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Courage as a Disciple

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Nowhere did Jesus demand His followers to show great courage. Nowhere did He say, “Never compromise on your values.” He didn’t need to! His example was enough.

In John chapter 2 Our Lord stood against all the Jewish leaders of His day because they had made a place of worship into a trading house. He chased them out with whips and overturned their tables. He castigated them for their wicked practices.

The church needs disciples that will courageously give direction. We need disciples who know and will tell the truth. We do not need to be told our duties, we need the Christ like courage to do what we already know we should do.

Discipleship is a battle, and the fight requires courage.  Having courage doesn’t mean that you will never fear or tremble. Having courage means that you will do what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer, was a true disciple of courage. He defied the church of his day. In 1521 he appeared before the German Diet  in the city of Worms; though promised safe escort, he knew he risked his life by going. The same promise had been given to John Hus a century before, and they had burned him at the stake. Church leaders had promised Luther forgiveness if he would repent of his “errors” and return to “true faith”. Luther knew this promise had little value since they considered promises to heretics as nonbinding. He also knew the history of the two previous centuries, when thousands of Christians underwent torture, sometimes death, during the infamous Spanish Inquisition.

Luther arrived safely, but the court allowed him no opportunity to defend his beliefs. Instead he was presented with a list of his “errors”.  Knowing that the court would decide whether he lived or died,  Luther said the following:

Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of Scripture (since I put no trust in the   unsupported authority of Pope or of councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves), by manifest reasoning I stand convicted by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, I cannot and will no recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.

Through the centuries our disciples have made their stands. They have stood for truth integrity, and righteousness, no matter what their field of labor. God has promised that He will honor those who honor Him.

(1 Samuel 2:30)

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The Lord is my Banker

Monday, October 26th, 2009

The Lord is my banker ; I shall not owe. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He restoreth my loss: He leadeth me beside still waters. Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of debt, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy silver and thy gold, they rescue me. Thou preparest a way for me in the presence of business competitors; Thou anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall do business in the name of the Lord. Amen.

  1. Let there be a breakthrough for me in my transaction in the name of Jesus.
  2. Lord, let me have the spirit of favor in this business transaction. 3. I ask for the release of prosperity on my business in Jesus’ name.
  3. Let all demonic hindrances to my finances be totally paralyzed.
  4. I break every circle of failure in Jesus’ name.
  5. Let my business be shielded away from all evil observers in the name of Jesus.
  6. I claim all my blessings in the name of Jesus.
  7. Let all business problems receive divine solution in Jesus’ name.
  8. Let men go out of their ways to show favour unto me in the name of Jesus.
  9. Lord, let not the lot of the wicked fall upon my business.

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Peter Did Not Have a Life Jacket…

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. (MT 14:28,29)
1. Be Willing to Clean the Toilets
By the time Jesus got through training and purging the soul of Peter, he was willing to do anything for Jesus. During that training the “walk on water incident” was early evidence to Jesus that Peter was extremely desperate to please his Master. You can bet if he was willing to put his life on the line, he’d wash toilets and even the city dump if asked. Some need to show up Saturday night when the janitor is scheduled to clean the church and get down on their knees and (not pray) scrub the bathroom floors and clean the toilets. No preaching, no ministering or praying for people, just get “spiritually janitorial.”
Beware of “spiritually loitering” with the wrong intent. Peter had that when Jesus started to wash the disciples’ feet and he said, “No, Lord.” And, only after Jesus insisted with the threat that Peter could have nothing to do with Him unless he let Jesus go forth (John 13:4-9) did Peter allow Him.
2. Concentrate on Your Mission
Rare is it when Jesus tells you one day, when you get older, that you will die a not so pleasant death for Him. Peter had that kind of day (John 21:18-19). Peter didn’t take it well and started to look around the crowd, wondering about John’s future. Jesus must have thought quite highly of Peter to actually give him that kind of personal prophetic information. What would you have done if you knew nothing but persecution and a horrible death at an old age awaited you? Quit? I might have thought about it. “That’s my future?”
After Jesus basically told Peter to mind his own business, Peter resolved in his heart he was in for the long haul, good or bad. Are you? No matter what? You may be willing to do anything for God, but make sure it’s for the right motive.
3. Have Nothing to Fall Back On—God is Calling Many to Walk on the Water
In other words, it’s God or nothing. Many already have permission to walk on the water. Walking on the water means that “thing” that Jesus called you to do (whether it was many years ago or just yesterday); it is still valid, it is real and it is not a dream (see Philippians 3:13).
Jesus would have wanted all of the disciples to say, “Lord, if it is You, invite me to come to You on the water.” Once he got the go-ahead, either Peter was going to walk on water or he was going to drown, period. But he had no advance agreement that Jesus was going to grab him. This wasn’t play-acting; this was a real storm, real waves and real danger.
But be of good cheer! Many are getting older now and thinking they have missed it. I don’t think so. And here’s the good news: the majority have been on GPS (God’s Positioning Schedule) and are ready to be called out of the boat…and you will not sink. You will not swim or sink; you will walk to Jesus.

