Uncategorized – Page 71

Restoring the Image (Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Ever run a race? You know the feeling of seeing finish line in the distance and everything in your body is telling you stop but your brain is saying, “Ju can duit!” I use to run triathlons and what an excruciating experience. Swim, bike, run, collapse. But oh, what a feeling when I finally crossed the finish line! It was worth it all.

The finish line is quite evident in the Christian life: being with Christ. We talk about it all the time. It’s that point where we will finally be completely restored. But sometimes there are so many distractions that we lose sight of the end and wonder why we are even running. It is certain that this life takes endurance and perseverance (Heb 10.36, Jm 1.12). So how do we keep our “eye on the prize?”

Let me suggest 3 things:
· Remember that restoration is a process and we will be working on becoming like Jesus for the rest of our lives. This is a marathon not a sprint (Heb 12.1-2).
· Remember that our restoration is secure in the person of Christ not our own efforts. Our faith and hope is in Jesus. If it is based on our performance, we are sunk (Eph 2.8-9, Titus 3.5).
· And finally, remember there is nothing to compare to our eternal future with Christ. This life is but a vapor (Jm 4.14) and in Yogi Berra style, “Eternity is a very long time.”

Keep your eyes on the finish line and press on to the high calling of Christ.

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

Illustrations and Short Devo Index

Illustration – The Discipleship Pipeline
Illustration – The Tree
Illustration – Living Up to Our God Given Potential
Illustration – Phases for becoming a Man of the Word
The Parable of a US Army Aviator
Illustration – My Plan, His Plan, God’s Plan
Illustration – The Components of Suffering
Lordship Changes
What does it mean to follow Jesus (Lordship)
Jesus and the Lordship of the Father
Motivation for the Word
The Five I’s of Our Ministry
Illustration – 6 Obstacles to Truth
The Orbit Illustration (My Relationship with the World)
Time Management
Application of Truth and Grace
Key Passages for Family and Marriage
Balance for the Family and Lordship
Faith Illustration
The Prayer Hand
Jesus, Man of Prayer
Quiet Time Illustration
The Temple Illustration
Illustration – Moses / Joshua Principle

Please leave a comment by clicking on “comment” below.

Restoring the Image (Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The whole is a sum of its parts. Jesus commands us in His great commission to take the good news of restoration in Him to the whole world. God’s restoration plan goes beyond nationality, gender, culture, religion, and political persuasion. His desires have always been to bring mankind as a whole back to the original design and fellowship with Him (Mk 16.15, Lk 24.46-47, Jn 17.18-21, Ac 1.8, 2 Pet 3.9).

His objective to restore men is implemented by entrusting the ones being restored with the great privilege to participate in another’s restoration. He gives ordinary men and women with the frailties of a fallen state, but with the power of His Holy Spirit, the mission to make disciples (ones being conformed to Christ’s image). When we reflect on how unfathomable that act of kindness is, to labor with God in His rescue mission, we should be overwhelmed with gratefulness and moved to action (1 Jn 3.1).

God could have chosen other methods, which to us may have seemed more efficient. Instead, He chooses to allow our natural relationships to be the vehicle on which the gospel is carried. As one person is being restored to the original image of God, he begins to help another do the same. And as they both help others the multiplication process begins. But it is important to remember it is not enough to simply change one’s behavior or practice religion. Restoring the image to its true original state can only be accomplished in and through Jesus Christ (Jn 14.6). Anything less becomes a blasphemous pyramid scheme.

His goal is to restore mankind one person at a time. His plan is to accomplish this through us. This is the great Kingdom work. Laboring with the Father in His vineyard, harvesting the fruit of eternal life (Jn 4.35-36, Mt 9.35-38). Jesus’ great commission is about reaching the world by restoring one man at a time through those who are being restored.

