The Prevailing Life | Discover God's Destiny For Your Life

Jesus, The Perfect One

April 14, 2014 — 4 Comments

It is the week before Easter, the great celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Read this to be introduced, or for many of you, reminded, of the uniqueness and perfection of the Son of God. Jesus was no mere man. He was God in the flesh and he came to save us.

Jesus

The Lord Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of our faith. I did not always believe in him. In fact, for years I considered myself an atheist, skeptical about any claims regarding God. But when I was truly and deeply introduced to him I found him to be who he claimed to be and I was never the same.

Jesus is the full revelation of God and the only Savior of mankind. Jesus is the pre-existent, virgin born, Son of Man, Son of God, miracle worker, and light of the world. R.G. Lee, a preacher from many years back said this of him…

“By the coming of God in human form, Jesus, clothed the body with imperishable nobility. By Him who was made flesh, whose every muscle was a pulley divinely swung, whose every nerve was divine handwriting, whose every bone was divine sculpture, who, in kingly fashion, wore the flesh as a garment, the body has been made an instrument of Christ. Through the human mouth God in authority spoke. Through human eyes God in pity looked. Through human hands God in love wrought. Upon human feet God on errands of mercy went. Through a human heart God’s compassion was shown. Through human ears God heard humanity’s despairing cry.”[1]

Jesus is God, but became man. He came to dwell in the flesh of our humanity, that he might save us from our sinful inhumanity. Though we have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, he is the essence of moral purity.

Lee also said of him, “Jesus never struck a jarring note, never made a misstep. On Him circumstances left no fingerprints. Popularity never caused Him to hasten a footstep. Hostility never caused Him to falter. Temptations never loosened a moral fiber. As all the rivers are gathered into the ocean so Christ is the ocean in which all moral excellencies and spiritual pleasures meet. Even His enemies said they could find no fault in Him. Even His worst foe proclaimed Him innocent.”[2]

Jesus was sinless perfection and thus fit to be the atoning sacrifice for humankind’s sins through his death on the cross. This atonement would find its completion in his miraculous resurrection that we will be celebrating in just a few days.

Today, as you prepare your spirit to worship the Risen Christ this Easter, think on the perfection of Christ. Throughout the day, think on the fact that Christ himself is God’s greatest miracle.

In Christ you can know God. In Christ you can be forgiven. In Christ you can live eternally with God Almighty.

Today, praise him for who he is. In fact, why not praise him for who he is by leaving a brief praise here in the comment section. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

[1] Robert G. Lee, Whirlwinds of God: Messages (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1932), 64.

[2] Robert G. Lee, The Rose of Sharon (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1947), 17.

In Discovering Jesus

Ways Martin Luther King Jr Shaped My World

April 11, 2014 — 4 Comments

I grew up a middle class white boy who never himself suffered racial injustice. I grew up in the context of desegregation efforts in the school system in Louisville, KY, but I did not know the real struggle in my own personal experience.

Memorial of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today I visited the memorial of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, D.C. with my youngest son. Seeing that memorial made me think of the ways my life and view of the world have been shaped by this man and the movement he represented.

I grew up in the generation just following King’s life. I was born in February 1968 and was only 6 weeks old when King was martyred on April 4^th. I never had the privilege of seeing him for myself or even joining my efforts in his movement. And yet my world view would be shaped by his words.

My mother and my mother’s family always sympathized with the Civil Rights movement. And it was my mother and father who refused to let me look through racial lenses on the world.

It was fourth grade and I was playing on the playground with Robin, one of my very best friends at Montrose Elementary School in Bexley, Ohio. To my memory, Robin was the only African American girl in our grade, if not in the entire school. She had played at my house and I had played at hers.

My parents had wanted to see King’s vision (spoken only a little over a decade before) of a nation “transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.”

That vision was being fulfilled in a new generation on that playground that day.

