Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
Burning BRIGHT not OUT
21
Oct
Are you as excited as I am?
I believe we are living in the most exciting time in history! God is moving by His Spirit across the earth and we are most certainly growing closer to the return of Jesus Christ!
I believe it’s time to do more than we’ve ever done before to further the gospel and lead people to the Lord!
We need to respond to Jesus’ urging to “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NIV)
It’s time for you and me to be active in the local church. It’s time to sow seed looking ahead to a bountiful harvest of changed lives. It’s time to do more than you ever thought you could!
But if you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking, “How can I possibly do more than I’m already doing? Perhaps you are even at the point of burn out.
Burn Out
Burn out can occur for a number of reasons. Maybe you’re over-worked, tired, fatigued, disappointed or depressed, resulting in a general sense of emptiness. Maybe you’ve felt like Solomon felt when he wrote, “In my opinion, nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile. For what does a man get for all his hard work? Generations come and go, but it makes no difference.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 Living Bible)
If you feel that way – which is exactly what the devil hopes – then the thought of doing more for the Lord certainly isn’t very appealing.
Fortunately, Solomon came up with some steps to prevent burnout. I would like to share them with you so that you can begin to burn even brighter rather than burning out.
1) Maintain balance in your lifestyle
In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon pointed out that there truly is a time for everything. He writes that there is, “a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (v.2-4, NIV)
You see, life is composed of opposites, and to live successfully in the balanced world God created, one must maintain a balanced lifestyle. You will enjoy life and be the most productive when there is a balance between work and play, being and doing, natural and spiritual, speaking and listening, giving and receiving and so on.
Balanced people are able to outlast everyone else, but if you aren’t balanced, you probably won’t be able to shine very bright.
2) Develop Strong Personal Relationships
Lack of emotional support can cause you to burn out. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV) tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits who isolate themselves from other believers. Instead, it says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, and held together and will be caught up together.
God doesn’t want you to be on your own. He wants you to have strong personal relationships that build you up. He wants you to give and receive love, acceptance, affirmation and help. If you try to go it alone, you will burn out and won’t shine as God intends.
3) Take Time to Enjoy the Present
Burn out can come from always working and never enjoying, or it can come from always regretting and never enjoying.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (NKJV) says, “It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor… for it is his heritage.”
God wants you to receive satisfaction from what you do, but if you are worried about the past or focused only on the future, you will not enjoy much of anything. Remember that the scripture says, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (NKJV) Enjoy each day as a gift from God.
4) Stop Playing God
There are so many things in life we cannot control, but God can! We need to recognize our limitations and draw our strength from God’s Word. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus reminded us that, “…man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (NKJV) It’s like inhaling a bit of the life of God!
Then, we need to exhale all our concerns by praying. Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God is big enough to take care of everything that concerns you.
My prayer for you is that you will be one who does more for the Kingdom of God than you ever thought and that you will burn bright, not out!
Enduring FAITH
20
Oct
Everyone has faith. You have faith that the lights will come on when you flick the switch, and when you turn the door knob, you have faith that the door is going to open. Christians and non-Christians alike have that kind of faith. However, not everyone has faith in God.
The kind of faith the Bible talks about is centered on believing in God. Hebrews 11:6 says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Here we see three elements of a faith that pleases God: (1) we must believe that He exists; (2) we must believe that He rewards; and (3) we must believe that He will reward us when we seek Him.
Faith Is
“Faith is,” Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” It is the confidence that things yet unseen will happen as God said they will. It involves accepting God’s perspective as He reveals it in the Bible.
When there was nothing, God created everything. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Colossians 1:16-17 builds on that same thought, saying, “All things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
This is our God. He is the One who created the entire universe. He is all-powerful, and nothing is too difficult for Him; yet, He cares about you and will reward you when you earnestly seek Him. He holds the universe together, and He is willing and able to see you through the problems you face.
Faith Goes Through
No one has the luxury of going through a problem-free life. The psalmist wrote, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19). Just knowing that God’s plan is to deliver you from every trouble you face should make it a bit easier to have an enduring faith.
In Isaiah 43:1-2, God said, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Water and fire are sometimes used in the scriptures to represent calamity; water, because it overwhelms and fire, because it consumes. Though these promises were spoken to Israel, they also have implications for us today. God wants you to know that no matter how overwhelming or consuming your problems are, He will be with you and will help you safely through to the other side.
Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They were the three Hebrew men who would not bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol (Daniel 3:8-25). There is no doubt that God had the power to prevent these godly men from being thrown in the fiery furnace, but instead, He chose to join them in the fire. Not only did they all survive, but we learn from Daniel 3:27 that not a single hair on their heads was singed – and they didn’t even smell like smoke when they came out!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made it through the fire unscathed because they placed their faith in God. They said, “We know our God is able to deliver us…but even if He doesn’t, yet will we serve Him!” They were so steadfast in their faith that even the threat of a certain death could not persuade them to give up.
Faith Doesn’t Doubt
Your faith in God will help you rise above any hardship you face. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) says, “…this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” Faith overcomes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that God will always immediately intervene when we call on Him. Sometimes God changes us on the inside first, helping us develop an enduring faith by focusing on Him and His Word.
There was a couple who wanted to have children. They had been married over nine years and had undergone years of unsuccessful medical procedures. Despite the fact that doctors gave them no hope, they didn’t give up on their faith. They believed that the same God who rewarded Abraham and Sarah’s faith by giving them children when they were well past childbearing age (Genesis 21:2, Hebrews 11:11), would reward their faith as well.
On a daily basis, this couple faced the choice that every believer faces when in the midst of adversity: “Do I believe what the circumstances say, or do I keep on believing God?” It was not always easy, but they learned to consistently rely on God’s promises rather than to give in to discouragement and doubt. God rewarded their faith and intervened where medical science could not. Their two daughters are wonderful testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
Just as their faith sustained them, your faith is designed to help you endure anything. That is how the Apostle Paul could say that he was “content” no matter what state he was in (Philippians 4:11) His faith gave him a vision of victory in his heart so he could endure until his circumstances changed.
Faith Endures Hardship
Speaking of Paul, his life is an excellent example of how faith in God can help a believer endure hardship. He wrote, “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked”
(2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
Even through the worst of all those circumstances, Paul did not lose sight of his victory. He even encouraged others saying, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Despite tremendous hardship, Paul’s enduring faith helped him remain confident in God through every trial.
Finally…
Your enemy, the devil, wants to discourage you and make you doubt God. He does his best to convince you that your marriage will never improve… that your kids will never come back to the Lord… that you will always be sick… that you’ll never have enough money, etc. Far too often, we believe the devil’s lies.
Christians must resist the devil and develop an enduring faith in the God who can do the impossible. No problem, difficulty, or struggle that you face is bigger than God, so in the midst of trouble, draw even closer to Him. The closeness of His presence will enable you to remain strong through more than you thought possible. Rest assured that He will not allow you to be tried beyond the strength He gives you. Just as sure as the trial comes, you can be sure God will provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13).
By faith, release your concerns, cares and worries to God through prayer. Trust Him. He is faithful to do what His Word promises, and He will give you the faith to endure until your victory is complete!
Freedom through FORGIVENESS
19
Oct
One of the best things you can do to have a good and happy life is to take a few minutes each night to forgive everybody of everything they did that affected you adversely during the day. When you do this, you keep yourself free from all the emotional and spiritual stress that comes from holding on to unforgiveness.
Unfortunately, when someone has offended you, forgiveness is usually the furthest thing from your mind – and the hardest thing to do. Because you feel angry, hurt and betrayed, your flesh would rather find a way to make them pay for what they have done.
While forgiveness may be far from your mind, it is never far from God’s. How could He forget that He has given you forgiveness of all your sins – past, present and future – through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ? According to Romans 6:6, Jesus broke the power of sin over our lives so we wouldn’t have to live as slaves to sin. He also forgave us so that we can forgive others.
Why Should I Forgive?
If for no other reason, you should forgive because Jesus said to. You’ve probably recited the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 many times, but if you are like most people, you like the “forgive us our trespasses” part a lot better than the “as we forgive those who trespass against us” part. Like it or not, though, the Biblical pattern is, “Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
You and I should also forgive because a lack of forgiveness spoils lives. Hebrews 12:14-15 tells us we should pursue peace with all people “lest a root of bitterness spring up causing trouble, and by this many become defiled.” When you don’t forgive, an ugly root begins to form inside you. As you carry the grudge, that root begins to grow and cause trouble for you, for your family and for everyone around you.
