No Other Gospel

Galatians 5: 1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5: 1 will be our theme verse over the next few weeks as we consider the Gospel as presented by Paul to the churches of Galatia. It was Christ and Christ alone who set us free to live in (what else) FREEDOM. This is not just some kind of abstract idea or concept. Today, in Christ, we can live in freedom from our past life of sin, freedom from our failures and experience freedom to live a life wholeheartedly pursuing the one who freed us.

What keeps us from a life of Freedom in Christ? In his first epistle John warns about the threat from outside the church referring to the love of the world. But for the churches in Galatia, the challenge to the Gospel was altogether different. The Galatians had been led away by perverted teaching within the church.

We face the same type of challenge today with at least three different methods of “Jesus Plus” types of teachings.

In the next post, we’ll begin with the first chapter of Galatians. We’ll consider what makes the Gospel the Gospel and how to spot the difference and we’ll consider the life of a person whose life was literally transformed by the power of Christ.

Buried Treasure

My grandmother lived through much of the 20th century and did not have a great trust in the banking system.  Her solution?  She carried two thousand dollars in a small pouch she literally pinned to her clothing.  Recently I learned, she also kept a hidden treasure of 5-10 thousand dollars place in a mason jar in an old well house on the family farm.

Granny wasn’t the first to hide her treasure.  In Matthew 13: 44, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.  Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

What could be so valuable that a man would sell out everything?  What would you do?

Surrendering to Godʼs treasure in and through us requires a clear view of the treasures we have prescribed for ourselves. Most peopleʼs lists of things they consider important would include  family and personal peace, comfort, prosperity, security, friends, good health, fulfilling experiences, and reaching their full potential.

Look over the list.  Can any of the treasures conflict with God’s best for us?  God has a plan for us and it is true that God may and often does provide for us some of the things on those lists, but surrendering means that we will not live for the list.

A Surrendered Life

In the song, Take My Life, the composer makes the following plea -

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

One reviewer of the song wrote -
“This song made me realize that there are a lot of things in this life that are hard to give up.  It was easy for me to say “I offer my life”, when there was no career, no wealth and no other things I love and no responsibilities, yet I have to give it up.  I know it will be worth it, but it is easier said than done.”

Over the next few installments the blog will focus on Chip Ingram’s study -  “True Spirituality According to Jesus” . In our study of Romans 12, let me ask you to consider what surrender means in real terms.

Take a look a the lyrics of this song.  You’ll find your life in there.  Is my life consecrated to Christ?  Are my hands and feet following His lead?  Is my song for Christ?  Do my words encourage others?  What have I not surrendered today?

Crushing Divisions and Obstacles

Romans 15: 17-20

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

This morning I listened to a podcast teaching about God’s plan for unity among the greater church.  In Paul’s day there were those who focused on doctrines of men and not of God.  What was Paul’s profound suggestion?  Two words.  Avoid them.

How do we recognize them?  “Such persons do not serve our Lord Christ…by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

In Matthew 10:16 Jesus tells His disciples to be “wise as a serpent and harmless like a dove.”

Here Paul tells us to be “wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” We are to focus on the goodness of God and His provision through His grace and mercy.  On the other hand we should be absolutely innocent to the evil around us.  At work or home, at church or just hanging out with friends.  Our lives should be marked by a growing closeness to God.  What’s the result of our obedience?  God will soon “crush Satan under your feet.”

Our job is obedience.  God will take care of the rest.

When Freedom Comes

It has been said that when I was young I told my Mom that “a promise is a promise.”  It was more than something cute a preschool age boy might say.

Romans 15: 8-9

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

Paul reminds us of Jesus’ purpose – to show the truthfulness of God (Remember it is impossible for God to lie-Hebrews 6:18)by confirming the promises given since Adam and now we are to Rejoice and give God glory for His mercy.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard a song called When Freedom Comes written from the viewpoint of Christ.

When Freedom comes.
It will be worth it.
It will be worth it.
When it comes to you…

Cause you’ve got too much on your shoulders.
Too much in your head.
Too much in your heart…that’s poisonous.

Look deep.
I see things that keep you from seeing Me.
My will be done. In everyone.

Cause you’ve got burdens on your shoulders
Lies in your head.
Pain in your heart…that wants you dead.

Spirit open their eyes.
Open their minds.
Open their hearts and help them know…
Truth from a lie
Foe from a friend
That I AM for them!

Because I want
Freedom on their shoulders
Peace in their heads
Love in their hearts.  Again.

We have a reason to sing.  A reason to be filled with joy and peace.  God cannot lie.  Jesus is the Truth.  When we know the Truth, we will be free.  Indeed.

Walking in Love

What does the freedom I have in Christ mean to the people around me?

Paul continues his teaching on how we should live our lives among other believers especially in the area of diet.

What do you do when you want to spend time with a friend?  Many times, we may invite friends over for something to eat or we may meet others for a meal at a restaurant.

We have some friends who have an issue with any type of pork.  We we visit with them we eat turkey sausage and turkey bacon and we eat some more turkey or something else, but not pork.  Get the picture?

How should we respond?  While I may not share the opinion on bacon and ham, I should not seek to flaunt my freedom to eat what I want.

Paul says, “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.”

Years ago, a friend of mine expressed his freedom to consume a drink with a meal from time to time. He reasoned that the Scripture does not prohibit any alcohol and so he invited a new family of believers to his home for Thanksgiving where he served wine with the meal.