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

Testimony 11: A New Creature

“If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things pass away, behold new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Chapter 11

I was a new creature and I knew it the moment I got up off the floor. About the same time my buddies came through the door and I made my proclamation of faith. “Guys, I want to be your friend but I just can’t keep living my life like this anymore.” I walked out into the morning light and jumped into my car to head back to Ft. Lewis. As I hit the ignition switch to start my car, the radio came on full blast (the normal volume I was accustomed to) and a song about adultery was playing. I remember being so angry I almost ripped the knob out of the radio to turn it off. I would not turn back. I was determined to live my life for Christ and since then, I have never looked back. Oh, sure I have stumbled along the way. But I have never gone back to the old Chuck Wood. I had been changed by the Holy Spirit of God and continued to be renewed everyday. But it doesn’t stop there…

Testimony 1: In the Beginning
Testimony 2: Jesus is Watching You
Testimony 3: Paratrooper Religion
Testimony 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Testimony 5: The Geographical Solution
Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Testimony 7: The Seed is Planted
Testimony 8: Spiritual Melee
Testimony 9: Seeing the Light
Testimony 10: Receiving God’s Plan for My Life
Testimony 11: A New Creature
Testimony 12: What about You?
Testimony 13: A Little Miracle
Testimony 14: An Apostle to the Soldier
Testimony 15: First Steps toward Growth
Testimony 16: Being Discipled

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com or click the envelope below to send this post to a friend…

Fellowship: From the Great Theologian, Saint Arnold of Austria (Part 2/2)

Continued from yesterday…
Fellowship: From the Great Theologian, Saint Arnold of Austria (Part 1/2)

“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once told [Joe Weider] that anybody who hangs out with guys who miss workouts, lack enthusiasm for their training and don’t want to push themselves will never be successful. He said that to spend time with those sorts of individuals would be devastating to his goals.”

3. Don’t want to push themselves – There is a sense in modern American Christianity that if it doesn’t make you feel good, it must not be from God. We obviously have not read the second half of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11. I’m not advocating that we should take up rituals of self-abasement, but I know that Scriptures are full of exhortation for pressing on and enduring when things get tough (2 Cor 13.16, Heb 10.36, Jm 1.12). We need to see that some things that enter our lives that don’t necessarily feel good are actually going to bear good fruit in our lives. And let’s face it, following Jesus can actually complicate one’s life rather than make it more comfortable (Just ask a Muslim convert who has been shunned by their family). If we hang out with men and women who are being stretched in their faith, we gain encouragement to endure when our faith is stretched.

I don’t know where Arnold stands with Jesus, but I think he’s nailed down a bit of truth here. We become like the people we hang out with. Notice I never mentioned non-Christians. I assume you understand that believers don’t take their cues for living from those of the world (1 Jn 2.15-16). I also assume you are developing loving relationships with unbelievers for the sake of winning them to Christ. But, it is evident that if a Christian is fellowshipping with passionate followers of Jesus, they tend to follow suit. The goal is to find believers that will help us love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt 22.37-39).

Shout Out to:

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Annapolis, Maryland
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Fort Huachuca, Arizona
Owosso, Michigan
Stafford, Virginia
Victor, New York

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com or click the envelope below to send this post to a friend…

Fellowship: From the Great Theologian, Saint Arnold of Austria (Part 1/2)

Mike Owens has developed a little devotional that I thought was well worth passing on. It is centered on a quote from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are three aspects of this quote that certainly rings true not only in body building but in Kingdom building as well. Arnold describes the kind of people you don’t want to hang out with and who will eventually derail you from your goals.

1. Guys who miss workouts – Christians who steer clear of assembling together are not only robbing themselves of vital input for growth but are grossly unbiblical. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us, “not to forsake our assembly together…” (Heb 10.24-25). You want to hang out with people who actually like being together. Not those who see it as a chore or dry obligation. Duty takes the life out of fellowship. It would do us well to assemble and assemble often. I find that believers who fellowship with others at least four times a week are usually living victorious lives for Jesus Christ.