But I will never forget the jarring moment when our play was interrupted as a white boy approached my friend and called her the “N” word. I can still remember the nauseous and confusing fear I felt in my stomach and the tear I felt in my eye. It was my Mom later that day that would help me process that racial moment as she spoke out of the well-spring of King’s vision that she had heard just 5 years before I was born.

I always remember our family recognizing the important place King’s leadership played in forming our nation’s conscience. I was perhaps between the ages of 12 and 15 when my Uncle Mike took me to the Philadelphia airport to put me on a plane back home after a visit I had made to family. We were walking through the airport when he pulled me behind a pillar and pointed hastily toward a motorized passenger vehicle carrying a lone stately looking African American woman and said “Greg, look that is Coretta Scott King, Dr. King’s widow.” Wow! That was a moment. I had seen someone, whose husband had helped shape the cultural conscience of the Nation.

King stood, most specifically, for the racial equality of African Americans, but called upon the founding principles of this nation that would help us work to tear down prejudicial walls for all races.

King said, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

King spoke, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Those words have shaped my generation’s view of the world and view of the ultimate insignificance of the differences in our skin’s color.

We live in a world where we had better get comfortable being inter related with people from all tribes and tongues.

Today I thought, “Here I am, standing in front of the monument of a man who fought for racial equality, with my son, my adopted son from a different race. My skin and his are different, but we live in a world where it is now very much acceptable for me to be his dad and him my boy. Thank you Dr. King and so many others who fought for us to view race thru eyes of love.”

Question: How have the words of King impacted you and your view of the world? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Leadership

Five Things My Dad Gave Me

April 8, 2014 — 16 Comments

This week my wife and youngest son visited my dad who is suffering from cancer. Because of the nature and stage of his disease we know that his time is limited. These moments we spend make me think of the things he has given me throughout his life.

Gifts From A Father

I am grateful for these things, things you look for a dad to give.

He gave me…

1. The confidence that I could achieve. Like my mother, my father always expressed belief that I could achieve whatever I had aspiration to pursue. He believed I could do great things and affirmed me along the way.

2. The support I needed in beginning my journey in life. It was true that my dad was a workaholic. That is one trait I adopted as well. It doesn’t always work for you (certainly hasn’t always worked for me). It is true that dad’s workaholic tendency caused me some loss. But there is a flip side to this that also shouldn’t be ignored.

He provided. He worked hard, but he made a good living for me when I was young. We had a nice safe home, never lacked a meal, had the things we needed, and a few special extras. He supported me as best as he was able when I went through college. He helped me get a good start.

Sometimes dads can get a bad rap for over working and neglecting the family. And to be sure, that can be a real issue. You need to be with your family and kids. But in emphasizing this point, let’s not bash the dad that is earning the bucks to better his family and children’s future.

3. Approval along the way. I guess I have always hungered for his approval. A lot of people hunger for such fatherly approval and don’t receive it. I did receive it and I am thankful. Throughout my childhood, and now for nearly 30 years of adulthood, he has listened to me and expressed his pride whenever I would call him up and tell of my latest achievements. I have received my father’s approval and I am unmistakably grateful.

4. A clear sense when he expected me to be a man. I’ll never forget it. I was in my sophomore year of college, engaged to my wife, eager to get married and be an adult. He told me that he was committed to help me financially, as best he could. He said he would give me support until I graduated from college or I got married, whichever came first. Then he said I must finish college in four years. He made it crystal clear that by the age of 22, or earlier if I chose to get married before, he considered me a man. And being a man he expected me to support myself. That clarity gave me a deep sense of personal responsibility. I knew when I was expected to be my own man and stand on my own feet. Many parents today do a poor job of setting up this expectation of responsibility and their children fail to know when they are adults. I didn’t have that confusion because my dad clearly told me when I must be a man.

5. An example of how to face death with courage. With his cancer, my dad is not expected to have much time. I have watched him these last two years physically suffer horrific pain. But at the same time I have watched him live life with gratitude and grace. He has set a standard for me. If I someday can see my death approaching, I will have my dad’s example in the front of my mind. I will want to have his same positive outlook and courage.