In his desire to express the freedom he experienced with Christ, he didn’t realize the family had a history of alcoholism and as a result, the new family suffered a severe setback in their faith.

In this passage Paul encourages us to “pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding” and “it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.”

Think about your influence on your family, friends and those you at work.  Are you encouraging them by your daily walk or could you be causing someone to stumble?

Wake Up!

Recently, Patrina and I have been getting up around 5:00 AM so we can do some exercise at a local gym.  It’s not always easy to get up and get going, but it will be worth it, right?

Romans 12: 11-14

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul is calling each of us to be spiritually awake!  Today!  Our ultimate salvation is growing nearer each day we live, so since the restoration of all things is closer let’s live like we mean it.

When Paul writes about putting on light and taking off the darkness he’s not talking about any kind of legalism.  Think about this:  If you really thought today might be the last day you would spend on this earth, in your job or with your family – how you act?

You probably would not be in “orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealosy.” For those of us who believe, we put on Jesus Christ, who changes us daily from the inside out.

Have a great day of being Light in your world.

God, Government and You

Tonight I spoke with a physician who has two sons attending two very different schools.  The older son attends a school where any talk of God could cause trouble, while the younger son attends a private school in the Cleveland area where prayer to God is encouraged and expected.

Talk about controversy!  Just mention the government and God in the same sentence and all kinds of emotions are stirred.

After telling us to do our part to live in peace with others in chapter 12 of Romans, Paul now shifts his focus onto public life. The Christians of the first century were not exactly popular in their culture.  So why would Paul encourage the believers to be “subject to the governing authorities”?

The answer is in the sovereignty of God who has placed those in authority.  We are expected to follow the laws of the land.  As verses six and seven tells us, we are to pay our taxes.  We are to respect the laws of the land.  We are to honor those in authority.

He’s not saying we necessarily agree with them in all things.  I personally, don’t want to pay any additional taxes than what I owe.  But I am still to pay my taxes.  Before Paul wrote these words, Jesus answered the question on taxes and said to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God those things that are God’s.”

Now you might ask, do we honor authorities in all things at all times?  I believe the Scripture is clear on this.  Moses’ parents didn’t obey Pharoah’s command which demanded the death of their newborn.  When Peter and John were commanded to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, they answered with the question as to whether it is better to obey man or God.

There are areas where authorities may push us into a corner and ask for compromise in our Faith.  We are to stand firm just as those believers in the first century did.

I think a question to ask might be- Am I focusing on obeying God or am I using my Faith as a reason to oppose authority?

The Pathway to Hope

Some people go into the furnace of life’s difficulties and are burned or consumed, while others are strengthened through the experience.

What’s the difference?

We all face discouragement from time to time, but what happens when a “root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble?”

Resentment cuts you off from others.  While grace leads to unity and reconciliation, bitterness and anger lead to isolation.  Because when you’re bitter, you separate yourself from whoever has wronged you.  And so you’re left alone to wallow in your judgment of others, or profane living or, ultimately, disqualification.

On the other hand, we can face our discouragement with hope for the future that leads to a closeness with God resulting in a reflection of his holiness in our lives and in the end we’ll experience the revelation of what all our trials have meant as we shine our lights through our lives to the others around us.

I received an email from David Wilkerson’s daily devotional this morning.  I’ve edited a portion of the text.

“Let me give you an example of such light. Recently, the CEO of a company in NewYork called our church. The CEO told
about two women from our church who work for him. He said they weren’t like the others in his office. These two women were always courteous, smiling, helpful to others, never complaining or backbiting. “There’s something different about them,” he said. “I would like to meet with you to find out what the difference is.”

These women were heavenly candlesticks, placed in their jobs by Jesus. And the light they shone lit up the entire workplace. How? They had the life of Christin them. Their boss recognized it as something beyond what this world has tooffer.

That CEO was Jewish. Do you think he would have responded to an invitation to a revival meeting? Would he have read a packet of materials produced by a church? No, he would have tossed it all into “File 13″ and never looked at it again. This man responded to true light-a light born of lives hid in Christ,
and being lived out daily by two humble women.

We are only able to bring light to our communities as we are full of Christ’s life ourselves. We have to live out the message we bring, if we are to preach it with any power. God help us to remember that the light shines through in the little things of life.”

Facing the Trial

Everyone has times When Life is Hard. Everyone of us has a story.  Some of us are experiencing it now.When the days are the darkest, you need God’s reassuring promise from Job 23:10:”But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”What is a Trial? If you’re one of God’s children, you’re going through a trial right now. It’s the most difficult aspect of your life today: Is it physical? Is it relational? Is it economic? Is it emotional? Is it circumstantial? God said to expect trials. He also promises to be with you in them-working in you, helping you, and growing you. The trials that God has allowed are changing your conduct and refining your character. Don’t allow bitterness, unbelief or discouragement to rob you of the treasure God is refining in you. You will find that God has not abandoned you. He is watching you closely, monitoring your situation and offering His strength when yours is gone. Your life is about displaying the superiority of the life lived in God.  That’s why Christians get cancer.  That’s why Christian business men and women have bankruptcies.  The sons of the kingdom handle things differently than the sons of this world.  Go to talk to a doctor and ask him about the difference between a heartbroken parent in the hospital without Christ and a heartbroken parent in the hospital with Christ.  And right there-in that moment-that’s your chance to shine the light of the Gospel and to display the superiority of the life lived in God. James MacDonald As we all move forward in our walk, I think this is a timely teaching for most of us.