Where to now?

The Bible Study portion of Fire & Reign is complete. If you have interest in following along in my journey of pursuing Christ Reign, I will be blogging at "Junk from Bill"

Where to now?

The Bible Study portion of Fire & Reign is complete. If you have interest in following along in my journey of pursuing Christ Reign, I will be blogging at "Junk from Bill"

Lesson9-Day 5 My Commitment

Here is my response to Christ call: I find myself back at the first chapter of Acts. Where the disciples are standing gazing into the sky (the Olson look). An angel asks them why they are looking into the sky (see Acts 1:9-11). It is time for me to be more intentional about my commitment to Christ. It is not a time for standing and watching rather a time to step out and embrace Christ's mission.

God, I chose to follow you whole-heartedly and to encourage others to do the same. I desire to marshal my energy, talents, God given gifts and all resources given to me to pursue Christ's reign in all of life to advance God's kingdom where ever God places me for His Glory.

Lesson9-Day 4 Committed to Hope-filled Endurance

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)

This is probably one of the greatest things that I have learned through this study. The eternal hope in Jesus Christ enables us to persevere. My view of God is being greatly expanded.

I am reading "God Is The Gospel" by John Piper. Early in the book Piper poses a question that caused me to do some deep thinking. Here is the question he asks about our interest in going to heaven:

The critical question for our generation--and for every generation--is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?

I have to admit there have been times when feel I could be content in a Christless heaven. How sad and depraved I am. As Piper puts it "The best and final gift of the gospel is that we gain Christ."

God, continue to extend your grace to me and allow me to have a greater view of you yourself.

Lesson9-Day 3 Committed to Wisdom-filled Words

I have a great desire to speak with wisdom. I am a 100% introvert; therefore, I tend to think along time before trying to communicate. Does this mean I have wisdom? The answer is NO! Wisdom is not of myself. Jerry Sheveland gave 4 lessons about speaking wisdom-filled words:

1. Wisdom comes from knowing God's Word. Our words must be based on the truths of God's Word.
2. Wisdom has its source in the Holy Spirit. We must rely on the Spirit to give us words that would honor God. Not simply be clever or oursmart the other person.
3. Wisdom is not afraid of Opposition. We don't need to be intimidated by opposition. There is no need to be fearful or defensive.
4. Wisdom boldly exalts Jesus Christ. We must boldly proclaim Christ.

Lesson9-Day 2 Committed to God-filled Ministry

God desires to fill our ministries with his grace and power. Our responsibibility is to pray and rely on God. Ask for God to touch lives with his loving grace and life changing power.

Spiritual Gift is an ability given by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform the specific function within the body that God has assigned to each of us. Our emphasis should be placed on discovering what our function is in the body. Gifts are given by God to enable us to fulfill our function.

Lesson9-Day 1 Committed to a Faith-filled Life

How would people who know me describe me? This is such a good question. A companion question would be how would I want people to describe me.

Stephen was characterized as being full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit.

For me characteristic that I long to reflect are justice, mercy and faithfullness.

Lesson 9 Committed to His Cause

Stephen was a man fully committed to Christ. Stephen had a vision of a reigning Christ. Everywhere Stephen went the reign of King Jesus advanced.

Jerry Sheveland shared briefly about Jim Elliot and the Auca tribe (End of the Spear). The exhortation to become a "crisis man" is compelling by Jerry. But, is it an exhortation and therefore something that I can chose or chose not to do. My answer is it is not a choice if I (or you) am a follower of Christ. We are commanded:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

The question to me rather is how much of myself am I going to control versus giving God control. That is allowing the Holy Spirit to indwell in order to take captive the evil desires and intentionally pursue the will of God.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. (1 Peter 4:1-3)

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

I am feeling more deeply the call of Christ to be more committed to His cause and fully submitted to the Holy Spirit. I am immensely challenged and have begun to pray for the four Spirit-filled commitments to Christ and His cause.

