Pastors Corner

Start the Year Off Right

Last week Pastor Fletcher preached on “Spiritual Growth Stimulants.” As he pointed out, we Christians often assume spiritual growth will happen naturally, like physical growth. Or worse, we don’t even think about or plan for spiritual growth.

In mid-December I came across Romans 12:9-21 in my devotions. When I began outlining the key points in my journal, it occurred to me that there are numerous instructions that would be ideal for my annual goals. There are at least 24 easy-to-discover points in this brief package. I used this passage in my Bible Studies with the Senior’s groups this month, and encouraged them to meditate on these instructions, evaluate which ones need the most work, and re-visit them at least monthly to measure their growth in 2012.

I encourage each of you to read this passage and make a list of spiritual instructions for the coming year. Incorporate them into your annual goals and work on them to help your spiritual growth.

Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
My prayer for each of you in 2012 is “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power….Stand firm then, with the belt of truth….Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” –Ephesians 6:10, 14, 17-18. May each or you pursue and attain great spiritual growth this year!
 

Don’t die with the music in you…
The other day it was my turn to take my youngest daughter Ava to her Irish dance class (you should see that little cutie do the Jig). While I was there her teacher was encouraging the girls to step out of their comfort zone, to not be bashful or hesitant when it comes to expressing yourself in dance. She encouraged them to let the music inside them flow out , and to just go for it!! Don’t keep it bottled up in there but let it out !! Moments later my eyes landed on this quote “don’t let the music die inside you” by Walter Bennet
The challenge is to stay passionate about music even when it may seem impractical or difficult to keep your dream alive. Go for your dreams don’t let them stay suppressed and than die with this music burning inside you.
For some reason that quote really challenged me and as I sat there contemplating my life I realized there were and are times that even though the spirit of God was /is directing me to Go, or to give, or to serve I did/do not respond.
At times I was /am afraid often I lacked faith or let the practical side of me override the Spiritual prompting of God. In a way I let “the Spirit die in me”.
Admit it. You too can be guilty of putting off the Spirit of God because you want to be assured of the outcome. The fact is, however, that anything worthwhile involves risk—like marriage, having children, launching a new career, cashing in to pursue God’s dream in you (and for you), becoming a foreign missionary, sharing the gospel, starting a ministry.
What’s holding you back? I bet its fear. Fear of commitment and fear of failure (Or fear of commitment precisely because you fear failure). So you read and read, research and research, you get counsel and more counsel, you pray and pray, and request prayer and more prayer. But still, there you are, full of information, full of the “music” of possibilities, but dying in fear.
I speak from experience. I too often wait till I can get to the point of absolute certainty but it never comes and in fact often never will. I now know that if God is God, and His Spirit lives within me, my life ought to have more risk to it. As a matter of fact, if I had never risked, I would never have been a college athlete, experienced a life-changing broken heart, followed Jesus, gone into the ministry, left my first ministry job to come to EBBC, met and married my wife, been the father of three daughters, preached in front of hundreds, give sacrificially, get my Doctorate or even presently place my house up for sale or aligned in the center of God’s will. You see, God led me to do these things and I didn’t want to die with the music in me.
And I still don’t. I always want to have the courage to follow the Spirit’s leading even though there are implicit risks involved.
There comes a moment you gotta go for it. I don’t mean irresponsibility, for crying out loud, because remember, you’ve done the reading, counsel, and prayer. I’m talking about the moment of truth where you’re 51%-79% sure it’s of God, you put feet to your faith, and you step up to the mic, trusting in faith that when you jump the net will appear!! You see faith is what happens between God’s promises and fulfillment “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).
I have personally witnessed this promise being fulfilled in my life numerous times. In fact I am seeing it play out to the Glory of God right now.
How about you?
Is this your moment? Go ahead jump. As Walter Bennet puts it, “Don’t die with the music in you.”
Questions: What’s the music that’s playing within you right now? What’s holding you back? What’s your biggest fear(s)? What will it take for you to go for it?
 

Earlier this fall I read a book about a family who served the Lord in Papua New Guinea. Written by a missionary wife and mother named Grace, the journey careened down a horrifying cliff when a local Nabak man – one of the individuals assisting in the task of translating the Bible into the native Nabak language – attacked and murdered the missionary husband and father. Left alone with the care of two High School age children and two college age children back in the US, Grace decided to remain in Papua New Guinea and complete the work of translating the Scriptures. While transfixed by the written story of love and courage, I was even more deeply touched when granted the opportunity to meet and listen to this Ambassador of Faith in person.
Pondering her dazzling example of dedication I introspectively wondered, “Could I be so devoted to an assignment designed to benefit a people in the land where my spouse was slain?” The answer whispered faintly - “probably not”. Then, swiftly echoing through the walls of thought came a louder answer – “no, definitely not”. Actually, I was dragged to face a still more penetrating question: “Could I care that much about such a primitive tribe thousands of miles away and light years behind my familiar cultural standards . . . even if no tragic blow struck my loved ones?”

Turns out I was asking the wrong question. Yes, a burdened compassion for the people I serve is vital. But the issue which trumps even the lateral concern for humanity is my love for the Savior Himself. It’s all laid out in John chapter twenty one. Jesus probes Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?” Only when Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” did Christ command, “Take care of My sheep.” Underneath all the streams of motivation to serve the Kingdom must be a tide of genuine love for the King.

The question of John 21 resonates to each one who would labor for Christ Jesus. “Do you love Me?” Whether it be in Papua New Guinea, Chester County, Calcutta, or Beverly Hills, “Do you love Me” is the bottom line of all interrogation. When that matter is satisfactorily settled, then I am prepared to “take care of HIS sheep”.

For me, the introspection continues. Do I love Him enough to parrot what Grace, my missionary acquaintance, did for the Gospel?