"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..."
Galatians 4:19
The essence of the Christian life is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). The miracle of the Christian life is that Christ not only leads us from above but He lives in us through His Spirit.
The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. But Christ-likeness is not attained through personal efforts at reforming our bad habits and character into His good habits and character. Christ-likeness is attained through allowing Christ to so live His life in you until "Christ is formed in you..." Let Christ be not just your example and teacher but your Lord who takes mastery over your life shaping you into His own image. Let Christ be not just a significant part of your life but let Him become your life (see Colossians 4:4).
Lord Jesus, live Your glorious life fully and freely in me today. Transform me into Your likeness as You live through me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
God at Work
"For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles." Galatians 2:8
God's working in a ministry makes all the difference. It is God's activity that both authenticates a ministry as from Him and that makes a ministry effective. Peter's ministry among the Jews was effective because God had sent him (apostle = sent one) and was working through him to reach Jews for Christ. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was effective because God had sent him and was working through him to reach Gentiles for Christ.
Any ministry we undertake in Christ's name will only be effective to reach others for Christ if we are serving as one's sent by God in the power of God. Is God at work in our ministry? Or have we gone out on our own without seeking and relying on Him? God's work makes all the difference between mere spiritual busyness and effective ministry that draws people to Christ. We must diligently seek and rely on His working through us.
Father, help me to be yielded to Your leadership and activity in my life. I want to go where You send and to be an instrument through whom You can work to draw people to Your Son.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
God's working in a ministry makes all the difference. It is God's activity that both authenticates a ministry as from Him and that makes a ministry effective. Peter's ministry among the Jews was effective because God had sent him (apostle = sent one) and was working through him to reach Jews for Christ. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was effective because God had sent him and was working through him to reach Gentiles for Christ.
Any ministry we undertake in Christ's name will only be effective to reach others for Christ if we are serving as one's sent by God in the power of God. Is God at work in our ministry? Or have we gone out on our own without seeking and relying on Him? God's work makes all the difference between mere spiritual busyness and effective ministry that draws people to Christ. We must diligently seek and rely on His working through us.
Father, help me to be yielded to Your leadership and activity in my life. I want to go where You send and to be an instrument through whom You can work to draw people to Your Son.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Power of Consecration
Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Then the Philistines seized him... Judges 16:20-21a
"He did not know that the LORD had left him." What a tragic statement! The life of Samson is really a tragic story. He was a man blessed by God with great ability and given opportunity to lead God's people Israel. However, he was all surface never achieving spiritual depth in a strong relationship with God. His long hair was not the source of Samson's strength rather it was the symbol of his consecration to God which was in fact the source of his strength. When Delilah cut his hair she did not steal his strength but God lifted His favor from Samson's life because Samson had turned his heart away from God.
Spiritual power is found in total consecration to God (commitment, being set apart to God). To maintain spiritual power we must maintain our consecration to the Lord. If we turn our heart away from the Lord we may find that God's favor has been lifted from our life and we were unaware of it. If you find yourself in such a situation return to the Lord with all your heart and His strength will fill you again. To avoid such a situation carefully maintain your consecration to the Lord day by day.
Father, You are gracious to grant to me Your strength for life's battles. Keep me mindful of the need to daily consecrate myself to You so that Your strength may flow through my life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
"He did not know that the LORD had left him." What a tragic statement! The life of Samson is really a tragic story. He was a man blessed by God with great ability and given opportunity to lead God's people Israel. However, he was all surface never achieving spiritual depth in a strong relationship with God. His long hair was not the source of Samson's strength rather it was the symbol of his consecration to God which was in fact the source of his strength. When Delilah cut his hair she did not steal his strength but God lifted His favor from Samson's life because Samson had turned his heart away from God.
Spiritual power is found in total consecration to God (commitment, being set apart to God). To maintain spiritual power we must maintain our consecration to the Lord. If we turn our heart away from the Lord we may find that God's favor has been lifted from our life and we were unaware of it. If you find yourself in such a situation return to the Lord with all your heart and His strength will fill you again. To avoid such a situation carefully maintain your consecration to the Lord day by day.
Father, You are gracious to grant to me Your strength for life's battles. Keep me mindful of the need to daily consecrate myself to You so that Your strength may flow through my life.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Keep First Love Alive
"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was received by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
The church is the bride of Christ. We are pledged to be a faithful to Him who died for us that we might live for Him. Paul was deeply concerned that the Corinthians were being led astray by false teachers from their true devotion to Christ. It is all too easy for us to stray from Christ through buying into the errant thoughts and ways of the world around us. We must guard our hearts and minds to belong to Christ alone. We must continually fan the flame of our first love toward Him so it not dimmed by worldly lusts. When we stand before Him in heaven's glory as those He purchased with His blood may we stand as a faithful bride!
Father, help me to be alert that I might not be deceived into unfaithfulness to Jesus. If I have strayed convict me and help me return to faithfulness. Fan the flame of my love for Christ until it consumes me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The church is the bride of Christ. We are pledged to be a faithful to Him who died for us that we might live for Him. Paul was deeply concerned that the Corinthians were being led astray by false teachers from their true devotion to Christ. It is all too easy for us to stray from Christ through buying into the errant thoughts and ways of the world around us. We must guard our hearts and minds to belong to Christ alone. We must continually fan the flame of our first love toward Him so it not dimmed by worldly lusts. When we stand before Him in heaven's glory as those He purchased with His blood may we stand as a faithful bride!