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A God of Mercy Throughout Human History

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

They could come no closer. If they tried, there was no telling what would happen. They knew their place in society. They were outcasts, bearers of a disease so contagious that no one would come near, not even their families. And though they had their own communities, they would never experience the fullness of life that others enjoyed. They were isolated, cut off, abandoned.

But then, one day, these 10 lepers gathered by the side of the road-at a safe distance, of course. Jesus was coming! The word on the streets was that this man might be able to help. But would he help them? Could he? As he began to pass by, they took a deep breath and shouted at the top of their lungs, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They shouted again, even louder. Surely, Jesus would have mercy on them. And he did.

A God of Mercy

Like a golden thread, the theme of God’s mercy is woven through the fabric of Holy Scripture. In mercy, God did not bring an immediate end to the lives of Adam and Eve. In mercy, God used the scheming of 10 brothers to elevate Joseph to a position from which he could preserve the lives of his family-as well as a significant portion of the ancient world. In mercy, God heard the cries of his people and rescued them from bondage in Egypt. In mercy, he preserved this rebellious multitude during 40 years of wandering in the desert sand.

In mercy, God… . So the story goes to this very day.

Among the countless accounts of God’s mercy, one stands out. As the Israelites descended to the depths of idolatry by worshiping a calf made of gold, God announced to Moses on the mountaintop that he was going to wipe out the entire nation. Moses interceded for the people with these words:

Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever” (Ex 32:12b-13).

And God relented, sparing his people the punishment they deserved.

Shortly thereafter, God used these words to describe himself:

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin (Ex 34:6b-7a).

These words so perfectly summarize God’s essence that they are repeated no less than seven times in the Old Testament (Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). Again and again God showed what it meant to be slow to anger as his stiff-necked people turned from him. And in spite of their rejection of him, he demonstrated a faithfulness that was nothing less than divine.

It was, of course, in the sending of his Son that God revealed the depths of his merciful heart. St. Paul captures the essence of that mercy in these words: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Martin Luther explains it in this way:

There was no counsel, no help, no comfort for us until this only and eternal Son of God, in his unfathomable goodness, had mercy on our misery and wretchedness and came from heaven to help us… . He snatched us, poor lost creatures, from the jaws of hell, won us, made us free, and restored us to the Father’s favor and grace (Large Catechism, II 29, 30).

And then, in these poignant words, Luther summarizes the whole purpose for Jesus’ coming:

We could never come to recognize the Father’s favor and grace were it not for the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the Father’s heart (LC II 65).

This is the heart and essence of the Church’s proclamation: God has had mercy on us!

Kyrie Eleison

For centuries, Kyrie eleison (Greek for “Lord, have mercy”) has been used in the Church’s liturgy. Though there have been occasions when these words have been used as a plea for forgiveness, the primary use of Kyrie eleison has been from the biblical perspective described above. Confident of God’s mercy, we call on him and hold him to his promise to show mercy.

The history of the Kyrie in the liturgy is a complicated one. In the fourth century, the Eastern Church used the Kyrie as the people’s response to a series of petitions. Later, the Kyrie became separated from the prayers and was used alone. During the Middle Ages, the Kyrie was troped. (A trope is an insertion of words.) For example, the following was a popular trope of the Kyrie:

Kyrie, God Father in heav’n above,
You abound in gracious love,
Of all things the maker and preserver.
Eleison, eleison!

Kyrie, O Christ, our king,
Salvation for all you came to bring.
O Lord Jesus, God’s own Son,
Our mediator at the heav’nly throne,
Hear our cry and grant our supplication.
Eleison, eleison!

