lifestyle

Tradition - Matthew 13.52

Jesus was talking to his disciples about the end times. At the end, he said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." It's interesting that even today, many of our churches are stuck in tradition. Some of these traditions started off with a purpose and a sound idea behind them. But over time, new ideas can become religious traditions than no longer serve the purpose or meet the needs. But there are some things that we should keep. In worship, we have a mix of old and new - using old songs like 'Amazing Grace' and 'How Great Thou Art' alongside new tunes of the day. Jesus let us know that there are new treasures as well as old, and we are to use both. Bring both out of the storeroom and onto display for him. We need to get away from tradition for the sake of tradition (and new for the sake of new for that matter), but be led by the Spirit, moitvated by love for Jesus and to see the Kingdom of God built. In Matthew 15, Jesus had another head-to-head with the religious people. The Pharisees, like vultures, were looking on at Jesus and the disciples to see what they did wrong (did you know these people still exist in the church today, usually on the internet watching and waiting for other Christians to do or say something 'wrong'?!) The Pharisees pointed out that the disciples didn't wash their hands, breaking the 'tradition of the elders'. Jesus set them straight, letting them know that they wanted rules and laws for the sake of it and craed more about that, than about obeying and loving God. He told them, "Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition." Let's make sure that we put first things first: we all worship God in different ways and denominations. But let's make sure Jesus and the Kingdom of God is the focus and nothing else.

Respond like Doris - Matthew 8.14-15

"When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him." What is worship? It is our response to the revelation of God in our lives. Basically this means we get excited about God because of what he's done and does for us. In fact, we get excited about God simply because of who he is!! If you don't feel this kind of buzz about God, it may well be that something is blocking or getting in the way of you seeing what God has done for you. Get alone with God and ask him to show you what it is, or help you worship him.

Peter's mother-in-law (we'll randomly call her 'Doris') was lying in bed with a fever, although we don't know how serious it was. Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw this. Don't ever think that Jesus doesn't understand and doesn't see. Don't ever think that your problem is too small for Jesus. It isn't - he sees knows, cares and loves you. The Bible tells us that many times, Jesus interrupted what he was doing to help people. He wants to do the same for you today. One touch from Jesus was all 'Doris' needed and she was healed. One word from Jesus is all we need too - and we can be healed in any way we need. But what was her response to what Jesus did? She got up and began to wait on (serve) Jesus. When Jesus breaks into our life, our response should be to serve him. This will be different and unique for every believer (1 Corinthians 12.5) but if we know Jesus, we worship him by serving / loving him and others. Today, respond like Doris to the love of Jesus!

Loving others as yourself - Matthew 22.37-40 / Luke 10.25-37

"And (Jesus) replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets."

When Jesus spoke these words in Matthew, he was summing up all the law of the Old Testament (see also Leviticus 19.18). Anyone that thinks we are religiously bound by Old Testament rules and doctrines is totally missing the point. We are saved by faith, through grace. If we all truly loved God, listened to his voice and loved as he loves - this world would be a changed place. But what if we don't feel great about ourselves or feel we truly love ourselves in a right and Godly way? Does that mean we won't be able to love others right? In Luke 10, Jesus responded to a law expert asking who their neighbour was - by telling the story of the Good Samaritan. In this, a Samaritan stopped to take an injured Jew to an inn and pay for his medical expenses, even though the Jews were taught to hate Samaritans. Jesus showed that the one who was a good neighbour was the Samaritan man who showed mercy to the injured man. The point Jesus was making was that this is how we should love others. In Ephesians 5.29, Paul wrote, "For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church.." When Jesus told us to love others as ourselves, he was talking about how we should love others, and not so much about how we should love ourselves.

Even if we don't feel great about ourselves, we still know what it is to love because God's love is in us. 1 John 4.6-8, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4.21 also says, "Whoever loves God must also love his brother." So, we know that to love God means to love our brother. We know our brother is anyone. We know that we love them by showing mercy (favour, kindness) to them. If we truly love Jesus and his love is in us, then we won't be able to do anything other than love and show kindness to others :)

Your relationship with God - Haggai 1.3-11

I was reading through the Bible, waiting for God to direct me and I came across Haggai, a book of the Bible which I love, and not just because it only has 2 chapters, LOL !

