Why are you and I here on this planet? Different people have different answers to that question. Some would say that we’re here because some type of living organism evolved from the primordial ooze billions of years ago. In essence, they would say, that we are here by random chance. If we’re here by random chance, than there’s really little purpose in our lives. We might as well just do as we please and enjoy ourselves as much as possible.
The Bible has a different answer to the question of why we are here. The Bible tells us that every person is here on this earth because they were created by God. When God created you, He created you with a purpose in mind. Oftentimes, the Bible refers to God as a potter who creates a clay pot, which refers to us. God shaped and molded you to be a vessel that would honor Him by serving Him.
2 Timothy 2:21 (NASB95) Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
God wants you to be useful to Him. God wants you to be prepared to do good work for Him. The Bible calls the work that we do for God in the church family, ministry or service. Jesus taught us in
Matthew 10:8b (NIV) Freely you have received, freely give.
Integrity is giving what you have received from God back to Him in service.
Listen to my August 9, 2009 message “Service and Integrity” based on Nehemiah 12 (message notes).
An infant lives for the moment, seeking to satisfy his physical needs. An adult should live for tomorrow, basing his life and actions on what would have the greatest impact for good for his children. A believer should live for eternity, charting his life on a course to influence the eternal destinies of people yet to be born. What are you living for?
Philippians 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Churches can also either live for the moment or live for eternity. A church is not a building, but a group of people committed to God and one another. The church family at Life Church is committed to living for eternity, making our lives count for a prize greater than anyone of us can imagine.
Our vision is to expand the influence of our church for God to an increasing number of people. Although God has blessed us in the past few years of our existence in temporary locations, we believe that it is now time for us to have a permanent location from which to minister.
This Sunday, August 2, we officially launch our Building Tomorrow Together stewardship campaign. The first goal of this campaign is to help each person in the church family grow in commitment to and understanding of stewardship. Stewardship means that God owns everything I have. I am simply a manager of what God has entrusted to my care for a season. Stewardship means that I follow God’s direction with regard to my time, talents and treasure.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
The second goal of the campaign is to raise sufficient financial resources to allow us to move into a permanent church location. When God imparts a vision, He always provides the resources necessary to fulfill the vision. When people give to fulfill God’s vision, He imparts tremendous blessing into their lives. We must remember that everything we have comes from God in the first place.
1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV) But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
I am excited about everything that God is going to do through our Building Tomorrow Together campaign over the next three years. We will have many more activities and information coming out as the campaign progresses. We were very encouraged at the high percentage of people who volunteered to pray and help with the stewardship campaign last Sunday. God’s vision for your life and our church will only be accomplished as we build tomorrow together.
The Bible tells us that God has marked out a path or track that each person should follow in life. Following God’s path for your life is the best possible way that you can life your life. Unfortunately, a lot of people have never found God’s path for their life or they have left God’s path. The writer of Hebrews, likens our journey through life as a race.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
According to this verse, there are things that can hinder you in the race of life. There is sin than can entangle you and get your life totally off track. God has given each person a sense of whether their life is on track with Him or not. However, if you are off God’s track long enough, your sense of right and wrong may be permanently warped. God’s Word provides the standard to determine whether you are on track with God or not.
How can you get your life back on track? The answer is through confession and commitment. When God convicts you of sin in your life, it is a good thing. The proper response is to confess that sin to God and make a commitment with God’s help to stay on track. Biblical repentance involves a turning away from sin through confession and a turning toward God through commitment. God is in the life change business, but you’ve got to cooperate with Him in order to see your life get back on track.
All too often, people pray and ask for God to change their dire circumstances, when those very circumstances are the direct result of sin in their lives. God won’t answer those prayers until there is confession and commitment. That’s what it takes to get your life back on track.
Listen to my July 26, 2009 message “Confession and Commitment” based on Nehemiah 9-10 (message notes).
What is revival? Revival is the renewal of interest in God or the recovery of spiritual life and strength. Believers and churches across America need revival. Millions of people across the US think they are Christians, but have no relationship with God and so are truly unbelievers. Unbelievers need revival. Perhaps I might say more accurately, unbelievers need an awakening of interest in God that leads to relationship.
