Counter

Monday, March 26, 2012

AFRAID TO HOPE

Last night we had our twice monthly small group gathering. If you’re not in a small group with other followers of Christ, I encourage you to find a group, or, if you can’t find one, get together with a few friends and become a group. The main topic of our discussion was the favor of God. Several shared stories of God’s clear favor in providing promotions in their work. Others shared of God’s protection, provision and perfect peace in crisis. All the sharing was very encouraging. My experience is that when we share our life stories a deeper bond is forged in our relationships. Love it! 

At the same time there was a sobering awareness within our small group that most of us have experienced, or are currently experiencing, enough pain there are times when it’s difficult to have hope. Jabez, in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, first entered the world through much pain, which is why he received the name he did. Jabez means “sorrow”, and is derived from a root word meaning, “to grieve.” That is one tough way to get started in life. Everyone you meet and everywhere you go, people refer to you as “the pain.” Yet somehow, some way, Jabez was able to rise above his name to ask God for FAVOR: "Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" (V10 NLT)

One of the members of our small group suggested there are times when we are scared to hope. Maybe we’ve recently experienced a deep disappointment, or we’ve been hoping for a change in our circumstances for a long, long time but nothing has happened, or the last time we determined to exercise our faith things actually got worse. So, now we find ourselves in a place where we're AFRAID TO HOPE. We’re finding it nearly impossible to ask for God’s favor and to believe things are going to change for the better.

According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (bibletools.org), the Greek word for hope, ELPIS, means: “expectation of evil, fear; expectation of good, hope.” Another member of our group made the observation that we’re often more likely to believe bad news than good news. He gave this example: If someone came and told us bad news, we often immediately accept it; yet if someone came to us and told they have a bag full of cash, we refuse to believe them.

All of us have experienced enough pain in life we can easily become a skeptic or cynic. The dark cloud of negativism hangs over our life, and, even more, we allow it. We don’t even try to break free of the darkness and despair, because we’re afraid to hope. I find the Greek word mentioned above, ELPIS, to be very intriguing. If you consider its meaning, all of us have hope. Our hope is either an “expectation of evil” or an “expectation of good.” We’re either hoping for the worst, or hoping for the best. 

Yesterday, Les Welk, the team leader for the Northwest Ministry Network (Assemblies of God), spoke at our church. He had several very profound things to say, but among them was his comment about “blessing.” He shared that we can’t direct our anger, frustration and disappointment in God and bless him at the same time. Blessing and cursing don’t happen simultaneously. We can’t criticize and tear down another person, and bless them at the same time. What’s the point? We need to choose blessing. 

I pray the Lord will give you strength today to ask the God of all hope for favor. I pray that an expectation of good, will dominate your thoughts, and shape your perspective of life, as you place your full trust in the Lord. 

Romans 15:13 NIV “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

P.S. One other thing Les Welk shared with us yesterday was the definition of the word, ATTITUDE, from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Attitude describes the position of a plane in regards to its surroundings and the horizon. The FAA offers this equation: ATTITUDE +POWER = PERFORMANCE. 

As I was concluding today’s blog post, actually after I thought I was done, the Holy Spirit prompted this verse to my memory and I believe it is a specific word to someone who will be reading this blog. Psalm 30:5 NLT His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.” To the person the Holy Spirit is speaking to through this verse, God’s favor is coming your way and with it a new experience of joy.

Monday, March 19, 2012

ASKING FOR FRUIT AND FAVOR

For the last 24 hours I’ve been reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 15. If you’re a new follower of Jesus, the Book of John is a great place to start in reading the Bible because it contains the words of Jesus and his story in a clear and powerful way. In verses 7-8 (New Living Translation) Jesus makes the following statement:  “But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8 My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.”

One of the first things which captures my attention are the words, “My true disciples produce much fruit.” “Much” is a word of quantity, so Jesus is saying that disciples produce fruit in QUANTITY. As followers of Jesus we can expect that Jesus will multiply and magnify our obedience to produce “much fruit.”

Did you see where Jesus said, “…you may ask”? This is a reference to the requests or prayers we offer to Him. I’ve discovered that my prayers are a window to my faith. When my faith is strong and healthy, it impacts my asking. So, here are several questions for you:

What are you asking?          What are you expecting?
Are you expecting what you’re asking?

