At a recent conference, I heard a speaker discredit two popular Christian pastors. The speaker was making a theological point and wanted to make sure we knew where those high profile pastors were going wrong.
During a planning meeting at an area church, a member spoke up and indicated that his church had to get moving if it was going to keep up with two other Christian churches in town that were gaining quite a following.
I couldn't respond to the conference speaker, but I was able to ask a question of the person at the planning meeting: Who is the real enemy?
Too often, we in the Christian Church get confused. We drift toward fighting an easy battle instead of being clothed with spiritual armor for the difficult warfare. In other words, we take potshots at fellow members of the body of Christ instead of unsheathing the sword of the Spirit against the Evil One.
It's important to remember who the real enemy is.
What are some key strategies for workers in the harvest field?
First, your job as a believer is not to cut down fellow believers, but to build them up. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but there is no place for slamming fellow servants of Jesus. Kind and gentle one-on-one conversations may be needed to clear up issues, but speaking the truth in love must prevail. Jesus wanted it that way.
Second, your goal is not to outdo other churches or be in competition with fellow workers in the harvest field. There's simply no need. There is no shortage of people who don't know Jesus or who don't have an active relationship with Him. No one has to worry about running out of people to reach. Give praise to God for successful ministries and try to work faithfully in the corner of the Kingdom God has given you.
Third, your goal is not to exalt your church or ministry. Your goal is to glorify God and build His Church. Your effort is about the big picture, God's Kingdom. Your church or ministry is a tool God has chosen to use for His gracious outreach.
Fourth, you must stay vigilant to use your time, energy, creativity, and resources to fight the real fight of faith and not to become preoccupied by faith in-fighting. The devil is prowling around, seeking someone to devour. May it never be said that you were so busy battling fellow believers that you missed an opportunity to snatch someone from the fires of hell.
Please know that it is very important to work with fellow believers so that our proclamation is faithful and true. There is internal work that must be done. But our time, our conversation, our attention, our study, our practice, and our focused efforts can never be diverted from the real enemy. If they are, he wins.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
First Impressions
Bad news from Summer Camp came my way the other day. The first lunch served to hundreds of young people ages 5-10 was "beanie weenies." Yes, it's a soupy mix of hot dog slices and beans. Your mouth may be watering at this point because you love this gustatory delight. But I'm pretty confident that a survey of grade-schoolers' food favorites wouldn't show "beanie weenies" even in the top 25.
Proof of my gut feeling is that several kids wept openly when they found out about the lunch menu. In tears, one growing boy who could probably polish off a whole pizza, decided he would rather subsist on a couple of crackers than torment his taste buds with the dish of the day.
I felt badly for the summer camp crew. The lunch selection wasn't a winner. What really bothered me, however, was that this was the FIRST lunch. Can you imagine the terror in virtually every camper's psyche: "I've got FIFTY more lunches to go!"?
First impressions make a difference.
As workers in God's harvest field, you will make many first impressions. Every day, you have opportunities to give small previews of Jesus and the life He gives. In relationships with others, you show people what the menu of life in Jesus looks like. What impressions will you make?
Peter, the brash and bold apostle who failed many a first impression test, reflected on his life in the book of 1 Peter in the Bible. He spoke about some first impressions harvest workers need to give to people walking in darkness:
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:13-15
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." 1 Peter 2:1-2
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12
"Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
Will the people God puts in your life be repulsed by the menu you display? Or will they crave the delightful and delicious fare you bring as you represent Jesus? Will they line up for more as they feel hunger pangs for the Bread of Life?
Read Peter's words again and let your first impressions do wonders in the name of Jesus.
Proof of my gut feeling is that several kids wept openly when they found out about the lunch menu. In tears, one growing boy who could probably polish off a whole pizza, decided he would rather subsist on a couple of crackers than torment his taste buds with the dish of the day.
I felt badly for the summer camp crew. The lunch selection wasn't a winner. What really bothered me, however, was that this was the FIRST lunch. Can you imagine the terror in virtually every camper's psyche: "I've got FIFTY more lunches to go!"?
First impressions make a difference.
As workers in God's harvest field, you will make many first impressions. Every day, you have opportunities to give small previews of Jesus and the life He gives. In relationships with others, you show people what the menu of life in Jesus looks like. What impressions will you make?
