SPIRITUAL “GIMMIES”

As a father I want to give my kids lots of good things. They may not get everything they want, but they have received everything they needed and then some. Nevertheless my ability to give is limited by what I have. Some things I would like to do for my kids are just beyond my reach. I’m glad that my heavenly Father does not share my limitations.

• Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
  Ephesians 1:3 NIV

What has God given to us? We have received spiritual blessings. God is not interested in just giving us temporal or material blessings but wants to give us the best. Just like me God wants His children to have everything they need.

Now let’s be honest. Many of us would prefer to have the material blessings. I confess, I too have been guilty of having a case of the “gimmies.” Just this morning I wished God would just give me enough money to pay off our house and the girls school bills. I mean what’s $120,000 or so to God right? It sure would make my life a whole lot easier.

God gives us what endures and does not change. The spiritual blessings we have received are far greater than any of the stuff of this world that God could give us. Actually spiritual blessings overflow into the natural. For instance, God has given me an inner peace that He will provide for all my needs and He has never left me empty handed. Unfortunately, it does not work the other way around. Material blessings can actually get in our way of receiving spiritual blessings from God.

In the Greek Paul says God blesses us with spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. In fact the word “realms” or “places” does not occur in the Greek. It seems that Paul wants to emphasize the reality of the spiritual blessings God has given us. In other words, God gives us spiritual blessings by way of heavenly things. I don’t have to look for spiritual blessings in heavenly places. God has given you and me spiritual blessings or heavenly things in the here and now!

That’s the overflow of God’s blessings. The Lord takes from the eternal and blessed us today with spiritual blessing that cannot be taken away. Gimmie more of that! What do you think?

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Sometimes it is good to revisit a familiar story. Take a moment and do that with me. As you read Jesus’ conversation with Peter take time to notice what Jesus asked. As you do, listen for the Lord to ask you the same question.

• 15 . . . Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
  16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
  Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
  17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
  John 21:15-17 NIV

Three times Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” Lot’s of sermons have been preached about Jesus questioning of Peter. Some point out that Jesus restored Peter in the same way Peter had denied the Lord. Thus regardless of how often we may fail God, Jesus is ready and able to forgive us and restore us to a place by His side. Others draw a contrast between Jesus question “Do you love me (agape)” and Peter’s response, “I love you (phileo).”

All of this is good to think about, but stop and come back to Jesus’ question. “DO YOU LOVE ME?” Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved sheep—literally other Christians. Jesus didn’t ask if Peter loved being in a place of ministry. Jesus didn’t ask if Peter wanted recognition, if he wanted to be needed, if he could teach or preach. Jesus didn’t ask any of these things. Jesus asked, “Do you love me?”

This gives us cause to stop and ask ourselves why we do the things we do. When our motive is simply because of our deep love for the Lord then we can put up with all kinds of problems and difficulties. Children who love their parents don’t mind watching their brothers and sisters. Does our heart overflow with love for God? That will change the motive for everything we do. What do you think?

OVERTAKEN

Not all of us are football fans, but I want you to think with me about something. What is the difference between a player getting tackled and a player making a run for the end zone to score a touchdown? Let’s face it there are eleven guys that want to crush the guy with the ball. They will too unless the ball carrier’s teammates prevent the defensive team from taking hold of him and throwing him to the ground.

Sin is kind of like that. Satan wants to catch us with temptation to sin in all kinds of ways. Our adversary’s desire is to overtake us and crush us spiritually. From time to time he succeeds and sacks us for a loss. What are we to do when we find ourselves overtaken by sin? We all may know the answer, but when we are in that situation we may find it hard to do the right thing.

I’ve never played organized football, but I’m told that sometimes when you get hit it really knocks you for a loop. Pastor George has told me that the last time he was hit he was knocked unconscious and woke up looking out the ear hole of his helmet. When you take such a hard hit you need help to get up. I think that better describes what it is like to be overcome by sin.