Kyrie, O God the Holy Ghost,
Guard our faith, the gift we need the most,
And bless our life’s last hour
That we leave this sinful world with gladness.
Eleison, eleison! (LW 209; TLH 6)

Another popular use of the Kyrie was in the pre-Reformation German hymn form known as Leisen. Leisen hymns concluded each stanza with the refrain, “Lord, have mercy.” (In German, the Greek phrase Kyrie eleison was often contracted to Kyrieleis, from which the word Leisen is derived.) Several of Luther’s hymns use this form, including a Christmas hymn (LW 35; TLH 80), a Pentecost hymn (LW 155; TLH 231), and a communion hymn (LW 238; TLH 313). In his hymn on the Ten Commandments (LW 331; TLH 287), Luther also uses this form. Here is the stanza explaining the Seventh Commandment:

You shall not steal or cheat away
What others worked for night and day,
But open up a gen’rous hand
To feed the poor in the land.
Have mercy, Lord! (LW 331:8)

There can be no more fitting conclusion to God’s commandments than to call on him for mercy to assist us in keeping them!

More recently, the Lutheran liturgy has seen a return of the Eastern form of the Kyrie, sometimes referred to as an Eketene Kyrie. (The form in which it appears in Divine Service II in Lutheran Worship is provided in the inset.) Here we plead for God’s mercy, not just for ourselves, but on behalf of others as well. We pray, indeed, for our salvation. But we also pray that God would grant peace to our troubled world. We pray for the Church and for all who come to God’s house to receive his good gifts and to thank and praise him. Throughout, the refrain is the same: Lord, have mercy.

Through its continued use, the Kyrie reminds us that our God is merciful, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, etc. Though the world would love to tempt us to take this mercy for granted and to rely on ourselves, this ancient voice of the liturgy gives us a truly biblical perspective as we come into God’s presence. We stand before him only by his grace; yet, on the basis of that grace, we are bold to say: “Lord, have mercy!”

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace form above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

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Where Is Your Treasure?

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

Where Is Your Treasure?

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and

where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

I. INVESTMENTS ON EARTH ARE NEVER SECURE

The PROHIBITION: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

Jesus does not prohibit treasures but He DOES prohibit his people storing up on

earth treasures that are ONLY for themselves.

EARTHLY TREASURES: “to treasure up treasures.” – don’t stockpile.

Stockpiled luxury we amass for our own selves and beyond what we can possibly use.

The Lord is not saying we shouldn’t possess anything. He never condemns possessions.

I Timothy 6:l7b — “…God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

The EXPLANATION: “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and

steal.” Every earthly treasure is TRANSIENT (perishes – wears out – loses value)

The DECEPTION: You deceive yourself if you think possessions endure.

The POINT: If you hoard it, you can lose it because it is unsafe & insecure.

The QUALIFICATION: Jesus expects us to save in a prudent way (Proverbs 21:20).

It is not wrong to accumulate money and invest in divine causes and concerns.

Your security, however, must never lie in any earthly treasure.

II. YOU CAN HAVE INVESTMENTS IN HEAVEN THAT ARE SECURE

The REALITY: You CAN have a treasure in Heaven – the appropriate place of storage.

The COMMAND: POSITIVELY Jesus instructs you to build up treasures in Heaven.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven

The ATTITUDE: an ATTITUDE toward possessing and accumulating treasures.

The METHOD: You deposit your treasure in Heaven by:

A - The right use of your possessions on earth - things of good and eternal significance

B - The development of Christlike Character: -Growth in the Knowledge of Christ;

The PERSPECTIVE: a matter of maintaining an eternal perspective

III. YOUR HEART FOLLOWS YOUR TREASURE

The REASON: The reason for putting your treasure into God’s work has to do with the

location of your heart. “For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.”

It is God’s Will that your heart be in heaven.

The Biblical “heart“: the center of your personality / intellect / emotion and will.

The things we most highly treasure occupy the “heart” and thus control direction and

values: investment of your life; motives; attitudes; thought patterns.

-Where is the concentration and the preoccupation of your life?

-What particular object do you spend most of your thinking, planning, and energy on?

Chances are, you are like most people and spend your time thinking about some “thing”.

Those who set their minds on things above discover that their deeds follow them.

Questions for your Heart

It is characteristic of a true believer that his treasure is in heaven. Take this time to

examine your life before God.

  • Where is your heart? Is the concentration and preoccupation of your life consumed with

things you own, or is it consumed with the things of God?

  • How do you spend the majority of your time? Do you need to spend more of your time

concentrating on heavenly things?

