Okay, I just watched this video of Francis Chan's sermon at Cornerstone Church in CA and I think I have most of my questions answered...it takes a minute or so to load so be patient. This sermon will really make you think, so be prepared:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhqrtMqrv8
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
GDW: 'A God of Convenience' - what a great read!
Wow, I just read my daily devotional and the message was called 'A God of Convenience' from God's Daily Word and here was the message which really hit home:
Paul had been arrested and sent to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix. During his trial, Paul spoke of his worship of God and belief in His Word. Felix kept Paul in prison, but often talked with him about his faith.
Acts 24:24-25
"He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"
Governor Felix had the ability to hear the gospel from the greatest theologian of all time and yet failed to act on what he heard.
Several years earlier, Herod had arrested John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage (Herod was married to his own brother's wife). Though Herod wanted to kill John, he also feared and respected him because he was a righteous and holy man: "When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:20). Herod liked to listen to John's uncompromising message of repentance, and yet he failed to act on what he heard.
When Jesus was arrested, Pilate came face to face with the Son of God. He heard Jesus calmly claim to be King of the Jews and to have special favor from God; "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11). Pilate listened to Jesus, found no fault, and tried to set Him free (John 19:12); but in the end, Pilate failed to act on the truth.
Most of us experience a wonderful religious freedom today. We have free access to God's Word and can usually find a local church willing to preach the truth. Yet, how often do we fail to act on what we receive? How often do our religious activities become cold and mechanical, lacking any real interest? "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13).
If our worship does not invade every area of our life, then God is not on the throne of our life. We must trust Him in ALL things! We ought to have a passion for His Word as well as an uncompromising willingness to act. We should long for His presence and obediently follow each and every day - not just during our once a week worship.
Let's NEVER put God on the shelf or ask Him to be "on-call." He's the Creator of the Universe who has called us to a committed life of full time worship. Let's follow where He leads and never treat our Heavenly Father as a God of convenience.
Paul had been arrested and sent to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix. During his trial, Paul spoke of his worship of God and belief in His Word. Felix kept Paul in prison, but often talked with him about his faith.
Acts 24:24-25
"He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"
Governor Felix had the ability to hear the gospel from the greatest theologian of all time and yet failed to act on what he heard.
Several years earlier, Herod had arrested John the Baptist for speaking against his marriage (Herod was married to his own brother's wife). Though Herod wanted to kill John, he also feared and respected him because he was a righteous and holy man: "When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:20). Herod liked to listen to John's uncompromising message of repentance, and yet he failed to act on what he heard.
When Jesus was arrested, Pilate came face to face with the Son of God. He heard Jesus calmly claim to be King of the Jews and to have special favor from God; "You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:11). Pilate listened to Jesus, found no fault, and tried to set Him free (John 19:12); but in the end, Pilate failed to act on the truth.
Most of us experience a wonderful religious freedom today. We have free access to God's Word and can usually find a local church willing to preach the truth. Yet, how often do we fail to act on what we receive? How often do our religious activities become cold and mechanical, lacking any real interest? "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me" (Isaiah 29:13).
If our worship does not invade every area of our life, then God is not on the throne of our life. We must trust Him in ALL things! We ought to have a passion for His Word as well as an uncompromising willingness to act. We should long for His presence and obediently follow each and every day - not just during our once a week worship.
Let's NEVER put God on the shelf or ask Him to be "on-call." He's the Creator of the Universe who has called us to a committed life of full time worship. Let's follow where He leads and never treat our Heavenly Father as a God of convenience.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lukewarm Christians...
Hi All,
I sent the following email to some friends to help me answer some questions I've been wrestling through. I'm going to start this blog so that others can comment and perhaps have a healthy discussion on the topics I'm digging deeper on. Please feel free to post your thoughts, advice, and/or testimonies - I'd love to hear from you!
Here's my email:
There's a book called 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan and there's a chapter about the profile of a 'lukewarm Christian' and the questions I have are around referrences to John 15:1-8, Rev 3:16, and Matt 7:21 where it talks about doing God's will and producing fruit or you will be pruned off, and either being hot or cold and not lukewarm, and also thinking you know the Lord, but He doesn't know you. Are these things being said to believers or non-believers?
I have a feeling it's being said to believers because it would make more sense for God to judge those who know the truth and don't follow His ways than a non-believer who does not know the truth at all. And when Jesus was about to die on the cross, why would He talk to the disciples about being pruned off the vine when they were His followers? And why would Paul and the others take such time and effort to write such detailed letters to the church of believers on how to walk in Christ and what that looks like, if it weren't so important?