In this, God spoke through Haggai the prophet to the people and said, 'Is it right for you to be living in fancy houses while the temple of God is in ruins? Think about it, you plant much but sow little. You eat and drink but are never satisfied, you put on clothes but aren't warm enough, earn money but lose it.'

I thought that some of this was so like me - and you. In the West we have so much, we buy the latest gadgets or clothes but are never satisfied. We often aren't truly happy, yet we don't ask why, stop to think it may be because we have rejected God, or simply not put God first in our Christian lives, not spent enough time hanging out with God. Instead we're busy 'doing stuff' - sometimes 'for' God. Yet our priorities are skewed - God seeks us to put him first. As Matthew 6.33 says, 'Put God first. Then all this other stuff will fall into place.'

You see, I am often busy 'for' God but not 'with God'. It is relationship that God wants, it is in relationship that we find God flowing through us, our needs provided for and satisfaction in life. But we have to put God first. In Haggai, God said to the people, 'Look, go do something for me - get wood from up the mountain and bring it back and build the Temple. Then I will be pleased.' So the challenge for us is to invest in God's Kingdom, not neglect our personal walk with Jesus, keep reading our Bible, praying, putting God foremost in all that we do. Then, we will really see God's blessing (good God things) in and through us.

Man does not live on bread alone - Matthew 4.3-5

We find ourselves looking on in this Bible passage at the temptation of Jesus by the devil. The devil is described as being the tempter. When we find ourselves being tempted by something, you can be sure that behind it lies the evil one with one of his schemes. So just be warned. Resist the devil and he will flee (not just run, but flee) from you - James 4.7

The evil one came to Jesus to tempt him saying, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus resisted the temptation, was faithful to God and used the Word of God to fight off Satan. We find that throughout the ministry of Jesus, he is constantly quoting Old Testament Scriptures (Bible verses). This means that Jesus had learned Bible passages off by heart, memorised them. This is another lesson for you and me. If Jesus did this, so should we. A challenge - if Satan came at you, would you be able to fight him off using your Bible knowledge? The very real truth is that I faced a physical spiritual attack once and it was only the Bible, calling on the name of Jesus and praising Jesus that helped me overcome.

Back to Matthew 4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " You see, Jesus recognised something that our Western World doesn't seem to currently want to recognise. This is that bread, food, stuff, materialism is not enough. Money will not make us happy, nor will possessions, nor will having things or looking a certain way. These are all temporary and it is a lie of the devil that these will truly satisfy. Jesus is very clear - we don't just live on bread (although we need it), but on every (note Jesus says, 'every') word that comes from the mouth of God..

Why do we need to read the Bible? Why do we need to learn the Bible? Because Jesus says they are life. Proverbs 4.20-22 says, "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body."

Character is more important than gifting

I have heard people say (and I've said it myself), 'people should be released into their gifting.' I agree and am passionate about this as I don't see enough of it in churches, certainly not in creative enough ways. But hold on, this is only part of a wider picture and the wider picture is called character. By all means, enable people (or be enabled) into strengths and areas of giftings, but remember that God looks for character.

What does the Bible say?

1 Samuel 13.14, 'the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command.'

1 Samuel 16.7, '..The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'

2 Chronicles 16:9, '..the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.'

Acts 13:22, 'After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Zechariah 13:9, 'This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' '

Malachi 3:3, 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness..'

Your character is what God is after. He is refining you, shaping you, making you into his likeness. How do we know that? Well, apart from the changes you've seen in your life (or should have done), apart from the evidence of characters in the Bible, we just need to take a look at Genesis 1.26, 'Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.."

You see, you are made in the likeness of God. OK, we've messed up and we're not gods, but servants of the living God. But we've been adopted into God's family. And because we are made in God's image, he is working on us, purifying us. This won't be complete while we're on earth - but we should be open to God shaping us more and more into his likeness.

Without character, we will fail and fall in our giftings. As God refines our character, as we let him do this, God will release us more into our giftings. When we have proved faithful with the small things, God can trust us with the bigger things..