  • Do you selfishly accumulate things for yourself or do you use what God has given to

bring Him glory by ministering to the needs of those around you? His church?

  • How do you respond when something in your possession is stolen? Do you react

strongly against the person who stole it, or do you think of it as something that belongs to

God and that it is His to do with as He wills?

  • Does the location of your treasure manifest that you are indeed a believer, or does it

manifest that you are just like others who belong to the world?

Ask God to reveal your true heart to you. If changes are necessary in your life, ask God to

help you to turn from your pride and humbly submit to His will.

Remember, it is not a question of whether you can, but whether you will.

CONCLUSION:

Seek first the Kingdom of God – seek treasures there – place your heart there –

…And ALL these things will be added unto you.

When you put your money in the work of God, you will be captured by the things of God.

May God give us wisdom in this and all our endeavors that we be found faithful and good

stewards of his unspeakable blessings.

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How To Respond To Bad Economic Times

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

For some, economic hardship means belt-tightening: eating out less, skipping vacation, going from two cars to one. For others, it’s much more: losing a job, a house or health care. Both groups feel pain, but to those for whom it’s the difference between eating and going hungry, complaints about giving up cable TV can seem insensitive and frivolous. So how do people of faith respond to the real suffering that many face-both major and minor-during hard economic times?

What NOT to do

■ DON’T view economic adversity as God’s punishment. In some theologies, wealth signifies God’s favor and poverty indicates that one has sinned. The financially comfortable may be tempted to attribute bounty to hard work and virtuous living. Sometimes these go hand in hand but, just as there are innocent people who are born into poverty, there are wealthy people who didn’t achieve their riches through virtuous living. People of faith must remember that we are all God’s beloved children.

■ DON’T hoard what you have. It’s tempting to cling more tightly to what we have. If my family is in survival mode, we naturally focus on taking care of ourselves first. If I barely have enough food, why should I share? This all makes human sense, but it’s not what Jesus did. When Jesus fed the multitudes, a few generous followers offered their bread and fish which, when blessed, were enough for all. Remember too the prosperous farmer who had such a good harvest that he pulled down his storage barns and built bigger ones. “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves” (Luke 12:20-21).

■ DON’T nurse your anger, complain or act illegally or immorally. In hard economic times people feel angry and complain. That’s natural. Venting and crying out to God in pain and fear are common refrains in the psalms. Still, a time comes when these attitudes rob us of the energy to find positive solutions. We might understand why a person feels driven to illegal or immoral means to survive when in a desperate situation. That doesn’t make it right. Remember Job. His trials included both economic devastation and physical pain. His uprightness in the face of adversity is why he’s such a compelling model for us.

Embracing Christian simplicity

With the current economic downturn, many of us are being pushed to simplify our lifestyles. These virtues liberate us from being slaves to money and possessions….They also enable us to adopt a simplicity of life that frees us from consumerism and helps us preserve God’s creation   Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’… Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). For many of us, the downsizing that is being thrust upon us is the lifestyle that Christians should aspire to anyway. It’s just that now we may not have a choice.

Deepening our spirituality

■  DO steward resources with care. Although we may already be good stewards of our money and possessions, hard economic times force us to evaluate how to do more: Where am I wasteful? Do I conserve electricity, gas, food, water, paper? Do I recycle? Do I wear practical clothes or am I a slave to fashion? Do I repair broken things or is my first impulse to replace them? Does my recreation renew my spirit or do I spend my discretionary funds on watching sports rather than playing them, listening to music rather than making it, traveling to far-off lands rather than enjoying my locale and neighbors? Keeping to a budget may be bothersome, but it can help us become responsible stewards.

■ DO practice generosity. It sounds counterintuitive to give things away when money is tight, but Christians are called to be generous. Does everyone on your block really need their own lawnmower, camping gear or basketball hoop? It’s convenient to have your own, but sharing reduces cost and builds community. Of course, it can also create conflict if some don’t act responsibly. Sharing is not always painless, but it can help us hone communication and negotiation skills. Hard times can prompt us to learn skills we’d otherwise neglect.

■  DO keep values intact. If hard times make us bitter and selfish, we’re not growing spiritually. We must stay true to our core values: People are more important than things. Caring for others is what Jesus did. To lessen feelings of deprivation, it helps to differentiate between legitimate needs and desirable-but-optional wants. Food, clothing, shelter, health, safety, education and loving relationships are needs. Eating out, fashionable clothes, a house with more bedrooms than kids, bottled water and two or three cars may not be bad in themselves but must be balanced in light of the needs of the poor. One mark of a mature and holy person is knowing how to live with and without.