Biblically, revivals happen with the combination of three elements: the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the prayers of God’s people. The primary importance of the Word of God seems to lost to many people today, both believers and unbelievers. In bygone years in America, the mark of an educated person was knowledge of the Word of God. Today, the mark of a so-called educated leader appears to be ignorance of God’s Word. Ignorance of God’s Word leads to deep problems in all aspects of life and society.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God’s revealed Word is to guide the footsteps of our lives and lead us to a closer relationship with God. Without God’s Word, we stumble in the darkness. However, for those who are stumbling in the darkness, God’s Word can lead to revival. I would challenge every reader to making a commitment to read God’s Word daily for at least 15 minutes. Pray and ask God to help you apply His Word to your life. What it says, you will believe. What it commands, you will do. Get connected with a Bible-believing church so that you can learn from pastor-teachers how to understand God’s Word better. As you do, you’ll find spiritual revival in your life.
Listen to my July 19, 2009 message “Revival Through The Word” based on Nehemiah 8 (message notes).
A believer will face all kinds of adversity as they seek to follow Jesus Christ. For some, this comes as a rude shock. They thought that God was going to solve all their problems and give them the easy life. Believers who do not develop deep roots in God do not last through the difficulties that God allows into their lives.
Mark 4:17 (NIV) But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
The adversity that comes may be external trouble or persecution. This type of adversity can discourage you and cause you to turn your back on God. Other types of adversity may be more deceptive in luring you away from God.
Mark 4:19 (NIV) but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
The types of adversity that Jesus mentions in this verse are basically distractions from God’s plan for your life. Worry is a distraction. Money and any other kind of desire for things that are wrong will lead you away from God’s purpose for your life. The end result is that you do not produce any fruit for God, which proves your belief was not real in the first place. All temptation begins with a distraction away from God’s plan for your life.
What is the answer to facing adversity and it’s distractions? The answer is to keep your eyes on Jesus and His plan for your life. A believer is fundamentally a follower of Jesus Christ. The phrase “follower of Jesus” has become a cliche with little meaning for many. However, a follower of Jesus Christ is someone who doesn’t let themselves become distracted by adversity. Whether the adversity is external trouble or internal temptations, a true believer will keep their eyes on Jesus and refuse to be distracted.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus faced adversity by keeping His eyes fixed on God’s plan for His life and fulfilled that plan completely. As you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, He will strengthen you to accomplish the purpose you were created for.
Listen to my July 12, 2009 message “Facing Intimidation” based on Nehemiah 6, to learn how to face adversity in your life (message notes).
Unity seems to be an elusive goal in our society. Marriages and families are disintegrating at an alarming rate. Infighting and division is common in many other groups, including businesses and churches. What is the cause of this breakdown in unity and harmonius relationships? The cause is simply selfishness, seeking to obtain the greatest advantage from the group and giving back as little as possible. When there is no unity, when there is division, what is the result?
Mark 3:25 (NIV) If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
When there is no unity in a group or relationship, that “house” is doomed to collapse. On the other hand, unity is a wonderful thing to be a part of.
Psalm 133:1 (NIV) How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
There is blessing, there is peace and joy when people in a group work together in unity. Generally, groups and relationships begin with unity. However, over time, inevitable forces work to sow seeds of division into a group. Unity is something that must actively be maintained, whether in a relationship or in a group.
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
This verse is speaking specifially about the unity of the Spirit in a church family. Notice that every member must make every effort in order to keep the unity. Of course, unity and peace go hand in hand.
So, whatever church, group or relationship that you are a part of, ask yourself some questions.
Am I taking advantage of others in the group or relationship?
Am I doing less than my fair share in the work of the group?
Am I doing less than my fair share in contributing to the group?
If my behavior is not conducive to keeping the unity, what will I ask God to help me change in my behavior?
Listen to my message “Maintaining Unity” based on Nehemiah 5, to learn the principles of maintaining unity in your life (message notes).
