17 posts tagged “christian”
In one of my recent posts, I talked about Tim Tebow and how he relies on his faith in Jesus Christ on the football field. Yesterday, someone left a comment about it and this is what they said:
I have a magic feather that can make you fly. Believe in it and it will work......Fly Dumbo, fly!
Tell me, what is the point of making a comment like this? Does it make people feel big to make anonymous comments with disparaging remarks toward Christians? I have some news for you. It doesn't bother me to read things like this. In fact, all it does is reaffirm that there are lost people out there who need the love of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Last night during the Florida State game, Percy Harvin twisted his ankle. At one point the camera flashed over to the sidelines and Time Tebow and some other players were around Percy. Do you know what they were doing? They were praiyng for him. The announcer didn't say that, but it was obvious because Tebow had his hand on him and his head was bowed. That is the sign of an individual truly concerned about his team mate. Magic feather or not, I'm sure Percy appreciated it.
The only sport that I really get excited about is Florida Gator football. I don't watch any other college games and I could care less about professional ball of any kind whether it is football, baseball, basketball, etc... When the Gators end their season I stop watching sports, it is as simple as that.
Although they were winning games, I didn't think the team looked very good at the beginning of the season. Then came the Ole Miss game where they lost 31-30. After that heartbreaking loss, the quarterback, Tim Tebow, gave a short, emotional speech and promised the fans that the team would work harder than it ever has. I have to say, he has come through with that promise.
After a decisive 42-14 victory over Vanderbilt last night the Gators clenched the SEC East and now they are set to play Alabama for the SEC title game. If they win that one, there is a possiblility of going to the BCS title game.
What is it that has turned this team into a force to be reckoned with? Some could say it is the determination and coaching skills of Urban Meyer and his staff. I believe that has a lot to do with it, but I think that promise made by TIm Tebow is an even bigger factor.
I have no doubt that Tebow is one of the most influential members on the team and it isn't hard to see that the other players respect him. He is a confessed Christian. His parents are missionaries and Tebow himself went on at least two short term mission trips over the summer. Even more impressive is the fact that Tebow talked Urban Meyer to go on one of the trips as well. He even took his wife and kids.
I'm not saying that God is pulling for the Gators to win the BCS title, but I firmly believe that he is giving the strength to Tebow to lead them in that direction. How can I say something like that? Just take a look at Tebow during one of the games. He wears the black sun blockers (I don't know the correct name of them) underneath his eyes every single game, whether it is a night or day game. Written across the one under the right eye is the word PHIL. Written across the one under the left eye are the numbers 4:13. That is a scripture from the Bible, Philippians 4:13 and this is what it says:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
You can take from that what you will. Me, I take it as a young man who is trusting God to strengthen him and lead him through adversity. I personally find it inspiring to know that God is willing to help us in our individual lives, even during football games, if we just put him first and try to lead a life that honors him.
So, with that said... Go Gators!
The following information is from cyberhymnal.com. It tells the amazing story of what William Cowper went through before he wrote the hymn THERE IS A FOUNTAIN in the late 1700's. The story in itself is amazing and it is a reminder of how God can use even the worst times in our lives to bring about good. It's a little difficult to read because it uses words that are no longer part of our vocabulary, but it is well worth the read. You can go to the web site and read the words to the song, or wait until I post them tomorrow.
