Jesus can turn your E.F.I.L. around!!!

Jesus can turn your E.F.I.L. around!!!

Have you every felt like your life was a total mess, and that getting it in order was an impossible task? I have. But, I've great news. Jesus can indeed turn your L.I.F.E. around and shape it for His glory. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Only, there is one small problem. ME!!! (If you will permit me to be plainly honest-- YOU!!!) While I believe He is more than able to bring order in the midst of my chaotic life because of His omnipotence, I often find myself interferring with His process that is at work within me. The bottom line is simple---lack of trust. The reason most of our lives could best be described as living on a roller coaster with all its ups and downs, twists and turns is because we really don't trust Him with our lives. We trust Him to save us, but when it comes to our daily lives, we pull back. After all, He might mess us up. Absurd thought, but true none the less. We might not verbalize it out of fear of being blasphemous, but our actions and attitudes expose the truth. I am learning that I must trust HIM with every area of my life. He is trustworthy, and His plan for my life and your life is good.

For me to live is ________________?

Today has been a challenging and convicting day. We were blessed today to have a guest speaker at our church from the organization -- Gospel for Asia. As a Christian in America, I am becoming more aware of how shallow and spoiled I've been in regards to daily being a faithful disciple of Christ. I have made the commitment to read through the Bible this year at least once, to read other Christian books on missions, discipleship, and spiritual growth, and to be more intentional about sharing the Gospel with others, etc. I've also been watching sermon videos available on the internet from respected Bible teachers. It has been a both challenging and convicting journey as the Holy Spirit illuminates areas of my life that need to be surrendered to Christ. In the Home Team group we visited tonight, we were challenged to fill in the blank of the following question with an answer that best reflects what is true about our Christian life today. "FOR ME TO LIVE IS ______________ ? [The question is taken from a statement recording by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Church at Philippi (1:21).] I wish I could tell you that I had a really profound spiritual answer, but to honest I didn't. The Apostle Paul faced a different cultural climate in his day. For him to boldly live for Christ daily meant suffering and persecution ultimately which lead to his execution for preaching the Gospel of Christ. Today the major threat I believe is prosperity. I know the Church thrives under persecution, but I am concerned whether or not the Church will survive prosperity. Why are we not seeing the power of God moving in our midst like He is other parts of our world? I believe it is related to the fact that we don't have a daily, moment by moment dependence on Him. We are self-sufficient, and while we give lip service to our need of God for the most part we've got things under control. It's not until something pulls the rug out from under us that we sense a need for God. I want Christ to be the sum total of my life. Like the Apostle Paul continues to say in chapter three of the same epistle, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." I'm convinced that for me to honestly answer the question with "For me to live is Christ," will require genuine repentance and revival in my heart.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

This year has gone by so quickly. In a few hours it will be 2008. As I look forward to the coming new year, I am reminded that the slate for 2008 is clean. This could be the year that Jesus Christ returns to fulfill His promise. As I was studying chapter 3 of the Apostle Peter's second epistle this week, I was convicted about how little emphasis I have given to this wonderful truth. Don't misunderstand. I believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but just like many believers today it is not a subject that I have given a great deal of thought about in 2007. I am ashamed of my neglect. As I studied this passage it became obvious to me that the reality of the Second Coming of Christ and the events that occur in conjunction with it ought to serve as a catalysis for holy and godly living. The Apostle Peter drives that truth home with a probing question. In light of the truth of the Second Coming and the cataclysmic judgment of the ungodly then "What kind of people ought you to be?" The Apostle goes further to declare that "You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." As those words sturred within my heart this week, I was reminded that if I want my life in 2008 to be charactered as being a "holy and godly" life-- and I do-- then I must be intentional about the way I live daily. Or to use the words of the Apostle Peter in verse 14, "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him" (NIV). There is more that I could say about that verse, but for now I will close this post with this reminder. God has made it possible for every believer to live a "holy and godly" life through His divine power. In fact, notice what 2 Peter 1:3,4 declares -- "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (NIV). The decision is mine. God has made it possible through what He has already done. I must chose to believe God's Word and by faith live in such a way whereby I am cooperating with God's divine power already at work within me.