Don’t get me wrong. My dad isn’t perfect. I guess I could even make a list of things that have disappointed me over the years. But I don’t care about any of that. I see what he gave me and I am grateful. Absolutely grateful.

Question: Is there something that someone you love has given to you for which you are grateful? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Leadership

Gratitude Is Your Key To A Better Experience Of Today

April 3, 2014 — 6 Comments

Your experience of life is largely determined by your perspective of it. Life is a mix of good and bad, easy and hard, fair and unfair. What you focus on is what defines your experience. Focus on the good and life seems good. Focus on the unfair and your life seems like miserable injustice.

Gratitude Is Key

In other words, you have a significant influence on your experience of any given day simply by the perspective you choose. Focus on the bad, you feel bad. Focus on the good, even if you are experiencing bad things, you still see the blessings that fill your life.

So what is the key to seeing the blessings, even when difficult things are in your path? The key is gratitude!

When you are thankful to God, you recognize the things he has given you in your life. When you do this, you see that he has not left you. You see that he is active and cares.

Do you want to perceive with greater clarity the blessings God has already put in your life today?

Then thank God for these things:

The people he has given you to love. There is no gift like the gift of relationships. We are the sum total of the relationships we have forged. The gift of people in our lives is rich. When was the last time you took inventory of your relationships? When last did you choose to express how much you valued those people? And sure, I know relationships can be tough. You might be struggling with a spouse, a teenage child, your parents, a rift in a friendship. But what if you thanked God for those people you get to love. Even when I have been challenged in a relationship, when I thank God for that person I feel differently toward them. I appreciate them and love them.
The grace to make it through challenges. In the Book of Philippians, in the Bible, Paul writes to the church of Philippi encouraging them. These people were experiencing a measure of persecution and social pressure. It was hard. But he called them to rejoice with gratitude. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:4-6) Maybe you are going through something difficult. But God offers you the grace to make it through. You can call on him, count on him. Many of you can recall a difficult time that you didn’t think you would survive, but God got you through. Thank him for that, right now.
The wisdom to know how to live. God has given you his Word, the Bible. It is rich with insight and instruction on the wise way to live. No doubt you have a Bible believing church you can be a part of where the Scriptures are preached and where wise people lead. Having these influences in our lives helps us navigate the winding roads in front of us. Thank God for the wisdom he makes available and the potential it has to bless you.
The ability to give. You know, even when we have little, if we look closely we can find we have something to give. Look around at the things you have with which you can be generous with others. It may be money, or something that you can share, or something you can do for someone. Be thankful that you have been given the ability to give today.
The perspective to live contentedly. Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) When my wife and I first married, we were poor. Our jobs didn’t bring in much money. We had a small apartment and no savings. But a couple times a week I would walk around the apartment and thank God for everything I saw. The used furniture, the pots and pans in the kitchen, the clean clothes, and the food in the fridge. I felt rich, very rich. Why? Because I was grateful.

So stop now and start thanking God for everything you have and see that he is powerfully with you today.

Question: What are some things for which you are grateful? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Walking with Jesus

This One Principle Will Increase Your Experience of God’s Activity

April 2, 2014 — 3 Comments

The greatest hindrances to a life yielded to the will and ways of God are pride and envy. When we are gripped with pride, or plagued with envy, our eyes are not on the Lord, but on ourselves.

Humble Before God

It is easy to fall into prideful envy. Why is this? Because usually we have a very difficult time losing the spotlight or having someone else get the glory. Think about it…

Someone else gets picked for the team, gets the promotion you wanted, or displays more talent than you. Perhaps they get the girl or the guy you always had an eye for. Maybe someone else gets the big break, or has the same idea that you have, but goes farther with it and becomes more successful than you. Or maybe, someone else gets the dream salary, car, clothes, or house.