(NB. This quiet time may well be developed into a full session or talk at a later date).

Serving God in this generation - Acts 13.36

I claim no credit for this quiet-time. It's something that I heard Rick Warren say on one of the 40 Days Of Purpose videos.
David was a man with many failings like all of us. In 2 Samuel 11, you'll find that David succumbed to sexual temptation (bloke's - take note and learn!) We find that David slept with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. Then David made sure that Uriah was killed in battle by posting him to the front line. God was not happy, understandably. (For a different, more Godly response, go see Joseph's reaction in Genesis 39.6-8). Some of the Psalms David wrote were in response to this broken relationship with God (see Psalm 51 for example).
Anyways, we digress! Despite this indiscretion, we find David (and Joseph) listed in the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. Moreover, in Acts 13.36, we find that David did 2 things. First he served God. If you want to live a fulfilled life, a true life, then the life will be one of worship. And worship means serving God. This will be in different ways. Secondly, we find David served God in his own generation. Want to find a Bible verse that says use every available means to serve God? This verse is one. I use hip hop culture for God. I'm serving God in my generation. He has appointed me to this time to use hip hop, to do this website and many other things. The same goes for you. Your skills, interests and passion may be different to mine. But God has appointed you to serve him in your generation. Believe it, live it.

Full of the Spirit Life - John 7.37-39

John 7.37-39 says: 'On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.'
When you're thirsty you drink something. You drink it deep down into your stomach. You don't gargle with the water and then spit it out, well, not unless it's iced tea or something.. This is a great example of if we want to be full of the Spirit's life. We have to drink deep, real deep.
When you are gagging for a drink, you don't go out to a jewelers shop and ask for a can of coke. No. Because that would be stupid. Quiet funny but not very successful. Same with the life of the Spirit. Jesus says you have to come to him and drink. It's the only place where this amazing passionate, creative, full, God-filled life flows from. Jesus. Jesus alone.
Then, once you've fulfilled these conditions, you get streams of living water flowing from you - in word, action and thought - you change to be more like Jesus and get the most full life. Nothing else will compare, no matter what the cost. Are you up for it? Are you ready and prepared?

Counter-Culture - Matthew 5.16

If you're gonna be an effective Christian, you are going to have to face the fact that your lifestyle is and must be different to the ways of the world. You have to be different. You must stand out. In Matthew 5.16, Jesus says let you light (or life and the good that God inspires you to do) shine for people around you so they see that it is God working in your life, so they will praise God.
In April 2003, Toyota released an advert in the UK of a bunch of businessmen talking about promotion and their pay rises. One of them is silent but gives them a lift in a cool Toyota car. The other businessmen accept the life and are real envious of this car. What does this say? It says that people's motives are work, promotion, money and a cool, expensive looking car so that you can set yourself above others.
What does Jesus say? He says, the first will be last and the last will be first. He says don't accept glory for yourself cos everything you have is from God. He says be humble and God will lift you up but proud people will fall. He says money and fame and expensive stuff mean none without the Son. He says get alongside the poor and the hurting, associate with people that others hate. He says don't worry about money as he will provide. True satisfaction and real life comes from serving not being served.

ACCEPTING AND REJECTING JESUS - Luke 23.39-43

Despite the inaction of some churches, Jesus made it very clear to us in Matthew 28.19-20 that if you're a disciple of Jesus, you are called to go out and spread the Good News, baptising people and making disciples. However, we also see from the life of Jesus that some people will accept Jesus and others will reject him.
This is very clear in the passage of the Bible in Luke (above). Two criminals crucified with Jesus had 2 very different reactions to Jesus. One made fun of Jesus, probably filled with anger and bitterness. The other criminal had a far healthier attitude to Jesus as the Son of God. He wanted to accept Jesus, even at the point of death (a lesson here - some people will accept Jesus on their death-bed).
Jesus, merciful even in this time of pain and rejection said, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' A clue to what happened to the Spirit of Jesus when he died from the crucifixion? It also raises questions about what people have to believe before they can enter the Kingdom of God, and a clue to Jesus as the judge of all.
Whatever, be encouraged, cos someone people will take the mick out of you, others WILL come to follow Jesus!!

'Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith and purity.' (1 Timothy 4.12, CEV)

You can affect other people no matter how old you are. How old do you think Jesus' disciples were? 30, 40, 50..? Nope. It's more likely they were around their late teens/early 20s.
Look at Matthew 4.21-22. James and John might only have been teenagers! But look at the impact they made on the world around them as disciples. God is looking for people he can use - Psalm 14.2. Ask God to give you love, faith and purity - and watch him work through you!
Remember the flip side too, don't you go dissing old people just because they are old. An old person is just a young person with life's experience and we do well to listen to those with Godly wisdom. Read Proverbs 12 for help. Read 1 Kings 12 for the consequences of not doing so.

WHY NOT SAY NICE THINGS TO PEOPLE TODAY?

Read through Chapter 3, verses 2-12 in James. James was obviously a practical bloke. He said 'don't just walk past someone who's hungry and say, 'God bless you' - give him some food!' (See James 2.14-17).
God wants to challenge you about the things you say. Proverbs has a lot to say about the tongue: if you hold your tongue, you are wise; the tongue of the wise brings healing; if you guard your tongue it keeps you from bad things. The book also offers wisdom about the bad use of the tongue: you will be destroyed if you lie; a lying tongue produces hate.
See, if you go round speaking life and truth and kindness, you will reap what you sow. Let people out when you're driving, smile at shop assistants, thank people, thank companies who deliver on time, go make somebody's day. (Proverbs 12.25)
Take the advice given through James by the Holy Spirit. Control your tongue. Say to God today, 'I don't want unhelpful and hurtful words to come out of my mouth, only words that will help, encourage and that tell the truth.' Keep on praying this!

WARNING TO THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE - 2 Corinthians 6.14-17

There were times in the Old Testament where because of the evil of a nation and the fact that God wanted his people to be clean, God demanded that Israel destroyed everything and everyone they fought against. In 1 Samuel 15.3 the Lord commanded Saul and Israel not to let anything live. Read it.
Little has changed today. God still wants you to be separate from the evil of the world, set apart from bad influences. In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul speaks very clearly. You are not like the people of this world so do not go out with them - do not marry them. You are different. Light and darkness cannot share anything together, so it is with the believer and the non-believer.
So what is the Bible saying? It's very clear. Don't go out with someone who's not a Christian, it's not a good thing. Too many women have lost their faith because of a non-Christian bloke. Don't destroy your relationship with God for the sake of a brief and ultimately pointless relationship.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS - Exodus 20.1-18

I heard of a TV programme that was discussing whether the 10 C's have any relevance today. Of course they have! Even if you're not a Christian, the rules are basic to any society. In fact, they are the basis of English law.
A Spring Harvest speaker once said, 'Don't look at the 10 C's as a set of rules we have to obey - more like a set of God-given protections and boundaries that help us in our lives.' Let's look at these examples:
a. The wrong in the world today comes from people turning their back on God. God says to us, 'You must not have any gods except me.' Easy!
b. The 4th Commandment says 'take the 7th day off work.' Experts believe 75% of stress-related illness is caused by people not having a day off. Easy!
c. Don't commit adultery! If you go off with someone's wife or husband you can destroy 2 families & bring loads of problems. God says don't! So easy!

ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A STAND FOR JESUS?

Matt 7.13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is wide and the road is wide that leads to hell, and many enter through that gate. But the gate is small and the road is small that leads to true life. Only a few people find that road." (YB)
Jesus was teaching his disciples about being a Christian and today he's saying the same to you. He's challenging you to let him build up your character so you can reflect him to other people. He wants your life, relationships, actions, thoughts and attitudes to be like his. Trouble is it's hard and it takes work - question is, are you prepared to say to God right now, 'OK I want to be more like Jesus. Teach me how and I will do what you say'?

