The Nines #6

The Nines #6
Nine Statements that will Change Your Life

Matthew 5:8 (New International Version)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

James 3:13-18 (New International Version)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Why does Jesus care about our heart so much?

What we do comes from our heart:

Proverbs 4:23 (New International Version)
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 20:5 (New International Version)
The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Matthew 15:17-19 (New International Version)
Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man “unclean.” For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Proverbs 16:2 (New International Version)
All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

God doesn’t care about what you know:

John 5:39-40 (New International Version)
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

God cares about how your actions reflect His love for you toward others.

Psalm 15 (New International Version)
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

When we keep our hearts pure, God reveals Himself to us.

Romans 12:1-2 (New International Version)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The Red Pen #5 - June 14, 2009

The Red Pen #5
The Distortion of Calling-Part 2

Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Ephesians 4:11-16 (New Living Translation)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Romans 12:6-13 (New Living Translation)
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
How do I find my calling?
1. Make your life about seeking God.
Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
• How do I find my calling? it starts with this kind of seeking…
2. Remember God’s Kingdom is the point.
Ephesians 4:12 (New Living Translation)
…Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ…
We often confuse this reality…
3. Our Calling Defies Physics…
1 Corinthians 4:13-18 (New Living Translation)
But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Conclusion:
A Calling is not:
• God’s Will
• A Spiritual Gift
• Vision
• Balance
Also:
• It is not a task
• It is not and excuse to not get involved somewhere
• It is not a forced agenda – “I have to do ________”
• It is not limited to what is available – God may be trying to start a whole new thing through you.
A Calling is:
• Wired into us by God from birth
• A “natural talent” or bent
• A motivation or underlying reason for doing a task
• To be used for God’s glory
• Found by looking backward, not forward

The Red Pen #4 - June 7, 2009

The Red Pen #4
The Distortion of Calling – Part 1

-Proverbs 22:6 (New International Version)
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

-Ephesians 4:1-3 (New International Version)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The Reality of a Calling…

-Ephesians 4:17-24 (New International Version)
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

What is a Calling, and what is not a Calling?

Terms for definition:

1. God’s Will – “thelemah” What God has desired to be done for all of mankind.

-Romans 12:1-2 (New International Version)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2. Spiritual Gifts – “pneumatikoi” Unique abilities imparted to us by the Spirit of God for the purpose of accomplishing specific tasks within the Kingdom.

-1 Corinthians 12:1-7 (New International Version)
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

3. Vision – The proposed future picture of the church – not a biblical term.
-Proverbs 29:18 (New American Standard Bible)
Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.
But happy is he who keeps the law.

4. Balance – The idea that I can find a “happy medium” in life where everything is in order.

Calling is only found by looking backwards, not forward.
This is why calling cannot be vision.

Some questions to ask…

-When did I feel God’s pleasure?
-What was I doing?
-What about that gave me that blessing?
-If God led me to this church, how can I engage in activity that helps me experience God’s pleasure here?
-Am I doing that now?
-What is holding me back?
-What obstacles can I remove in order to fulfill calling?

Project…