■  DO stay spiritually centered. Few people welcome hardships but, when they come our way, God may be pricking our consciences or pushing us through untried doors. Hardships may drive us to deeper prayer. They place us in solidarity with those who regularly go without, not just when the stock market tanks. In the end, we place our lives in God’s hands, remembering that the same God who created the lilies of the fields loves and watches over us.

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Pleasing God Through Your Offerings

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Who do you want to please . . . your spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, best friend, neighbors, pastor, employer or most anybody you meet?

Truthfully, there is only one person that you ever need to be concerned about pleasing because if He’s happy and well-pleased, you’ll find contentment in life.

The scriptures offer some very basic guidelines about how to give an offering that is well-pleasing to God.

“But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”     Philippians 4:18 NAS

The offering that is well-pleasing to God is the one He tells you to give.

Whether what you give is big or small in your own eyes, the important thing to remember is to listen to the voice of the Lord and obey Him in the offering. Way too many believers are tipping God because they think that’s what they can afford to sow or  are in the habit of giving. Ask God. Only He knows what you need to reap down the road.

I challenge you to think very carefully about the three points I’m going to share with you about giving an offering that is well-pleasing to God.

First, God watches you give.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. . .    Mark 12:41

The scripture says Jesus pulled a chair over where He could get a good view of how much people gave. That should tell us a lot about the Lord’s interest in our giving.

Second, He watches how much you give.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.   And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.”     Mark 12:41-42

Can you imagine what would happen on Sunday morning if your pastor walked among the pews observing what everyone put into the offering?

Some “saint” would be complaining on the evening news about how “all the man of God was interested in. . .was money.” Such foolishness does go on.

God does not tell you to give based on what’s in your wallet, pocketbook or checking account.

Third, God brags about good givers.

“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”      Mark 12:43-44

This poor widow did not give what was convenient or usual . . . the scripture says that she cast in all. . .everything she had. . .not just the chump change. . .but “all her living.”

On that day, Jesus observed some folks putting large gifts into the treasury . . . but the one who gave all she had was the one He recognized and praised. The one who overlooked every circumstance in her life . . . who rejected all rationalization and justification for not giving . . . the scripture memorializes the poor widow who gave all she had . . . the one who made an unusual offering in her time of need.

God Wants You To Know This

It is possible to give God an offering that is not well-pleasing to Him. Malachi 1:6-14.

6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”

These believers were stunned to hear God say that they “despised his name.” What would make someone who is serving God, someone who is in church every time the doors are open, supposedly “working” for God, despise Him?

7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

God is saying these believers offered Him less than the best . . . the leftovers . . . the scrapes . . . the pocket change . . . things that were not important or significant to them.

Do we give God our best or do we hold back in our giving so we can afford a new car, a bigger house, or the things of this world?

It’s imperative that every believer understand that tithes and proper offerings does not indicate God going after our money. . .but rather God is showing us how to defeat poverty, lack and needs that will drag us down. Keeping God’s covenant opens the windows of heaven and “allows” Him to rebuke the devourer for your sakes! (Malachi 3:10,11).

Here’s a revelation, God doesn’t need your money . . . but you need His blessing.

If you spend more money at a movie and concession stand than you do in advancing the cause of Christ . . . then you are giving Him polluted offerings . . . less than the best.

If you were given a private audience with your Governor or the President, would you bring them a gift or offering less than your best?

What happens when you don’t give God your best . . . when you don’t ask Him what He would have you give?

Verse 10 is without equivocation . . .it’s clearly written. . .

“. . .I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.”

Did you see that . . . God has “no pleasure” in those who give Him less than the best. Not only that, He will not “accept an offering at your hand.”

The local church may accept your offering . . . but God will not. And as we know, He’s the only One who counts.

Final Word

If you want to have a life worth living . . . a life well-pleasing to God, then make your offerings sweet and acceptable in His sight.
We need to also heed the words found in Ephesians 5:10

“In your daily life make sure you’re doing what is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

Make no mistake. God wants to “make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”      Hebrews 13:21 (NKJV)

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Faith and Managing Our Investments

Friday, November 14th, 2008

Being Christian disciples implies that the values of our faith inform all aspects of our lives – including our investment choices. God calls us to live in harmony with creation, to work for justice, to seek benefit for the poor and the oppressed and to be a voice for the voiceless. We should seek to fulfill our stewardship responsibilities by ensuring that the resources we manage reflect our faith and God’s desires for our lives and our world. In this pursuit, we have the dual responsibility to seek justice and work for the benefit of the poor and oppressed while we provide for the economic needs of our families, churches, and charitable institutions, so that all can enjoy the benefits of God’s gifts.

