God Came Near

C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter to his friend Arthur Greeves:

Lying at your feet is your dog.  Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress.  Some of us love dogs very much.  If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog?  Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music, and choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved, the poor substitute of looking into the beloved’s face and wagging your tail, unable to smile or speak?  Christ by becoming man limited the thing which to Him was the most precious thing in the world; his unhampered, unhindered communion with the Father.

How would you tell us if you were God and wanted us to know that you wanted to be with us, help us and work with us?  Would you shout from heaven, or would you become one of us?

Between Two Worlds

Beware of the sins of the Thessalonians, some of whom quit their jobs and became busybodies while they waited for Jesus to return.  They correctly understood that Jesus could come back at any moment.  They drew the wrong conclusions by deciding to sit back and wait for Him.  Living now requires you and me to be busy with His business while we have the opportunity.

Howard Hendricks admonished, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”

Why are we here?  What is our purpose?

Keys to Change

The commitment to become more like Jesus Christ is a daily one.  What you allow to influence you, what you fill your mind with and how you respond to God’s Word and His promptings determine how much you grow.  Do you allow time within your daily schedule for meditation on the Bible, communication with the Lord, and other spiritual disciplines such as fasting, worship, and repentance?

Change comes as we hear and obey God’s Word.  American pastor and author A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) explained, “We can know the right words yet never be changed.  This is the difference between information and transformation.”

The Great Commitments

A stool with three legs is always stable, even on uneven ground.  Our society is on more uneven ground than I have ever seen.  Foundational morals and values are being questioned and discarded at an alarming speed.  While our world is changing, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  The line between those who follow Him and those who do not grows more definitive as time passes.

Some people spend their whole lives wondering what God wants them to do.  If we aren’t pursuing The Great Commitments, we aren’t hearing and obeying the Lord.  He is calling us, so let’s start with these priorities as He unfolds the specifics.

The Rich Get Richer

Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more!  But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what they have.  There is an important lesson here for us.  No one can stand still for long in life.  We either get more, or we lose what we have.  We either advance towards God, or we slip back.  Do you earnestly seek to serve God with the gifts, time, talents and resources He has given you?

Church on the Move

As we grow numerically, we must have a structure that preserves the intimacy and closeness of a small church. Without cell groups, people can easily get lost in the crowd.

When we get close and knock off the rough edges, we become well-rounded people. When we commit to spending enough time together to encourage and resolve conflict with each other, we become more effective weapons against our common enemy.

How do we grow up?

Step into opportunities where we will be stretched. We are, by nature, dedicated to the preservation of our comfort. Our growth will remain stunted if we follow this instinct. Let’s commit ourselves to tasks that are bigger than us. God can show us His power when we step out in faith. When was the last time we stepped out of our comfort zone?

What direction is your life headed? Does the overall purpose you are pursuing have eternity’s values in view? If it does not, I urge you to change your direction. If it does, rely on God’s power and give yourself diligently to it.

God is not out to “get” something from us. He does not need anyone or anything. He is whole and complete as He is. He receives great satisfaction in giving. His kindness is so abundant and overflowing that He looks for an outlet to bless. He has sent His Son to seek us out.

Sometimes when we are working through emotional challenges it feels like there is a cloud hanging over our heads. We can feel stuck and frustrated. What do we do with this?

So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute? There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no substitute for unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime). We must choose.

Theme: The Lord calls us to look past our circumstances to Him.

Text: Luke 1:26-56

Here’s a thought: We are filled with hope when we release our burdens to Him.

When we share the Good News, there will be miracles. We can trust the Lord for the miraculous.

People don’t want just facts and information they want the reality of a changed life.

Theme: God wants to use us to perform miracles.

Text: John 14:12-14

Here’s a thought: God wants us to be witnesses, not to try and witness.

What did you do this last week to build your faith and renew your focus? Are you reading your Bible? Are you memorizing Scripture verses? Are you asking the Holy Spirit to counsel you and help you apply His Word? Receive the Heavenly Father’s promises for provision and refuse to let the birds of worry nest in your hair.

Power is necessary so that we can be witnesses. Acts 1:8 (ESV) 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' Holy Spirit empowers us to bear witness, to be a witness in this world.

Jesus builds His church on this foundation of faith with building blocks that include: Cause (Matthew 28:16-20) and Community (Acts 2:42-47). We are on a mission to make disciples, to rescue those the enemy has captured, and to grow as a community of believers who support one another through life's challenges.

'We reap what we sow.' Explore the teachings of Galatians 6:6-10, the law of cause and effect, and the choices between sowing to the sinful nature or God's Holy Spirit.

In a cruel world, we are called to Take It, Give It, and Bank It. The power of God’s love makes for a better world and a better hereafter.

Adversity is not a setback but a stepping stone to spiritual growth, as seen in the story of Abraham Lincoln and the disciples' journey with Jesus in Matthew 17

Discover the timeless wisdom of growth and faith in the parable from Matthew 25:13-30. Just as in life, in faith, 'If it isn't growing, it's probably dead.