March 2009 – ToBeLikeJesus

Advancing the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom to the Nations

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One Team, One Fight

John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50)

Value #9 – Interdependent relationships in the Body of Christ in advancing the Gospel.

I asked him, “What do we need to improve in our ministry?” You get what you ask for. As Jim Downing, in his nineties and one of my heroes, started the rebuke it came from quarters I didn’t expect. “Your greatest weakness is your lack of appreciation for other ministries.” The strong admonition was unexpected but taken to heart. Since then I have been making a concerted effort to change my actions and more importantly my thinking.

Jesus had to address this same problem with member of His own team. John tells Jesus that they stopped a man from doing ministry because “he was not following us.” Jesus rebukes John and explains, “For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9.38-41)

It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who struggles with a myopic view of ministry. In fact, it seems to be the tendency in most successful ministries. And yet it is so obviously a product of arrogance it should be a red flag waving in front of our faces.

The Apostle Paul gives us a pretty clear picture of how we should view other ministries.

“And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:5-7)

The Body of Christ should be functioning in a synergistic manner in order to advance the Kingdom and glorify God. For Jesus’ sake, let’s work together. One Team, One Fight!

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Living and Discipling Among the Lost

The complete series on “Living and Discipling Among the Lost”

Part 1 – A Love Hate Relationship with Evangelism
Part 2 – LOST – They are not on an Island!
Part 3 – Evangelism: Methods or Majesty
Part 4 – Reaching the Far Lost, How would Jesus do it?
Part 5 – The Near Lost – Low Hanging Fruit
Part 6 – A Strategy for the Near Lost
Part 7 – Inside Out Witnessing
Part 8 – The Shocking Reality – Cold Contacts
Part 9 – Do Not Feed the Lost?
Part 10 – Leaders: Do the Math
Conclusion – A Summary of the Living and Discipling Among the Lost

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Facebook Evangelism?

He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”
(Matthew 13:33)

Value #8 – Families and relational networks in discipling the nations.

I have a confession to make. I don’t read all of my “friends” status changes in Facebook. In fact with so many “friends,” I don’t read half of what is posted on my Facebook. It ain’t pretty but it’s the truth. (I anticipate a massive de-friending after this blog post :)

I remember sitting and looking at some ruins in Turkey. I actually began to weep at the demise of the Church in that country. As I prayed in agony, John 3.16 popped in my head, “For God so loved the world…” For God so loved the world! Not Chuck Wood. I do not have the resources to love the world.

I use these two examples to point out our limitations and our strengths. Realistically, I can only have so many meaningful relationships. My capacity is governed by time, space, and energy. As I invest these resources, I discover my expression of love is more meaningful to its recipient when it is focused. So, it would only stand to reason that our strengths lie in our natural relational networks.

What am I trying to say? I’m saying that our best bet for reaching the world for Jesus is by investing deeply in our natural relationships. In turn a multiplication effect will begin like yeast leavening the whole lump of dough (Mt 13.33). I’m not saying a person shouldn’t be a missionary, or that it’s wrong to move away from your family. This would be a choice to engage in a new relational network for the sake of the Kingdom. But the fact remains, the gospel is best communicated in meaningful relationships and I can only have so many. So here’s the question; who’s in your circle?

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Nightline Face-Off: Does Satan Exist

If you missed this debate on ABC it would be worth your time watching.

It shows how easy it is for us to manufacture our own god if we stray from God’s Word in the Scriptures. Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church does an excellent job of pointing people to Christ and the Bible for understanding truth. Click on the link below.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaceOff/

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A Jesus Community

Value #7 – Love and grace expressed among us in community.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

When I was a child, I would go to the swimming pool to watch the other kids. They were laughing and playing and having a great time. But, because I couldn’t pay for admission, I was on the outside looking in. So I would just hang on the chain-link fence watching and drooling. Think about it. That’s how attractive our love for one another should be to the unbeliever. There should be people hanging on the chain-link fence of the Church dying to get in.

The community of Jesus is driven not only by the dignity and value of every person, but by the expression of love and grace based on that conviction. It is the byproduct of really believing in the worth of the individual.

The kind of love we demonstrate toward others is not based on merit but on God’s prerogative in creation and His commandments. We work at nurturing, helping, caring, and protecting others in our family because of their worth to the Father. It’s what loyal family members do.

Grace is extended to others because it was first extended to us. It’s a given in a fallen world that others will offend and abuse us (just as we do to God). Our supernatural response is to give grace, mercy, and forgiveness. This is the Jesus way that is so radically different from the world. It builds a community with Kingdom values and is irresistible.

A word about Grace and Truth: I really don’t like to talk about these as mutually exclusive. Grace and truth are like the wings on an airplane, one is not more important than the other. We have been in a season in Christianity where I’m afraid one is diminished for the other. Let me be plain. This is an affront to the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus came full of grace and truth. To divorce one from another flies in the face of the Author of Salvation. You can never have too much truth or too much grace. They fit hand in hand. When we express the truth correctly it becomes a gracious act of love. And when we give grace appropriately, we are a living example of the Truth. This is how Jesus lived and expects us to do the same.

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Does God Love Osama bin Laden?

Value #6 – The dignity and value of every person.

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

I’ve written extensively on man being created in the image of God and how this impacts the discipleship process. The Father’s design of man is foundational to understanding the worth of every individual. His love extends to every man, woman, and child based on His created likeness in them (Gen 1.26-27).

