Over The Edge: Perspective

We have all had the unexpected happen to us. We've all experienced situations that fits into the category of life altering. So did the Apostle Paul.

Paul’s priority as a missionary was to take the Gospel to Rome. The hub of the great Empire, Rome was the key city of its day. If Paul could conquer it for Christ, it would mean reaching hundreds of thousands with the message of salvation. Paul planned to go to Rome as a preacher, but instead went as a prisoner!

Paul could have written a long letter and whined about his situation—but he sums up his perspective of what happened to him in one verse: Philippians 1:12 (NIV) “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

Today, I want us to consider the things that have "happened to us" It is my hope that we will clearly see how God uses the things that have happened to us to glorify His son, Jesus Christ. Hopefully this blog will help put whatever has happened to you into PERSPECTIVE.

#1 How we view our SITUATION can make Christ known.

The record of “WHAT HAPPENED TO" Paul is recorded in Acts 21-28 but here is a quick overview:
• It began with Paul’s illegal arrest in Jerusalem for bringing gentiles to the Temple.
• Then the Romans mistook him for an Egyptian Renegade who was on their most wanted list.
• Paul became the focal point of both political and religious plotting and remained a prisoner in Caesarea for 2 years!
• When he finally appealed to Caesar (his right as a Roman citizen) he was sent to Rome.
• In route to Rome his ship wrecked! (Acts 27)
• After 3 months on an island of Malta, Paul finally embarked for Rome and the trial he had requested before Caesar.

How Paul handled WHAT HAPPENED to him says a lot about him. Paul did not find his joy in ideal circumstances (because circumstances seldom are); Paul found his joy in winning others to Christ.

Paul says, in Philippians 1:13–14, “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”

Notice that Paul’s conditions connected him to the lost. (Vs. 13)

The same God that used David’s sling used Paul’s chains. The handcuffs used to bind Paul actually released him. Paul did not complain about his chains; he offered them to God for the advancement of the Gospel.

Had Paul been free he could not have reached some of the people he reached—Paul was chained to a Roman soldier 24/7 (shifts changed every 6 hours—4 soldiers a day). Imagine being attached to a guy that prayed w/o ceasing and wrote letters to churches. The soldiers who guarded the Apostle were not just ordinary soldiers. They were the Praetorian Guard—A. T. Robertson sheds some light on them: “During the reign of Emperor Tiberius there were 10,000 of these handpicked soldiers. They had double pay and special privileges and became so powerful that the emperors had to court their favor. Paul had contact with one after another of these soldiers.”

Because of his chains, Paul was able to argue the case for Christ to the officials in Caesar’s court—his case was an important one! The Roman government was going to determine the status of the new “Christian” sect.

Paul was where he needed to be even though it might not have appeared that way initially.

Notice also that Paul’s conditions encouraged those who were saved. (Vs. 14)…"Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

#2 How we view our CRITICS can make Christ known.

We all have our critics and so did Paul. Philippians 1:15–17 (NIV) “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.”

Paul was not worried about himself! Philippians 1:18-19 (NIV) “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

How we react to attack matters. The best way to put out our critic’s flame is to not stoke it.

Some people want only to get a rise out of you—and if they can, they win. However, like Paul, we ought to be more concerned that Christ wins.

Paul was able to sift through the personal attacks and focus on what was really going on. Ultimately he figured that it was just not worth it to get upset. If a little more trouble for him glorified the Lord Jesus, then he was fine with that. As a matter of fact it made him happy! Paul trusted that God would balance the scales and eventually deliver him.

#3 How we view our FUTURE can make Christ known.

Philippians 1:20–26 (NIV) “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”

• Paul was courageous in the face of death. (Vss. 20-24)
• Paul was convinced that his work was not done. (Vss. 25-26)

Philippians 1:27–30 (NIV) “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

One of the best pieces of advice that we can glean from this passage of Scripture is to settle where we are going and then get busy living! LIfe is too short to take our cues from our circumstances or our critics.

Choose Joy.

Over The Edge: COMMUNITY

John Von Neumann, a Hungarian-American mathematician, had an incredible memory: By the age of six, he could memorize telephone directories. His feats of memory were such that he could read a book once and quote it back verbatim--even more astonishing, he could do it years later without hesitation.

On one occasion, his ability was tested when he was asked to tell how the ’Tale of Two Cities’ started. Without pause, Von Neumann immediately began to recite the first chapter and continued until he was finally asked to stop 15 minutes later. However, Von Neumann wasn’t just popular at parties—he shared his vast memory with his students at Princeton.

The Apostle Paul shared his memory with his students too. Rather than bottle his memories up, he let other people know what he was thinking. Rather than assume they knew, he made sure they knew. In this series, through the book of Philippians, we will be encouraged to do the same.

This series is about stepping out and trusting God. This adventure through one of the most adored books in the Bible is about jumping in and not regretting what could have been. It is time that our faith progressed beyond our words. One of the most important steps we can take in life is into COMMUNITY.

When the adrenaline is pumping and things seem uncertain, that first step is always the scariest. However, fright soon gives way to fun once you’ve learned that you can trust. When we are rewarded for stepping out, life is a lot more fun.

You need other people and they need you!

Philippians 1:1–2 gives us a snapshot of what Paul was about: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1) Paul’s purpose was to SERVE Christ. (1a)

Instead of dropping some official title on them, Paul called himself a servant of the Lord.

2) Paul’s purpose was to START churches. (1b)

Paul had started the church in Philippi a decade earlier (Acts 16).