Peter, the brash and bold apostle who failed many a first impression test, reflected on his life in the book of 1 Peter in the Bible. He spoke about some first impressions harvest workers need to give to people walking in darkness:
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:13-15
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." 1 Peter 2:1-2
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12
"Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
Will the people God puts in your life be repulsed by the menu you display? Or will they crave the delightful and delicious fare you bring as you represent Jesus? Will they line up for more as they feel hunger pangs for the Bread of Life?
Read Peter's words again and let your first impressions do wonders in the name of Jesus.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Durability
I had to replace the string in my weed-eater the other day. It struck me that I bought a package of replacement string six years ago and I still haven’t used it all! I’ve faithfully cut and trimmed the grass for six years. I haven’t skimped on using the weed-eater. I haven’t held back in my trimming activity. I’ve pushed the trimmer to its limits and replaced the string faithfully, yet, here we are six years later, and I’m just now thinking about purchasing a new supply.
That’s durability. That’s long-haul resource faithfulness. My weed-eater string has outlasted several of my neighbors, a hamster, and half-a dozen goldfish. I’ve been able to count on my weed-eater string.
In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”
The word for “last” means “to remain,” “to endure,” “to abide,” and “to continue.” Jesus used the word ten times in John 15:4-10. He remains in us. By His grace, we remain in Him. We remain in His love and show we’re His disciples.
Jesus was making a major point. A foundational component of being in relationship with Him is durability. Jesus is a long-haul Savior. He remains in us. He abides with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love and grace have staying power.
He transforms us into long-haul people. We bear each other’s burdens. We show kindness and compassion to one another. We press on in mission.
But there are obstacles to our durability as Christ’s servants. A few are:
Distraction – Being busy with many things can pull us away from what is most important.
Fatigue – Life is draining. We are finite. We get very tired.
Spiritual defeat – Everything does not always go our way. Sometimes battles are lost and we get discouraged.
Incorrect vision – We plan on short term fixes when God calls us to endure over the long-haul.
Frustration – We try to fix the problem instead of trusting God with it.
Mission Forgetfulness – The temptation to BE God overtakes our calling to serve God.
Running out of Fuel – Neglecting our personal faith dries up the spiritual overflow in our lives that leads to balanced and faithful service.
Selling Out – It is tempting to place personal comfort, recognition, and perks over faithful Kingdom sacrifice.
Are you growing in durability as Christ’s servant? Are you becoming a stronger, long-haul, worker for the Kingdom? Are you increasing in endurance as a disciple? What obstacles do you face in bearing fruit that will last? How will you abide in Christ, continue in His mission, and finish strong?
That’s durability. That’s long-haul resource faithfulness. My weed-eater string has outlasted several of my neighbors, a hamster, and half-a dozen goldfish. I’ve been able to count on my weed-eater string.
In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.”
The word for “last” means “to remain,” “to endure,” “to abide,” and “to continue.” Jesus used the word ten times in John 15:4-10. He remains in us. By His grace, we remain in Him. We remain in His love and show we’re His disciples.
Jesus was making a major point. A foundational component of being in relationship with Him is durability. Jesus is a long-haul Savior. He remains in us. He abides with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. His love and grace have staying power.
He transforms us into long-haul people. We bear each other’s burdens. We show kindness and compassion to one another. We press on in mission.
But there are obstacles to our durability as Christ’s servants. A few are:
Distraction – Being busy with many things can pull us away from what is most important.
Fatigue – Life is draining. We are finite. We get very tired.
Spiritual defeat – Everything does not always go our way. Sometimes battles are lost and we get discouraged.
Incorrect vision – We plan on short term fixes when God calls us to endure over the long-haul.
Frustration – We try to fix the problem instead of trusting God with it.
Mission Forgetfulness – The temptation to BE God overtakes our calling to serve God.
Running out of Fuel – Neglecting our personal faith dries up the spiritual overflow in our lives that leads to balanced and faithful service.
Selling Out – It is tempting to place personal comfort, recognition, and perks over faithful Kingdom sacrifice.
Are you growing in durability as Christ’s servant? Are you becoming a stronger, long-haul, worker for the Kingdom? Are you increasing in endurance as a disciple? What obstacles do you face in bearing fruit that will last? How will you abide in Christ, continue in His mission, and finish strong?
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