If the level of your faith is weak or has been wavering recently, I want you to see what Jesus says in V16: “You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” The invitation to ask is accompanied by a reminder that Jesus Christ has chosen us! It’s a mind-blowing thing to consider that the Father has invited and included us in his plan to heal the world. He’s calling and sending, as well as giving us the spiritual authority, to bring hope and healing to the least and the lost. As we go, we can expect “fruit that will last.” This is fruit in QUALITY. When we stay connected and obedient to Christ, the result is fruitfulness in QUANTITY and QUALITY. The mission statement of the church where I serve LIFE CHURCH Bayside (Bellingham, Washington) is: Making More and Better Disciples of Jesus Christ. We desire to see the kind of fruit Jesus speaks about in John 15.

My church family is in an exciting time. We recently adopted a new name, moved to a new location (in a newly remodeled building) and are implementing a new ministry focus. In the last week our church’s Facebook page was vied over 3,000 times. For the first time in 13 years we have the ministry dollars to invest in connecting with our mission field. Recently, my father (Pastor Pike Robinson) reminded me of the “Prayer of Jabez.” He said he felt like it was a prayer for LIFE CHURCH Bayside. I listened, but didn’t immediately responded to his suggestion. Yesterday, I was reminded of my father’s wise words and I share them with our church last night. He’s what is written about Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4 and his prayer: There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands (NKJV/NIV “enlarge my territory”) ! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!’" And God granted him his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NLT)

Personally, I think that’s a great prayer. I believe it’s the kind of prayer which fits the kind of faith and fruitfulness Jesus envisioned in John 15. I encourage you to pray this prayer with your personal mission and your church home in mind. I will close by repeating the three questions I suggested earlier:

What are you asking?          What are you expecting?   
 Are you expecting what you’re asking?

Monday, March 12, 2012

IS OBEDIENCE DANGEROUS?


In my recent posts I’ve been exploring the theme of what’s “normal.” “Normal,” for the first century missionary Paul was often intense and dangerous (see 2 Corinthians 4:13-18). His life was definitely not what most of us think of as the blessed life, yet I believe Paul would disagree. His goal wasn’t comfort. His goal in life wasn’t based on material things (bigger and faster, latest and greatest, fame and fortune). His goal was to obey the vision which God had given to him. Paul pursued this vision to the point he was able to boldly and confidently testify to King Agrippa (Acts 26:19 NLT): I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven.

It’s hard to imagine Paul’s life. Normal for him was prison, or on the run from enemies, or experiencing danger in all forms. It’s hard to relate his story to the lives most of us lead. At the same time, we daily face challenges to a life of obedience. For us, the challenge may come in the form of seeking a life of comfort and convenience, rather than a life of obedience and the pursuit of God-directed opportunities. I don’t know if following God’s lead always moves us away from comfort and convenience, but I think it most often does. Obeying the Lord will move us beyond our spiritual and material resources. Obedience to the Lord will likely expose our deficiencies and insecurities, and all of us have plenty of both. 

How many of us have hesitated in obeying the Lord because we didn’t think we had the gifts/talents, wisdom, or strength to take on an opportunity being presented to us?

We become aware of an opportunity, and the first thing we do is conduct an assessment of whether we’re adequate for the task. We look at what we can do, and fail to consider what God can do. It’s at this point there’s often two types of people who emerge: First, there’s the arrogant person, who possesses a high opinion of themselves. They believe they can do anything. In fact, they’re so good they don’t even think they need God’s help. As you know, this person is dangerous because their pride will cause them to do and say things which will ultimately cause damage. Watch out for this person! 

There’s a second type of person. This is someone who is so self-focused they allow their deficiencies and insecurities to influence their obedience. Rather, than relying more on the Lord and moving forward in obedience, they run from opportunities to be used by him in new and different ways. It’s because of these two types of individuals that humility is such an important character quality. As long as we maintain humility, as in an accurate opinion of who we are and what we can do, as well as a solid biblical understanding of who we are and who God is, we can move forward as God directs our steps. 

It almost seems like today’s blog has focused on two different thoughts, first, what is normal, and, second, obedience. I see these thoughts coming together, in that the normal life of a follower of Jesus Christ will lead us into situations which are uncomfortable and inconvenient, even dangerous at times, IF we are “not disobedient to that vision from heaven.” 

