Greetings...
Luke 18:9-16
9. Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank You that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust, erers, or even as this tax collector.
12. `I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13. "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God be merciful to me a sinner!'
14. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.''
15. Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16. But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
There are a few things the Spirit of God is opening my eyes to here. In verse 16 Jesus said, "for such is the Kingdom of God." I believe He didn't just refer to the phrase about little children, but even the preceding verses. For instance verse 9, "...who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, AND DESPISED OTHERS".
Have you ever thought about how the Body of Christ is so good at dividing itself up into little bitty pieces, rather than having "the same care for one another" (1 Cor. 12)? In the above instance, BOTH men went before the Lord to pray. A very spiritual thing to do, when it's done with the proper motive and attitude. The Pharisee isolates himself from others when he begins to thank God how he ISN'T like the others (including the man who is praying in the same room to the same God). The Pharisee failed to realize that God didn't give two hoots about all the Pharisee did; God was looking much deeper than that. The Pharisee said about 5 times the amount spoken by the tax collector, but the Lord declared the tax collector as the one leaving justified.
The Pharisee exalted HIMSELF as he recounted all HE had done. Yet there is no evidence of a trust relationship with God. "And without faith (trust) it is impossible to please Him (God)"
"See what I've done..."
"Look at how much I tithe..."
"I just cannot tolerate people who can't seem to get it right..."
"If everyone in the Kingdom was like me..."
"Don't touch me, I'm too clean to get dirty..."
Keeping track of how much time, treasure, or talent you give to the Lord isn't of any benefit to us at all. For one thing, by declaring that we have given 10% (or even 20) really says that we kept back 80-90%. The Kingdom of God doesn't operate because people tithe; no, the Kingdom of God is evident through those who aren't afraid to lay down their lives for Jesus and His Gospel. NEVER did Jesus teach about being a 10% disciple. Yet, we can be so proud when we compare ALL WE DO with ALL others don't do (in our sight). Jesus said, "Come, follow Me". It was His ALL He placed on the cross, not just 10%. And, unless it was His ALL, He would not have been trusting. Trust isn't trust if it is measured out; at least where trusting God is concerned. If I had to tell God all I've done and continually remind others just how valuable I am to the Kingdom, then there is evidently not much of a trust relationship - with God or His people.
On and on I could go. But did you notice that just as soon as Jesus got through telling the disciples about the Pharisee's lack of humility, the disciples wanted to keep children from coming to Jesus. The disciples were showing somewhat of the same kind of spirit...they were saying "Jesus doesn't have time for children; He is too busy with us. We are the inner circle, the very core group and sole owners of what God is doing in the earth. Children, tax collectors, heathen, they're all the same..."
The Kingdom of God is all about trusting in the Living God - completely. He IS OUR righteousness from the beginning, through out our walk, and at the end of our earthly life. There is NEVER a time to become proud of what we've accomplished or to feel like we're better than anyone else. Doing so only leads to cutting other people off and not having the same care for them. Please understand that sometimes people are so wrapped up in their own misery and failure that they become a Pharisee in reverse. "I've sinned like no one else..." or, "I've failed to show the power of God to my generation..." and still cut themselves off from the care of others.
Wouldn't it be just grand if we actually started acting like we really believe the Word of God in its entirety? "I am because of what He made me and I do what He enables me to do."
I'll close with 2 passages. One from Isaiah and the other from 1 Corinthians.
Isaiah 57:15
"For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor erers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
Think about it and may the Lord cause each of us to humble ourselves continually under His mighty hand...that He may have HIS WAY with us AND through us.
What's He saying to you?
Pastor Jan
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Raising your Dream...
Greetings in Jesus' wonderful Name!
I realize it's been quite some time since I've last written anything; frankly, one of the main reasons is because I have felt "what's the use?" Various thoughts have come at me, some of which I'm sure you have shared from time to time. Thoughts like "since it's obvious that my ministry is not appreciated, I think it's time to quit"; or, "I'm tired of this pressure"; or things like that. Maybe even thoughts such as "I deserve better than what I'm experiencing"; there are so many thoughts I've been dealing with it's hard to keep them straight some time. Ever had times like that? Like, just when you think you're getting a handle on things, another blow comes at you...for instance, you hear you are losing valuable members of your ministry team. It's like you just want to throw your hands up and say "I've had it!" You know it as well as I that when you've had a dream and have worked to see the dream accomplished and have shared the dream with others...then to see the dream seem to lay down and die...
Of course, much of this has been happening since I wrote my last note entitled "Have you done all to stand?".
This isn't a "boo-hoo" word, but a word to let you know that even if the dream seems to be lifeless, as long as there is God then there is still hope. Romans 15:13 - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
There are a couple of points I want share with you to encourage you (and myself). I'll use Luke 8:40-42, 49-55 as my text.
40. So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.
41. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house,
42. for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
49. While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.''
50. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.''
51. When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the .
52. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she has not died, but is sleeping.''
53. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she had died.
54. But He put them all out, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Daughter, arise!''
55. Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.
1. This 12 year old daughter was the dream of her parents. Apparently, it was the only dream they had. They had invested at least 12 years of their lives, pouring into their dream with love and sacrifice, thoughts of her future and her family. Their dream was far reaching; just like many of ours. We don't see just how far out our dreams can reach...but we pour ourselves into them.
2. The "dream" is worth fighting for, if it's worth anything at all. You know, maybe you're not all that interested in Jesus. I don't know that Jairus was UNTIL he found he was losing his only daughter. The scriptures mention nothing about Jairus walking everyday with Jesus. No, "there CAME a man...". Maybe you haven't been that stellar of a person. Maybe you're not a "religious" person at all. Jairus was just a guy who's dream was about to die and he was going to do something about it. Jesus might have been his last resort; but notice Jesus made no mention of it. Jesus simply went with him because he asked Him to.
