What the Bible says…

The Bible has much to say about contentment both in the new and old testaments.  Yet the word is always used in the context of stuff; money, food, clothing, housing and things that are physical.

Scriptures examples:

In the Gospel of Luke we find John the Baptist engaging in a conversation with some soldiers and he tells them to be content with their pay (Luke 3.14).   Apparently their lack of contentment had caused them to abuse their positions and abuse others to use extortion as a means of padding their pockets. 

In 1 Timothy 6.6-8 Paul instructs ministers to be content as long as they have food and covering.  He obviously is speaking of contentment in the physical realm.

Philippians 4 is where most people get their view of “Biblical contentment”.  The apostle Paul writes the following in verses 11-14: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.” 

Paul and Luke make it very clear that they are speaking in regards to physical states.  Not the spiritual. 

How many people interpret that…

Unfortunately for most people they impose the Bible’s response to physical needs onto their own spiritual shortcomings.  Lack of effectiveness becomes, I need to be content with the 10 people that God sent to my church.  I need to be content that I have led 3 people to the Lord in my life.

Why that is wrong…

Spiritual effectiveness is largely dependent upon whether or not Christians are willing to get to work or whether they are sitting around bemoaning the fact that the world is not a better a place.  As long as their people in your community dying and going to hell, you should not be content.  Jesus wept over Jerusalem, when was the last time you wept over yours?  As long as sin is acceptable in your church, you should not be content.    

As I have studied the western church I have come to the conclusion that it is suffering due to contentment.  Most churches are as effective as they want to be.  No, they will never admit this but their actions declare it.  Holy huddles do not reach the world.  Sunday mornings is not where Christians should do most of their ministry for the week.  Perhaps it is the fact that those of us who have been called to be spiritual leaders have failed.  We ask people to burn out in church programs that never go beyond our church walls while people outside our walls are hurting and dying.

So let me ask you a question that I often pose to myself: are you content with the state of your church?  If you answered no, do your actions declare yes?

1. A leader has genuine concern for the people he or she leads. (vs. 2)

The first thing Jeremiah did when he saw his fellow Jews was inquire to the wellness of their people.  He did not throw a party and make small talk.  He got to root of the issue.  Why?  Because he cared!  Too many leaders are more concerned about themselves.  Failure to show concern for the people God has called you to lead is a good indicator you are not being the leader that God has called you to be.

2. A leader is emotionally invested in his followers.  It is not just a job, his heart is attached. (vs.4)

The response that Nehemiah had after he asked about his brothers in Jerusalem was one of a broken heart.  We are told that he sat down, mourned and wept for days.  Historically sitting is a posture of mourning.  In Job 1 and 2 we find Job mourning.  Each time he mourned he first sat down.  In Daniel 10 we find Danial mourning for 21 days.  What was he doing?  He was sitting.  In Psalm 137 we find a statement “we sat down and wept.”

Nehemiah allowed his heart to break for his people.  It killed him that his people were in pain.  Their pain was his pain.  A true leader is never doing just a job.  His heart is attached and intimately wound in and through not just his organization but through the lives of the people he serves with.  A leader who lacks love for his people will also lack effectiveness.  This is why we find Christ in the New Testament weeping over Jerusalem.  This is why we find so many statements about Jesus that say, when He saw them, He felt compassion.  It is easier for people to move for a leader who first allows his heart to be moved for them.

3. A leader recognizes the power of prayer, their own weakness and the greatness of God. (vs. 4-11)

The third thing we find out about Nehemiah and great leaders in general is that they yield themselves to a higher power.  Nehemiah knew a broken heart, a spirit of mourning and pain would not change the reality of a bad situation.  At that moment he did the only thing he could.  In his place of pain he cried out to the God of the universe.  He worshiped Him, he confessed to Him and implored God to intervene.  He looked for divine intervention!  A leader that does not pray is not a leader.  I know this is a bold statement but one cannot lead for God if he is not communicating with God.   A leader who fails to pray will sooner or later blur the lines between bringing God glory and serving to receive the glory himself.  After all, how can a man lead people to a God he himself is not communicating with?

As a leader….are you concerned about the people you lead???   ….are you emotionally invested in your followers???   ….are you regularly submitting yourself to the God you are called to serve???

You see Nehemiah was not a theory or a manual that included “Top 10 Leadership Tips To Take Your Organization To The Next Level.”  He was man.  A man with a heart and a man with a mission.