1. The commitment to live a faith-filled life.
2. The commitment to God-filled ministry.
3. The commitment to wisdom-filled words.
4. The commitment to hope-filled endurance.

Lesson8-Day 5 Commissioned: Called and Empowered

It is not enough for the church to develop and select spiritual leaders. Leaders need to be commissioned and empowered to lead. This is key to encouraging and enabling the lead. They have a sense that the church is supporting them.

Lesson8-Day 4 Connected: Team Leadership

We all in some way or another of experienced the difference between a team player and an individual that is out for his own interest that is to make a name for himself. Leadership is so much better when there is unity and the leader is thinking of everyone not just themselves.

I think we all should turn the last part of this lesson into pray for the leaders at FCC. Those 3 points are great.

Lesson8-Day 3 Competence: Wise judgment and Leadership

Are there two ways to lead? I would say that I have experienced leaders (bosses) that have lead in totally different ways. I have experienced bosses that are purposeful, thoughtful, prudent, considerate, truthful, impartial and sincere. Then I have also experienced those who are rash, impulsive, reactionary, envious, selfish, prideful and dishonest.

Suprisingly, companies I have worked for have tasted success under leadership of both types of leaders that I described above. This will not be true at God's business. The second description of a leader caused significant tension among the workers. People suffered.

Leading in God's business require wisdom.

This week is a introspection of ourselves to move us toward our function in the body. But I am also challenged by today's lesson to be more specific in my prayers for leaders within the church. God has layed on my heart not only to pray for the pastors and elders, but also the LifeShaping teachers, ministry leaders, Awana and youth helpers.

Lesson8-Day 2 Charisma: A Spirit-Filled Life

God assigns to every believer an important function in the body. Some may be more visible than others. I imagine most have heard the name William Carey. Carey did Bible translation work in India. This was the function God gave him. William's sister was given a function of praying for that work. William's sister was paralyzed and prayed for the work from a bed in London. William's function was highly visible at least to us today, but his sister's function was probably unknown except to a few people. Yet both played vital parts in the missionary work in India. God assigned each of them a specific function and enabled them by His grace (through the giving of gifts) to fulfill it.

Rather than seeking our spiritual gift let's seek our function in the body of Christ. God will equip us to fulfill our function with spiritual gifts.

Lesson8-Day 1 Character: a Trustworthy Reputation

I am not sure if the five "Cs"are placed in any order. I myself would say character is number one on my list when I think of leadership. I would also say that it must be pretty close to number one on most people's list. Think of political elections, most of the times there is a strong character evaluation (attack) by candidates. Then the one being attacted will likely respond to the issue to demostrate that it is not an issue that would effect their leadership.

It is hard to follow a person that you cannot respect.

Lesson 8 Multiplying His Leaders

Problems always come with growth. I like that not only is it physical growth in numbers indentified but also and maybe this is where the "always" comes into play, there was growth in diversity and complexity.

The 12 apostles could no longer manage the "growing" church. Any they concluded that if they were to spend the time managing the church, they would be neglecting the ministry of the word of God. Therefore, the apostles instructed the congregation to select leaders "who are know to be full of the Spirit and wisdom." (Acts 6:3)

Jerry Sheveland identified five "Cs" to address developing, selecting and deploying spiritual leaders:

1. Character
2. Charisma
3. Competence
4. Commissioned
5. Connected

Lesson 7 Extra Day - Holiness Thoughts

Could it be that even though we may become aware of the basic meaning of holiness, the knowledge of the truth does not grip us so that it changes our lives. We may argue that this view of holiness is an idealistic and unattainable view. The question we should address is whether it is the biblical view.

An example from the life of Paul helps me appreciate the idealism of Scripture and the fact that idealism is to be our own goal.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, (Colossians 1:28 - 2:2)

In this passage Paul twice uses the word "struggling" to describe his ministry. He said he was struggling to present everyone perfect in Christ. This word struggling has the sense of agonizing.

