.
1. Why don’t I trust people?
2. Why do I fear the truth?
3. Why can’t I humble myself?
Receiving criticism gracefully shows that you trust others.
When you let your feathers get ruffled, you are assuming the worst of person offering feedback. Your core belief is that the other people never have your best interests at heart. By living this way you will always be disappointed by others.Receiving criticism gracefully shows that you value honesty.
When you get offended by feedback you communicate that you don’t want to hear the truth. You’d rather someone lie to you or say nothing to you. Your core belief is that the truth hurts, so it’s best left unsaid. By living this way you will always have a distorted view of reality.Receiving criticism gracefully shows that you are humble.
When you get bent out of shape over someone’s honest comments, you demonstrate that you think you’re above criticism. Your core belief is that you are better than others. By living this way you will always be full of misplaced pride.If you’re reading this and getting mad you’ve just proven all three of my points. I dare you to quiet your anger, calm yourself down and ask yourself the following three questions. If you’ll do this and face the answers honestly, you’ll probably become a much happier person.
1. Why don’t I trust people?
2. Why do I fear the truth?
3. Why can’t I humble myself?
Reliance
24
2011
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . . —Psalm 123:2
This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (seeIsaiah 53:1). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, “I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person.” We have to realize that no effort can be too high.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion— “Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?” Your “rational” friends come and say, “Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure.” You respond by saying, “Well, I suppose I was expecting too much.” That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.
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