My goal is to share with you 13 posts (14 if you include this one) on the book of Nehemiah.  There will be one for each of the chapters of Nehemiah.  I will be writing them from the leadership perspective but understand it is not limited to those who are in a position of leadership.  Biblical principles are for all to enjoy and benefit from.

One final thought before I throw this out in cyber world.  I will merely be referencing the book of Nehemiah.  For you fully receive the challenge and blessing that God desires for your life, you need to read the book of Nehemiah.  God’s Word is much more important than Jon Goodwin’s words so please do not read what I say and leave it at that.  Do some fact checking with your Bible!

1. Have you accepted the world as it is?

or

2. Have you accepted the fact that you are to be an agent of change?

You see either you make a difference or you don’t.  My prayer is that when people talk about me at my funeral that they don’t share how comfortable I was but rather how much positive change I made in the world.  My prayer is that I will leave this world a better place then when I got here.

~Jude 22 “And some have compassion, making a difference.”

God does not expect you to be held responsible for circumstances that are outside your control.  There are things in life that happen that just aren’t your fault.  Yet in dealing with these circumstances, God does expect to hold you responsible for your response.  Response to tragedy is often a good indicator of someone’s heart.  After all, it is easy to bless the name of God when life is going well.  Yet do we acknowledge God’s goodness when life isn’t?  The goodness of God does not change even when we don’t feel like we are experiencing.  God remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

In my house, we have a family photo and on it is printed the latter half of Joshua 24.15 which says, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  The first half of this verse is a challenge to the people to make a choice;  who is it that you are going to serve?  This verse is fitting because it does not provide a clause to not serve God when circumstances do not go our way or when we feel that God is not near.  It says, choose it and liveit.

My response to everything I encounter says alot about my heart for God.  The question is, when life and circumstances are not pleasing to me, is my life still pleasing to God?

As a father of three kids I have noticed that when my children do something wrong they are quick to point the finger at someone else.  If I am to say to Matthew, why did you push your sister it is quite possible he will tell me that his sister stuck out her tongue.  I then will ask his sister why she stuck out her tongue and she will respond with, because he called me a name.  You see blame shifting is normal part of humanity that we need to be aware of and respond to purposefully.

Back in garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve who blamed the serpant.  It has been part of the process of mankind from the beginning.  Yet God did accept the excuse instead He punished all who were guilty.

In the case of Job, he was given the opportunity to sin.  In fact he was encouraged to by his wife.  Scripture tells us (Job 2.9) that Job was encouraged to throw his integrity out the window and to curse God and die.  Job could have done exactly what his hurting wife called him to do.  He could have lost his integrity.  He could have uttered curses against his God and ended his own life.  Yet he did not.

Job responded to his wife with “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2.10)  Job recognized that all he had, had come from God and that God was still in control.  He realized that he could not follow his wife’s ill advice because regardless of how tough life was, it was still wrong.

How often do we hear lame excuses that are birthed out of the “he made me do it” syndrome?  God does not accept this and neither should we.  An obedient servant of the King is called to accept responsibility for his or her actions regardless of any other influences in their lives.  The question is, whose influence is stronger, God’s or man’s?  How we respond with actions and excuses will clearly answer that question.

It has probably been a good 8 months since we have moved past this training period in my house with my youngest and I am ok with that.  I was thinking that my wife and I never gave up on our son when he wet his pants.  We cleaned him up, carried him to the bathroom, did lots of laundry and sometimes picked him up and ran for the bathroom.  We knew that sooner or later he could and would get it.

I know it is an odd analogy but aren’t you glad God doesn’t give up on you when you make a mess.  In fact He continues to give you chances even though you get a little messy.  He still loves you even though cleanup is required.  When you get a little stinky it doesn’t matter because you are still His child.  He still wants you to experience the best.  He does not want you to give up and settle for a stinky, messy life.  Rather He wants you to conquer and live a victorious life.

Thank God, He doesn’t give up on us as fast as we give up on others!

This World Is Not My Home

Verse: 1
This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru,
my treasures are laid up some where beyond the blue,
the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
and I can’t feel at home in this world any more.

Chorus:
Oh Lord, you know I have no friend like you,
if heaven’s not my home then Lord what will I do,
the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
and I can’t feel at home in this world any more.

Verse: 2
My Savior pardoned me from guilt and shame I know,
I’ll trust his saving grace while traveling here below,
I know he’ll welcome me at heaven’s open door,
and I can’t feel at home in the world any more.