3) Paul’s purpose was to CHEER Christians. (2)

This particular letter of Paul’s stands out in its cheerfulness. Even though Paul was in prison 800 miles away, his heart is full of gratitude. It doesn’t take a Biblical Scholar to tell that the Philippian believers were very special to him—time and time again they had reached out to him.

Paul and them bonded like Gorilla Glue. Even though about 10 years had passed since Paul had first worked among them, the passing of time had not diminished his love for, or his interest in, them. Every time Paul thought of them he thanked God for them.

Paul gives us the reasons why their fellowship was so close and, as we look at these, it is my hope that you will jump in and enjoy these same commonalities in your local church.

#1 THE COMMUNITY HAD CHRIST IN COMMON.

Philippians 1:3 (NIV) “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Paul made sure that they realized it was God who got the credit for their relationship. It was God who knit them together. It was God who was central in their fellowship. It was God who started something in them and would bring it to completion.

Philippians 1:4-6 (VIV) “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

• Are you continually bringing joy to the minds of those who think of you?
• Are you contributing to the team and are able to be depended upon?
• Are you confident that God will finish what He starts?

#2 THE COMMUNITY HAD CONCERN IN COMMON.

Philippians 1:7–8 (NIV) “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

It wasn’t just Paul being concerned about them; the believers at Philippi were concerned about him!

Concern is a two way street. If you are the only one doing the caring, it gets exhausting doesn't it? If a relationship is too one sided it will soon fizzle. One of the things that contributed to Paul’s joy and helped sustain him in prison was the concern he received from other people.

For REAL community to take place we have to be other centered rather than self-centered. We have to reach out--not just wait to be reached. You cannot expect to make friends unless you are friendly. The quickest way to get noticed, respected, and loved is to love, show respect, and take notice of others.

Jesus said it best: Luke 6:31 (NIV) “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

#3 THE COMMUNITY HAD COMMITMENT IN COMMON.

Philippians 1:9–11 (NIV) “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

• Paul prayed for the kind of love that persistently matures.
• Paul prayed for the kind of character that passes the test.
• Paul prayed for the kind of life that produces fruit.

Paul loved his community and they loved him. They shared their struggles with each other and encouraged each other. They challenged each other but didn't judge one another. They worked together and the results are still blessing others.

Church should be the safest place on earth.

Significant Steps

Making a significant difference with your life is not as unlikely as it may seem. Today we examine two very small groups that turned the world upside down.

Group #1 : The Hijackers of 9/11.

A decade ago they turned the world upside down. (Think about that number, only 19!)--Less people than it takes to fill two rows in a typical church caused trouble all over the world. 19 people, committed enough to sacrifice themselves for their cause, changed our way of life.

Although we disagree with their reasoning, none of us question their devotion to what they believed in.

The other group, a much smaller group, is found in the book of Acts.

In Acts 17:6, it was said of them (by someone who opposed them), “These men WHO HAVE caused trouble all over the world have now come here…”
• KJV, “These men that have turned the world upside down.”
• NASB, “These men who have upset the world.”
• The Message, “These people who are out to destroy the world, and now they’ve shown up on our doorstep, attacking everything we hold dear.”

Group # 2—a group of JUST TWO—was Paul and Silas.

At many points these two groups were night-and-day different.
• Group One did it to harm. Group Two did it to help.
• Group One's motivation was hate. Group Two's motivation was love.

However, in many respects the two groups were similar.
• Both groups believed that if something was not worth dying for it was not worth living for.
• Both groups were absolutely sold out to what they believed in.
• Both groups experienced resistance to their cause.

Today, let’s look at Group Two and see what they did that caused so much trouble. Their reputation preceded them in Acts 17 so let’s look at the Significant Steps Paul & Silas took in Acts 16.

First, let’s notice where they were, Acts 16:12, “…we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.”

Philippi was a very prestigious city. A significant stop on this, Paul's Second Missionary Journey. How Paul and Silas made their way through this city shows us how we too can make significant steps in our lives.

#1 Significant Steps involve PRAYER

People say: Its not “What you know” but …“whom you know” that matters. However, let me suggest, it is not just “whom you know” its also what you are doing “as you go” that matters. Being faithful to God opens doors for you that networking never will!

Twice Paul was on his way to pray in Acts 16 and twice significant things happened.

Acts 16:13 (NIV) “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”

Acts 16:16 (NIV) “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.”

Significant things happen when we pray!
• Corrie ten Boom "Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees."
• William Cowper "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees."
• Samuel Chadwick “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”
• "Seven days without prayer makes one weak."

#2 Significant Steps involve PEOPLE.

Acts 16:13b–15 (NIV) “We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”

Two things that Lydia’s conversion teaches us:
1. As soon as she received the Lord she immediately opened her home for God’s use.
2. Just because you believe in God doesn’t make you a Christian.

James 2:19 (NIV) “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

Acts 16:17–18 (NIV) “This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”

Some of the people that will come into your life will be great. We’ve all met our “Lydias”—people who respond positively to us and reach out in kindness toward us…they love us and give of themselves to make our lives easier and better. THANK GOD FOR OUR LYDIAS!

However, we also have people who saunter into our lives with an agenda. When we don’t do what they want us to do then we’ve got a problem! So consequently...

#3 Significant Steps involve PROBLEMS.

Acts 16:19–24 (NIV) “When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

Some people don’t like us and wish we had never come their direction (ditto by the way). However, it is these people that, unfortunately, OFTEN have more to teach us about how we are doing in our walk with Christ than the people that love us do. These people, that seem to be the worst thing that ever happened to us, force us to come to grips with what is really in us.

The September 11th Terrorists forced us to come together as a nation. They meant to cripple us but they actually strengthened us. They wanted to divide us but ended up uniting us.

