Holiness Is Joy

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.  1 Peter 2:11. 

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16.

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 
1 Peter 2:25. 

Holiness=peace and joy. 
Unholy passion=suffering. 

Define holiness:  It is an attribute of God. He is completely and utterly without sin and the result is goodness. He is immutable and never ceases to be holy.  As we abide in him and he in us we partake of his holiness and become set apart as his worshippers and servant/friends from one degree to another as we are in the process of sanctification.  

Martin Luther viewed God's grace (and therefore God's holiness), as an invasion of the life. Actions that demonstrated holiness would spring up, not premeditated, as the believer focused more and more on his or her relationship with Christ. This was the life of faith, according to Luther; a life in which one recognizes that the sin inherent in human nature never departs, yet Grace invades each human spirit and draws each person after Christ.

Gods invasion in my life=personal and practical holiness. 

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9

 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:11

When God Speaks Your Language

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross.  It read, “Jesus of Nazereth, the King of the Jews.”  Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.  So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘the King of the Jews’, but rather, ‘this man said I am King of the Jews.’”  Pilate answered “what I have written I have written.”  (John 19:19-22)

And he said( thief on the cross next to Jesus), “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43

What I find so striking in these texts is the fact that God uses Pilate who can care less about Jesus, to point people to Jesus, by making a sign that was simply meant to mock the Jews by saying, “as the king goes, so go the people.”  In the Luke 23 account the sign which was written in the three languages is connected to the thief on the Cross saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  The Lord used Pilate to make a sign that a thief on a cross could read and it would even speak his language. 

Yesterday, I bought a book which happened to be the book the Lord used in my life at 18 years old to completely turn my life around.  The book gives a simple down to earth explanation of the cross of Christ.  There’s nothing spectacular about the book but the fact that it absolutely speaks my language.  I was on a plane when I read it, and it was Christmas break.  The book starts out with both illustrations of Christmas shopping and flights in describing the gospel.  What are the chances that I would randomly grab a book off a shelf, actually have the money to buy it (college life), and then actually read it?  I am an ADD poster child by nature and the chances of me reading a book, let alone a book about the gospel is mind-boggling.  God spoke my language. 

What language is He speaking to you?  I am not talking about dialect but the day to day drama of your life.  How is God making known to you the truth of the gospel in your language?  How is He bringing the truths of the Bible into your heart?  Are you listening? There were two thieves around Jesus that day as He hung on the cross, yet there was only one who understood the sign.  We have the greatest sign ever—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  May we pay close attention to what God is speaking to us today.  

Take Courage!

Courage

The book of Joshua picks up the story after Moses had died.  Moses was a prophet, representative, a picture, a type of the Law.  Moses brought the people to the edge of the promised land, but it would be Joshua whose name is the Old Testament name for Jesus, who would actually bring them into the promised land.  In numbers 13:8 we read that Joshua’s name used to be Hoshea meaning “salvation”.  Joshua was indeed saved when the Passover lamb’s blood was applied to the door of his family’s house during the first Passover. Having been the firstborn in his house, he would have died otherwise.  So his name “salvation” was an appropriate one.  Moses then changed his name from Hoshea “salvation” to Joshua “Jehovah is Salvation”, signifying that Jesus alone brings salvation. 

What I like best about Joshua is what I get to read about him in the book of Exodus.  He always goes with Moses to the tent of meeting to assist him as he was meeting with the Lord.  After Moses would depart from the tent, Joshua would stay there sometimes all night (Exodus 33:11).  He also was one of the two spies that came back with a good report while the others caused fear in the people.  It is obvious that Joshua had a hunger in his heart for the Lord.  He had gotten to witness some amazing provisions, and see God’s hand numerous times providing amazing victories.  Despite what Joshua had seen with his eyes and experienced by watching Moses, the Lord tells Joshua after Moses had died, “I will not leave you or forsake you” (1:5), “Be strong and courageous” (1:6), “Above all, be strong and very courageous…” (1:7), “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (1:9).  You see, Joshua would be stretched.  His own journey was going to intensify, and the Lord needed to drive this truth into his head.  Entering the promised land was going to require faith.  In fact, Joshua immediately begins to lead with faith by saying, “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit’” (Josh.1:11).  Oh really Joshua?  We are just going to cross this huge, deep river huh?  Yep.  “That makes no sense, and is impossible,” some would no doubt say.  So on the third day, the priests walked right into the water leading the people, and as their sandals plunged into the cold river, the Lord began to part the water for the entire camp to cross (Josh.3:15-17).  I love to see Joshua call the people to prepare for something before they know how it will all work out.  It takes faith to rise up and walk right up to the edge of the water.  Our greater than Joshua, named Jesus, has given us the same charge, “Have courage! It is I. Be not afraid. “Lord if it’s you,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to you on the water.”  “Come!” He said” (Matt.14:27-29).  