Father, help me to be alert that I might not be deceived into unfaithfulness to Jesus. If I have strayed convict me and help me return to faithfulness. Fan the flame of my love for Christ until it consumes me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
BIG PICTURE
Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. 2 Corinthians 10:15b-16a
In the midst of dealing with a troubled church, Paul continued to see the opportunities which lay beyond the problems. His expectation was that the believers in Corinth would mature in their faith and this would lead to more opportunities for him to present Christ to others. He was the preeminent church planter—sharing his faith in new locations and moving on from there after the new church was sufficiently established.
As we pray for and respond to people to need to know about Jesus, consider this thought: the person that you witness to is the link to many others. In a sense, you are sharing Christ with more than one individual, and when God brings the first person into the kingdom, that opens the door to many more people.
So, continue to share Christ with the people God has placed in your life, and pray that their faith will continue to grow until they trust in Jesus. Pray that God’s work in their life (through you) will greatly expand, so that others can hear and respond to the gospel.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayer!
Have a blessed day,
Jim
In the midst of dealing with a troubled church, Paul continued to see the opportunities which lay beyond the problems. His expectation was that the believers in Corinth would mature in their faith and this would lead to more opportunities for him to present Christ to others. He was the preeminent church planter—sharing his faith in new locations and moving on from there after the new church was sufficiently established.
As we pray for and respond to people to need to know about Jesus, consider this thought: the person that you witness to is the link to many others. In a sense, you are sharing Christ with more than one individual, and when God brings the first person into the kingdom, that opens the door to many more people.
So, continue to share Christ with the people God has placed in your life, and pray that their faith will continue to grow until they trust in Jesus. Pray that God’s work in their life (through you) will greatly expand, so that others can hear and respond to the gospel.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayer!
Have a blessed day,
Jim
Monday, July 12, 2010
Generous Living
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6
Little seed sown will result in a small harvest. Much seed will bring a large harvest. If we are generous with what God has given us we will enjoy much spiritual fruit. If we are reluctant to give we will see little spiritual fruit.
God's is generous. The Father generously gives us blessing upon blessing the chief of which is salvation through His Son. The Son generously gave His life for us. The Spirit generously pours His gifts and power into our life. If we share the life of God it will inevitably manifest itself in generous living.
We can never surpass God in our generosity and therefore we will never lack the ability to be generous. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Father, thank You for Your immeasurable generosity toward me. Manifest Your generosity through my life by enabling me to be generous with the resources, time, and gifts You have entrusted me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Little seed sown will result in a small harvest. Much seed will bring a large harvest. If we are generous with what God has given us we will enjoy much spiritual fruit. If we are reluctant to give we will see little spiritual fruit.
God's is generous. The Father generously gives us blessing upon blessing the chief of which is salvation through His Son. The Son generously gave His life for us. The Spirit generously pours His gifts and power into our life. If we share the life of God it will inevitably manifest itself in generous living.
We can never surpass God in our generosity and therefore we will never lack the ability to be generous. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Father, thank You for Your immeasurable generosity toward me. Manifest Your generosity through my life by enabling me to be generous with the resources, time, and gifts You have entrusted me.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Weakness = Good?
The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength saved her, announce now to the people anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead." - Judges 7:2-3
Too many men?
Conventional wisdom says that the more men you take into battle the better your chances of victory. But God wanted to make sure that the Israelites didn't trust in their own power. He wanted them to trust in Him for the victory. So He whittled down their army to a mere 300 men so that there would be no way for them to take credit for the victory.
God has a pattern of working this way. Salvation is from Him, and not something we can manufacture or become worthy of (Ephesians 2:8-9) As Mark pointed out yesterday, God often calls weak people to do His work. The apostle Paul put it this way, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)"
Don't overlook Gideon's faith. He trusted God enough to send his men away. Perhaps God asking you to give something up so that you will trust Him more than you trust in yourself? What are you trusting in that prevents you from trusting in God?
Father I am weak. Help me to delight in my weakness. Lead me to surrender the things that cause me to trust in myself. I want only to trust in you, because you deserve my trust. It is foolishness for me to trust in my good or my ability. I love you Lord.
For His glory,
Matt
Too many men?
Conventional wisdom says that the more men you take into battle the better your chances of victory. But God wanted to make sure that the Israelites didn't trust in their own power. He wanted them to trust in Him for the victory. So He whittled down their army to a mere 300 men so that there would be no way for them to take credit for the victory.
God has a pattern of working this way. Salvation is from Him, and not something we can manufacture or become worthy of (Ephesians 2:8-9) As Mark pointed out yesterday, God often calls weak people to do His work. The apostle Paul put it this way, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)"
Don't overlook Gideon's faith. He trusted God enough to send his men away. Perhaps God asking you to give something up so that you will trust Him more than you trust in yourself? What are you trusting in that prevents you from trusting in God?
Father I am weak. Help me to delight in my weakness. Lead me to surrender the things that cause me to trust in myself. I want only to trust in you, because you deserve my trust. It is foolishness for me to trust in my good or my ability. I love you Lord.
For His glory,
Matt
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