How do you react when people hurt you? Where do you turn?

When Paul & Silas were hurt they prayed and sang. Acts 16:25–26 (NIV) “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”

1. When we sing at midnight our body listens!
2. When we sing at midnight our neighbors listen!
3. When we sing at midnight our God listens!

Even though they were in severe pain they sang!!

As a Christian, conditions have to have permission in order to affect our joy! I love how Chuck Swindoll put it, “I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or one's occupation (or lack of it) or one's geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances. Joy is a choice! Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go."

When we choose JOY other people can't help but notice and, more importantly, GOD notices!

Paul and Silas chose JOY and they turned the known world upside down. …and in the process started a church that we will study together for the next 10 weeks.

As we study the book of Philippians together, we will be cheered up and cheered on to step over the edge and into the places God has for us. We will be reminded to live our lives looking forward not backward.

It only takes a few people to change the world, for good or for bad.
• Our world is different today because of the misguided devotion of 19 people.
• Our world will be better tomorrow as you and I develop the same God-guided devotion of Paul & Silas.

Will you take a significant step today and turn your world upside down?

New Sermon Series starting Sept 18th

When the adrenaline is pumping and things seem uncertain, that first step is always the scariest. However, fright soon gives way to fun once you’ve learned that you can trust.

This series, through the book of Philippians, is about stepping out and trusting God. This adventure through one of the most adored books in the Bible is about jumping in and not regretting what could have been.

It is time that our faith progressed beyond our words. Jesus said, in Mark 8:35 (NIV), “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” It is time we stepped over the edge and into the life God has waiting for us.


Over the Edge in Community (Phil 1:1-11)
Over the Edge in Perspective (Phil 1:12-30)
Over the Edge in Humility (Phil 2:1-11)
Over the Edge in Significance (Phil 2:12-18)
Over the Edge in Friendship (Phil 2:19-30)
Over the Edge in Confidence (Phil 3:1-11)
Over the Edge in Righteousness (Phil 3:12-4:1)
Over the Edge in Peace (Phil 4:2-9)
Over the Edge in Contentment (Phil 4:10-13)
Over the Edge in Investment (Phil 4:14-23)

There’s An App For That: SELF-CONTROL

A man observed a woman in the grocery store with a three-year-old girl in her basket. As they passed the cookie section, the child asked for cookies and her mother told her, “No.”
The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, “Now Ellen, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don’t be upset. It won’t be long.”
He passed the Mother again in the candy aisle. Of course, the little girl began to shout for candy. When she was told she couldn’t have any, she began to cry. The mother said, “There, there, Ellen; only two more aisles to go, and then we’ll be checking out.”
The man again happened to be behind the pair at the check-out, where the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there would be no gum purchased today. The mother patiently said, “Ellen, we’ll be through this check out stand in five minutes, and then you can go home and have a nice nap.”
The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. “I couldn’t help noticing how patient you were with little Ellen…”
The mother broke in, “My little girl’s name is Tammy… I’m Ellen.” :)

This week we are talking about Self-control. If we are honest with ourselves we would have to admit that if we could kick the person responsible for most of our troubles, we wouldn’t be able to sit for a week. How appropriate then that the list of qualities we’ve been studying in this series on the Fruit of the Spirit began with LOVE and ends with SELF-CONTROL.

Beth Moore may have said it best, "Love keeps us afloat—self-control keeps us anchored."

Self-control helps us love, to experience joy, to know peace, to respond with patience, to show kindness, to remain faithful and to be gentle. SELF-CONTROL, like all the other attributes described in the Fruit of the Spirit, isn’t a quality that we have to muster the strength to do alone.

Galatians 5:16 tells us, “...live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
• Self-control is the ability to make choices that enhance the work of God in and through us.
• Self-control is the choice to remain within the boundaries of victory!

#1 THERE IS SAFETY IN LIMITING ACCESS

Last week Jeff, Business Administrator at our church, had us install virus protection software for our computers. Why? Because if we navigate the Internet without protection it will lead to a crash. Taking the necessary precautions saves a lot of trouble. How protected is your life?

Self-control protects you. Proverbs 25:28 tells us, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”

In Biblical times the wall that surrounded a city assessed its security.
• Archeologists tell us that 3 CHARIOTS could ride side by side on the wall of Nineveh!
• The walls of Babylon were so wide 6 CHARIOTS could ride next to each other!

A city without walls was a sitting duck—-A life without walls is too!

Jack Paar once said, “My life seems to be one long obstacle course, with me as the chief obstacle.”

John Maxwell (In his book: Developing The Leader Within You) wrote, “The first victory that successful people ever achieve or win, is the victory over themselves."

1 Kings 3:1 tells us that, “Solomon…finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.” Notice that finishing a wall was a top 3 priority! Solomon knew that God DEMANDED walls in EVERY dwelling place He chose to grace. Even the tabernacle in the wilderness had a portable wall to provide security. A wall wasn't an option it was a necessity.

Where does God’s presence grace now? According 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ”...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Yes, we need a wall around this life of ours! Any out-of-control area in our lives, no matter how big or small, is an open invitation to the enemy. He has memorized every strength and weakness in us. He is always on the lookout for that one crumbling section of our protective wall—that one out of control area—where he can enter and play havoc with our life.

Satan's favorite weapons are our greatest temptations.

#2 THERE IS THE DANGER OF LIVING IN EXCESS

If temptation weren’t tempting none of us would do it. It takes no effort to live in ease. Giving in is a breeze. It’s easier to hit the snooze button than go to the gym at 5AM. BUT LET ME ALSO SAY: The temporary comfort of giving in does not begin to match the inevitable long-range guilt and self-defeat it produces.