Usually these scenarios are the birthing ground for pride and envy. The problem with these emotions is that they make us think we should be the focus, the center of attention. But for the person growing in Christ’s prevailing life, Christ must be central.

God calls us to a different posture. He calls us to employ humility and contentment rather than pride and envy. No one displayed this posture better than John the Baptist in relationship to Christ.

He said of Christ and his role before him, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30, KJV) John knew that for Christ to be powerfully displayed in a life, a person must be submissive and humble. We cannot expect God to be active and central in our lives if we are more concerned with ourselves and our wants than what God gives and wills for our lives.

John the Baptist accepted that his ministry would decrease as Christ’s increased in influence. It is the same with us. If we want God to be more in control of our lives we must accept what he has for us, where he has placed us, and what he has called us to do.

Think about it…You can only have according to God’s provision, purposes, and perimeters. In other words, God has a plan.

Maybe you have not been content with the circumstances of your life. Sometimes that is a good thing. Sometimes it is an indication that you need to strive for better, push for more. But sometimes it is important to accept the life God has given you and allow God to work through those circumstances.

Sometimes I get frustrated with my life. I dream of having better circumstances with less stress and with more rewards for myself. I imagine having a bigger career opportunity, more money, or for there to be more spotlight on me.

When I get like this, I find my fellowship with God strained. My focus is on what I want, rather than on God. But there is a sweet release, an entrance into peace, when I assume a different posture.

When I say to God, “O’Lord, may my wants and desires decrease as I invite you and your will to increase in my life.” When I say that I am deciding to be thankful for the circumstances I am in and my opportunity to allow God to use me in those circumstances. I am decreasing as I invite him to be central in all things and as I accept his specific plan for me.

Today, I challenge you to follow this principle of humility and contentment as you invite God and his will to influence you in ever greater ways.

Question: What helps you remember that Christ must increase as you decrease? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Walking with Jesus

Satisfy Your Hunger With Jesus

March 31, 2014 — 2 Comments

Every one of us hungers for three things: Acceptance, Security, and Significance.

Satisfied in Jesus

We are driven to find these three. We hope for them, dream for them, reach for them. Every human pursuit and relationship is a step seeking an experience of one or more of these. Neil T. Anderson speaks of these three fundamental needs of people in his book, Victory Over The Darkness.

Unfortunately as much as we reach for an experience of these, we often fail to fully find it. Years ago, the Rolling Stones sang a song that cried out, “I can’t get no satisfaction…’cause I try and I try and I try and I try.” All of us can relate to that.

But the truth is that these things are squarely found in Christ Jesus. We cannot find them anywhere else, but in Him.

Think about it! We hunger for…

Acceptance.

*We search for it in our fathers and mothers, in our friends and co-workers, in intimate relationships with a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancée, or spouse. We sometimes gain a measure of it. But never do we find (nor could we) total and ultimate acceptance from anyone.

*Ultimate acceptance is only fully found in Jesus. When you connect with Jesus your hunger for acceptance is satisfied. Think about it…

You become a member of His family. The Bible says, “to all who received him…he gave the right to become children of God.”(John 1:12)
You are brought into union with His Spirit. Scripture tells us, “he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17)
You are His treasured possession. He says, “you have been bought at a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
You have been adopted as His child. Ephesians 1:5 says, we were “adopted as his sons.”

You are completely and utterly accepted in Christ.

Security.

*We search for security in possessions, relationships, health, and even in our own self-righteousness. But none of these things make us secure in any eternal sense. All of them are temporary and flimsy supports at best.

*Ultimate and eternal security is only found in Jesus. For the Word says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

It is only in Jesus that we have security in His love. He will never stop loving us or considering us His. Only with the Lord that we can truly and eternally know that it is well with our soul.

Significance.

*We search for significance in so many ways. We strive for it through achievement, wealth, and self exaltation (bragging or even putting people down so that we can feel lifted up).

