1/31/2011 Navigating Through a New SeasonScriptures: 1 Kings 2:1-4 1/31/2011 Apostolic Identity Week #2Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 11:2, Esphesians 5:25-27, Luke 10:8-11, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 13:14, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Having an apostolic identity requires disciple; disciple comes from instruction, correction and guidance. This leads us to self-disciple where we can live a life that pleases God. What kind of church does God want? A chaste virgin: a glorious church without spot or blemish. He wants His people to be clean and pure, because our identity is revealed in our obedience: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" In the Bible we read about the principle of authority and submission, an example being how a priest had the responsibility of determining between the holy and unholy. "And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses..." Ask yourself the question: who is watching for your soul? It is our responsbility to obey and submit, while God gives us a pastor who is a watchman who helps protects us from impending danger. A pastor is to make decisions based on scriptural principles for the whole congregation. There are three areas that a person applies these principles to to gain an apostolic identity: 1) Bible Principles- areas where the Bible is not specific, but gives direction for us to follow morally and ethically. For example: If while shopping a cashier gives you too much money back, what is your response? The Bible doesn't specifically outline this situation, but it gives moral guidelines about stealing that apply. 2) Church Standards- Bible principles that a pastor determines are to be publicly seen in the congregation and the pastor is accountable to God for them. 3) Personal Convictions- This is a conviction an individual has laid upon them personally by God. Bible truths are things which we can never compromise! They do not change! We are to "be not conformed to this world," "make no provision for the flesh," come out and be separate, and "forsake the appearance of evil." Apostolic identity sets us apart unto God. 1/25/2011 A Day to Choose Scriptures: Joshua 24:14-15
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve," there comes a day when we must choose who or what will control us. There are truly only three choices: The Lord our God, our own limited personality, and an imperfect substitute for God. Joshua spoke specificially of these three choices available to mankind: 1) The gods of your fathers, the gods of Egypt- "The gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river"- When we live in the past, the past becomes our god. Ask yourself the question: how does your past control you? The gods on the other side of the flood are the gods which existed before our baptism, they are the gods of our days of transgression. Will we serve the gods of Egypt? Will we serve the gods of bondage? You are not who you were in your past, you are a new creation! 2) The gods of your neighbors- "the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell..." The gods of the present our whatever is acceptable by our society at this present time. There is a pressure to be complacent by showing a willingness: to please, oblige, agree, or fit in. These gods are also the gods of compromise that cause us to act like an Amorite not an Israelite. 3) God- the one true and only God, the God of the past, present and future. He is the absolute: perfect in quality and nature. He is pure, holy, righteous and not limited by any restrictions. He is independent of anything else and never needs to be doubted. The God of creation and salvation. The immutable and unchangable God. The God who delivers, protects and accepts us. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve..." Will you chose God, yourself or a substitute? 1/17/2011 Standing at the CrossroadsScriptures: Obadiah 1:10-15, Hebrews 12:1
Every Christian has crossroad experiences: times when we come to intersections and we must choose which way we will go. What are intersections? They are when present events are mixed with unresolved issues of the past, such as: unresolved conflicts, sins of our ancestors, or the traits and dysfunctions we carry in our lives. These crossroads can ignite pain, bitterness, or hatred, but they could also inspire liberty and thanksgiving! We must remember that what we hold onto will be something we must deal with later. In these verses we read that the Edomites had a crossroads experience. The Israelites were descendents of Jacob, while the Edomites were descendents of Esau, who were brothers. They were brothers with unresolved conflicts and these conflicts were passed down through the generations to a point where the Edomites should have helped Israeland instead they rejoiced at their calamity. The Edomites were happy and prospered at Israel's misfortune. While the enemy invaded Israel they stood aloof and did not help, instead they acted like Israel's enemy. The Edomites rejoiced and spoke arrogantly in a terrible time; they even plundered the land and captured the survivors. God said: "Because of what you did you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever." We are in a time of spiritual warfare and we must set aside each weight. We are constantly coming to the crossroads: temptations, voices of our society, stress, relational issues, fears and uncertainty. Our faith is constantly being challenged, but we must let go of what we've held on to to resolve conflicts and dysfunctions. We do not want to become Edomites! Do not wait at the crossroads, for at the cross roads you will attack your own brother. An Edomite spirit will allow us to side with the enemy, plunder and rejoice at their misfortune, but in the end leave us filled with shame and cut-off from God. Today there are descendents of Israel and Babylon, but no descendents remain of Esau. |
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