Verse: 3
I have a precious mother up in Glory land,
I don’t expect to stop until I clasp her hand,
for me she waiting now at heaven’s open door,
and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Verse: 4
The Saints in glory land are shouting victory,
I want to join their band and live eternally,
I hear the sweetest praise from heaven’s open door,
and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Text: 2 Corinthians 5.16-21

Topic: Change

Title: 3 Elements of Change

This time of year is dominated by people’s sincere desire to change.  How many times have you heard the word resolution or resolutions?  It is only the first day of the year!  Perhaps some of you even are carrying with you a piece of paper that has a small list of things you wish to do differently this coming year.

Whether we like to admit it or not change is necessary not just as part of January 1^st but in life in general.  When we look at where we came before we knew Christ to where we are now many of us can see a marked change or at least we should.  So today we are going I am going to ask that you look with me at Three Elements of Change.

Transition: The first element of change we are going to look at this morning is a Change in perspective.

1. A Change In Perspective  (vs. 16-17)

Perspective truly is everything.  One of the things that comes with a relationship to Christ or should come with a relationship to Christ is a change in perspective.  This change truly is two-fold.

1. Your view of others.
   1. Believers in Christ- Joint-heirs with Christ and you! (John 1)
   2. The unsaved world- People in need of a Savior.
   3. Your view of Christ.
      1. Someone you focus on daily or just Sunday relationship.
      2. Just close enough to get saved or close enough to have a changed life?!?

Transition #2: The first element of change was a change in perspective.  Now when perspective changes so does everything else.  So when this perspective changes, we also find a change in purpose and that is our second element we are going to look at today.  Elements #2 is a change in purpose.  Let’s read together verse 18-19.

1. A Change In Purpose (vs. 18-19)

Purpose is a huge part of our lives though isn’t it?  We all desire it.  We all want a reason to get out of bed.  We all want something to live for that is bigger than ourselves.  In fact this past week I started listing out things not for this year but things that I wish to accomplish in life.  Sometimes purpose is bigger than you.  It is something that has been done for you.  All you have to do is find it and fulfill.  Easy to say huh?

1. You may have noticed in these two verse that the word that is mentioned often comes from the root word reconcile.  In verse 18 we see reconciled, reconciliation and in verse 19 reconciliation.
2. The word reconciled is more of a market term.  Suppose you have something I desire.  You value it at twenty dollars.  I give you twenty.  Guess what, we are both satisfied.  You have money and I have this new product.
3. Or I go up to you and say, excuse me but do you have change for a ten.  You then pull out 1 five and 5 ones.  We are reconciled.
4. Romans 6.23 says that the wages of sin is death.  Meaning- as a result of sin, God requires death.
5. You were reconciled to God when Jesus paid the price God demanded!
6. Where does reconciliation come from?  NOT ME!
7. We find a two-fold process of biblical reconciliation

i.     You have been reconciled to God –not counting trespasses

ii.     You have been called to a ministry of reconciliation.

1. Share the message of reconciliation that you have received!
2. Share how God gave you a purpose!
3. Share how Jesus paid what you could not!
4. Make the message of reconciliation that God gave you’re your purpose!

Transition #3: Element #1 was a change in perspective.  Element #2 was a change in purpose.  Now if your perspective changes and so does your purpose then your actions are going to accompany it.  You are going to change what you do.  Therefore, the third element of change we are going to talk about is a change in profession.

1. A Change In Profession (vs. 20-21)
   1. When ones perspective changes and their purpose changes, then their actions will often times fall into alignment.  Your profession is not just what you do, it is who you are.
   2. Unfortunately, when we talk about profession our culture does not seem to get it.  Work stinks!  Hard work is even worse.  People value making a quick buck with the least amount of work.
   3. We have inserted this thinking into our view of our Christian work ethic.
   4. Read with me again the following verses (20-21)
   5. What is your new profession supposed to be?  AMBASSADORS!
   6. AMBASSADOR- An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization.
   7. An Elder (Greek)- respected, shown worthy of the title.
   8. Chosen by the president.

These three changes are not things that I am suggesting you should become this morning.  These three changes are things that Christ has already set in motion for you.  He has given you all you need to do to have a change in perspective (you might just need to learn to see things biblically), He has given you all you need to have a change in purpose (you might just need to learn to get closer to Christ so you can hear Him tell you your purpose) and He has provided you with an opportunity to be an ambassador for the throne of the God of the universe.  You just need to accept the job.

Herein lies the issue though.  God establishes and then lets you do the job.  Are you doing the job?

You get the benefits without doing the work otherwise.  Are you abusing the system?  The system that God put in place to benefit you and to benefit all of humanity?  He wants your help because He sincerely wants a relationship with you and the rest of the world.