Tuesday, December 17, 2013

God's Providence


Napoleon was a little short guy but he had an ego so big he would not fit into the Dallas Cowboy stadium.  He strutted across Europe with his army and he conquered and conquered.  It was his desire to conquer the whole known world.    Without question he was set to do so.

One day he told a lady he was getting to march on Russia and march right into Moscow and he was going to conquer the Russian Empire.  He was so cocky and confident his pride was blocking him from hearing any wisdom.  She told this over confident leader, “You had better be reverent, and don’t you understand that man poses, but God disposes?”  

In his great lack of humility he said to her, "I propose and I dispose."     And so he marched on Russia.  When he had won all of these battles and then marched on Moscow he was feeling pretty good about himself, his army and his conquest. 

Upon his return home he was confronted with a stark reminder.  He had failed to think about the Russian winter.  He and his troops fought that bitter winter all the way back to France and it totally decimated the army, and it destroyed his forces, and it completely destroyed his reputation and prestige when he returned home he was dethroned    and exiled where he would die on a little island.   I wonder if he ever thought about that conversation he had with that lady who said,  “Man proposes, but God always disposes”?

I am sure people were scratching their heads, wondering how on earth could God allow this to happen?   While we are not machines or robots, we must remember God is in control and he is in charge of this universe.  He gives us the freedom to make choices.  BUT, Those choices that we make have eternal consequences.


It is Christmas time once again, As I read the Biblical account of the Birth of the Saviour, I have been looking and thinking about Matthews words in Chapter 1 and 2.   One thing is very clear to me God is in Control.   Yes today you may be worried over your job, Health care, or your car.  Your kids, or college, or your spouse may give you concern, but one thing we cannot deny:  God is still on his throne!  God is not ever caught off guard, and he knows what we need and when we need it.   God is a God of providence.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

12-15-13 Sermon Notes

The Miracle of Sharing 
Matthew 2:1



 Three responses to the Birth of Christ:

I.    Hostility
a.    King Herod
b.   General population

II.    Apathy
a.     The religious Scribes and Pharisees

Statement of Truth:
When you lack a personal relationship with God, you can have the correct information, and lack appropriation.

III.   Receptivity
a.     Receptive to God's witness
b.    Receptive by worshiping The Lord


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Serving to God’s Glory

At Christmas we give gifts to those we love, know and cherish.   It is a fun tradition here in the United States and in many places of the world.     Often times these gifts are given to show others love, and as a reminder of our devotion and dedication.   I was thinking this week about the gifts God has given to us.     

At our salvation there are gifts given to us by God.   I was preaching about this Wednesday night and you can listen to the podcast to find out what I said.  I did not finish that sermon and so I wanted to  give you come concluding thoughts on my blog. 

Not only does every Christian receive a gift from God that he or she is responsible for but  EVERY CHRISTIAN RECEIVES STRENGTH TO USE THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFT.

We read about this is 1 Peter 4:11

Peter uses the word “Ministers” or  “serve”  the root of the word is the word for deacon.  It can refer to all kinds of service (menial tasks), same word Jesus used of His service; service in general.  This teaches me that all service is important.

“If anyone ministers (serves), let him do it as with the ability which God supplies.”

I want to take notice of the SOURCE OF STRENGTH v11

Both Peter and Paul understood this principle.   Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Peter used the word “ability”, the NIV says “strength”; if God is to be glorified by ministry in His name, it must be ministry performed in His strength, not ours.

Remember what the prophet Zechariah said in chapter 4  verse 6?  “'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts.”

This teaches me two things:

1. Dependence
God lavishly supplies the strength and without Him I can do nothing.  I am always to depend on him and not me.  My strength is useless and void of any real power. 

Jesus was clear and without question taught that without him we can do nothing.  See what he said in John 15:5.

Depending on His strength, and empowerment is my only hope.

2. Confidence
I am talking about spiritual confidence.  A faithful supplier  {GOD} will replenish a confidence exhausted in faithful stewardship.

Warning: Ministry performed by merely human energy and for one’s own status in the eyes of others can soon become a wearying activity and increase one’s pride rather than one’s faith.

Keep in mind Peter teaches that the goal of our service, the heart of our giftedness is to glorify God.

There is the SUPPLY OF STRENGTH that is important.  This is also found in  v11

“Which God supplies” – the source of the supply of strength.  Points to someone who defrays the expense of something; verb means to supply lavishly.

When we think of God who provides I think of the name: Jehovah Jireh – God Our Provider.

God abundantly supplies the Christian worker with the necessary strength to accomplish the task that he has called him to.   The tasks assigned again are for the praise and glory of God.

The word depicts the training of a choir; the idea of equipping one for a task; to lead a chorus, providing for needs with unlimited liberality. To furnish or supply that which is needed.

Peter in this passage mentions two kinds of Gifts:
1. Speaking Gift.

Preaching, teaching, evangelism, singing, sharing words of encouragement, praise, and testimony are all verbal gifts.

“Let him speak as the oracles of God” – utterances; used of Scripture; the very words out of the mouth of God; the sayings of God.  (Rom 3:2, Acts 7:38).

We must always remember that the teacher or the preacher is not the originator of his own notions, but the transmitter of the sayings of God.     I like what William Barclay said, “If a man has the duty of preaching, let him preach not as one offering his own opinions or propagating his own prejudices, but as one with a message from God.”

Paul said to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”

Speaking gift has to do with the presentation of the gospel. It is God speaking through Him. Those who now speak the Word must depend upon the gift of the Spirit to proclaim the Scriptures.  As we speak we must speak the very words of God! 

2. Serving Gift.
“If anyone ministers (serves)” – there is an emphasis that insists we should treat our giftedness as a unique responsibility and honor.

Speaks of any kind of helping.  This could include acts of encouragement for the benefit of others.  Someone who is a servant seeks to meet needs, often times this person will free others to accomplish their task.   A servant will most often be behind the scene accomplishing ministry that help to make the public ministries possible.

Possible servant ministry in the local church:
·      Greeters
·      Nursery workers
·      Ushers
·      Cameras/ video equipment personnel
·      Media Team
·      People who open and lock up the building
·      Count money
·      Make deposits
·      Chair committees
·      Organize ministry efforts 

There are all many other service areas in the church.   What can you think of?

The real heartbeat of this passage is simple:  EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD GLORIFY GOD WITH THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFT   v11

“That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen”

This is to be the aim and goal of all services done in Christ’s name.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Since the ability to serve is a gift, and the strength for the ministry comes from God, why should a man boast?


Life lessons

Sometimes people can rob us of our joy because they do the things we do not want them to do.

It is that time of year again when we have to rake up and burn the leaves. As my children get older,  the less they like to help in this responsibility.  Yesterday, I asked for their help. Only to be greeted and an attitude undesirable portions!  

Well, I promptly began to teach my children about  joy, and the attitudes we have can and will impact our joy!  

Sometimes people  can rob us of our joy because they don't do the things we want them to do. But I would remind you that people are people. They have minds to think. They have emotions to feel. They have wills to act, just like you and I do. 

We cannot control the actions or the behavior of other people. But we can control the way we respond to other people. 

That is the great challenge, to really understand that the only one who  can really control my attitude is me.  My actions, attitudes and behavior says a lot about who I am and where I am going in life.   

Let's bring everything we have and everything we are under the control of Christ!