"This is one of the first hymns Cowper wrote after his first attack of temporary madness. Cowper had been promised a post as Clerk of the Journal to the House of Lords, but was dismayed upon learning he would have to undergo a public examination in the House before beginning his duties. The following article from the North American Review, January, 1834, describes his dilemma, and how God prevented him from destroying himself:
As the time drew nigh, his agony became more and more intense; he hoped and believed that madness would come to relieve him; he attempted also to make up his mind to commit suicide, though his conscience bore stern testimony against it; he could not by any argument persuade himself that it was right, but this desperation prevailed, and he procured from an apothecary the means of self-destruction. On the day before his public appearance was to be made, he happened to notice a letter in the newspaper, which to his disordered mind seemed like a malignant libel on himself. He immediately threw down the paper and rushed into the fields, determined to die in a ditch, but the thought struck him that he might escape from the country. With the same violence he proceeded to make hasty preparations for his flight; but while he was engaged in packing his portmanteau his mind changed, and he threw himself into a coach, ordering the man to drive to the Tower wharf, intending to throw himself into the river, and not reflecting that it would be impossible to accomplish his purpose in that public spot. On approaching the water, he found a porter seated upon some goods: he then returned to the coach and was conveyed to his lodgings at the Temple. On the way he attempted to drink the laudanum, but as often as he raised it, a convulsive agitation of his frame prevented it from reaching his lips; and thus, regretting the loss of the opportunity, but unable to avail himself of it, he arrived, half dead with anguish, at his apartment. He then shut the doors and threw himself upon the bed with the laudanum near him, trying to lash himself up to the deed; but a voice within seemed constantly to forbid it, and as often as he extended his hand to the poison, his fingers were contracted and held back by spasms.
At this time one of the inmates of the place came in, but he concealed his agitation, and as soon as he was left alone, a change came over him, and so detestable did the deed appear, that he threw away the laudanum and dashed the vial to pieces. The rest of the day was spent in heavy insensibility, and at night he slept as usual; but on waking at three in the morning, he took his penknife and lay with his weight upon it, the point toward his heart. It was broken and would not penetrate. At day break he arose, and passing a strong garter around his neck, fastened it to the frame of his bed: this gave way with his weight, but on securing it to the door, he was more successful, and remained suspended till he had lost all consciousness of existence. After a time the garter broke and he fell to the floor, so that his life was saved.; but the conflict had been greater than his reason could endure. He felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined; whenever he went into the street, it seemed as if every eye flashed upon him with indignation and scorn; he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven, and his whole heart was filled with tumultuous pangs of despair. Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come.
After recovering, Cowper came to realize how God can erase the stain of any sin."
Tomorrow morning, I will be preaching a message at a local church. The scripture that I feel God directed me to was Isaiah 53:1-12. I want to post the scriptures on VOX. I could post the message that I have prepared, but anything that I have written could never compare with the infallible Word of God. I will go so far as to say that I am focusing on the life, death, burial, resurrection and eternal reign of Jesus Christ as found in these scriptures. Read them for yourself and see how God speaks to you.
Isaiah 53:1-12, (NASB)
| 1 | Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? |
| 2 | For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. |
| 3 | He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. |
| 4 | Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. |
| 5 | But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. |
| 6 | All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. |
| 7 | He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. |
| 8 | By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? |
| 9 | His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. |
| 10 | But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. |
| 11 | As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. |
| 12 | Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. |
I was given some false information about the camel spiders, or sun spiders, that were prevalent in the desert of Jordan when I was there on a temporary duty in 1996. I was told that the male spider would climb on camels, or soldiers, in the middle of the night and use an anesthetic like venom to deaden the skin and then make an incision. After that, the female would crawl up and lay eggs inside of the incision. The wound would heal and the baby spiders would grow under the skin until they were old enough to eat their way out.
ANALOGY OF A CAMEL SPIDER
The Middle Eastern desert regions of the world play host to a very interesting creature commonly referred to as the camel spider. Equipped with an ominous set of pinschers, a camouflage desert brown body, and sometimes growing up to 5 inches across, the camel spider is a frightening predator in the insect world. They commonly feed on grasshoppers and other small insects, but it is a peculiar reproductive practice that makes the camel spider unique. First, the male spider climbs onto an unsuspecting, slumbering victim such as a camel and uses anesthetic type venom to deaden a small portion of the animal’s skin. Then, he makes a small incision with his pinschers. The female then comes along and lays her eggs inside the incision. The cut soon heals over and the eggs are left under the skin to live off of the nutrients that are provided by the host animal’s body tissues. Once the eggs hatch, the baby camel spiders eat their way through the flesh and make their arrival into the world.