3. Twelve years old - too young for a dream to die. Dreams, the ones that God gets involved in, are to grow, develop, mature, and come to the place where they can "reproduce after their own kind". What about the dream in your life or ministry? Is it really time for it to die or are you just "pulling the plug" for your own convenience? After all, who wants to baby sit a "dream" that has "no chance in hell" of ever being more than a nuisance. Aren't you glad we don't have to base our life, or our God-given dreams, on chance - either on earth or in hell. Oh, one quick thing here - the Bible says that children are a gift from God. That's why I believe I can use this illustration to talk about God-given dreams.
4. I've noticed something about people, and I hope I remember this the next time people "introduce" their dream to me. People who haven't carried the dream in their heart, haven't spent sleepless nights walking the floor over it, or who haven't participated in the dream with their finances, are a lot quicker to say, "just leave the Master alone; it's too late, the dream has died". Can you imagine what you would think if you were in the hospital room, sitting with a dying child, and some stranger walks in the room and says to you, "don't bother, this life isn't worth it. After all, there are more important things that you can do". You may find yourself in jail, after a comment like that!
5. As long as Jesus is with you and I, walking with us to minister to our "dream", we must keep believing. As long as Jesus still has a word for our dream, a word that will cause its spirit to return and raise it off the bed, then we must keep on believing. Even if Jesus gets interrupted on the way to our house, we must keep on believing. Why? Because the dream isn't just about us. It's about God's plan for it and His ability to reveal His Glory through the dream He gave us in the first place!
Remember, He IS the RESURRECTION and the LIFE!
Pastor Jan
I realize it's been quite some time since I've last written anything; frankly, one of the main reasons is because I have felt "what's the use?" Various thoughts have come at me, some of which I'm sure you have shared from time to time. Thoughts like "since it's obvious that my ministry is not appreciated, I think it's time to quit"; or, "I'm tired of this pressure"; or things like that. Maybe even thoughts such as "I deserve better than what I'm experiencing"; there are so many thoughts I've been dealing with it's hard to keep them straight some time. Ever had times like that? Like, just when you think you're getting a handle on things, another blow comes at you...for instance, you hear you are losing valuable members of your ministry team. It's like you just want to throw your hands up and say "I've had it!" You know it as well as I that when you've had a dream and have worked to see the dream accomplished and have shared the dream with others...then to see the dream seem to lay down and die...
Of course, much of this has been happening since I wrote my last note entitled "Have you done all to stand?".
This isn't a "boo-hoo" word, but a word to let you know that even if the dream seems to be lifeless, as long as there is God then there is still hope. Romans 15:13 - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
There are a couple of points I want share with you to encourage you (and myself). I'll use Luke 8:40-42, 49-55 as my text.
40. So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.
41. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house,
42. for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.
49. While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the Teacher.''
50. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.''
51. When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the .
52. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she has not died, but is sleeping.''
53. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she had died.
54. But He put them all out, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Daughter, arise!''
55. Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.
1. This 12 year old daughter was the dream of her parents. Apparently, it was the only dream they had. They had invested at least 12 years of their lives, pouring into their dream with love and sacrifice, thoughts of her future and her family. Their dream was far reaching; just like many of ours. We don't see just how far out our dreams can reach...but we pour ourselves into them.
2. The "dream" is worth fighting for, if it's worth anything at all. You know, maybe you're not all that interested in Jesus. I don't know that Jairus was UNTIL he found he was losing his only daughter. The scriptures mention nothing about Jairus walking everyday with Jesus. No, "there CAME a man...". Maybe you haven't been that stellar of a person. Maybe you're not a "religious" person at all. Jairus was just a guy who's dream was about to die and he was going to do something about it. Jesus might have been his last resort; but notice Jesus made no mention of it. Jesus simply went with him because he asked Him to.
3. Twelve years old - too young for a dream to die. Dreams, the ones that God gets involved in, are to grow, develop, mature, and come to the place where they can "reproduce after their own kind". What about the dream in your life or ministry? Is it really time for it to die or are you just "pulling the plug" for your own convenience? After all, who wants to baby sit a "dream" that has "no chance in hell" of ever being more than a nuisance. Aren't you glad we don't have to base our life, or our God-given dreams, on chance - either on earth or in hell. Oh, one quick thing here - the Bible says that children are a gift from God. That's why I believe I can use this illustration to talk about God-given dreams.
4. I've noticed something about people, and I hope I remember this the next time people "introduce" their dream to me. People who haven't carried the dream in their heart, haven't spent sleepless nights walking the floor over it, or who haven't participated in the dream with their finances, are a lot quicker to say, "just leave the Master alone; it's too late, the dream has died". Can you imagine what you would think if you were in the hospital room, sitting with a dying child, and some stranger walks in the room and says to you, "don't bother, this life isn't worth it. After all, there are more important things that you can do". You may find yourself in jail, after a comment like that!
5. As long as Jesus is with you and I, walking with us to minister to our "dream", we must keep believing. As long as Jesus still has a word for our dream, a word that will cause its spirit to return and raise it off the bed, then we must keep on believing. Even if Jesus gets interrupted on the way to our house, we must keep on believing. Why? Because the dream isn't just about us. It's about God's plan for it and His ability to reveal His Glory through the dream He gave us in the first place!
Remember, He IS the RESURRECTION and the LIFE!
Pastor Jan
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