As I sometimes like to say, the most calm and peaceful place in any city is the cemetery. Be careful in asking the Father to bring calm and peace into your life.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

THERMOMETERS AND THERMOSTATS


In my previous post (A NEW DEFINITION OF NORMAL –March 5), I raised the possibility that the concept of what is “normal” may be in the process of being redefined in this time of “discontinuous change.” Another possibility is that God is stirring things up so dramatically in your world you are in the process of discovering a “new normal.” 

On four occasions in the New Testament the word, CONTENT, is used (NIV: Philippians 4:11,12; 1 Timothy 6:8; and Hebrews 13:5), as in the context of CONTENTMENT. The Greek word, autarkes (ow-tar’-kace) means, “contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the slenderest.” While the author of Hebrews is uncertain, and could possibly have been Paul, the other uses of this word specifically come from him. We know from Paul’s story, his was a life on the move. As a missionary / church planter, he was constantly taking the good news of Jesus to new places and people. His efforts to advance the Gospel often put him in dangerous situations and difficult circumstances (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). And yet, he was able to learn how to be content.

Consider a comparison between a thermometer and a thermostat. A thermometer measures the temperature, while a thermostat controls the temperature. One of the reasons why many people struggle with contentment is because their spirit and emotions reflect, like a thermometer, the circumstances in their life. Paul had fully given control of his life to Christ (“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20), and he allowed his deep relationship with the Lord to determine the “temperature” of his life. By doing this, he learned how to be content, even when locked in a prison or sailing rough seas.

This leads me to a question: What if normal has nothing to do with our circumstances? What if contentment has nothing to do with what’s going on in our lives? 

As I meditate on Galatians 2:20, I find myself wondering what Paul learned, which led him to contentment, which the rest of us struggle to discover. At the risk of being too basic or simple, I really believe Paul drew his contentment and defined his “normal” based on the four words, “Christ lives in me.” The deepest need in Paul’s life, which is the deepest need in all of our lives, is to be loved. And Paul was convinced to the core of his soul, that he was loved by the Living Lord. All of the blessings which came into his life were a bonus, like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. Paul didn’t require life to be “all good” or even mostly good, to be contented. Paul also lived with an awareness that all of the tribulations and struggles he endured were temporary and subject to change (2 Corinthians 4:13-18), which is important to maintaining a consistent contentment. 

So, if someone asks you today how you’re doing, what are you going to say? I’ve had some people respond, “I am blessed!” On the surfaced it sounds good, but what does that same person say when they’re having a bad day? I think Paul would have answered, “I am loved!” As the Chris Tomlin song says, “I am loved by a King, and it makes my heart want to sing.”

Monday, March 5, 2012

A NEW DEFINITION FOR NORMAL


In my previous blog post (February 27 ~ DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT “NORMAL” IS?) I began exploring the theme of “normal.” As a reminder, the definition of “normal” from dictionary.com: “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.I have a friend who told me, in a flash of TMI, that he is so irregular he’s regular. Thank you for sharing! In an odd way (very odd, I know), I believe it’s possible that there’s a new normal in life that’s so irregular it’s becoming the new regular. To use a word picture, life used to be like floating on a wooden raft in the middle of a tranquil pond. A person could bask in the sun and just float along with the gentle breezes. Those were the days! Today life is like being on a river and navigating a class 5 rapid at flood stage. Hold on, baby, or you’re going to get pitched into the rushing water.

Several years ago I came across a phrase used to describe the rate of change occurring in our world today: “discontinuous change.” Here’s a definition of this phrase from businessdictionary.com: “Non-incremental, sudden change that threatens existing or traditional authority or power structure, because it drastically alters the way things are currently done or have been done for years.” Given the changes in our world, and the rapid rate of change, I believe it’s possible that “normal” is being redefined. We may not like the “new normal” in our world but that’s not to diminish its influence and impact in our daily lives. If we fail to understand what the “new normal” looks like in our lives, we will find ourselves searching for a place which doesn’t exist. Our desire for things to “get back to normal” will never be realized, because the place we want to go back to only exists in our memories. At first this may sound like a totally depressing thought, but that’s only if you assume the “new normal” is going to be negative. 

The key survival skill in a world of discontinuous change is CONTENTMENT. The Apostle Paul understood the importance of being content. In Philippians 4:11 (NIV) he writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Paul’s outlook on life wasn’t dependent upon things getting to a place of “normal.” In the next verse he refers to this skill he’s learned as “the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (NIV) Sometimes our desire for things to be different, and for life to get back to normal, is robbing us of peace in the present. God may be in the process of leading you into a new normal.

To be continued in my next post…