So it is with Satan in our lives. He is an ominous sort of creature that any normal person would steer clear of. But rather than walk right up and introduce himself, he likes to sneak around and wait until we’re sleeping. He waits until we are at a weak moment in our lives and then strikes. Perhaps a loved one has just died, or maybe a marriage or long time courtship is on the rocks. He creeps in with his crafty words and worldly lies and tries to anesthetize the hurt before God can use it to help us grow. Then he plants eggs of doubt, hate, or unbelief and they remain there, hidden under the skin, constantly being fed by the entourage of hateful, hurtful thoughts that he so willingly provides. Finally, after weeks, months, and sometimes years of gestation the ugliness that is on the inside eats its way out and we find ourselves in a swirl of mixed emotions wondering how it ever began.Are you eaten up inside by a hurt that happened a long time ago? Do you walk around with an incision on your heart where Satan has planted some pretty ugly eggs that have grown and festered? Speaking of Jesus Christ, the Bible says in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” On the contrary, 1 Peter 5:8 warns, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Do you serve a Saviour who loves you and wants you to have rest? Or do you serve the devil who is waiting for the opportunity to devour your soul? Are you willing to accept the fact that you are not perfect and you need the love of Jesus in your life? Or are you content to sit in your cesspool of self pity and sing, “Woe is me?” You don’t have to allow Satan to gain a foothold in your life. Look to the cross of Christ and there you will find the answer to all of your problems. Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares for you. He gave his life on this earth so that you could have an abundant life in heaven. Don’t let Satan, that old camel spider, rob you of God’s richest blessing.
Our church is having Vacation Bible School this week under the beach theme of Outrigger Island. My wife and I can help out in the Youth Department since it runs from 6-8:30 pm. We didn't do as much to help this year as we have done in year's past. We decorated the main room (I say we, but it was mostly my wife and her creative genius) and I am teaching the Thursday night lesson.
The lesson is from Jeremiah chapter 36 and I would dare say it is a story that most kids have never heard. It tells about how God instructed Jeremiah to write out his prophecies against Israel and Judah and then present them to the people in hopes that they would repent of their evil ways and return to God. This was done with the help of his scribe, Baruch.
There were some people who believed, but when the message was presented to King Jehoaikim, he took the scroll that the prophecy was written on, burned it and commanded his men to arrest Jeremiah and Baruch. However, Jeremiah and Baruch had been hidden away so they weren't arrested. Instead, God instructed Jeremiah to write everything down again, this time with words of judgment against the king.
I was having a hard time trying to figure out how to present this lesson and then I hit upon the idea of making it into a short play. After reading through it a couple of times, I came to the conclusion that I could break it down into four acts. Kids like to act things out and I think there are enough budding thespians in our youth group to help me out with this. I think the kids will have a good time with it and it will help me get the point across without having to talk for forty minutes.
ACT I
Jeremiah 36:1-4
God Inspired the Men Who Wrote It
CHARACTERS:
Narrator
God
Jeremiah
Baruch
(Jeremiah is kneeling on the stage in prayer, facing the right side of the stage. Baruch and God are off stage to the left).
NARRATOR: Josiah had been a good king. He took the throne when he was only eight years old and when he was 16, he turned to the one true God. He did a lot to reform the country and turn the people back to God. When he was about 26 years old, the book of the law was found by workmen cleaning out the temple. Josiah summoned the people together, read the law to them and entered into a renewal of the covenant with God. Years later, King Josiah was killed in battle. After his death, Josiah’s sons ruled over the kingdom, but they did not follow God’s ways. Our story takes place when Josiah’s son, Jehoiakim, was the king. It was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign that God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah.
GOD: (Enters and stands behind Jeremiah) Jeremiah!
JEREMIAH: (Continues to kneel, but looks up to heaven) Yes, Lord.
GOD: I want to you take a scroll and write down everything that I have spoken to you about Israel and Judah.
JEREMIAH: Do you want me to write down everything?
GOD: I want you to write down everything that I have told you from the time of Josiah until now. Maybe if the people hear the bad things that are going to happen to them, then they will turn from their evil ways and I will forgive them of their sins.
JEREMIAH: Yes Lord, I will do as you say. I will call someone to help me write it down. (God leaves the stage and Jeremiah stands up. Jeremiah turns to face the left side of the stage) Baruch, come here please!
BARUCH: (Baruch enters and the two men stand face to face) Yes, Jeremiah, what is it?
JEREMIAH: I need you to go with me to find a scroll and something to write with. I’m afraid we have a lot of work ahead of us.