I know that there's a difference between 'earning' salvation through works and that salvation is through grace alone, but if it was enough to just accept Christ, but then you could live a life without doing His will, then what's the point? I might as well live my life like I want to - but it's clear that the HS will convict me from living a life like that. So when the scripture says that He does not like lukewarm and wants us to do His will - could it be that He is talking to those who know Him and know the truth and it's more disappointing that we still don't obey - enough for the Lord to want to spit us out of His mouth?
If this is correct, how many Christians are out there living for themselves, yet going to church, reading their bibles and 'doing' all the things that Christians are supposed to do, but really not living in Christ? Is that why it says that the road to salvation is narrow and the road to destruction is far and wide? Are there all these 'Christians' who think they are saved, but if they aren't producing fruit and living according to His will, they really aren't and when the day comes and they say 'Lord, Lord,' He will say that He didn't know them?? If so - how does anyone know for sure they are saved?
Sadly, the profile that's in that book that describes the 'lukewarm Christian', I can say that I know many like that in mini-churches, friends back home in church and even myself at times ... is there a biblical definition of a lukewarm Christian? Therefore, should I not be only ministering to the non-believers, but believers who are lukewarm? I know that you can't lose your salvation, but could it be that these people who claim to be Christian and look the part and go to church, really aren't Christian according to the fruit they are producing? Can I even judge that? Is it my place to even tell someone that it might be the case - just as it is (according to the Great Commission) my place to tell someone who doesn't know Christ about the Good News?
I don't know if my questions are ridiculous or if there's a true answer or if it's just interpretation, but I think it's important to know where the bible stands on this. The book 'Crazy Love' is awesome (I highly suggest you guys read it!) and it's really stirred up alot of things in my walk and I'm making some radical changes in my life to be completely submitted and trusting of His will so that I know for sure that I'm walking in Christ. I don't want to be that lukewarm Christian and I want to know for sure I'm saved!
I appreciate any insight and scripture that would help answer these questions.
I sent the following email to some friends to help me answer some questions I've been wrestling through. I'm going to start this blog so that others can comment and perhaps have a healthy discussion on the topics I'm digging deeper on. Please feel free to post your thoughts, advice, and/or testimonies - I'd love to hear from you!
Here's my email:
There's a book called 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan and there's a chapter about the profile of a 'lukewarm Christian' and the questions I have are around referrences to John 15:1-8, Rev 3:16, and Matt 7:21 where it talks about doing God's will and producing fruit or you will be pruned off, and either being hot or cold and not lukewarm, and also thinking you know the Lord, but He doesn't know you. Are these things being said to believers or non-believers?
I have a feeling it's being said to believers because it would make more sense for God to judge those who know the truth and don't follow His ways than a non-believer who does not know the truth at all. And when Jesus was about to die on the cross, why would He talk to the disciples about being pruned off the vine when they were His followers? And why would Paul and the others take such time and effort to write such detailed letters to the church of believers on how to walk in Christ and what that looks like, if it weren't so important?
I know that there's a difference between 'earning' salvation through works and that salvation is through grace alone, but if it was enough to just accept Christ, but then you could live a life without doing His will, then what's the point? I might as well live my life like I want to - but it's clear that the HS will convict me from living a life like that. So when the scripture says that He does not like lukewarm and wants us to do His will - could it be that He is talking to those who know Him and know the truth and it's more disappointing that we still don't obey - enough for the Lord to want to spit us out of His mouth?
If this is correct, how many Christians are out there living for themselves, yet going to church, reading their bibles and 'doing' all the things that Christians are supposed to do, but really not living in Christ? Is that why it says that the road to salvation is narrow and the road to destruction is far and wide? Are there all these 'Christians' who think they are saved, but if they aren't producing fruit and living according to His will, they really aren't and when the day comes and they say 'Lord, Lord,' He will say that He didn't know them?? If so - how does anyone know for sure they are saved?
Sadly, the profile that's in that book that describes the 'lukewarm Christian', I can say that I know many like that in mini-churches, friends back home in church and even myself at times ... is there a biblical definition of a lukewarm Christian? Therefore, should I not be only ministering to the non-believers, but believers who are lukewarm? I know that you can't lose your salvation, but could it be that these people who claim to be Christian and look the part and go to church, really aren't Christian according to the fruit they are producing? Can I even judge that? Is it my place to even tell someone that it might be the case - just as it is (according to the Great Commission) my place to tell someone who doesn't know Christ about the Good News?
I don't know if my questions are ridiculous or if there's a true answer or if it's just interpretation, but I think it's important to know where the bible stands on this. The book 'Crazy Love' is awesome (I highly suggest you guys read it!) and it's really stirred up alot of things in my walk and I'm making some radical changes in my life to be completely submitted and trusting of His will so that I know for sure that I'm walking in Christ. I don't want to be that lukewarm Christian and I want to know for sure I'm saved!
I appreciate any insight and scripture that would help answer these questions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)