God hasn’t called us to live in ease. God wants us to follow HARD after HIM. God wants us to be cautious in how we live our lives.

Ephesians 5:15–18 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 6:12 says that “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.”

I’m not sure what your vice is but I’m pretty sure my word choice of “LIVING IN EXCESS” covers it. When you begin to study “self-control” you soon see that a lot of our issues either deal with MONEY—(how we earn it or how we spend it) or our MOUTHS—(what we put in them and what comes out of them).

God understands our struggle. Haggai 1:5–6 (NIV) “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

#3 THE ANSWER TO LASTING SUCCESS

Wouldn't you love to have real victory over whatever it is that is troubling your life?
• To not just get out of debt—but stay out of debt!
• To not just get sober—but stay sober.
• To be kind not just act nice.
• To not just lose weight—but stay in shape!

We’d all love lasting victory! Most of us have tasted victory we just haven't gotten to savor it very long. Its here for a second then gone for months. We have it then we lose it. Or, in my case, we lose it then we gain it back.

WEIGHT is my biggest struggle and it always has been.

Obesity doesn’t run in my family.. we just don’t run in my family ☺

I am an expert at losing weight. I’ve lost 75# twice since I’ve been at my church here in Colorado Springs. I’ve lost 100# one other time in my life. I’ve lost 25-50# countless times. I YO-YO so much my last name ought to be Duncan!

However, I find myself again at the beginning point. My jeans are tight and my spirit is down. What can I do? Where do we turn to find lasting strength? Who holds victory in store for us?

My source of victory is your source of victory: Proverbs 2:7–8 (NIV) “He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.”

Personalize the promise of Jeremiah 29:11–14a “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

We may currently be held captive by our vices but we need not remain enslaved. God will give us the strength to win. We can have lasting success. Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

I’ve about worn out Romans chapter 7 in my Bible. I go there often because it helps me to know that I am not alone in my struggles. When I read that an amazing Christian like the Apostle Paul struggled too, it helps somehow. I close this post and this series, on this final passage of Scripture. It is my hope and prayer that you and I will learn that when we fall, God lifts us up. I pray that we remember that failure doesn't have to be fatal. We really can win again!

Jesus really is the answer to lasting success.

Romans 7:18–25a (NIV) “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

There’s An App For That: GENTLENESS

Have you ever “thought you knew something” but discovered later on that you really didn’t get it after all? That happened to me this week. I thought I understood what the word “Gentleness” meant. I thought for sure I would be delivering a message completely different than the one I am about to share.

What is meant by the word “Gentleness” in Scripture has a lot more to do with the skit on the bottom of this post than what you would find in The Webster’s Dictionary.

The Greek word for “Gentleness” is also translated as “meekness” in Scripture.

Many think that to be meek is to be weak…but the opposite is actually true—Meekness is not weakness…Meekness is POWER—but it is power under control. To be meek is to be strong enough to be gentle—it is to use whatever power or authority you have in the right way. A Meek Person recognizes that “just because you can doesn’t always mean you should!”

True meekness is best modeled in the life of Christ. He was ABSOLUTE POWER under control. He never resisted doing the will of God the Father—and His absolute trust in the Father enabled Him to model compassion and courage to a watching world. –And HE wants us to do the same!

#1 GENTLENESS IS ABOUT GROWING UP.

We act like spoiled brats sometimes. (Like whiny kids in a grocery store) We want God to give us what we want and when He doesn't we put up a fit. We are not showing "GENTLENESS" when we do that…

"Gentleness means to NOT fight against God.

Do you fight God? Do you wrestle against His will in your life? Let me ask it a different way: Does He have to fight you every step of the way in your spiritual life? Does God always have to remind you that you are supposed to love HIM and learn from HIM?

Gentleness is about accepting God’s WORD Instead of fighting it.

Let me show you what I mean… look at James 1:21 in the New International Version: “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and HUMBLY accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Now read James 1:21 in the New Century Version: “So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in GENTLENESS accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.”

Did you notice what I capitalized? "HUMBLY" in the NIV and "GENTLENESS" in the NCV are the same word in Greek. Gentleness is an attitude of welcome to the things God wants to show you in your life.

2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Psalm 119:1–2 (NIV) “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.”

#2 GENTLENESS IS ABOUT GIVING UP.

I am not talking about being a quitter. (Although there are some things that would be good for us to quit) This 2nd point is about GIVING UP CONTROL!

This use of the word is best understood reading 1 Corinthians 4:21 (NIV) “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?”

Does he really need to ask? ☺ Paul was telling the people in Corinth that "even though he could come to them harshly he chooses to come to them gently" Again--its the meekness idea… Just because you can doesn't mean you should!

We need help to show gentleness and help is exactly what Jesus offers.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Wait a minute! That doesn’t sound too relaxing. That sounds like more work. It sounds like something else on my already overloaded shoulders…

It does until you understand what a yoke is. A yoke is not a harness. A harness is placed on one horse or ox. Now, unless you grew up on a farm, you might have the two mixed up. A yoke is a wooden beam that attaches two farm animals together. The yoke lightens the load because they are no longer working solo. Two can carry more than one. More is accomplished when two work together.

The load is halved. The load is shared. The load is lightened.

A yoke is a symbol of partnership. There are two of you working on it and not just one. Jesus says, “I will help you out with your problems. I will help carry your load.” Think about it: JESUS doesn’t have a load. He’s God! His burden is light! He isn't stressed about anything!

To be yoked is to move together in the same direction and at the same pace. Galatians 5:25 (NIV) ”Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Gentleness denotes a life surrendered. It pictures a person who is able to display calm in the midst of chaos. It is the freedom to be so focused on the end result that you are able to accept the painful present.