BARUCH: Of course, what is going on?
The two men walk off stage, Jeremiah pretending to explain everything to Baruch with much excitement (making visible hand movements).
ACT II
Jeremiah 36:5-19
Some People Believe
CHARACTERS:
Narrator
Baruch
Maciah
Elishama
3-8 officials
Jehudi
(Baruch and Maciah are not on the stage, but are standing to the right of it. Maciah is in the very front row, sitting with the other VBS students. He is intently listening as Baruch stands in front of him, pretending to be speaking (using big arm and hand movements). All of the other characters are on the center of the stage, milling around, pretending to speak to one another).
Narrator: The story doesn’t pick up until the fifth year of Jehoiakim’s reign as king, so it obviously took quite a while to write down everything that God had told Jeremiah. When they were finally finished, Jeremiah instructed Baruch to take the scroll and read it in the temple. The Bible is not clear about why Jeremiah could not do this himself, but Baruch was obedient in completing his task. He entered the temple during a time that the people were fasting and read the words of God that had been passed down by Jeremiah.
BARUCH: … (Loudly) thus says the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, “Turn from your evil ways!” (Baruch walks off and goes into the last classroom on the left, leaving Maciah sitting there).
MACIAH: (Stands up quickly and runs to the others who are on stage). Guys! Guys! Listen up! I just heard a message in the temple. The man who was speaking says that our country needs to repent of its evil ways and turn to God!
ELISHAMA: Who is this man? How do we know he isn’t some kind of a nut?
MACIAH: He’s not a nut. He is a scribe for the prophet Jeremiah. I think we should listen to what he has to say.
(Everyone gathers close together and quietly discusses what to do. After a few seconds, Elishama speaks up).
ELISHAMA : (Loudly) Jehudi, go and find this scribe and ask him to bring his scroll and read to us!
(Jehudi goes to the classroom and brings Baruch back with him).
BARUCH: What can I do for you gentlemen?
MACIAH: I was in the temple today when you read the scroll, but my friends were not. They were wondering if you would read it to them.
BARUCH: Of course I will.
(Maciah pretends to read out of the scroll as the narrator speaks).
NARRATOR: The men listening to Baruch were not just any men. In fact, they were scribes and officials from the king’s own court. As Baruch read to them, their hearts burned inside of their chests and they knew that they were hearing the truth. When the reading of the scroll was over…
BARUCH: … (Loudly) thus says the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, “Turn from your evil ways!”
MACIAH: Tell us Baruch. How did you know what to write on this scroll?
BARUCH: God spoke to Jeremiah, and I wrote down everything that he told me to write.
MACIAH: Then we can be certain that it is the truth?
BARUCH: Yes!
ELISHAMA: We have to report these things to the king. He will want to know that his country is in danger. (Speaking directly to Baruch) I don’t know how the king will take this news. You and Jeremiah should both go into hiding until you hear that it is safe. Do you understand?
BARUCH: Yes, I will do as you say.
(Everyone walks off the stage quietly).
ACT III
Jeremiah 36:20-26
The King Rejects It
CHARACTERS:
Narrator
Jehoiakim
Jehudi
5-8 extras to sit around the king
(The king is sitting on a stool and everyone else is either standing or sitting on the floor around him. Jehudi is standing in front of the king, pretending to read the scroll. Leave room for the audience to see the king. You will need one of the tike torches to be lit).
NARRATOR: All of the men from the previous scene went to the king and told him of the scroll and how they thought it would be a good idea for him to hear its words. The king was willing to hear what was written on the scroll and called out for Jehudi to get it and read it to him. He had only read part of the scroll when the king spoke to Jehudi…
JEHOIAKIM: (In an authoritative voice) Give me the scroll Jehudi.
(Jehudi gives the scroll to the king, bowing his head in reverence as the king removes it from his hands).
JEHOIAKIM: I cannot listen to this! (The king tears off two or three pages and pretends to burn them over the tiki torch).
JEHUDI: I plead with you O King, do not burn the scroll. The words came from Almighty God himself.
JEHOIAKIM: I am not afraid of God and I do not believe what is written on this scroll. This is clearly a plan to take my country from me.