Just like the football player who has his ‘bell rung,’ sin makes you stupid, so that your head is spinning and you don’t know how to find your way back to God. Thankfully we are not in this alone. We are a part of a team, the family of God—the church, charged with the responsibility of helping each other.

• Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself,
  or you also may be tempted.
  Galatians 6:1NIV

The fact of the matter is that while I may know that I need to repent of my sin, if I have be caught by sin then I’ve been trapped and need the help of other believers to come to my rescue. Paul charges the Galatians with the responsibility of restoring fallen believers. This is not an easy process, for the on who has sinned or for those who go to help.

For the one who sins their restoration may be a painful process of repentance and healing. When a finger or a shoulder is dislocated it hurts to put it back into its socket. Likewise those who restore the fallen believer must be aware that the enemy wants to overtake them as well. If we aren’t careful we too can be hit hard by sin.

When it comes to overcoming sin we need to remember that we are a team. None of us can stand alone. What do you think?

DEAD BROWN LEAVES

Summer’s grip is weakening as autumn prepares to paint the horizon. The leaves will soon begin to fall from the trees, well at least most of them will. Some leaves just don’t want to let go. They may be hard and brown but they manage to remain on the tree through out the cold winds of winter. Yet the relentless grip of these leaves will not last forever. Spring is coming and with it comes the buds of new life from deep within the tree. The old dead leaves from last year are finally pushed off the tree as the new green leaves break forth and life renews itself again.

This may surprise you but I am sometimes like those leaves that don’t want to let go of the tree. You are most likely just like them too from time to time. How? Our old life of sin sometimes is relentless in its grip to hold onto our lives. Some of our bad habits, I mean sin, dies hard. Many of us have had areas of our lives that we wondered if we would ever gain victory and finally be free from the seemingly unbreakable grip of sin. If that’s you then I’ve got some good news for you!

• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
  Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Maybe for you it has been your temper, or profane language that has not let go. Perhaps it’s pornography or an addiction that you just can’t break free from. No matter what it is you just wish it was gone and the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in your life. You wish that you could be more loving, patient, kind, or gentle. If only you had more joy, peace and self-control. Why is it that these things sometimes seem to be missing from our lives?

If you are in Christ, then Jesus has not only forgiven you of your sins, but He has caused His Spirit to live IN YOU. Now I want you to know that if the Spirit is alive in you then that life will be revealed from the inside out. In the same way the life of a tree is proved each year as the sap begins to flow, the buds form and new life busts forth in green leaves, so too the Spirit of God in you will transform your life.

The dead leaves of past habitual sin will finally let go because it will be pushed aside by the life of the Spirit. If you look closely you will find the buds of new life growing in your life today. These signs of life don’t just produce green leaves, but fruit that has the seed of life within it to share with others. Sin has been defeated by the life of the Spirit in you. What do you think?

MORE THAN GENETICS

Maybe you’ve heard this too. Two girls were talking. The first goes on about how she her brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion and height from her mom. The other girl wonders how that is possible because she knows that her friend’s mom has blond hair, blue eyes, fair complexion and is short. The first girl then says, “I was adopted.” This public service announcement ends with a voice over saying, “Adoption gives your child more than you can give them yourself.”

Parents cannot give their children anything they don’t already have. I’m thankful for my mom and dad, but they have passed on more than genetics. They gave me their nature. They got it from their parents and I’ve passed it on to my kids. You have the same nature. As sons of Adam and daughters of Eve we have received a heart of sin and death. None of us are “good people” because we are wired for rebellion. It’s all our parents had to give us, but that all changes when you are adopted by God.

• Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
  Galatians 4:6 NIV

Our Father God gives us more than our parents ever could themselves. Have you ever stopped to think about what we have received because the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Adoption has been given to us?