My sister Michelle's hair used to get so tangled when we were kids that we called her “Dirty Sally” after the character on Gunsmoke. Sometimes it would get so tangled she'd call in reinforcements… MOM.

Michelle would lay her mop in my mom’s lap and the two would go to work… Mom brushing and holding, my sister wincing and crying. (I would have just cut it off) My mom would ask her, “Do you want me to stop?” Michelle would say, “No, mommy…keep going...If you stop I’ll never get it out.”

Understand something about my sister's tears and you will understand something about gentleness: My sister’s tears were not those of resistance, they were tears of submission. Michelle knew that the end result would be worth it. THAT is gentleness.

Is your life in a tangled mess? Have you allowed things to get out of hand only to now find yourself in jam? The longer you wait the more it’ll hurt. Rest your head in God’s lap. Stop resisting God and submit yourself to Him. Allow Him to untangle things.

Lastly…

#3 GENTLENESS IS ABOUT SPEAKING UP.

Its not about just "if" you should say it but HOW you say it!

Galatians 6:1–2 (NIV) “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. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:25–26 (NIV) “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

Ephesians 4:1–2 (NIV) “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Again, what is meant by the word “GENTLENESS" in Scripture has a lot more to do with the following skit "God's Chisel" than what you will find in The Webster’s Dictionary.

There’s An App For That: FAITHFULNESS

All my life I have wanted to see Yellowstone National Park. The majestic mountains, towering waterfalls, and, (at a distance), the grizzly bears and wolves. But of all the things to see, I’ve wanted most to see “Old Faithful” erupt. There are many other geysers there and some of them are much more spectacular but, more people flock to see Old Faithful than any other! WHY? Because you can almost set your watch by her. She shows up when she’s supposed to and does not disappoint you when she arrives.

Faithfulness is a quality that all of us admire. And its so rare these days people will drive miles to see it!

Thousands of years ago Solomon said (Prov 20:6), “A faithful man who can find?”

Things haven’t changed much. Faithfulness is still hard to find.

Faithfulness is SUCH a big deal! You can have a personality that wows crowds—an intelligence that confounds crowds…or be the hardest worker in the crowd but if your NOT dependable you make people miserable. People admire dependability and deplore irresponsibility.

A poll was taken and people were asked: “What Trait in people do you dislike the most? What flaw in other people’s character do you find most difficult to tolerate?” ON TOP OF MOST PEOPLE’S LIST: Unfaithfulness.

Several said, “I hate it when people say one thing and do another.”
Another said: “It drives me crazy when people promise to come through and they fall through.”

They may have chosen different ways to express it, but they were describing UNFAITHFULNESS. They’re describing people who are undependable, disloyal, inconsistent, or not true to their word.

Are you faithful? Are you dependable? Do you keep your word?

Faithfulness is about integrity, honestly, loyalty. Faithfulness is about being trustworthy. Again, faithfulness is a quality that all of us admire. And if we don't we ought to because I can tell you this, not only does God admire it , He requires it.

Two main points we need to get:

#1 Faithfulness is about BELIEVING IN God and TAKING HIM AT HIS WORD.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

Numbers 23:19 (NIV) “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”

Psalm 145:13c (NIV) “The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

#2 Faithfulness is about LIVING FOR God and NOT FOLLOWING THE CROWD

The temptation is always to follow the crowd. When you look at the life of Christ—He was often tempted to follow the crowd. Satan wanted Jesus to be self-serving and to use His powers for His own gain—BUT JESUS wouldn’t listen. Jesus’ own family called Him crazy and hoped He’d quit and follow them home BUT JESUS wouldn’t listen.

Christ’s solution for crowd control is our solution: Whenever Jesus was tempted to follow the crowd, He would get away from the crowd and get alone with God the Father!

WHEN you get alone with HIM it would benefit you to read and study 2 Timothy 2:1–7 (NIV) which says, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”

The Apostle Paul gives us three people to consider: A Soldier, an Athlete, and a Farmer and as you study you discover...

1. You are called to be a warrior, so don’t forget it.

Your call to be a soldier must never be forgotten. You have been chosen by God to be a soldier and He placed you in the specific battle that you are fighting right now.

We must never expect your duty to be comfortable. People won’t always like us. People will misunderstand us and say all kids of things about us. Life on the frontlines is difficult—we are assaulted from every side. We should expect it and lean hard on our fellow recruits. Remember, you have been called to a battle — not a picnic – but you are not in this battle alone. I’ve got your back—I hope you have mine.

As a soldier we should seek to live our lives so that our commanding officer is never disappointed. We endure hardship in order to please HIM — not ourselves or someone else.

2. You are called to be a winner, so don’t blow it.

Two key things that can weaken your walk — DISTRACTION and DISQUALIFICATION.

DISTRACTION: An athlete that expects to win can only focus on one thing — the finish line. He cannot get caught up in worrying about the other runners, the crowd, or the conditions on the track.

DISQUALIFICATION: The other thing an athlete must do is compete according to the rules.

3.You are called to be a worker, so don’t neglect it.

The metaphor of a HARDWORKING farmer speaks to the requirement that we be faithful in sowing the Word. To always be ready (in season and out of season) to give the reason for the hope we have…We are called to plant seeds — NOT TO BE the sun, or the soil, or the rain or the miraculous mechanism ordained by God that causes the plant to grow.

Do what you are called to do—be faithful to the ONE you are called to serve—He (God) will make things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (NIV) “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

I finish this study with this last reminder:

2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NIV) “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

There’s An App For That: GOODNESS

This time we will study what the word GOODNESS means in Galatians 5:22.