2. Lacks enthusiasm for their training – Believers who see practicing the disciplines as legalism and something to be avoided do not understand the ways of Jesus. Jesus Himself practices basic spiritual disciplines in order to keep His fellowship with the Father in tune. He is a man of the Scriptures (Mt 4.4), prayer (Mk 1.35), fasting (Mt 4.2), solitude (Lk 5.16), and fellowship (Mk3.14). He didn’t practice these out of duty or obligation. He wasn’t trying to impress people. He was “enthusiastic” about His relationship with God and this passion drove Him in these areas of discipline. When you hang out with people who embrace spiritual disciplines with passion (like Jesus) for the sake of growing closer to Christ, you become enthusiastic about them yourself.

Part 2 – Fellowship: From the Great Theologian, Saint Arnold of Austria (Part 2/2)

Here’s a Shout Out to:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Lagos, Nigeria
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Annapolis, Maryland
Arnold, Maryland
Atlanta, Georgia
Daleville, Alabama
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Holland, Michigan
Kalkaska, Michigan
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Laramie, Wyoming
Mesa, Arizona
Nashville, Tennessee
New York, United States
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Riva, Maryland
Ukiah, California
Washington, District Of Columbia
Wasilla, Alaska

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com or click the envelope below to send this post to a friend…

Restoring the Image (Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come…The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:1, 17)One of the greatest joys of discipling men is watching how quickly they transform when they begin to help others grow in Christ. Time and time again, a man has come to me in a stagnate spiritual state and with an exhortation to invest in another, the flames of passion for Jesus are reignited. It would stand to reason, if we are created to reproduce both physically and spiritually, that we would feel fulfilled when we are helping others restore their image.

I use an illustration on how spiritual stagnation can occur. The Sea of Galilee is a healthy, thriving body of water. This is the lake where Jesus’ disciples made their living and twice caught miraculous quantities of fish. On the other hand, the Dead Sea, 67 miles south, has very little living in it. Its salt content is so high, it is literally dead. What’s the difference? Input and output. The Jordan River flows in and out of the Sea of Galilee, keeping the waters fresh. However, the Jordan only flows into the Dead Sea; there is no out flow. Similarly, like hundreds of Christians who are merely concerned with feeding themselves, the result is stagnation. The love of God is like the Jordan River. It must flow through us onto others to have it fullest transforming effects. And, to the extent we invest in others, we see greater transformation occurring in our own lives.

Jesus demonstrates how our spiritual health is dependent on investing in others. That’s why from beginning to end Jesus trains the disciples to reach out to others by sharing the good news of salvation and helping them grow in their faith (Mt 4.19, 28.18-20, Ac 1.8). The Apostle Paul recognized everyone has a role to play in helping others in the faith (1 Cor 12-14, Eph 4.11-12).

You are designed to help others grow in their relationship with God. It is essential for your own personal transformation. Reach out to others and see the difference it makes in restoring your image.

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

Illustration – Devo on the Promise of Abraham

I use this devo to communicate vision to explain God’s line of purpose and His desires to bless us. It was thoroughly developed by Cecil Bean my mentor.

For questions or comments drop me a line at charleswood1@gmail.com or click the envelope below to send this post to a friend…

Restoring the Image (Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)

Dawson Trotman in his message, “Born to Reproduce” talks about the natural and healthy design of man to reproduce after his own kind. He makes the point that it is instinctive for men and women to procreate. But, he also argues that man was designed to procreate physically and spiritually. I agree wholeheartedly.

In the beginning God gives Adam and Eve their first command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1.28). Mankind got off to a good start physically during Noah’s day but were spiritually bankrupt to the point God regretted creating man (Gen 6.1-6). It is clear the command was meant to have the spiritual component as well. Over 6 billion people later, we still struggle to obey God completely by reproducing in both the physical and spiritual aspects of the image of God.