FRIENDSHIP - Read John 15.12-17

I don't know what you're all like - Maybe you have had a lonely life. Maybe you have loads of mates, I don't know. One thing is that at one time or another your friends will let you down -they're only human (well, mostly).
Jesus is the very best friend you can have. He died on a cross for you, he loves you no matter what you may do, he cares passionately about you, he knows everything about you, he always wants to spend time with you, he'll never let you down, he always does what's best for you. And that's just for starters! How's that for a good friend?
Having mates is important - we all need other people and Jesus had his own group of friends - his disciples. But I have learned not to put my trust in other people but in Jesus. He will never leave you, never forget about you, always be there. So how are you going to respond to Jesus?

ARE YOU A HYPOCRITE? - Matthew 6.25-34

'So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God's enemy.' (James 4.4, YB)
What do you most like doing? Shopping? Listening to or playing music? Hanging out with your mates? Drinking? And why do you like it?
Listen. Some Christians burn or chuck away CDs they used to like because the lyrics are offensive or the band are just off their faces. Many Christians have stopped drinking because God doesn't want them to. Other Christians stop seeing some friends because they are a bad influence through drugs or crime. Other Christians realise that money is not for spending on whatever you want to. Is God saying something to you? Listen to the Holy Spirit because TODAY he wants to challenge YOU about some of the things you do.

READ Philippians 2.12-13

God is calling to take an attitude check on these things today:
a. Do the good things that come from being saved (that means becoming a Christian and following Jesus). When you let Jesus into your life, he changes your heart, mind and what you do so that your life becomes more like the life of Jesus. Do you want to do good to change this world?
b. Are you fighting off the desires that don't come from God? It's time to deal with your anger, frustration, hate, love of money, lust, swearing, letting bad influences get into your head through TV, radio, films, magazines.
c. God is at work in you! He is always there, helping you and challenging you. God does 2 things. First he helps you to want to obey him. Is God trying to get your attention? Second, God helps you to do what he wants. Cos it's not about being God's slaves, it's the fact that God's will is the best & most rewarding place to be. Where are you today?

HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER - Exodus 20.12

Read Ephesians 6.1-4. The command that God gave for the people to honour their father and mother was the 1st commandment that promised a blessing (good things from God) with it.
This is exactly what Ephesians 6.1-3 says. It says honour your parents because it is the right thing to do. This is the first command with a promise with it. It means do what God says and 'everything will be well with you and you will have a long life on the earth.' (YB)
Ever felt angry towards your dad or your mum? Has this developed into a hatred or resentment? Has this meant that other areas of your life have gone downhill - like going to church or your attitude towards God? The answer is to forgive your dad or mum, to promise God not to hate them, to ask God for forgiveness and for his help. This is the only road to be restored. Parents are rarely perfect, sometimes hostile but your duty is to honour them. Not for who they are but because God knows best.

READ 1 Corinthians 15.33-34

Don't fool yourself - you need to be a strong Christian clothed in God's protection before you can spend time with bad people without them corrupting you. One illustration someone used was 2 people in a room. One is on the floor and one is on the table. At a given signal, the one on the table has to pull the other one up onto the table. The one on the floor has to pull the one on the table down. Now who's going to win most of the time?
Being a Christian means living in the world but not being like the people in the world. It means living separately and different. A Christian hip-hop artist wrote this, 'Deviance, different from the norm. To the world's standards we will not conform...' Need to change some of your friends? It's not wrong to have non-Christian friends, after all the Bible tells us to be in the world and to tell people about Jesus. What I'm on about is those friends who corrupt you and have a bad influence over you. God says come back to the right way of thinking and stop sinning!

READ Matthew 5.1-12

Some people say that being a Christian is an easy life. Shows how much they know (not very much)! Jesus said some amazing and strange things that seem confusing but are really the way to true happiness and true life.
Jesus always put God's will first, even when it meant massive cost to himself. He always put others first too. Jesus is our example. He was and is perfect. What he did, we should try to do, always asking him for his help and wisdom. He turned things on their head - just read through Matthew 5.
If you know you need God, you're happy; if you're sad, because you have God with you, you'll be happy; those who are humble & not arrogant will be happy; those who want to do right things always will be happy; if you show mercy to others, God will show mercy to you; if you keep your mind pure, you'll be happy; if you bring and make peace, you'll be blessed, if people abuse you because of God, you'll be happy. People will insult you, hurt you and say evil things. But when they do, because of God, you'll be happy!