The word “Goodness” is “Agathosune” and is used only 4 times in the Bible and it conveys the idea of generosity toward someone else. Goodness is the act of going the second mile in someone’s life. To display goodness is to reach out to others even though THEY DO NOT deserve it.

We sometimes speak of a deed done “out of the goodness of one’s heart,”—that comes close to the meaning Galatians 5:22 but not quite---like all 9 of the attributes in the Fruit of the Spirit, GOODNESS is NOT something we are capable of doing WITHOUT the Holy Spirit. Goodness requires us to be tapped into our GOOD God.

#1 We DISCOVER what goodness is by GETTING TO KNOW God.

We get to know God by reading His WORD!

Psalm 25:8–9 (NIV)“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Sometimes God’s Word steps on our toes because our toes need stepped on. Sometimes the lessons we learn are painful ~ occasionally they are pleasant. God will ALWAYS prioritize our goodness over our gladness. God knows that sometimes pain is required in order to save us.

On a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have some really GOOD scars, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go."

We can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. Not from an alligator but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep pain BUT some of life’s wounds are GOOD because they’re evidence that God would not let us go.

I don’t know about you but I want to spend my life living for the ONE that would not let me go—I want other people to know of His goodness by seeing His goodness on display in me.

That is the second point...

#2 We DISPLAY what goodness is by LIVING FOR GOD!

Ephesians 5:8–14a (NIV) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible.”

The more you get to know God the more you recognize Him when you see Him.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV) Jesus said, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

It is a beautiful thing when we shine for Jesus in this dark world. God wants to express Himself in and through us. How we handle our pain is often a better teacher than anything else we do.

Seminary professor, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, asked his class to pray for his wife who was experiencing symptoms that might indicate cancer. Later, Dr. Pentecost reported to the class that the tests were negative, and that his wife’s malady was not a malignancy. The class breathed a sigh of relief…

Dr. Pentecost was not through with his lesson though...He challenged the class concerning their definition of “good.” HE INDICATED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD SAID THAT “GOD IS GOOD!” because his wife DID NOT HAVE CANCER… (Of course the Doctor didn’t disagree with that—it was very good his wife didn’t have cancer—he was thrilled to get that news). BUT—listen to what he told his class!: Dr. Pentecost said, “God is good. But I say to you that if the doctor’s report had been that my wife DID have cancer, God is still good.”

Dr. Pentecost knew (and taught) that thinking Biblically about the goodness of God requires us to believe deep within ourselves that God is always good regardless of what we may or may not experience.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

There’s an App for That: KINDNESS

Mother Teresa beautifully said, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

We continue our series "There's An APP For That" where we are studying each attribute found in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

As we consider KINDNESS today I would like to walk you through a passage in the Old Testament. There is a really neat story in 2 Samuel 10 that shows us a thing or THREE about being kind.

#1 Kindness is CONTAGIOUS and may cause an EPIDEMIC.

Listen as King David, a man after God's own heart, wants to return the kindness shown to him: 2 Samuel 10:1-2a (NIV) “In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.”

Its important that we understand David's motive. He didn't have an agenda--other than to show kindness. He felt sorry for the boy who had lost his father and just wanted to do something nice for him. However...

#2 Kindness is so RARE it could cause SUSPICION.

People WILL notice your kindness but may wonder if you have an agenda! Thats what happened to David.

2 Samuel 10:2b-3 (NIV) “When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?”

Were Hanun's advisors correct in their assessment? NO!

What a lesson for us about being careful from whom we take our cues! 1 Cor 15:33 (NIV), "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

David didn't have an agenda other than love. Hanun's guys were absolutely wrong--just like some of the people that you and I will come into contact with.

When we are kind in a mean world it may cause suspicion. Hanun listened to his ill-advised advisors and, 2 Samuel 10:4 (NIV) “...seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away."

David’s ambassadors of kindness were completely humiliated. Their kindness was thrown back in their face—or rather, cut from their face: Even today cutting off a person’s beard is one of the most disrespectful things you can do in Arab culture. Many would rather die than have their beards shaved off. Adding to that—they cut off their clothing from the waist down and sent them back to David.

Have you ever had your kindness thrown back in your face? We, as ambassadors of kind, are sent to share our King’s kindness—but sometimes it is met with disrespect. What should we do?

That brings us to our THIRD point..

#3 Kindness is CONSIDERATE and may restore HOPE.

Scripture tells us that "When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.” (2 Samuel 10:5)

What a kind gesture Kind David made to his men! When you look at a map you realize that Jericho was halfway between where they were and Jerusalem---David gave them the time they needed to be fully restored. He didn't make them come home or go to war--he just offered them rest and growing time!

David climbed into their pain and, as a result, lifted them up from the pit. There are a lot of people that wish we would do that.

Something we need to understand in this unkind world...God is not oblivious to our pain and He will eventually right the wrong done to us (so did David by the way--read the rest of the chapter when you get a chance!). In the meantime, we cannot allow a few unkind characters to keep us from being kind.

This world needs kind people. Be one of them.

There’s An App For That: PATIENCE

PATIENCE was tested in Monte Carlo when a woman driving a Bentley (sticker priced 360K) rammed into a 95K $ Mercedes then sideswiped a 220K $ Aston Martin which ricocheted into a 95K $ Porsche. Finally, the Bentley hit a 270K $ Ferrari—It all adds up to a 1 Million-Dollar Fender-bender!

