Friday, March 30, 2012

SHINE ON


”Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.’ John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.’” – John 3:25-27

Who do you work for, really? The scripture above tells us that everything we have has been given to us from heaven. John here says that even the job he has been given to do and the people that come to him have been given to him by God. (He is also saying those that are following Jesus have been given to Him by God, but that's for another post!)

If we are followers of Christ, we don’t work to please ourselves or impress our peers or superiors. The bible says we work for God.

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.” – Eph 6:5-8

Our jobs are the mission field that He assigned us to. Everything that happens in our daily grind is what our mighty, omniscient, sovereign God has allowed. (Everything that happens ANYTIME is what our sovereign God allowed!!!) And we are to praise Him for EVERYTHING—bad and good:

“give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

When we are praised, we have an opportunity to thank Him and give Him the glory. But when we are treated unfairly, we have the opportunity to lean on Him and wait for Him to defend us—all the while giving out grace to those that don’t deserve it—just like the grace that we were shown.

A difficult concept is that we shouldn’t defend ourselves, but rather wait for God to defend us. Exodus 23:22 says, “I will be an enemy to your enemies, an adversary to your adversaries.” That same chapter says to help those who are our enemies! And all the while, pouring out the radical grace that has been poured out to us. We pour out grace and we wait on the Lord.

When there are difficult situations and people, we know that all things that are allowed into a Christian’s life is for a purpose, and Romans 8:28-29 says that purpose is to conform us into the image of Christ! SO BE GLAD AND FILLED WITH JOY -- for in this trial you are being made to look like JESUS!!!

One of the most difficult scriptures to observe is 1 Cor 10:31 that says: “So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” --- we all fail miserably at this if we are honest. How do you drink a cup of tea for the glory of God much less “whatever you do”? But this is what we are told to do. In everything that happens to us, we give thanks. In everything we do, we do it for the glory of God. We are BONDSERVANTS of Christ. We have given our lives to Him. We no longer live, but He lives in us. He has work set out from before the foundations of time for you to do.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Eph 2:10

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” Phil 2:12-16a

Remember that as you go about your day, as you walk through this messy, difficult life: YOU SHINE!!!

Friday, February 24, 2012

THE COMPLAINING CHRISTIAN

“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” -- James 5:9

The Early Church was confronted with a relationship hindering, unity busting issue in its congregations: Christians complaining against Christians.

Sad to say, it is no different today.

Churches are packed with complaining Christians.

Everything from the length of the Pastor’s sermon, his personal style, his family’s lifestyle, the worship team’s performance, ministry workers care for children, to campus décor, to expenditure of God’s funds, and on and on and on….. all are subject to subjective judgment by believers who take upon themselves the mantle of judge and jury.

The word complain means groan, murmur or bear a grudge. Ouch! Do we really realize what we are doing when we complain against a brother? I think not. For if we did, I think we would think twice before murmuring against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We should be ashamed of ourselves. I have done my share of complaining over the years, and you probably have too. I have come to the conclusion there is no biblical justification for me passing judgment on any Christian brother by complaining about them.

James had a word from God for the Christians in his day and ours. Complaining was out! “DO NOT COMPLAIN” is the word.

Brothers, do not complain against your brothers. Why? Because when you do, you will be judged. The Judge, God Almighty, the Judge of all judges, will pass judgment on you for passing judgment on others. Note “the Judge is standing right at the door.” The Judge is Johnny on the spot! Right at the door. Listening to our words.

Criticizing, complaining, murmuring, gossiping, groaning and moaning against one another. A scourge and curse in the church. Complaining is immature at best, sinful at the worst. James tells us in chapter 3, verse 17 “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” We know as Bible-believing Christians to complain against our brothers is not right. So if we do it, according to God’s Word, it is sin. Pure and simple. It is sin because we are judging one another and we are commanded not to judge each other. (Matthew 7:1-5).

How many of our brothers and sisters have been hurt and disheartened by complaining? How many churches have been torn apart by strife and division because of complainers? How many pastors have been discouraged and burned out having to deal with constant criticism from the people they serve?

Criticizing and complaining is not a spiritual gift.

Ten Simple Steps To Stop Complaining

  1. Do you like it when others complain against you? Probably not.
  2. Take your complaint to God and pray for your brother.
  3. Forgive your brother for all offense against you.
  4. Control your tongue. Resist the fleshly temptation to murmur against a Christian.
  5. Never tear down your fellow Christians. Always build them up.
  6. Speak highly of your brother in the presence of others.
  7. Check your motivation. Why are you complaining against a brother?
  8. Is it Christ-like to complain against fellow Christians?
  9. Stop and think. What will my complaining against a brother do to him/her and the body of Christ, and my witness to an unbelieving world?
  10. Remember you are accountable to God for your treatment of your brother.

Think with me for a moment. If Christians stopped complaining against one another:

  • The devil would not have opportunity to divide the body of Christ.
  • Strife and disunity in the church would be non-existent.
  • Believers would have clear consciences toward one another.
  • Energy given to complaining would be directed to soul-winning.
  • The world would be attracted, not repelled, by Christians and the church.
  • The Lord would be pleased with how we treat one another.

Are you a complaining Christian? Do you have such a critical spirit toward others that you hardly realize that you complain against your fellow Christians? Would those who know you best say you are infected with a complaining spirit?

Is there someone you need to go to with a humble heart and ask for forgiveness for complaining against them? If so, go.

Maybe spiritual revival and renewal would come to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ if we stopped complaining against our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Just a thought.

“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against another, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14

Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5, “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye?

A Word For Your Week: Stop judging other Christians by complaining about them.

---- by Steve Roll