With our adoption God causes us to be born again. That means I no longer just have the family resemblance of my mom and dad. Because I’ve been born again I have received the nature of God. He enables me to reflect His image and righteousness to the world. In fact God’s purpose is for all of His children to look like His Son Jesus (see Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). As a child of God, His Spirit enables me to be obedient to His word and free from sin (see 1 Peter 1:14).

But that’s not all. Because I’ve been adopted I have been given a new name and am the recipient of our Heavenly Father’s abounding love (see 1 John 3:1; Revelation 2:17). Furthermore, I have an inheritance far greater than anything this world could ever give (see Romans 8:17).

Still there is more. As a child of God I receive His provision and protection. The Father is with me to give comfort and when needed discipline. He has set me free from guilt and fear. I could go on and on about what our Heavenly Father has done. I’m glad I’m adopted. What do you think?

NO ESCAPE

There was no escape from “The Rock.” Throughout the 29 year operation of the federal prison on Alcatraz Island no prisoners were reported as ever successfully escaping. Thirty-four prisoners were involved in 14 attempts; seven were killed by guards, two drowned, five were unaccounted for (their bodies most likely carried out to sea), the rest were captured.

We have all been imprisoned in a penitentiary with an even better record than Alcatraz. For over 6,000 years no one has ever escaped—period. Everyone born into the human race except One has been locked up in the prison of sin with no way of escape. The law serves as our warden and guard. No one can break free from the long arm of the law.

None escape, but many have been set free. You too can be released from this prison, not by a pardon for good behavior, good works or anything else that you might do for yourself. You can have a complete pardon through faith in the One, Jesus Christ.

• Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
  Galatians 3:23 NLT

Deliverance from the prison of sin is not possible by having faith in yourself. Faith in a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, or any other so called ‘holy man’ has no power to set you free. It’s not good enough to have faith in religion. Freedom comes only to those whose faith is in Jesus Christ.

When you put your faith in Jesus your freedom is complete. You are no longer a slave; now you are a Child of God. You were dead in sin, but through faith in Jesus you are now alive! You were blind but now you can see. You were naked and covered by the filth of the world, but now you are clothed in His righteousness. By faith in Christ you are no longer under the power of the law but are under grace.

Our freedom from the prison of sin through faith is not the result of a plea bargain. No secret deals were made to gain our release. Our freedom is the result of a promise. By God’s Word and by an act of His sovereign will we can be set free through faith in Christ. It is the free gift of God.

Freedom through faith, a lot better deal than trying to escape from the prison of sin. What do you think?

SHADE

It’s hot! The sun is shining. You are soaked with perspiration. If only you could find shade. You turn around and see a shadow on the ground. You move to get beneath it, but regardless of what you do, you are unable to position yourself under this shadow and find relief from the heat of the sun. Why? No one can find comfort in the shade of his own shadow.

Each of us can find it easy to take comfort in our self-righteousness. More than comfort we are easily given to pride. We see the evil that is so apparent in others around us. We have never been guilty of such grievous transgressions. We are a good person. We know what is right and wrong and would never be found in certain places. Yes we are righteous.

Have you notice how easy it is to take the next step? Because we are such a good person and do everything God requires of us, we deserve the blessing and favor of God. We’ve earned it. How could God ever withhold answered prayer from us?

We’re not the first to deal with such thoughts (or dare I say doctrines of devils). Paul had to confront self-righteousness and earning our salvation through what we do. What goes around comes around; maybe with a new label. For Paul and the churches of Galatia it was obedience to the law of circumcision. For us it might be any number of self-imposed restrictions to appear righteous.

• I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
  Galatians 2:21 NIV

Paul makes it clear. At no time can we set aside God’s grace. Even as the best of Christians I can do nothing to earn anything that God might give to me. I deserve a death sentence, but God chose to let Jesus die in my place. Nevertheless it is so easy for me to fall into a trap of self-righteousness. I become the ‘older brother’ who became angry at his father when the prodigal son returned home. I’ve been a good son (or daughter) and worked hard; I’ve done nothing to embarrass the family or cause the father pain. How easily I forget the father’s love for me and accuse him of neglecting me.