(The king puts the whole scroll over the fire and pretends to burn the whole thing. Everyone that is around him claps as they watch it burn. Finally, everything quiets down and the king speaks again…)
JEHOIAKIM: (Points at the people surrounding him) I want Baruch and Jeremiah captured and thrown in prison! They will not be allowed to get away with this.
(Everyone, except for the king and Jehudi, runs off stage making loud noises and hand movements as they go to search for Baruch and Jeremiah. After they are gone, Jehudi walks off stage quietly, shaking his head. After that, Jehoiakim places his hands behind his back and walks off stage with a big smile on his face).
ACT IV
Jeremiah 36:27-32
Nothing Can Destroy God’s Word
CHARACTERS:
God
Jeremiah
Baruch
(Jeremiah is kneeling on the stage in prayer, facing the right side of the stage. Baruch and God are off stage to the left).
GOD: (Enters and stands behind Jeremiah) Jeremiah!
JEREMIAH: (Continues to kneel, but looks up to heaven) Yes, Lord.
GOD: I want to you take another scroll and write down everything that I have spoken to you about Israel and Judah.
JEREMIAH: You mean… you want me to… to write it again Lord?
GOD: Yes, but this time I want you to add something else. I want you to write this: “King Jehoiakim, you burned the first scroll and did not take heed to the words that were on it. Because of this, you will have no one to sit on the throne and your dead body will be cast out in the heat of the day and the frost of the night.” Also, let him know that I will punish him and his descendants and his servants for their sins because they did not listen. Do you understand Jeremiah?
JEREMIAH: Yes Lord, I will do as you say. I will call Baruch to help me again. (God leaves the stage and Jeremiah stands up. Jeremiah turns to face the left side of the stage) Baruch, come here please!
BARUCH: (Baruch enters and the two men stand face to face) Yes, Jeremiah, what is it?
JEREMIAH: I need you to go with me to find a scroll and something to write with. I’m afraid we have to start all over again.
BARUCH: (Loudly, and with a look of disbelief) What! What are you talking about? It took us almost a year the first time.
JEREMIAH: I know, and this time it might even take longer.
(The two men walk off stage, Jeremiah pretending to explain everything to Baruch with much excitement (making visible hand movements). Baruch shakes his head and throws his hands in the air).
I wrote the following message back in May of 2005 and got the opportunity to deliver it to a local church. I wish that I could say all has been great for me spiritually since then, but it has definitely been a bumpy road. I want to share it now because I believe there are a lot of Christians who have "crashed down" and haven't quite been able to pull themselves back up. We live in a world that kicks us when we are down and it is especially true for the Christian.
INTRODUCTION
I was on a spiritual high when I was stationed in Valdosta, Georgia with the U.S Air Force. I was in a Bible believing, Bible teaching church and my relationship with Christ was at a peak. In 1998, I got out of the Air Force and moved my family back to Florida. My spiritual life flourished for a while and I actually got the opportunity to help start a new church, filling in as interim pastor for almost a year. But in the year 2002, I came crashing down from the top in a hard way. Almost overnight my relationship with God seemed to become a thing of the past. As a result, my spiritual life fell to an all time low. I am ashamed to admit it, but there were times that I didn’t want to go to church at all. If it wasn’t for my wife and children I probably would have left the church completely. I fell under a dark cloud of spiritual depression that I just couldn’t seem to get out from under. I started doubting God and his direction in my life. I even questioned if God had anything to do with the direction of my life. In a nutshell, I was miserable.
It has taken a long time, but the wounds have finally started to heal. I feel as if I am making my way back up the mountain, be it ever so slowly. I firmly believe that God allowed me to crash to the bottom so that I can take what I have learned and not only apply it to my own life, but share it with others as well. He has shown me that there are multitudes of people who know Jesus, yet have fallen away because of something that happened to make them grow angry, bitter or even depressed. In most cases, they know their relationship with God is suffering, but the pain runs so deep that they can’t even make themselves care.
How about you? Do you fall into this category? Do you feel as if God has deserted you and left you to fend for yourself in a cruel world? Does your heart ache so much that you wonder if the pain will ever stop? Then please listen to this message and allow God to heal your broken spirit.