It’s important to notice that God starts over with one man, Noah. God continues to restart the spiritual reproduction chain with one man as the centuries pass: Abraham (Gen 12.1-2), Moses (Ex 3.10), David (2 Sa 7.7-16), Elijah (2 Ki 19.14-21), all the way to Jesus who was the ultimate man and model (Ro 5.14-15). Then, Jesus exhorts His followers to continue the process of spiritual reproduction from beginning (Mt 4.19) to end (Mt 28.18-20, Ac 1.8).

Although Jesus is the pinnacle of restoration and spiritual reproduction, God continues to use the “one man” principle to build and reform His Church (Mt 16.18, 2 Tim 2.2). It is the responsibility of that one man to reproduce himself in his likeness.

Here are some critical questions concerning spiritual reproduction: Who bears the image of Christ as a result of your investment in their life? Are you training someone else to reproduce? As Dawson Trotman use to ask, “Where is your man?”

You can listen to the message “Born to Reproduce” by Dawson Trotman at Discipleship Library by clicking on the link below:
Discipleship Library

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling

(Part 13) – The Holy Spirit: His Work

(Part 14) – The Word of God: Essential

(Part 15) – The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

(Part 16) – The Word of God: Setting the Heart

(Part 17) – The Word of God: Intake

(Part 18) – The Word of God: Application

(Part 19) – The Word of God: Passing it On

(Part 20) – Interaction with Others: The Image is not and Island

(Part 21) – Interaction with Others: Intentional Co-Restoration

(Part 22) – Interaction with Others: An Invitation to Restoration

(Part 23) – Interaction with Others: Restoration begins with Explanation

(Part 24) – An Evangelistic Obstacle to Following Jesus

(Part 25) – The Transforming Power of Prayer

(Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

(Part 27) – Reproduction: Creative like the Creator

(Part 28) – Reproduction: Helping Others Changes Us

(Part 29) – Reproduction: Changing the World

(Part 30) – Pressing On Toward the Finish Line

(Part 31) – Crossing the Finish Line

(Conclusion) – To Be Like Jesus

Restoring the Image (Part 26) – It’s Me, O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalms 139:23-24)

I use to think that it was selfish to pray for myself so I made an effort to pray others at length and myself sparingly. I soon discovered through an African American Spiritual that my sense of humility was seriously misguided. The song’s lyrics testify that God’s intervention is more needed by the one praying than the ones who are being prayed for. “Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” As I gave this a little more thought I wondered at my arrogance. I was praying for others as if they were in greater need spiritually than I. Now that was a humbling experience.

When you consider the undertaking of a discipler, it is even more imperative to pray for one’s self. My Bible College Professor once said, “Men, a brain surgeon cracks open a man skull and messes with his brain. That is serious business. But you, my young theologs, are messing with men’s souls.” Now which of the two do you think needs more prayer?

Jesus, the epitome of humility, did not hesitate to pray for Himself. He asked the Father to glorify Him (Jn 17.1, 5), to help Him (Mt 26.39-42), to take care of His spirit (Lk 23.46). He even thanked the Father for hearing His prayers (Jn 11.41). In His instructions on prayer, He teaches His disciples to pray for themselves (“us” is used four times in the Lord’s Prayer: Mt 6.9-13).

The Apostle Paul understood his personal need for prayer and asked the churches to pray for him. And right now, I ask that you pray the same prayer for me and yourselves. Pause for a moment and pray; “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you” (2 Thes 3:1).

(Part 1) – The Glory of His Image

(Part 2) – Too Much of a Good Thing

(Part 3) – We Need a Savior

(Part 4) – The Restoration Process: The Father

(Part 5) – The Restoration Process: The Son

(Part 6) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship

(Part 7) – The Restoration Process: Discipleship Continued

(Part 8) – The Restoration Process: One-on-One Discipleship

(Part 9) – The Restoration Process: Tools and Techniques

(Part 10) – The Restoration Process: Dangers

(Part 11) – The Holy Spirit: The Breath of Life

(Part 12) – The Holy Spirit: Indwelling