Defiled from the Inside Out

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. - Mark 7:20

Imagine how it would be if everyone could what was inside of us.

They could see your thoughts.  Every one of your thoughts would play out like a movie scene before every person who came in contact with you.  You would be viewable by anyone and everyone.

People could see what you had in your system.  What you ate for breakfast would be in plain view.  What you put in your system would be apparent to every single person who approached you, both the good and the bad.

That doesn't sound too good.

What about that time when I only had a few drinks? It was just something to do.

How about the time when I  held her close for only one night? Will those smudges of sex and lust still be apparent on my hands and the rest of my body?

Will everything that I laid my eyes be revealed when people look in my eyes? Magazines? Videos? Websites?

Uh-Oh!

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,

keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

- Proverbs 15:3 (NIV)

Take the latest pop-up quiz on the Gospel of Mark (Ch. 1-7).

Healed and Helped

⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” ⁷ “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” ⁸ Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” ⁹ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.- John 5:6-8 (NIV)

Oral Roberts is quoted as sharing how Jesus desires to heal the whole person, not just the part that is ailing them.  Jesus asked the man who laid among many invalids such as the blind and lame did he want to be made well.  He did not ask if the man wanted to get his feet healed or to get help moving into the pool as the angel troubled the water.  No, Jesus asked the man about his desire to be made whole.  Jesus asks this of the lame man by the pool.  The lame man lacked initiative to the point where he did not ask anything of Jesus.  When asked by Jesus, he just went into his sob story about not having anyone to push him into the pool.

Jesus did not ask that.

Despite the man's response, Jesus healed him.  Jesus helped him.  Jesus performed a miracle in the midst of the lame and the sick.  He did so for this man and commanded him to do something for himself, too.

Jesus expects the same of you.  He wants you to get up off your duff and do something.  He's not healing you from your wounds for your own good.  He's not helping you just for the sake of helping you.  I have said it before and I will say it again: God wants something for us and He wants something from us.  Perhaps, some of us are not getting what God wants for us because we are not giving God what He wants from us.

Radical and Radiant

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 - Matthew 5:14, 16 (NKJV)

Believers are the light of the world.  Jesus said so.  In one of the most well-known of sermons of the Savior and messages of the Master, He simply says: "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).  In the Sermon on the Mount, just after the Beatitudes, Jesus shares that we, as believers and followers of Christ, are the light of the world. 

He speaks of the believer as light in a world full of utter darkness.  The red letters of the Bible indicate that it was Jesus speaking, and the tone of His delivery indicates that He shared His words with both hope and expectancy.  In other words, Jesus shared His expectation of the believer and openly shared that the believer should let his or her light shine before men so that their works may be seen and that those who observed the believer's works would give glory to God (Matthew 5:16).  That sounds like He had hope, believing that the observer of good works would honor and glorify God.  It appears that He had expectations of the believer to be met by letting his or her light shine before the world by doing good works.

As followers of Christ, we should let our lights shine.  We should radically radiate the true light who is Jesus Christ.  We radically radiate by shedding light in a dark world.  It is a radical concept because we tend to point people towards the church or the pastor for insights into who the true light is and where to discover the light that came into the world.  We radiate as reflections of the Light.  He is the source of our light and we reflect Him as we interact with the world.  Get real.  Get radical.  Radiate with your light.  Let others see that the Light exists within you.

If we radiate, our lights can't help but be seen by others.  Others will see our lights shining brightly and give glory to God for what they have observed.  Jesus said that we shouldn't hide our lights.  Jesus said that we should give light to all who are around us.  We should radiate.  In other words, our radiation should be radical in the sense that we penetrate the darkness as the light of the world.

Let's get radical.
Let's radiate.

Forgive and Forget

Those who say they will forgive but can't forget, simply bury the hatchet but leave the handle out for immediate use. -Dwight L Moody

The Bible speaks of god forgiving our sins so much that it as if he casts them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). When it comes to Christian forgiveness, I covered a lot in "Forgiven People Forgive" and I got a whole lot of flack for that. I wanted to address some of the overall and underlying issues related to forgiveness, especially the concept of forgiving and forgetting.

Moody's quote deals with our human tendency to not feel settled with all that God does with others. We seem fine with what God has done with our sins, but we want justice for what others have done. We want God to do more with them than us. Unfortunately, that's not what we are called to do.