Even in Adam’s fallen state, God still holds man’s likeness to Him in high regard. It was the image of God that exacted a bloody punishment for the blood of another bearing the same image (Gen 9.6). Sin had corrupted the man but could never diminish the love God had for him (Jn 3.16, Rom 5.8, 1 Pet 3.18). From the beginning, God had a plan to rescue us from ourselves and His wrath (Gen 3.15). When Jesus died, He died for all sin, past, present and future. And all who would accept this gift would inherit eternal life (Jn 1.12, 3.16).

The fact that God views us this way should have a huge impact on the way we view ourselves and others. But our rebellious nature pervades even with this knowledge. Some would still stubbornly reject this gift of love and ignore the eternal consequences (Ps 10.4). Others would be so bold to advise God that they were not worthy of such a gift and choose to remain unforgiving in their own misguided pride and self pity (Rom 9.20). And the greatest offense is when we who profess to understand His grace and mercy in our own lives do not extend the same to others (Mt 18.35). These 3 gross abuses have tragic consequences.

So, how should we respond? First, we need to repent of any self-sufficiency. We must completely embrace the person of Jesus Christ as the only cure to our hopeless condition (1 Tim 4.10). Secondly, we must see others as our equals in both sin and need for God’s forgiveness. No matter what scale man has designed to elevate himself one above another, we are the same (Rom 3.23). And finally, we need to extend the same love Christ has shown us to others (1 Jn 2.1-11).

Note: God’s love does not cancel His Justice. Without Christ we are left to pay for our own sins.

So what do you think? Leave me your input in the comments below.

Big Promises from a Big God

Value #5 – Expectant faith and persevering prayer rooted in the promises of God.

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

When I was a young disciple of Jesus, I instinctively knew to trust Him with all my needs and dreams. Having come out of a disastrous lifestyle of trying to pull myself up by my own boot straps, I was completely convinced that I needed to depend on someone with real power to do something about my miserable condition. My faith in Christ was born out of the realization that I was not a very good “Captain of my Soul.”

This simple childlike faith grew as the Holy Spirit connected me with battle buddies of like heart. These men were different. They were not just trying to be good people or asking God to meet their daily needs. They truly believed that God would use them to change the world for Jesus Christ. They would spend time together praying over a world map, asking God to reach the nations through their lives. This kind of faith and prayer is not only powerfully in tune with the promises of God, it is extremely infectious.

It wasn’t long before I was praying and looking for promises and asking God to use my life for the sake of His Kingdom. I came across passages like Isaiah 58.9-12 and Psalms 107.35-38. And, although I didn’t understand the context and correct interpretation of these passages, I was foolish enough to pray through them and believed God could use my life to that end. I would soon find plenty of promises that did apply to me and all of His disciples (Mt 4.19, 28.18-20, Acts 1.8). The result? I have been used by God to share Christ with people around the world. Naive? Not really. Courageously obedient to Jesus, absolutely!

What are the promises you have claimed? God has given us so many; from taking care of our daily needs to evangelizing the world to eternal life. Are you searching the Scriptures to find these great gems? Are you praying through them in faith? The Father certainly rewards such obedience and trust.

What are your favorite Promises of God? Write them in the comment section below.

On the road again – Headed to Branson, MO (Rainy / Cloudy Day)

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Parakletos Dunamis – Powerful Counselor

Value #4 – The leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

In some conservative Christian circles, there is paranoia about talking too much about the Holy Spirit. The reaction is the same with the third Person of the Trinity as with any other element of abuse. When we see mistreatment of the Doctrine of the Parakletos (Gk), we tend to throw the Spirit out with the bath water. This is not only wrong but very dangerous (Mk 3.29).

First, every converted disciple of Jesus has the indwelling Holy Spirit and should feel compelled to be filled with Him on a continuous basis (Rom 8.9, Acts 13.52, Eph 5.18). We are commanded to be filled and led by this same Spirit (Rom 8.4,14, Eph 5.18, Gal 5.16,18). It is not a luxury or a second blessing. The Holy Spirit is essential to our success in following Jesus (Lk 11.13, Jn 14.26, 15.26). He is the one who was promised and leads us through life.

The Holy Spirit is the one who takes the ordinary efforts of man and turns them into the extraordinary accomplishments of God. He does this by imbuing us with His divine power (Acts 1.8, Rom 15.13, Eph 3.16). The Dunamis (Gk: Power -where we get our word dynamite) of the Holy Spirit is the difference between the fleshly mundane and a work of God.

I’ve personally experienced the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit. Generally, we make the mistake associating these events with some heavy duty emotions. And, although emotion can be part of the experience, it is not necessary. In fact, I think we would short circuit under the type of emotionalism that is usually associated with the Spirit if we indeed were continuously filled with the Holy Spirit. Emotional highs are not the objective. Being powerfully led by Him is the objective.

Actually, Deb and I are experiencing this right now. It seems as though the Holy Spirit is giving monumental direction and working powerfully in prayer, time in the Word, and circumstances. And although our emotions vary, His work and presence is unmistakable. Even when we aren’t on a spiritual high, be sure that the Holy Spirit is powerfully leading us and other obedient saints moment by moment.

Put your favorite verses in the comments below.

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