I. WHAT CAUSES US TO CRASH TO THE BOTTOM? (this is not an exhaustive list)
A. Getting hurt by the actions of others.
1. Betrayal – Nothing cuts deeper than being betrayed by a friend. Unfortunately, it happens all too often between Christians and non-Christians alike.
2. Lies – Sometimes it comes from a friend, sometimes it comes from an unknown source. Wherever it begins, when someone tells a lie about us it hurts. What makes it worse is when those we know and love hear it and believe it. In my own life, this is what sent me on a downward spiral.
3. Hypocrisy – Who hasn’t heard the old expression about too many hypocrites being in the church? For some people, watching church members willingly commit sin and then file in on Sunday to worship God is too much to handle. Even long time Christians sometimes find it difficult to cope with the hypocrisy that permeates the church of today.
4. Church Politics
i. Preaching – It’s easy to pick apart a pastor and the way he preaches or leads the church. To some, it becomes a favorite pastime. To others, it is a reason to leave the church and never come back.
ii. Music – This is probably one of the most controversial subjects in the church today, and a medium that Satan uses to hurt and injure Christians on a weekly basis.
B. Getting hurt by the actions of God. Is it sacrilegious to say that we have been hurt by the actions of God? It certainly sounds like something we shouldn’t allow to come from our lips, but it still happens nonetheless. A lot of times people blame God when bad things happen to them. A prime example would be the hurricanes or other natural disasters. But I’m not only talking about natural disasters. Christians sometimes have an extremely hard time when God doesn’t answer their plea for help during times of distress. It’s definitely a true statement that we can get our feelings hurt when God doesn’t do what we think he should have done. The following is a list of seemingly unanswered prayers that can turn a person’s life inside out (this is not an exhaustive list).
1. The death of a loved one.
2. The diagnosis of a life threatening disease.
3. Unbearable physical suffering.
4. Wayward children.
C. Getting hurt by the actions of ourselves.
1. Sin – sometimes our pain is self inflicted.
i. Open sin.
ii. Secret sin.
D. Other actions that hurt us.
1. Divorce.
2. Mental, physical or sexual abuse.
3. Church split.
4. Financial distress.
I. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF THE FALL? (This is not an exhaustive list)
A. The desire to read the Bible and pray is hard to find or doesn’t exist.
B. Going to church becomes a chore, slows down dramatically or ceases completely.
C. There is no yearning to be around other Christians.
D. Compassion towards others begins to fade away.
E. Old sins start to creep back in.
III. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET BACK TO THE TOP?
I wish I could lay out a simple plan that would make getting back to the top as easy as turning on a light switch. The truth of the matter is that even though getting to the bottom can be very sudden; finally getting back to the top of the mountain can take weeks, months, or even sometimes years. What we have to do is learn to look at our current situation through the eyes of God. We have to keep our eyes and hearts focused on him and his Word and trust him to help us out. At the same time we should rest assured in the fact that he understands what we are going through.
A. Recognize that falls are inevitable – 1 Peter 1:6
1. “Though now for a season” – God tells us here that there are some tough times coming. But he reassures us that they are only for a season. He doesn’t expect us to stay there for the rest of our lives. But how long is a season? I think that depends on the person and how they handle their circumstances. In order to move on we have to be willing to deal with some of our own feelings:
i. Bitterness
ii. Hate
iii. Forgiveness
· We must forgive others
· We must believe that God will forgive us
2. “If need be” – God will allow us to go through hard times if he sees a need for it.
3. “Ye are in heaviness” – It is OK to be in heaviness or to feel down about something. Some Christians think that they have to be jolly and happy all the time. That’s just not true. This entire verse teaches us that we just might end up in heaviness. The best part about it is that it will only be for a “season”.
B. Don’t be surprised when the fall comes– 1 Peter 4:12
God says that we shouldn’t think it as some strange thing when adversity finds us. A lot of people don’t like to hear it, but there is a reason for the suffering that takes place in our lives.
