Does It Really Matter How We Live?

Live Worthy Texts

The state of the American church demands that we ask the question:  Does it matter how we live?  We are to live for the glory of His great name.  All around us though, we something different marking those who claim His name.  Sadly, we let our feelings and emotions guide our view of Christ's worthiness and shape our obedience.  We are either going to allow self to the the center or submit to Christ as Sovereign Lord, for it cannot be both.  When self reigns, it allows sin to thrive and eat away at who we are and sin will cloud and destroy any high view we may have of Jesus.  Sin destroys and brings death.

It matters how we live.  It is time.  Let these words shape you.

Romans 16:2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,


2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,


Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.


1 Thessalonians 2:12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.


1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering

2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,


1 Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

3 John 1:6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

Seeing the Fullness of the Resurrection

Now that Resurrection Sunday is past us, I wanted write about what I learned in Easter 2013.  In the four gospels and in Acts 1, the writers clearly communicate 42 times that Jesus was seen, heard, witnessed, showed his hands and feet, found alive, and seen by many people.  The resurrection of Jesus was clearly meant to be seen and known.  What is it that we are supposed to see?  What is it that the resurrection is calling us to see?  Here they are:

1.  We are to See Christ
The point of the resurrection is that we would see the risen Lord.  He is the point, has always been the point.  The resurrection calls us to see his glory.

2.  We are to know and enjoy him
This life is meant to be enjoyed.  Even though he had been seen by many of them, some doubted what they saw.  Some saw and believed what they beheld.

3.  We are to see and experience God's power.
At the cross, power went out that split the temple curtain in two, rocks were split, an earthquake happened, tombs were opened where dead saints were raised.  At the resurrection, the earth moved, a large stoned was rolled away, angels came, Jesus was raised.  God's power was made evident during the 3 days that changed the world.

4.  We are be to transformed by the resurrected Christ
In Luke 24 3 critical transforming things happen , the first of which is connected to the 2 men going to Emmaus and the third is found when Jesus appears in the room with them.  Here are the 3 things we need some serious transforming and shaping:
      (1)  Eyes opened (Luke 24:31)
      (2)  Awakened hearts (Luke 24:32)
      (3)  Awakened minds through the scripture (Luke 24:44-45)
All three of these lead to a natural response:
     (4)  Worship (Matthew 28:7)

5.  See Where Real Life is Found 
The angels said, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"  We are not going to find life looking for it in places where it cannot be found.  Money, status, houses, clothes, plastic surgeries, cars,  and sex outside of God's plan, are just a few examples of looking for life where dead things are.  Life is only found in the resurrected Lord.

6.  We are to see and believe.
Here is what John wrote after the resurrection:

John 20: [30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
We are to believe in the resurrection.

Greater Love...

I awoke early this morning, my mind immediately drifted to the reality of the love that has been given to us in Christ.  Then, I read chapter 49 in the John Piper book that we have been reading as a church.  Here is an excerpt as our Easter weekend continues.                                                                                           

"Most of us have grown up thinking that being loved means being made much of.  Our whole world seems to be built on this assumption.  If I love you, I make much of you.  I help you feel good about yourself.  It is as though a sight of self is the secret of joy.  But we know better.  Even before we come to the Bible, we know this is not so.  Our happiest moments have not been self-saturated moments, but self-forgetful moments.  There have been times where we stood beside the Grand Canyon, or at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, or viewed a stunning sunset over the Sahara, and for a fleeting moment felt the joy of sheer wonder.  This is what we were made for. Paradise will not be a hall of mirrors, it will be a display of majesty.  And it won't be ours.                                                              

If this is true, and if Christ is the most majestic reality in the universe, then what must his love to us be?  Surely not making much of us.  That would not satisfy our souls.  We were made for something much greater.  If we are to be as happy as we can be, we must see and savor the most glorious person of all Jesus Christ himself".  p 117

 Let's enjoy Him today and make much of Him today as we reflect on His death and Resurrection.

Jesus and His Going Away

2,000 yrs ago tonight, Jesus said these words to some hearts that were really troubled.

John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Enough said!

A Few Tuesdays Ago...

Good Tuesday morning!  As I write to you, the sun has come up on our campus, the birds are singing, the grass is greener, (I can smell the cows), and I find myself reflecting on a Tuesday about 2,000 yrs ago.  On Tuesday of Christ's last week on earth, he spent the majority of the day teaching.  As he came in from Bethany, he spent much of the day communicating truth to the crowds.  Since He is truth, He spent the day proclaiming who He was and the implications of Truth in our lives.  Just as the people in the temple on that Tuesday were "hanging on His words" (Luke 19:48), I pray that we would do that today as well.

So...as this day begins, I wanted to write to you something from the John Piper book "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die", that we have been reading as a church.  Here are some thoughts as our day begins from chapter 43, pages 104-105.