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

- Matthew 6:15 (NIV)

Jesus did not ask for us to judge others (Luke 6:37). He said we should forgive the sins of others. Our duty and obligation is to offer grace as it has been given to us as well as mercy as it has been given to us. Let God be the judge. If it doesn't seem to be working out with someone, turn it over to God. Let it go. If you really had things the way you think they should go, you would have to call for yourself going through the same measure that you would measure others (Luke 6:38).

Forgive and forget. Leave the rest of it in God's hands. He can handle it much better than you.

Connection Points

A person who wholly follows the Lord is one who believes that the promises of God are trustworthy, that He is with His people, and that they are well able to overcome.

-Watchman Nee

We connect in church many different ways and at many different points. The unbeliever connects with the entire, universal body of Christ upon accepting Christ as Savior and Lord. Once a believer, that same person has an opportunity to connect with his or her local church as an active and professing member. As I said, there are numerous ways people connect to the church. however, we must also understand that we, as the church, must offer new and numerous points where people can get connected to the church.

We need to offer connection points, places where people can connect with Christ, connect with other saints and connect with what the church or its affiliates and partners have to offer. Here is a short list of connection points to consider. You may want to talk to your small group or Sunday school class to explore more specific connection points that exist for you and your ministry.

• Entrances: Think about first impressions. You can look at them as "touch points" or whatever, but you need your best greeters and brightest smiles working the door. Certainly, you should have "people people" working the door and meeting the visitors and guests, even returning people, into your church. Make sure that your people offer those who come in an opportunity to sign up for the church newsletter (handing them a copy) and be sure to provide them with any essential church literature, i.e. first-time visitors FAQ sheet and an outline of the order of worship. [Sometimes we invite people to church without helping them to know what to expect.]
• Sanctuary: Most churches have some period during their worship service where they welcome or recognize visitors and guests. Be sure that people act genuine without a whole lot of "coaching" from the pulpit. People like other people to be friendly in a natural sense, not out of a sense of duty or obligation like "because the pastor said to do it." Let it be part of the natural organic chemistry of who you are.
• Exits: Don't let someone leave without thanking them for joining you in worship. Invite guests and visitors to a special area to receive "gifts" like a free CD or DVD of a past sermon by the senior pastor, calendars or other items with the church logo and contact information or something as simple as a tract and a coupon for redemption at your bookstore or gift shop.

Be sure that you allow people to connect at least at each one of these points, offering them prayer, an invitation to salvation or joining the church, or even a special time for visitors and guest with the pastor and his special greeters. If available, assist people to fill out contact information and include business cards for staff persons who will contact the person as a follow up to their visit.

We are accountable, not excusable.- William Wilberforce

Some may not be familiar with William Wilberforce other than the motion picture Amazing Grace. Yet, Wilberforce demonstrated the faith and fortitude that is needed among professing Christians in public office. Whether it be the influence and inspiration of John Newton's stirring words from the pulpit or Amazing Grace or the atrocities witnessed and expressed by those like Olaudah Equiano, Wilberforce was stirred into action by those who shared with him about the African slave trade along with his faith. As a man of faith, Wilberforce raised awareness and sought action against the inhumanity of the slave trade.

We are accountable to God. Wilberforce simply said: "Sin has consequences." When we realize that the grace of God is the saving force that sent forth Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we realize the immense accountability that comes along with the mark of Christianity. To truly follow Christ, let us walk and talk as Christ did. Let us be accountable to the Master as stewards over all that he has bestowed upon us.

The words of William Wilberforce are simple and true. We are accountable to our Lord and Master. We have no excuse for not being vigilant in our faith to execute rather than claim excuses. In our times, we need Christians who will assert themselves in raising awareness and stirring up advocates for the issues of our times. We need Christians who will take action as a force of faith rather than simply taking force by faith. We are accountable without excuse.

Inside Out: Demonstrate

In the same way, let your light shine before men,

that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.- Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

We talked about the church working from the "inside out." We consider it the outward working of the church that starts with an internal spark like a combustible engines. You start discipling and developing people. Then, after that, you look at disseminating the Word and demonstrating the Word. All of this is done with a kingdom mindset that is not of this world.