You might think that by not forgiving someone, you are getting even or causing them some of the same pain you’ve felt. Actually, the person you hurt the most is you. By refusing to forgive, you open the door for Satan to have access into your life. Depression, fear, sickness, problems with your family, and financial problems are some of the many common results of unforgiveness.
I once knew a man who had become extremely angry and refused to forgive someone who had offended him. Since the incident, a tumor had developed in his body, and he faced a serious surgery. When confronted with what God’s Word says about forgiving others, he realized that he needed to make the choice to forgive. Within an hour of praying to forgive the man who had hurt him, the tumor left his body – he was completely healed!
The effect of forgiving someone isn’t always seen that quickly, but freedom always comes when you choose to forgive.
Who Should I Forgive?
In Mark 11:25-26, Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” This scripture covers it all. There are no other options. Anytime anyone hurts you, no matter how deep the hurt, you are to forgive.
Think about what happened to Joseph. In Genesis 37 and the chapters that follow, you can see many reasons why Joseph could have become a very bitter man. His brothers hated him and sold him as a slave. Next, his master’s wife falsely accused him of a serious crime, and he ended up in prison. Then, a government official promised to help him but instead left him in prison to rot. Regardless of all these things, Joseph didn’t allow unforgiveness and bitterness to take root in his life. He forgave everyone who did anything against him and went on to fulfill the destiny God had for him.
Understanding Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not a feeling. Like Joseph, you must make a decision to forgive by faith. If you wait until you feel like forgiving, you may never forgive anybody for anything. Also, forgiveness is not merely pushing a memory to the back of your mind; that’s denial. Offenses and hurts must be dealt with so you can be free from them and the trouble they cause.
Forgiving someone does not negate their wrongdoing, but it puts the responsibility of judgment for their actions into God’s hands. That’s what Jesus did. Despite everything that had been done to Him, 1 Peter 2:23 tells us that “…when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Forgiveness is a choice. The Bible says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13 NIV). When you think about how much God has forgiven you, forgiving someone else seems much smaller!
Don’t be alarmed if your feelings don’t immediately line up with your choice to forgive. The same devil who tells you you’re no good because you haven’t forgiven someone will try to keep harassing you once you’ve chosen to forgive. Feelings are fickle, but they will stabilize as you follow through by speaking and acting out your choice to forgive.
Forgive Now
Choosing not to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The longer you carry a grudge, the more damage it does to you. Why risk a physical or emotional breakdown when you can choose to forgive now?
No matter how long ago you were hurt, whether the ones who offended you are living or dead, choose to forgive them. Don’t let unforgiveness and bitterness remain locked up inside your soul. As you line your will up with God’s, you’ll experience the freedom that comes through forgiving.
It doesn’t have to take days or weeks or years to forgive. You can do it right now, right where you are by praying this simple prayer out loud:
Father, I choose to forgive _____________ for everything they did that hurt me. I release them to you because you are the One who judges righteously. I trust you to work in their life and to draw them to you. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Then What?
People often say, “All this sounds good, but what do I do once I’ve chosen to forgive?” Here are some helpful tips from God’s Word:
- Surrender the right to get even. “Do not avenge yourselves…vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
- Surrender your thoughts about the person “…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
- Surrender your words regarding the person. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:29-31)
- Surrender your own resentment, anger, bitterness, self-pity, etc. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Finally…
Every human being has a deep, sometimes hidden, desire to be forgiven. Ernest Hemingway’s short story about the broken relationship between a Spanish father and his teenage son, Paco, highlights this desire.
Paco ran away from his home to Madrid, and his grieving father looked everywhere for him. In desperation, the father placed an ad in the Madrid newspaper that read, “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you.” The next morning, 800 hopeful men named Paco were standing in front of the newspaper office!
Someone needs your forgiveness right now, but even more, as you choose to forgive and surrender yourself to your loving heavenly Father, you’ll begin to experience the freedom that comes through forgiving.
Hope for YOUR Marriage
18
Oct
More and more studies are showing how important it is to have a healthy relationship with your spouse. Statistics show that happily married people are better adjusted, more successful, healthier, and even wealthier than their unhappily married counterparts.
Despite these statistics, the majority of couples still struggle – and even divorce – because of conflicts involving money, intimacy, friends, in-laws, child rearing and other common issues. That doesn’t mean strife and conflict have the right to rob you of the blessing God intended your marriage to be!