I for one am glad I don’t have to find shade under my own shadow. Jesus is the rock that is higher than I (see Psalm 61:2). In Him alone can I find shade and healing for my sin-sick heart. It is by grace that I am saved. What do you think?

TEACHER APPRECIATION

I grew up going to Sunday School. I remember the flannel board lessons learning about Jesus feeding the 5,000, walking on water, healing the sick and of course rising from the dead. I remember coloring pictures of the fiery furnace, Jonah in the whale and so many other Bible stories. We had sword drills and memory verse competitions. The foundation of my faith was laid as a child through people who loved the Lord and were willing to teach me and other kids from the Bible.

The Apostle Paul might say he grew up in the Jewish equivalence of Sunday School. He too was being taught the stories from the Old Testament and about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was advancing in the Jewish traditions and was zealous for his faith in God as he knew him. All that changed for him on the road to Damascus.

• 11 Know this — I am most emphatic here, friends — this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. 12 I didn't receive it through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.
  Galatians 1:11-12 MsgB

Paul wanted the believers throughout Galatia to know that the Gospel he preached was not the invention of any man. Nor was it something he had been taught by someone else. What Paul preached was good news he received directly from Jesus.

Paul was not opposed to those who teach others about Christ. His point was to emphasize the authenticity of the gospel because what he preached came from a firsthand experience with Jesus. Paul would later write to the Ephesians, one of the churches in the province of Galatia, to tell them that it was Jesus who gave pastors and teachers to the church to help believers grow in maturity of faith (see Ephesians 4:11-13).

Through the years I’ve come to know that just head knowledge is not enough to keep us “in the faith.” If we are going to have a vibrant living faith in Christ that will be able to endure the hardships of life we must have a personal revelation of Jesus. I won’t make it just knowing the lessons I’ve learned or hearing about other people’s experience. I need a personal encounter with the living Christ. I’m thankful for the teachers I’ve had in my life. They didn’t just teach religious stories. They pointed the way to Jesus who revealed Himself to me. What do you think?

TEST SEASON

Another school year is underway. Students are going to class, working on homework, and before long studying for tests. Just showing up and doing the required work is not enough. You have to pass the test. And before all is said and done students will also have to take their final exam. These tests are given to show a competency and retention of the subject, or put another way they want to see if students have learned anything or not.

I’ve notice that my kids don’t just study for a test. They will also test themselves prior to sitting in class to take their test. Their self-examination gives them confidence for the real test because if they get the answers right out of class they know they are ready to pass the test in class.

• Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
  2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

Our Christian life is a lot like school. It’s not good enough to just show up at church or say and do the right things from day to day. We’ve got to pass the test of salvation, and the best way to prepare for our final exam is to test ourselves in advance.

Such self-examination is necessary. Paul commands the Corinthians to test themselves (and in turn us) because of how easily we can deceive ourselves. God does not ‘grade on a curve’ or compare us with each other. We will be judged by a higher standard. We must possess the righteousness of Christ and without it we fail the test.

Self-examination is not guessing about our spiritual condition. In the same way my kids test themselves before their teachers give them a test; we can test ourselves and know if we are in Christ or not. Paul wants us to have confidence.

The non-Christian cannot have such confidence. Satan has blinded their eyes; they are dead in their sin. But such is not the case for those who are in Christ. Our eyes have been opened so we can see; we can know that Christ is in us.

Paul tested himself. He knew that he had not reached perfection but he would daily, “press on toward the goal to win the prize.” When we test ourselves and fall short we aren’t supposed to give up either. Instead we continue to grow to maturity and “live up to what we have already attained” (see Philippians 3:14, 16). One day we will all stand before Christ for our final exam, until then we test ourselves. What do you think?