ILLUSTRATION
The U.S. Navy has a Special Forces team called the SEALS. It takes a lot to become part of this elite group. One of the many physical challenges that SEALS in training must complete is called “surf torture”. It all stems from the fact that a frogman must be intimately familiar with the water. During training the student is wet and sandy for most of the six months. Even the classroom sessions include a trip or two to the surf zone to facilitate an alert posture during the class. Periodically, the instructors include a little cold water conditioning in the training schedule. Basically the entire class must wade into the surf zone to their waist line and then sit down with arms linked. The whole time they are there the waves crash into them, hence the term “surf torture”. The water coming in from the Pacific never gets above 68 degrees during summer months and 58 degrees during winter. Soon the biting cold sucks out all of the body's warmth and the entire class shivers in unison as the waves crash over their heads. The plan calls for submersion to the brink of hypothermia, then the trainees get pulled out for some calisthenics to warm up - then back in the surf for more conditioning. The training session lasts for about an hour. It's been proven to be a very successful way to teach prospective SEALS how to mentally fend off the effects of hypothermia.
I’m quite sure the trainees don’t enjoy the surf torture and all of the physical agony that comes along with it. However, recognizing the onset of hypothermia and knowing how the body reacts under such extreme conditions may one day be the difference between life and death. That is exactly what God is doing with us. By putting us through his own version of “surf torture”, he is preparing us for something that may come along in the future. We might not like what we are going through, but there will come a day when we will have to take what we have learned and apply it to our lives or the life of someone else.
C. Allow God to take the lead – 1 Peter 5:10
Too often we try to figure out a way to get out of our current situation; by doing so we fail to allow God to work it out. If you are under spiritual depression today, if you hurt so deeply that you wonder if you have any feelings left, then please stop trying to do it your way and allow God to work in your life.
The first part of this verse reminds us again that we don’t have to stay on this road forever. It says, “After that ye have suffered a while”. But God doesn’t just leave us hanging from the gallows with no hope of rescue. He continues on by telling us what he will do for us.
1. GOD PREPARES US. He will “make you perfect”. This literally means that he will “make you what you ought to be”. Isn’t it comforting to know that even when God is shaping us into what he wants us to be that he is still holding us in his loving hands?
2. GOD HELPS US STAND OUR GROUND. He will “establish” you. Roman soldiers used to have spikes on the back of their boots so they could literally dig in their heels and stand their ground during battle. If we allow him to, God will help us dig in for battle and stand our ground when difficulties arise.
3. GOD STRENGTHENS US. He will “strengthen” you. The Greek word, sthenoo, is only found in this verse and it means “to strengthen”. There just isn’t any other way to say it.
4. GOD PUTS US ON A FIRM FOUNDATION. He will “settle” you. This means he will “put you on a firm foundation”. There is no stronger foundation than Jesus Christ and when we stand on him we know that we are standing on solid ground.
CONCLUSION
Are you tired of feeling like a dark cloud is over your head?
Do you long to feel the way you used to feel about your relationship with God?
Are you willing to forgive and allow God to work in your life?
Are you willing to accept forgiveness from God?
Are you willing to stop trying to figure things out and let God take control?
If so, you are ready to allow God to:
PREPARE YOU
HELP YOU STAND YOUR GROUND
STRENGTHEN YOU
PUT YOU ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17
I have been posting the next week's Sunday school lesson on Sunday morning, but looking back I seem to have missed posting a lesson last Sunday. So, I am linking to a lesson from the web site of Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia instead. The Sunday school director writes these lessons and teaches them to the teachers the week before they are to be taught in class. I hope you have a chance to read the lesson for today.
http://www.morningside.ws/lesson_plan_sheet_for_youth.htm
Have a great Easter and if you happen to be anywhere near Valdosta, Georgia, I would recommend going to their yearly passion play this evening at 6 pm. You will be glad that you went. Go to their home page to find the address.
Valdosta Passion Play
Fri. Mar. 21 - 7:00 PM
Sat. Mar. 22 - 4:00 PM
Sun. Mar. 23 - 6:00 PM
Living Lovingly
March 16, 2008
PURPOSE OF IT
To teach the class about God’s love for us and encourage them to show this kind of love to those they come in contact with.
OPEN IT
ASK: What means more to you, when someone says that they love you or when someone shows you that they love you? Can you give me some examples of how those who love you have shown it to you?