I don't know about you but patience is not my strong suit. Nevertheless, it is an attribute that God wants to develop in my life. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) tells me to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

We continue our series through ht e Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

In the Bible there are TWO WORDS THAT DEFINE PATIENCE
#1 Hupomone (hoop·om·on·ay) = Endurance in respect to situations.
#2 Makrothumia (mak·roth·oo·mee·ah) = Tolerance in respect to persons

The first one, Hupomone, (translated "perseverance" in in the NIV) is found in James 5:11, “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his calm and quiet demeanor. At times, however, he suffered (like the rest of us) from moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him pacing the floor like a caged lion and asked him, “What’s the trouble?” Brooks said, “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”

We can all relate to that! We hate to wait and the longer we are made to wait the more we wonder if the wait will be worth it. It’s hard to wait—but waiting really is worth it.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The second word, Makrothumia, is the form of PATIENCE that is used in the Fruit of the Spirit.

The word is actually two words in the Greek: Macro (Big) Thumos (Heat)—(BIG HEAT)— It is the idea of taking A LONG TIME to heat up. Sometimes translated “long-suffering”--It means to have a long fuse. It’s the opposite of having a SHORT temper.

The Spirit of God supernaturally works within us (if we are yielded to Him) to produce this characteristic. I know personally, without the Holy Spirit, I am incapable of doing what Luke 6:27–31 says to do, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Psalm 103:8–11 (LB) “He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it; He is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.”

Aren’t you grateful for God’s Patience?! That’s the thing about patience...we like it when we are given it but hate to personally practice it. However, it is in our practice of patience that we demonstrate God’s love to a watching world! If you allow it to, enduring difficult situations and tolerating difficult people will actually help to increase your awarness of God’s amazing patience toward you.

What we may not realize is that sometimes the person we most want God to remove from our lives is the very person we need the most! God may have actually placed them in your life to do something in you and through you that could not take place if they weren’t there.

Pray for the difficult people in your life (anger and honest prayer will not co-exist together very long). Stop avoiding them and begin to strategically look at them. Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from them and the situation. One of the most distinguishing marks of a follower of Christ is the love we show for those we would not or could not love on our own.

We love because He first loved us and we are patient with them because God is so patient with us!

There’s An App For That: PEACE

We continue our series looking the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV) “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Today we are talking about PEACE.

Historians have concluded that since 3600 B.C. the world has only known 292 years of peace. However, there have been more than 14,000 wars & close to 4 billion people killed (War has killed 2 million children in the last twenty years). In addition to the human casualties, the value of the property destroyed in these wars would pay for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. According to Taxworld.org, “Income tax was invented by the British to finance the 100 Years War with France.”

2 Types of Peace in this world:
P1 Peace = The Absence of hostility, conflict, and fighting.
P2 Peace = The Presence of God despite the circumstances.

Catherine Marshall tells the story of a king who sought the perfect painting of peace. The king offered a prize to the artist who could best capture what peace really is. Many artists attempted their best renditions of peace, and the king, in turn, looked at all their pictures carefully. After careful observation he finally narrowed down to two pictures that he thought were closest and decided to select one of them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for towering and yet peaceful mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Trees blew gently in the breeze with a few birds nestled in its branches. All who saw the picture thought it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which the rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But if you would look closely, behind the waterfall was a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the rush of angry water, sat a mother bird; warm and quiet in her nest. The mama bird won.

#1 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST.
Romans 5:1–2 (NIV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 8:6–8 (NIV) “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

We all know people who avoid church like the plague. If we were to ask them, “Are you angry with or hostile toward God?” they’d likely say, “No.” They might even be offended by your question and say, “As a matter of fact, I am at peace with God.” The peace they are referring to is P1 Peace. In their mind there is no conflict or hostility. They have an arrangement— God does His thing and they do their thing. They have an agreement with God (BUT it’s an agreement that God never agreed to): To them, He is the Big Guy in the sky. They believe He is there but they ain’t one of them “Born-Agains"--even though Jesus said in John 3:3 (NIV) “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

TRUTH: You will never find Peace at the center of your soul until you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—until then, You ARE in conflict with your creator. Jesus is our peace!

Ephesians 2:13-14 (NIV) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,”

#2 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RELINQUISH CONTROL.
John 14:27 (NIV) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The Peace that Jesus gives transcends the human mind—it is something beyond our ability to reach. It is a peace that is RECEIVED not ATTAINED. It is a gift.
Jesus said, “My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” The Peace that God gives, the world cannot take away, rob, or duplicate. It is a peace that changes everything.
On December 1, 1873 Horatio Spafford received a telegram from his wife: "Saved Alone." Earlier that year Horatio, a successful attorney, had bought tickets for his family to board a luxury liner to France. He and his family had lost most everything in the great Chicago fire—and needed the vacation. Just before they were set to leave, a business problem forced Horatio to stay behind. The ship carrying his precious cargo sank. Only his wife survived.
He boarded the next ship east to get to his wife—asking the captain of the ship to show him the approximate spot where his children perished. When he passed over the watery grave, he was overcome with the presence of God.

He took out a legal pad and scribbled these words:
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Thou Satan should buffet,
tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul”

Folks, that is a PEACE that passes All understanding!
Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV) “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

D.L. Moody was right when he said, "A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it."

#3 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RECONCILE RELATIONSHIPS.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
Romans 12:18 (NIV) “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

When you get saved, things bug you that used to not bug you. Before you knew the Lord, you could hold a grudge with the best of them. Now, it messes with your PEACE when you’ve got unforgiveness rattling around in your heart. For peace to return you know there has to be reconciliation. You may not want to hang out with them 24/7 but you know you can’t leave things the way they are—or you will be miserable. God will nudge you and bug you until you make things right so you might as well stop fighting HIM!
Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV) “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Philippians 4:9 (NIV) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

It all comes down to a phrase small enough to fit on a bumper sticker
No Jesus No Peace ~ Know Jesus Know Peace

There’s An App For That: JOY

We continue our series today. In this series we are looking at some Apps that we may not even realize have been downloaded into us. We are studying the Fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Notice that second on the list is JOY. The prominence that JOY has in Scripture ought to remind us to make joy it more more prevalent in our lives than it is. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) tells us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I love how my brother Mark describes joy: “Joy is the flag that flies above the castle of the heart, announcing that the King is in residence.”