The Voice of Jacob and The Hands of Esau?

"Now I implore you brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned.  Avoid them; for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." Romans 16:17-18

We have all heard the story of the man who preached so well and lived so badly, that when he was in the pulpit everybody wished he would not come out of it, and when he was out it they all wished he would never get back into it.  Paul warns the church of false teaching that does not align with right living.  In Leviticus 11 we are given a list of animals that are either clean or unclean.  Their cleanliness is decided by how they eat and the way they walk.  Lev. 11:3 says, "you may eat any animal with divided hooves and that chews the cud."  We then are told not to eat "the camel, though it chews the cud, it does not have hooves--it is unclean for you.....the pig, though it has divided hooves, does not chew the cud--it is unclean for you."  The hebrew word for chewing the cud is essentially the same word translated "meditation".  "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success." (Joshua 1:8)  As we meditate on the Word and walk it out rightly our way becomes obvious.  Some are like the camel who know the truth but don't walk it out.  Others are like the pig who live moral lives but not to the glory of Jesus and His Word.  What good is it if we have the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau.  Let the Spirit of God search our hearts for anything that would make us to be false teachers.

Church Planting by Winfield Bevins

Church Planting

There is a church planting movement happening right now in the United States and around the world. It is causing a rapid multiplication of new disciples of Christ across denominational lines and cultural divides.

Experts say that church planting is the number one way to reach unchurched people and make new disciples for Jesus Christ. C. Peter Wagner says, "Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven." Likewise, statistics show that it is much harder for traditional churches to reach the unchurched. Therefore, there is a great need to plant churches that reach the unchurched in our nation. Church planters are modern-day missionaries to North America.

One Size Doesn't Fit All

There are many different types of church plants: missional, multi-site, house church, theatre church, and purpose-driven, to name a few. Planting culturally relevant churches in the 21st century is one of the best ways to reproduce disciples through rapid multiplication. We need churches that will reach urban, suburban, and rural communities.

One size does not fit all, and one church cannot win all. It takes a variety of churches to reach all kinds of people. The key is that the church needs to be gospel-centered and culturally relevant to whatever community or culture that they are called to serve through planting. It is important to take into consideration the culture, race, and ethnicity of the culture in which you plan to plant a church.

There are many ways to plant a church, not just one. For instance, some people choose to plant as a team, while others may choose to plant as a solo church planter. When we are talking about church structure, we should be primarily concerned with what the Bible says on the matter.

Getting Involved

Existing churches can and should reproduce themselves by planting new churches. You may be asking yourself, "How can I help plant a church? I have enough to worry about with the church I am already a part of." There are many ways that you can become involved in church planting.

Encourage Planters

First, you can encourage church planters in your area. Planting a church can be a lonely business. Nearly 80 percent of church plants fail within their first year. One of the primary reasons for failure is not a lack of finances, but a lack of relational support. Church planters often experience culture shock and spiritual fatigue. It is hard for a church planter and his family to adjust to a new culture.

Church planters have a real need for fellowship and accountability. You can build relationships with church planters and encourage them to fight the good fight of faith. These men have sacrificed everything to plant a new church. These guys need all the encouragement they can get. Meet with a church planter, pray with him, and take him to lunch or coffee.

Support a New Church

Secondly, you can help financially support a church plant. One of the greatest needs for church planting is finances. An existing church can collaborate with a new church plant by becoming a mother church that sends out a church planting team with funds. You can help pay a church planter's salary for a year. Churches in a region or community can partner together to plant new churches in their area.

You can also join or support new churches in a church planting network such as Acts 29. The Acts 29 Church Planting Network is one of the leaders of this movement. It is a trans-denominational peer-based network of missional church planting churches that have a high view of Scripture and a commitment to engage contemporary culture with the gospel. In just a few years, they have planted nearly 300 churches in the United States and have bold plans to plant over 1,000 new churches in the next 20 years.