*But true significance is only found in Jesus. He is our Creator. He knows what we are made for. It is only in submission to Him and His will that we can really connect to our life’s purpose. God’s word declares, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Our deepest hunger is found in the one who loved us enough to die for our salvation. Faith in Him and a relationship with Him is what our soul craves.

Psalm 63:1, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Question: How has knowing Christ brought you satisfaction where before it was elusive? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Discovering Jesus

Are You Really Worshipping In Church?

March 28, 2014 — 8 Comments

There I was singing in church, my hands in the air, my eyes closed. The Worship Pastor led well, the choir, praise team, and band were leading in a God honoring way. The words I sang were theologically rich. But my mind was hardly thinking about the Lord.

Authentic Worship

I was thinking how much time I had before getting up to preach, how cool the lights looked on stage, I even wondered how worshipful I appeared to others with my hands in the air and my eyes closed. I wasn’t connecting to God. I was focused on myself. I am embarrassed to even admit this.

Let me say this, I believe in the importance of worshipping each Sunday with your local church. Jesus died and rose again to build his body. For two thousand years, the body of Christ has physically gathered each Sabbath day to bring praise to Christ. This is how it should be. If anything, Christians today should renew commitment to this age old practice. It is certainly my favorite part of my week.

But we really must take it more seriously. We must assume personal responsibility for our focus in worship. Too often we come to a service of worship as if it were a show. It is not a show. It is a time to allow our Pastors and lay leaders to prompt us to fully and deeply connect with God.

It is sad how we get confused about what worship is.

Just a few years ago many churches were battling over an issue of contemporary worship vs. traditional worship. Many Christians were seriously conflicted over the issue. The debate typically centered on the weekend services and their music style. Do we sing hymns with an organ or choruses to an electric guitar? The unfortunate thing about this debate was that it distracted Christians from the real issue.

People were arguing that contemporary music was shallow and trendy or traditional music didn’t resonate with the postmodern unbeliever. But these were stylistic issues about music and had nothing to do with the ultimate definition of worship. Sure the issue was important in matters of cultural and generational relevance. But it mattered little in terms of a person’s personal commitment to engage with God.

We need to remember that worship is not singing songs. It is so much more.

God never said, “True worshipers worship me with organ music accompaniment” or “true worshipers sing to the sounds of electric guitar and drums.” He said they would worship “in spirit and truth.” I seriously doubt God looks down from Heaven on Sunday mornings and says, “Wow! I really love it when they sing “The Old Rugged Cross.” Nor do I think he says, “Man, that worship band really rocked today.” No, he asks, “Do I have their hearts? Do they love me with the totality of their souls? Have they given me dominion over their lives?”

Worship is not music, preaching, nor singing. These can serve as vital tools and activities that promote worship. But in and of themselves these are not worship. All of us know that we can sing a beautiful theologically rich song and hardly be exalting God in our spirits.

So what about the Sunday “Worship Service?” What is it for? First of all, it is not about maintaining stylistic traditions. Nor is it about grand standing the latest in contemporary Christian music. Pure and simple, the worship service is about connecting people to God. The central focus must always be on God, not the style of how we do that.

But here is my point. No one can connect you fully to God, not without your personal engagement. No dynamic Worship Pastor, praise team, or choir can create an atmosphere where you automatically are fully surrendered to Jesus. They can help. They can inspire. But you must be the one to engage.

That is what I had to realize that day in worship. I was being helped. I was being inspired. But I was not engaged and that was on me.

Would you do two things this weekend? Would you go to church, to a service of worship? And then would you engage? Would you say, “Jesus, I am here to praise you with my whole heart. I surrender to you my will, my life, and all my resources.” Would you truly worship God, deep in your soul?

Let’s truly worship!