Joy and Happiness are not the same thing.
Happiness is external ~ Joy is internal
Happiness is based on chance ~ Joy is based on choice
Happiness depends on circumstance ~ Joy comes from depending on Christ!

Chuck Swindoll, in his devotional "Choosing Joy" said it best, “I have discovered that a joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or one's occupation (or lack of it) or one's geography or education or marital status or good looks or circumstances.
Joy is a choice! Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life, complaining that we never got a fair shake. We are the ones who consciously determine which way we shall go. To paraphrase the poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox :
One ship sails east

One ship sails west

Regardless of how the winds blow.

It is the set of the sail

And not the gale

That determines the way we go.

Regardless of how severely the winds of adversity may blow, 
we set our sails toward joy.”

Therefore:

#1 JOY COMES FROM ACCEPTING CHRIST.
Luke 2:10-11 (NIV) “But the angel said to them [Shepherds], “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 10:20 (NIV) “… rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Psalm 51:12 (NIV) “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Romans 5:1–2 (NIV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

#2 JOY COMES FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST.
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV) “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
John 15:9-11 (NIV) “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

#3 JOY COMES FROM ASSURANCE IN CHRIST.
1 Peter 1:8 (NIV) “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”
Psalm 28:7 (NIV) “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.”

I remember hearing the story about a little boy who fell out of bed. His mom asked him how it happened and he said, “I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.” That’s the problem with a lot of us. We get into the family of God, but we stay too near where we got in. We don’t go any deeper. We haven’t grown to know God more personally. We haven’t learned that we really can TRUST Him. We haven’t discovered that we really CAN DEPEND on Him. You will never break one of God’s promises by leaning on it.

If you are lacking JOY—connect/reconnect with God. Get into His Word! Stand on His WORD—lose the slumped shoulders and walk tall—you are a child of the King!

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NIV) “…we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

There’s An App For That: LOVE

AM I LOVING BEYOND MYSELF?
Gal 5:22a (NIV) “…the fruit of the Spirit is love…”

There are three Greek Words for “Love”

There is "Eros" love--which is sexual love (This word never appears in the NT)
There is "Phileo" love which is friendship love.
There is "Agape" love which is selfless Love

Examples of Phileo love is, according to Luke 14:10, a love that gives up your seat—it hold others in high esteem); In Luke 15:8-9 it is a love characterized by a shared experience (tas philas which means “female friends”)—obviously her “girls” knew she had lost her coin—shared her distress and “the joy of one became the joy of all” In Luke 21:16 Jesus warned that a friend is capable of betrayal (fear of betrayal should never keep us from making friends but, for the case of our study, its important to realize that this kind of love can sour). Luke 23:11-12 shows us a common desire/goal can make people “friends”—in this case Herod and Pilate. An important characteristic of Phileo love is adoption of like interests.—James 2:23 tells us that Abraham was “Philos” of God—Does the Scripture infer that Abraham and God were chummy?—Hardly. It teaches us that Abraham adopted God’s interests as his own. In the case of Herod and Pilate the common interests were evil in nature—the catalyst for friendship is not always positive.

Have you made ever made a friend for the wrong reasons?—joined together to hurt someone else?

None of these qualities describe the kind of “love” FIRST on the list in the Fruit of Spirit. This divine love stands in a class all its own. Agape always flows from what is right and best. Agape flows from the very heart of God. It is selfless—it always puts others first. It gives and gives and gives. It is fueled by the needs of others rather than the desires of self.

Agape is impossible for us. —None of us posses the innate ability to love like this. Agape flows through us it doesn’t originate in us. Like a piece of conduit, we are only carrying the current that God’s love provides. Its God’s love flowing through us! —Consequently, “agape,” can only authentically be expressed by those who have surrendered to God.

How else could we possibly “love” our enemies? Agape loves the unlovely—it loves even (and maybe especially) those who have hated us and hurt us. You can’t Agape unless you have experienced AGAPE—Only Christians can Agape—they’re the only people who know what it is!

1 John 4:19 (NIV) “We love because He first loved us.”
1 John 3:16 (NIV) “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
1 Cor 13:4-8a (NIV) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…”

The Greek word for “protects” in the previous verse means to cover over in silence—in other words, it does not expose the faults of others—it is the idea of covering an individual with a cloak of love so that the fault cannot be seen!—ISN’T THAT BEAUTIFUL? (if I am quick to notice a fault I know I’m not exercising agape!).

John 13:34-35 (NIV) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) “…these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Whats love got to do with it? EVERYTHING!

Latest Sermon Series

An App, or an Application, is a piece of software that can be downloaded to your phone or computer that is meant to make your life easier or more entertained. There is more to “Apps” than MapQuest and Doodle Jump.
Apps are big business. At the start of this series (July 2011) Apple said that customers have downloaded more than 15 billion mobile applications from their iTunes App Store. According to Apple, they now have more than 425,000 applications to choose from!
In a fast changing world how do you stay connected without being overwhelmed? Well, the Bible has an App for that. In this series we will look at some Apps that we may not even realize have been downloaded into us. Together, we will study the Fruit of the Spirit and be challenged to APPly what we have been given.