Granted this is the ideal. But we must pray and work for the ideal, for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

Lesson7-Day 5 Bringing It Home

The emphasis today is that if we are holding onto hidden or unaddressed sin now is the time to confess it to God. Also, seek out another brother or sister in Christ to talk about the matter and become accountable to him/her.

Second emphasis is to get a right relationship with any other person. Have we hurt, offended or have feelings of resentment towards another person? Have we been ungracious or dishonest with people instead of speaking the truth?

If God is prompting you to take action - be obedient.

Lesson7-Day 4 Healthy Churches Fear the Lord

What does it mean to fear the Lord? The correct fear of God is reverence and awe. I question myself as to what kind of fear I would have had if I had been witness to Ananias and Sapphira. I think I would be dumbfounded, shaking in my boots. Why? Because I have done the same as them. That is trying to make myself look righteous before man. I think my fear would be similar to my fear of snakes. I am terrified of them just ask my wife. She has what she thinks are funny stories about me and snakes.

This is not the fear of God which is healthy for my fellowship with him or other believers. I need this "right" fear of God to permeate me so that I am holy before him and as a result also before man. Holiness is a pure thinking (Christ revealed) obedient lifestyle that is opposed to my evil desires. The apostle Paul would use some old man new man language.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Holiness is a lifestyle we are called to and not a condition we simply earn by asking for forgiveness.

Which bring me back to Day 1 of this weeks lesson, How do we grow in holiness from the inside out?

Lesson7-Day 3 Part Two

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

We condemn many of the other characteristics listed in this verse but many times are tolerant of slander. Only as we become more aware of the biblical meaning of fellowship with every believer and the fact that we are one body will we seek to work out the implications of that fellowship in loving concern and care for each other.

Lesson7-Day 3 Healthy Churches Speak TheTruth in Love

Although the title says "Speak The Truth in Love", which I am not disagreeing with, I want to maybe take it to a another level. Do we understand this love? In the lesson for today it is stated that "too often our churches become like big dysfunctional families. Instead of handling difficult issues directly, honestly and graciously, too often we avoid conflict by stuffing our feelings and then allowing them to leak out in the form of gossip, backbitting or inappropriate expressions of anger.

I am currently reading a book called "Crisis of Caring" by Jerry Bridges. Mr. Bridges gives a very good alleglory on this. First, we must realize that we are all one body. Romans 12:5 says: "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." And 1 Corinthians 12:13 says: "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. . ."

With the one body in mind here is the alleglory. Imagine the ear saying to the eye, "can you believe what that foot did last night. Kicking the bedpost (stubbing toe) in the darkness all because the blander needed to be relieved. I cannot believe he was so angry at the bladder that he would actually do something like that."

This just does not happen in our body. Rather all parts of the body ache or feel the ache or look at the ache of the stubbed toe. The whole body rallies to the toe/foot. There is no slander or distancing themselves from the occurance. It is not minimized or ignored.

The body of Christ needs this kind of truthful love.

Lesson7-Day 2 Healthy Churches Address Sin with Honesty and Grace

There is truth that if we pursue holiness from the inside out then the right environment for addressing sin will exist. This is true because we will be exposing our own sin that is being convicted of our own sin by our pursuit of holiness.

However, I get the sense that in this lesson Jerry Sheveland is looking at "hidden" sin. I will describe hidden sin as that sin which an individual commits which he/she does not know is a sin or with knowledge that it is a sin, he continues in the sin. This to me is where a spirit of honesty and grace come into play in dealing with sin openly and gently.

Here is where we must lovingly yet firmly seek to have our friend repent and be restored. This stresses the importance of brothers and sisters in our lives with whom we can be honest with and who know us enough to hold us accountable to being honest about our pursuit of holiness.

A small group (cell group) is a place where this type of accountability and correction can occur. Even better is one or two brothers who are holding each other accountable to the pursuit of holiness.