Question: What are ways you get distracted in worship? What helps you get yourself focused again on the Lord? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Serving Jesus

Let Me Help You Reach Your Friends For Christ

March 26, 2014 — Leave a comment

Have you ever wanted to help a friend discover Jesus? Have you desired to encourage fellow believers in their walk with God? It is not as hard as you might imagine.

FREE E-book

You can start a “Dust to Destiny Group.” Often, the best way for a Christian to grow in their faith is to study and talk about their commitment to Christ with others. Likewise, a very effective way to lead someone to Jesus is in a group of believers who are joined together to talk about the things of God.

That is why I wrote the book, From Dust to Destiny. I wanted to provide you a tool for helping your friends and loved ones discover the Lord and grow in a personal relationship with him. I wanted to help you have natural conversations with others about the most important spiritual realities that will impact our lives.

From Dust to Destiny is a short, 100 page, e-book designed to help anyone discover their destiny in God’s plan. The book is FREE and quick to download (click here). It is an easy read and has just four chapters. It also has a 4-week study guide in the back that helps you with your group.

So you have friends in need of a spiritual boost. They need to get their lives re-calibrated about a vital, life-giving personal relationship with God. And perhaps you have a friend who has yet to receive Christ into their life. Start an easy 4-week “Dust to Destiny Group” where you and those you invite, read the e-book and discuss what they are reading.

Imagine you and 2 or more invited friends sitting around a table at a coffee shop, the break room, or one of your homes, discussing the claims of Christ and the things of God. Just think of how God could use that to encourage your friends and perhaps lead someone to accept Jesus into their life. Believe it or not, you could make such an experience happen. It is simple!

Here are a few simple steps to getting such a group started…

Invite a small group of your friends (it could even simply be you and one other person) interested in joining you for a study that speaks of God’s plan for our lives. These people could be fellow believers, but I also encourage you to invite someone who has yet to accept Christ but who would be interested in learning more about the Lord.
Instruct those you invite to go to www.prevailinglife.com to register on the site and download their FREE copy of From Dust to Destiny.
Arrange for a time and place to meet. Plan on having 4 sessions for the group. This could be done over four weeks. You could meet in a restaurant, coffee shop, break room, or home.
Prior to each session have the group read the chapter to be discussed that week.
Follow the Study Guide at the back of the book to lead your discussion sessions.
Pray for God to work powerfully in your life and in the lives of everyone in your group. Be confident that God will work.

It will be amazing to see how God will use you as you facilitate this book study. Write to me and let me know how God worked in the lives of those you invite. (Contact Me) I’d love to hear about it.

Question: Have you read any part of From Dust to Destiny, what truths challenged you the most and how would your friends benefit from this resource? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Serving Jesus

Let Somebody Off The Hook

March 24, 2014 — 7 Comments

After church on a Wednesday night I got my kids in our van and began to back out of the parking space when…”Crash!!”

Car Damage

“Oh no!” I had backed right into someone’s car. I pulled the van back into the space, got out and assessed the damage. The car I hit had some paint damage on the bumper. My bumper was damaged a bit worse. Nothing huge, but I knew I needed to find the person who owned the car.

I entered the church and began asking people whose car this was. It was embarrassing. Why? Well it would be embarrassing anyway, but it was especially embarrassing because I am the Pastor of my church. Finally I found out who owned the car. It was someone I had known for nearly a decade. She and I had worked together on several committees over the years. I knew her well.

She could tell I was upset that I had damaged her car. I asked her to look at it and insisted that she get an estimate so that I could pay for the damage. She assessed the damage and said it wasn’t bad and that she wouldn’t want to worry about it. I argued and said I wanted to make it right. She explained that the car was ten years old and she didn’t want to worry about some scratches. She let me off the hook.

I was humbled by her kindness and left having experienced an expression of grace.

Just the other day, a young sophomore girl hit my son’s parked car at their high school (see the picture above). The young girl was upset and crying after causing the damage. My son comforted her and said it would be alright. That afternoon I looked at the damage. It was only some scratches (nothing serious, especially on a 16 year old car that has a few other wrinkles in it, if you know what I mean).