Since God is the originator of marriage, His Word is the best source of help for dealing with marital issues. While the Bible doesn’t promise you a problem-free marriage, it does give you guidance and counsel to help you through them.
“For Keeps”
God designed marriage to be “for keeps.” He said, “Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It wasn’t by accident that He used the word “cleave.” It means to “stick together like glue”.
His plan is for one man and one woman to be together – to be adhered together as if by glue (not Velcro) – for one lifetime. This requires that the man and the woman commit themselves to each other for their entire lives. It sounds perfect, don’t you think?
But your marriage, like every other, is made up of two imperfect people, and imperfect people do not make perfect marriages. Still, whether your marriage needs a little “tweaking” or seems beyond repair, there is hope that it can be better.
Hope in the Lord
Most couples try to resolve problems as they arise, but after time and many repeated disappointments, hopelessness can set in. When that day comes, it’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back. The frustrated spouse thinks, “If nothing is going to change, why should I keep trying?”
Don’t give up hope if you are at that point!
All things are possible with God. In Ephesians 1:18-20, as Paul prayed for the believers, he prayed that they would know “…what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
Think about it: we serve a God who was able to resurrect His Son from the dead. And He makes that same resurrection power available to you – and your marriage!
So if your marriage needs “a little tweaking” or seems beyond repair, put your trust in God. Let Him be the source of your hope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). Hope can be to your marriage what a transfusion is to someone who has lost a great deal of blood!
Dealing with Conflict
According to the Bible, conflict is rooted in selfishness. James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV) In the flesh, people think of themselves first. When both of you want the same thing, there is no conflict, but when there is disagreement, selfish desires can lead to disputes.
This really gets out of hand when both spouses refuse to change because they are upset with the other person. If you look at the situation honestly and objectively (as if it were someone else’s), it is much easier to see your part of the problem. But, too often, we only see our spouse’s part, and we refuse to change because we’re mad at them.
Did you know that psychologists tell us that every couple has about 10 issues they will never resolve? This is true even when two people love the Lord and each other. So, even if you were to get a divorce and remarry, you would still have irresolvable issues. Obviously divorce is not the answer!
A Better Way
One of the foundations of Christianity is this: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). As believers, we should follow His example. We should give up our own selfish desires even when our spouse is not
acting the way we feel they should.
Don’t fall into the trap of “I’ll change when my spouse does.” Selfishness is sin. If you are wrong in an area, it is best to admit it and quit it. Even when your wrong is smaller than your spouse’s, ask God to show you how you can improve the relationship. Is there is something you should be doing? Do it whether or not your spouse does the right thing.
When you are willing to set aside your own desires, strife will begin to be suffocated. Remember, the goal is not to be the one who is right. The goal is to have a happy marriage. So when a dispute arises, ask God to show you how you can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Beginnings of Peace
When you pray, you welcome God into the situation, and He promises to bring His peace with Him. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV).
If you and your spouse are both Christians, it’s ideal to pray together about issues as they come up. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but it is always effective. As difficult as it may seem at the time, humble yourself and suggest prayer before things become too clouded by emotions. You’ll find that it’s nearly impossible to stay mad at each other when you pray together – peace is on the way.
Even if your spouse is unsaved, you can still pray. Romans 4:17 refers to our God as the “one who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” When God speaks, miracles come! If He could raise His physically dead Son from the grave, He can certainly raise a spiritually dead spouse to a place of new life in Christ!
Words Are Important
God’s Words are not the only words with power. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Your words have the ability to create or destroy. That’s why it is so important to choose your words wisely.
Words like, “I wish I’d never married you,” destroy the security and commitment of your relationship. They are like weeds that threaten to choke and hurt your spouse.
If you want to “harvest” a better marriage, you need to plant better seeds. Begin to deliberately say things that line up with God’s Word and your commitment to your spouse. Saying something as simple as, “I love you. I’m committed to our marriage and I believe that God will help us with our problems” can make a huge difference!
Finally…
Only God can change a person. But as you pray for your spouse and deal with your own issues, you’ll experience more of God’s peace. Remember that your fulfillment comes from your relationship with the Lord. Your hope in Him will sustain you as He works to change your spouse.
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. If something in this brief teaching has spoken to your heart, put it into practice. As you do something differently, there is great hope of achieving a different result. There is hope for your marriage!