GET INTO IT
READ: John 3:16
EXPLAIN: God sent his only son to earth to die on the cross so that we could have eternal life in heaven. This is the depth of God’s love for us. The fact that he would do such a thing at all proves that he loves us more than we can ever know.
READ: 1 John 3:16-20
EXPLAIN: God sacrificed his only son so that we could have eternal life and we are supposed to show this kind of love to those around us. There have been some who have sacrificed their own lives, but this isn’t something that God calls most people to do. However, loving other people does require some kind of sacrifice.
ASK: What is taking place in verse 17? God tells us that someone who has the good of this world and has no compassion on his brother who is without does not have the love of God in him. Can you think of any examples of this?
EXPLAIN: Verse 18 says that we should not love in word, but in deed. God wants us to show our love for other people in ways that are tangible and noticeable, not so we can bring glory upon ourselves or beat our chests so everyone else can see us, but because he knows true love is shown by action, not just words.
READ: 1 John 4:15-21
EXPLAIN/ASK: Verse 15 tells us that whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has become part of the family of God. Because of that, we are expected to love. Often, it is fear that keeps us from reaching out to others in love. But what does it say about fear in verse 18? There is no fear in love; because perfect love casts out fear. In other words, as Christians, we shouldn’t have fear about loving others.
ASK: There are certain people that are easier to love than others. Can you give any examples?
ASK: How can we overcome our fear to serve certain people?
EXPLAIN: One way to overcome fear is to think about where you are today because of God’s love for you. Where were you without his love? What path of destruction were you traveling down? At one time, were you unlovable and unapproachable? Who was it that had the courage to break through the barrier and reach out to you? How do you feel about that person now? Where would you be today if they had written you off because they were too afraid to show you God’s love?
READ: 1 John 5:2-5
EXPLAIN/ASK: God’s Word teaches us that if we love him then we will keep his commandments. How can we keep his commandments? By studying his Word and living our life according to what the Bible teaches us.
EXPLAIN/ASK: Verse 4 tells us that anyone who is born of God is capable of overcoming the world through our faith in Jesus Christ. Why is it important to overcome the world? Because the worldly view on life is self-centered and does not teach the kind of love that God is talking about.
APPLY IT
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the ultimate display of love. God may not call us to sacrifice our life for others in this way, but he does want us to be sacrificial in showing our love to those around us. It is only when we show someone that we genuinely care that they can see the love of Christ in us. This week, look for an opportunity to show your love to someone who does not know Christ.
Over the years, I have written down quotes from pastors and others in the leaf of my Bible. I used that Bible for ten years and managed to use all of the empty pages until finally switching to a different Bible. I just wanted to share some of the quotes that I wrote down.
"Son, why don't you use your brain for something other than keeping your spine from unraveling." Pastor Wayne Roberston
"God is absolutely sovereign and man is absolutely responsible." Raymond Cates, Sunday School Teacher
"Success is certain when the Lord has promised it." Charles Haddon Spurgeon, famous preacher from the 1800's
"God does not operate in the realm of possibility." Pastor Ronnie Walker
"Preach the Word and get out of the way." Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary
"Providence is a priveledge" and "Being weak in the flesh is not an excuse to sin." Evangelist Sam Cathey
"The fires of retribution may not always come in the afterlife." William "Mac" McClellan, coworker
"Genuine leaders are always servants." Ron Gaynor
"The best of men are still men at best." Dr. Donald Whitney
There are many more, but I will end with my favorite from Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He spoke these words at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia on July 20, 1998, during the South Georgia Bible Conference. I purchased the tapes and listened to this sermon over and over again. It is rather long, but it is awesome. The sermon was on holiness:
"What is God's holiness? It is his moral majesty. It is what separates the creator from the creation. It is God in his purity; in him there is no shadow of turning at all. His holiness is a testimony to his separation as creator from his creation. He is not like us! We are finite; he is infinite. We are temporal; he is eternal. We are sinners; he is pure. We are weak; he is strong, omnipotent, omniscient, glorious. All of the attributes, communicable and incommunicable, of God, these are involved in his holiness because holiness is the essence of who he is."