Money and investments play a powerful role within our society. We’ve seen how the global economy impacts humankind in both positive and negative ways. Corporations can provide positive work environments, help create sustainable communities, and operate in accord with creation. hrough our investments, we are connected to corporate activity around the world. As investors with a faith perspective, we have a responsibility to manage all aspects of the resources we have been entrusted in accordance with God’s call for faithful stewardship.

Community investing provides financial capital for economic development in communities that are often overlooked or excluded by traditional financial structures. Community banks, credit unions, and loan funds, along with other community-based businesses, build opportunity by helping to provide market-based jobs, housing and local services. Designating a portion of investment capital for community investing supports the building of sustainable economies in communities where it is needed most.

Mountain Movers is committed to making loans globally to economic development projects benefiting the poorest people in their societies.

With these tools of faith-based investing, we can give meaning to the affirmation, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. (Psalm 24:1).”

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Investing and Creating Wealth as Ministry

Monday, October 20th, 2008

All that we have and all that we are has come from God. He has blessed us with money and possessions, and he has given each of us specific talents and abilities. We have been called to be good stewards – to use our money, our time and our abilities as best we can to benefit God’s kingdom.

Giving tithes and offerings demonstrates our obedience to God, and the recognition that all we have has come from him. Why is it then, if we are happy to faithfully give our time and money,  that so many Christians seem to have an issue when it comes to discussing wealth creation.

There are at least two distinct lines of thought ;  one promoted by many of the big name TV evangelists who promote the “prosperity” and “name it and claim it” teachings,  and the other viewpoint of many of the conservative Christians  who push the opinion that seeking wealth is ungodly.

Unfortunately both of these viewpoints seem to run contrary to the Word, and to Jesus’ teachings about stewardship.

The “prosperity” teachers promote the idea that whatever you give to God, he will return to you many times over. Although this is close to the teaching of stewardship, which says that you should seek to multiply whatever God gives you, so that you can give him more back in return. It has been distorted, in as much as the actual motivation behind giving promoted by the prosperity teachers is self based (if I give more, God will give me more) instead of focusing on Christ. There is a huge difference between giving to get more, and working to increase your means so that you can give more to further the works of the kingdom.

Some now try to imply that if you are not prosperous, then your walk with the Lord must be lacking in some area, and others at the other end of the spectrum are always making condemning statements about the evils of being rich.

We need to really look at what the Word says, and the examples that Jesus gave.

I firmly believe that the enemy wants to deter us from aiming to invest and make our wealth grow, as he does not want us to be successful. He doesn’t want us making lots of money that we can use for the Lord’s work. He doesn’t want us to be able to fund mission outreaches or to feed the poor or to fund Christian satellite TV channels.

Some Christians seem to have the misconception that being wealthy is evil and being poor is holy. There is nothing holy about being poor. God doesn’t want his children to be in poverty. A rich person has far more power at their disposal to be able to help where financial assistance is needed than a poor person.

At the same time though we need to make sure that our motivation for creating wealth is to “get so we can give” as opposed to the prosperity teachers notion that we should “give so we can get”. As long as we do not idolize money, and retain the truth that all we have has come from God anyway, then there is no need to feel any guilt about how much money we make.

There are many examples in the Bible that show God’s desire to bless his faithful followers with wealth:

(Gen 39:2) “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”

(Deut 29:9) “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do”.

(2 Ch 26:5) “And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper”.

and 1 Kings 3:13 “And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days”.

God loves to bless his children, especially if we in return are happy to bless others. Therefore there is absolutely nothing wrong with setting goals to be good stewards and create wealth to give back to our Creator. In fact, as stewards of the resources God has given us, it is actually our responsibility to aim at increasing what we have.

We should be seeking to be successful for God. To genuinely set goals for investing both our money and time into the kingdom of God. The best way to increase your monetary wealth is not to go asking the boss for a pay rise, but rather to start a regular investment program. More important still, is to learn how to invest wisely and not be wasteful with our resources.