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John Piper:

"Gospel means good news.  It's news before it's theology.  News is the reporting that something significant has happened.  Good news is the announcement that something has happened that will make people happy.  The gospel is the best news, because what it reports can make people happy forever.  What the gospel reports is the death and resurrection of Christ.  The apostle Paul makes the news quality of the gospel plain:

1 Corinthians 15 [1] Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

The heart of the gospel is that "Christ died for our sins...was buried...was raised...and appeared to more than five hundred people.  The fact that he says many of the witnesses are still alive shows how factual the gospel is.  He meant that his readers could find some witnesses and query them.  The gospel is good news about facts.  And the facts were testable.  There were witnesses of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection life".

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As our day starts, let us remember that our faith rests on someone who is real (not was real), He was like us in every way (Heb. 2:17), and that He alone is the good news of the gospel.  All we know of Him is true and let's walk in the joy of this reality.

The Danger of What is Commonplace

I have been thinking on this for awhile, but some things I have read yesterday and today in the news, led me to write this morning.  We live in such a unique time of transition in America where things that used to be in the shadows or still hidden in the dark, have come out and we are seeing them be more and more in the mainstream.  It can seem, that no one really cares anymore about this shift.  From the tolerance of denominations, from laws passed by Congress, or decisions from the Supreme Court, we live in a day where things "of the dark" are more and more becoming mainstream.

About 250 years ago, John Wesley made an observation about his generation that is absolutely true in ours.  Here is the quote:

 “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” 

Wesley saw that each generation rises and re-establishes the practices and function of the church in an effort to discover truth, redefine truth, make it more relevant or to actually walk in Biblical truth.  The corresponding result is that toleration only leads to further decay, not life and freedom.  That is one of the huge lies associated with our age of tolerance.  Our culture believes that tolerance brings life, liberty, and freedom.  It is actually the opposite though.    Tolerance exalts the individual and leads to more pride, not humility.  It is this exaltation of self that dominates our landscape.  Narcissism in our way and it only leads to death.  If we have so much freedom, then why are we in so much bondage?  Why are we so depressed?  Why are we so medicated? Why so much disintegration of the family?  Why so much fiscal irresponsibility?  Why so much intolerance of Christians and faith?  Why has the sexual revolution and freedom brought so much confusion and heartache?  Logic would say, we are not better off.  

What does all of this mean for us today as Christ-Followers?  What are we to do?  How should we respond?  We have to go back to Ancient Words that will help us navigate the rough and rugged waters of our day.  Here is what we need to embrace again:

[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.   2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV

Here are a couple of important tools for us in our Age of Tolerance from Paul:

1.  Continue in the sacred writings, not the efforts of re-establishing truth.

2.  Wisdom in our salvation comes of the scriptures.

3.  Sacred Writings are the only training in righteousness

4.  Sacred Writings equip us for good work in every age.

The scriptures need no help, they are breathed out by God and they are our help to avoid the bondage of toleration and its destruction.

Paul also told Timothy this:

[4:1] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  2 Timothy 4:1-4 ESV

In our day of not enduring sound teaching, the Word must be preached so we will be ready in season and out of season. 

This is the only way to avoid what has become to Commonplace in our generation.

Life in the Spirit

I am a part a group of men who meet every Thursday morning at the great hour of 5am.  Currently, we are walking verse by verse through Acts.  This morning was especially interesting as it relates to walking in the Spirit from the life of Philip from Acts 6, 8, & 21.

In Acts 6 we are introduced to Philip as one of the 7 chosen to serve widows.  He is not the same person as the Philip of the 12.  According to 6:3 we know that Philip is a man of good reputation, full of the Spirit, and full of wisdom.  Of all of the men in the Jerusalem church, he stood out as a man among the top 7 in godliness.  He was marked by Christ.

We meet him again in Acts 8:4-8.  It is here that where we see that he is the first missionary of the Jerusalem church who begins to fulfill Jesus words in Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 ESV.  He is the first to take the gospel to Samaria.  What did he do when he got there: Proclaimed Christ, did signs, unclean spirits came out, and the paralyzed and lame walked again (does that sound like anyone you might know?).  All of this is said to have brought much joy to the city.  The Spirit of God will do that when he comes upon a place.  Our cities need joy again.  Our cities need men like Philip.

We see the next unique thing with Philip in Acts 8:26-40.  Here is the synopsis:

• Angel Speaks to him and tells him to go walk on a road (8:26)
• Philip walks obediently on the road (8:27)
• Sees an Ethiopian (8:27-28)
• Spirit speaks this time to Philip (8:29)
• Philip runs in obedience (8:30)
• Philip listens first before speaking (8:30)
• Philip asks an appropriate questions (8:30)
• Philip opens his mouth and explains the scripture (8:31-35)
• Philip baptizes the Ethiopian (8:36-38)
• Philip is carried away by the Spirit (8:39-40)
• Philip goes up the coastline preaching the gospel in the towns before settling in Caesarea. (8:40)

We last meet him in Acts 21:7-9.  Philip has settled in Caesarea, we know he is married and has 4 daughters who prophesied.  He and his family show hospitality to Paul's missionary crew by letting them stay in his home.  Can you just imagine the depth of spiritual conversations in that house?  He is called Philip the evangelist.  What a great name to be called.  You don't get a name like that by remaining silent about Christ.

Then the Bible is silent on him after that.  What an example though.  It is clear that he walked with God.  He walked in the Spirit's leadership.  That is so what I need today.