I called the father of the girl and said, don’t worry about it. It was only a scratch. I let him off the hook.

It felt good. Someone had shown me grace and now I could do the same. It was good.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Many times it is the right thing to exchange insurance information, get estimates, and expect someone to make things right. Nobody should feel bad about that.

But sometimes things are not really that serious and it just isn’t a big enough deal to make a big deal about. Sometimes it is just easier and better to let someone off the hook.

Is there someone in your life that has crashed into something of yours (figuratively speaking)? Is it something that you could easily let them off the hook for?

Sometimes we make too much over little things. Maybe today you can have the privilege of letting someone off the hook.

Question: Can you think of a scripture that challenges us to let people off the hook? Share it with us. You can leave a comment by clicking here.

In Walking with Jesus

Is It Time To Call A Spiritual 911?

March 21, 2014 — 2 Comments

We teach our children to recognize emergencies and respond by calling 911. Doing so is important and could save their lives and the lives of others.

911

There are times when our spiritual condition warrants a spiritual 911. A time when things are not right and we need to do something about it right now. It is important to recognize when we are in that state and to know what to do to change our condition.

When is it time to call a spiritual 911? Learn to recognize the…

Symptoms of Spiritual Emergency…

Emptiness. Deep needs and real crises inevitably come into your life. When they do and you look within yourself for strength, to lean on God, do you come up empty? Have you so neglected your relationship with God that when you call on that faith, your experience of it is weak. This is a symptom of spiritual emergency. Ephesians 5:18 says, “be filled with the Spirit.” To be full of God you have to pursue him, empty your life of competing loyalties, and invite him into every aspect of your life.
Uselessness. When your faith in God does not change you or shape your choices, it is a sign of spiritual emergency. James 1:27 speaks of a practice of religion that is “worthless.” The reason so many people are uninterested in church or Christianity is because they say, “what is the point?” They have seen too many professing Christians display no real qualitative difference in their lives as a result of their faith in Jesus. When there are signs of uselessness in our faith, it is time to immediately turn to God and begin walking in obedience, allowing his Spirit to transform us and use us for his glory.
Phoniness. We are all prone to measures of hypocrisy. Are their places in your spiritual life where your talk does not match your walk? This does not mean you are never authentic. You can be a hypocrite and still be authentic once in a while. Even a fake clock is correct two times each day. Do you detect hints of spiritual phoniness in your life? This is a symptom of spiritual emergency. It is time to stop, turn from the hypocrisy, and make authentic choices.
Unproductiveness. If your faith does not lead you into serving others or sharing your faith with others, it is a sign of spiritual emergency. If we are vitally connected with Christ we will bear fruit for Christ. John 15:5-6 says, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” If your faith is not driving you into acts of service, repent and surrender your life to be an instrument in God’s hand for serving others.
Lifelessness. If your faith in Jesus is more ritual than it is relationship, then you have a spiritual emergency. Being merely religious doesn’t bring a vibrant spiritual life. Only Jesus brings that. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, you won’t have a zeal for his kingdom, nor the excitement over his work in your life. When you are really filled with Jesus, you want to know him better. You have zeal about you. Not only do you want to know him better but you want others to know him. 1 John 5:12 says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” If you have never personally turned from your sin, believed in Christ, and surrendered to his leadership, then now is the time to do so.

When we taught our son how to call 911 in an emergency, for a while he got it wrong. We would ask, “What number do you call in an emergency?” He would say, “991.” Well, 991 wouldn’t help at all. Emergency services won’t respond to that number. It is important to know what to do in an emergency.

When you are faced with a spiritual emergency in your life it is important that you know what to do. Turn to God. James 4:7-9 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

It is as simple as turning away from sin and renewing your relationship with Christ.

Question: Is there a time in your life when you recognized you had a spiritual emergency and you turned back to God? How did you experience God’s grace? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

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