Jesus talked about sharing and showing our light as He calls us the “light of the world” in Matthew 5:14-16. He shares that a lit candle is not lit to be hidden but to shed light on all that is around it. He expressly states that we should let our light shine before men for a two-point purpose:
*Men are to see your good works
*Men will glorify God

Paul shared that we should think and act like Christ as if we had His mind (Philippians 2:5). We have to be careful to not just talk a good game but to be able to walk it as well. We must practice what we preach.

Ministry has the ultimate purpose of glorifying God. Guess what? When you do your good works, you are letting your light shine before men just as Jesus shared for us to do as the light of the world. However, when these men see your good works, they won’t give you the glory. No, they will see your good works and give glory to the One who provided the light. They will give praises to the Lord who caused us to let our lights shine before men in the first place.

Share it and show it.
Let your light shine.

On a Mission

Check out Life Path's Gear online. . . We also have books and downloads available through Life Path Publications online. Check out what we have to offer...
_____________________________________________
On a Mission

It truly is personal. On a personal level, I mean, God gives each of us a mission to undertake in His name. He has something for each of us. There is work set side for each of us based upon how He blesses us with special spiritual gifts. Take the time to pray and fast, seeking God's guidance on what He has for you. Truly, we see it on a personal level from time to time and begin to realize how much we should count on God for what we need to fulfill what He is calling us to do. Hear from Him today and take the initiative to follow what He has for you...


____________________________________________





Check out the words of a man of God about God's Word and this life at http://revbruce.wordpress.com on a daily basis.





_____________________________________________

Ministry Makeovers

Attimes, we just have to evaluate what we are doing in ministry. We have to check out what we are really doing in Jesus' name. We need to look at the essence of what we do as well as the effectiveness of how we do things.
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. [1 Cor. 14:40, NIV]
Just look at how we handle things. Keep the Lord's Word in perspective as we do so. From there, we should learn if we are doing right by Him. He sets the standard. We are to strive to live up to it.
__________________________
Here are some resources that may help when evaluating your ministry.
www.outreach.com
www.lifeway.com
www.churchmetrics.com
www.crosswalk.com

Spring Thing (Ecc. 3:1)

To everything there is a season. . .-Ecc. 3:1

You know it's spring when the Good Friday and Lent have passed with little to no incident from the church folks or the family. Do you remember those Easter suits? It always had to be something light like a khaki or funny green with a pastel shirt and some odd-looking, crooked-hanging clip-on tie with weird images or shapes on it. I'll always remember paisley-printed ties. Ugh!!

That was then, though. Now, as I reflect on spring, I recall that God gives us seasons, signs of change all around us. the wisdom of Solomon teaches us that there is a season for everything. However, look at what God does. He can have us mourning a loved one's passing and anticipating the birth of a child. He can have us laughing at a joke a friend just shared on MySpace and alarmed at what we just saw on the cable news. He has a reason for it all. We may not understand it at all. However, as I look at things today, I am reminded that God does things His way for His own reason.

___________________________________________________________________

Check out www.urbanministry.org for information and inspiration about getting things done in your local community and abroad. There certainly is a movement afoot!!

Faith Cannot Fail

FAITH CANNOT FAIL

Heb. 11:1

Faith cannot fail. Let me correct that. Faith in God cannot fail. You see, we can put our faith in the wrong thing or even the wrong folks and end up sorely disappointed and dejected. We can find ourselves looking for answers from those who cannot produce answers and seeking solutions from those who are more focused on the problem than the solutions, only to find ourselves still stuck without any support.

Our faith should be in God. God never fails. The psalmist tells us that we should not put our trust in man since he cannot do anything to help us. Our faith should be placed in the all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful God, the Almighty.

Having faith does not mean that we will get everything that we want or even everything that we expect. Having faith in God means that we have put our full trust and reliance in and upon Him. God is able. The issue is whether He is willing or not. God will not do what is outside of His will or His character. We cannot expect anything different from Him.

Beware of what you put your faith in these days. The stock market has proven as much. Real estate and home prices have shown us as much. The job market is continuously telling us the same thing, too. Watch where you put your trust! Marriages failing into divorce. Children disrespecting their elders. Grandchildren abusing their grandparents. Pastors and spiritual leaders caught up in scandal. God will never fail.