Before you can start investing you need to make some money available. One of the most effective methods it to use the 10/10/80 Plan. 10% of your income to God, 10% for investing and live off the remaining 80% of your income. This may take a little time to adjust to, but when you consider the long terms results that you will achieve once you start investing, you will find that it is extremely worthwhile.

You will have all heard the expression that “The second million is always easier than the first”. This is absolutely true. Compound interest has the greatest power to create wealth, and the more that is invested the quicker your wealth will grow.

In mathematical terms 72 divided by Compound Interest Rate of Return = Years for Money to Double in Value.

Therefore if you have an investment growing at 10% compound interest, it will double in value in 7.2 years (quadruple in 14.4 years and be worth eight times as much in 21.6 years). If it is growing at 12% it will double in 6 years.

John D Rockefeller who was once one of America’s richest men said that “Compound Interest is the Eighth Wonder of the World”.

Einstein once said, “The most powerful concept or principle in the world that I am aware of is that of compound interest”.

When deciding on the best areas to invest in, it is worth taking into consideration the fact that over 90% of the world’s millionaires have made their money through property.

God will give you the wisdom to decide on the best strategies for your situation if you put in the time and effort to learn as much as you can and seek his direction. It is wise to also seek professional advice, as rules and regulations and tax effectiveness will vary between nations.

I believe God wants to start shifting the wealth of this world into the hands of Christians, who can plant it back into his kingdom.

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What Makes God Angry?

Friday, August 1st, 2008

What makes you really angry? There are some people who are a little like nitroglycerin. They’re always ready to blow. The slightest provocation, and watch out! But there are others of us who need to be pushed to the wall before we ever get angry.

Aristotle said something interesting. “It is easy to fly into a passion – anybody can do that,” he said, “but to be angry with the right person to the right extent and at the right time and with the right object and in the right way – that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it.”

If there is anyone who could be angry with the right person to the right extent, at the right time and in the right way, it would be Jesus. It may surprise some of you that Jesus got angry. But it’s in Scripture. There are some things that make Jesus very angry.

We’re going to take a back-door look at the subject of prayer, because there is an important and connection between what makes Jesus angry and the subject of prayer. In The Gospel of  Mark, chapter 11, it’s the last week of Jesus’ life. Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem, and had already spent part of a day looking around in the Temple, before traveling to a near-by town to spend the night. On the Monday of that week, we read of one of the most puzzling stories of Scripture. Jesus got mad at a tree.

12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

I’ve been known to curse inanimate objects. That’s not too surprising. But it’s a little surprising to see Jesus get so upset at a tree. What’s behind his fury here?

The story begins normally. Jesus is hungry, and so he looks around for something to eat. Noticing a fig tree, he examines it to see if it has any figs ready to eat. Fig trees usually leaf out in March or April, but don’t produce any fruit until June. This tree had plenty of leaves, but as Jesus examined it more carefully, it had no fruit. That’s not too surprising – it wasn’t time for the tree to bear fruit. So why would Jesus get angry at a tree for not having any fruit – especially when it wasn’t yet time for the tree to bear fruit?

I’ll tell you why. We make three discoveries in this passage, and here’s the first one.

ONE: OUR PROBLEM IS LIFELESSNESS

I’ve read the Gospels a number of times. Jesus didn’t get angry too often. Whenever he did, his anger was directed at one thing: the appearance of religion without any substance.

Why would Jesus get angry at a fig tree? Some people think that Jesus was simply being petulant. But Jesus was using the fig tree as an illustration. The fig tree looked good from a distance, but when you got up close it was fruitless. It looked promising but it never lived up to its promise. It had all the style and none of the substance.

Look at verses 15 to 17.

15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written:

“‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?

But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The Temple looked good from a distance. It was the holiest place in the world. It was where God lived. Jews called it the “gate of heaven.” But when Jesus looked closely, he saw made his blood boil. He announced God’s judgment on the Temple. He drove the merchants and moneychangers out of the Court of the Gentiles. The place of worship and prayer had become a place of extortion, preventing Gentiles from coming to God in prayer.

In the year 70 AD, the Temple was destroyed. But on that day some forty years earlier, Jesus announced God’s judgment on the Temple. God can’t stand religious life with no substance. He can’t stand a tree that has leaves but no fruit. He can’t stand a Temple that looks good but is rotten inside. He can’t stand a church that says the right thing but has no spiritual passion to back it up.

Writing to a church, Jesus said in Revelation 3:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive-but you are dead. 2Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God. 3Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel that your problem – our problem – isn’t heresy but apathy? Do you ever feel like you’re farther away from God than you used to be? That’s my problem. It’s your problem. We appear to be more alive than we really are.

Jesus gives us a solution, and it’s our second discovery. Not only is our problem lifelessness, but…

TWO: THE SOLUTION IS PRAYER

What’s the solution to lifelessness? Prayer. You may think that prayer is only for the spiritual elite, but it’s not. It’s for those who have leaves but want the fruit. It’s for you and it’s for me. It’s for those who want a fresh encounter with God.

Read what happened in Mark 11:20:

20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”22″Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23″I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Jesus had just performed a miracle unlike any other. It’s the only destructive miracle he performed. It’s the only time that his miracle involved making something worse rather than better.

The disciples were amazed. For a tree to shrivel up in the space of one day was unheard of. What had Jesus done? He had taken away the tree’s false advertising. There was no more pretending. It has looked great but been unfruitful the day before. Now it looked like it actually was.

What would you expect Jesus to say next? I would have expected him to address barrenness and corruption. I would have expected Jesus to expand on why God was judging Israel. But he doesn’t make that application. Instead he talks about prayer. Why does he do that?

Certainly, part of the reason is to explain how he was able to curse the fig tree. The disciples were amazed that Jesus could do it. Jesus wanted to let them know how he was able to do such a miracle. But there’s more.

The reason Jesus talks about prayer is because prayer is the antidote to lifelessness. Jesus was explaining how to be different from those who participate in lifeless religion. He was explaining how his kingdom really works. As opposed to those who participate in the ritual of religion, his kingdom is based on faith in God that overcomes insurmountable odds. Do you want to know how to overcome lifeless religion? Begin with prayer.

Jesus said, “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” Jesus was referring to a specific mountain. It’s possible as he spoke that he was either referring to the Mount of Olives or the Temple Mount. It’s just possible he was saying, “If you really have faith in God, you can oppose the current religious system. You can stand up against the apathy that you see around you. The world can be remade. But it’s going to happen through prayer.”

It’s as if Jesus was saying, “Out with the old institutionalized religious establishment. In with my people – people who will specialize in faith-borne prayer.” The antidote to lifelessness is prayer.

What can prayer do?

Prayer can revive your heart. We all feel spiritually dead at times. If you don’t right now, you will one day. Prayer can change that. Somebody once said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus honors a prayer like that.

Prayer can overcome obstacles. Jesus said you that mountains can be moved with prayer. In the Bible, a mountain often signifies an insurmountable obstacle. God can do the impossible. With God, anything is possible.

Prayer can remind you who’s in charge. Sometimes we think that it’s up to us. People have twisted this passage to make it sound like we need to get enough faith and then we can make things happen. But the amount of faith isn’t as important as the object of our faith. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “”I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” There is great power in even little faith, as long as the faith is in God. It’s God’s power that makes the difference.

I’m pretty sure that you have obstacles in your life. I’m pretty sure that you need a fresh encounter with God. You and I need our hearts revived. We need to be reminded that God is the one who makes the difference. Prayer can do that. Prayer is the antidote to lifelessness.

Our problem is lifelessness. The solution is prayer. There’s one more discovery we make in this passage.

THREE: THE WAY TO PRAY IS WITH AUTHORITY

Jesus said in verse 24:

24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

There are two conditions to effective prayer. One is that we pray confidently. The second is that we pray with a forgiving spirit. This morning I’d like to focus on the first condition. We need to pray confidently and with authority.

There are different ways to pray. We’re always to pray submissively, submitting to God’s will rather than ours. There are times that we don’t know what God’s will is. Our will might even be opposed to God’s will. That’s when we pray very clearly saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

But there’s also a time for authoritative prayer. Ordinary prayer proceeds from earth to heaven. We ask for forgiveness; we pray for healing; we give thanks. But authoritative prayer is different. We bring the resources of heaven down to earth.

When we know what God’s will is, but need the power to do God’s will, it’s time to pray authoritatively. When we need to engage the enemy, it’s time for authoritative prayer. We know what God’s will is. We just need to pray God’s resources into the situation.

Jesus said, “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We believe that. And so we begin a week of prayer, asking that you would awaken our hearts. Turn us into a spiritual powerhouse. If we don’t call upon the Lord, he has promised nothing – nothing at all. But if we call upon the Lord, he has promised in his Word to answer, to bring the unsaved to himself, to pour out his Spirit among us.

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