Replanting

A final way for churches to get involved with church planting is through replanting or church revitalization. Replanting happens when a church that is in decline or dying decides to face the music and dares to start over again for the sake of advancing the gospel. This will require churches to be willing to create a new identity, empower new leaders, and reach new people for Jesus. It will probably mean that a church sells their building and puts that money back into church planting.

The reality is that very few churches have the honesty and humility to admit that it's over, and even less have the courage to do what it takes to replant. Pray and ask God if he may be leading you and your church to replant.

Church planting is one of the greatest ways to make disciples. We should all share in the responsibility of impacting our nation for Christ through planting new churches that are gospel-centered and culturally relevant. If we want to be serious about making disciples for the 21st century, we need to get involved in church planting.

Life Can And Will Be Hard

By John Bryson
Fellowship Memphis

In Stephen Pressfield’s classic “War of Art”, he mentions that the high performers, the creatives, those who produce, those who are effective, etc. eventually have to learn to “be miserable”.

“The artist must be like that marine. He has to know how to be miserable. He has to love being miserable. He has to take pride in being more miserable than any soldier…because this is war, baby. And war is hell.” (68)

I believe this is a powerful idea and one every man, every leader and every change agent must learn in order to perform and push through tough seasons of life and leadership.

Navy Seals teach this...one of my friends at dinner mentioned how two-a-days football practices taught him this...another friend added how Medical school Residency taught him this...I threw in how that was my greatest lesson in training for and running a marathon…you can be miserable, and still move forward, produce and thrive.  God teaches this…see Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Paul…take your pick.

What a powerful lesson we should all live!  Could there be a greater gift, on a practical level, to invest in our kids?  How can we train emerging leaders or church planters with this reality?

In our age of spoiled kids, privileged kids, over-indulgence, helicopter parenting, and the lies we tell kids and young men and women that they “can be and do anything they want to be and do”…many are launching “soft” young adults into the world who have no idea how to struggle well or thrive through misery…so they pout and quit and remain a taker, not a giver.

Couple that with ridiculous expectations that a perfect job is waiting on them along with a perfect boss in exactly the city they want to live in along with a paycheck that is more than they’ll need and you have a recipe for a disaster…check most 20-somethings.

The few truly understand, theologically, that we live in a fallen world, this is not heaven (thank God), life is hard, there is much pain, disappointment and misery…but in the midst of that, by God’s grace, we can learn to cultivate and create in the midst of circumstances that will rarely, if ever, be ideal.

A friend once told me to pinch Gen 1 and 2 in one hand and Rev 19 and 20 in the other.  Those 4 chapters are perfection.  The other 1,185 chapters in the Bible teach us to contend in the midst of a fallen world.

Don’t be a whiner, quitter, or baby and quit pouting or being surprised about “how hard” it is to do what you are doing.  Of course it is.  You are limited as a fallen human in a fallen world.  Learn to cultivate and create…all the while, being miserable.  If you can thrive and stay on mission, especially through the worst of circumstances, you are preparing to be a game changer, a true leader, who can adapt, adjust, and endure.

Jesus is still our perfect rescuer and our relentless pursuit of Him is still our greatest joy.

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Here are some things I have been learning from Scott Thomas.


Moralistic:  
This is the belief that God can be reduced to improvements in behavior.  This skips the cross for justification and sanctification.  A moralistic person continually hates on those who don't make the grade and finds justification in comparing themselves with those who may be struggling.  But our standing is in Jesus, and we cannot obtain morality without him giving us his righteousness.  Moralism will not ease our pain or find us favor in God.  As Timothy Keller has said, "we are flawed and sinful more than we ever  dared to believe, yet we are loved and excepted more than we ever dared hope."  I saw this at a community church gathering in which a pastor said the answer to all our problems is in voting for all the right people.  He went on to point out how messed up "they" all are.  Moralistic people often get entrapped in political blame-ism rather than practicing personal repentance.

Therapeutic:
This false God is one that says, "your life is all about your comfort and psychological ease."  It's about feeling good, happy, secure, and at peace.  It's about being nice to people and maintaing subjective well being.  These people may have a notecard in their desk that says, "lighten up and smile" in which they pull out from time to time.  Many people never follow their calling in Jesus because of this false God.  We think, "God wouldn't call me to something that is hard would he?"  Life becomes about yoga, listening to enigma, and retreating from conflict.

Deism:
Just do it!  This false view makes God look like a cosmic butler whom you summon when your life takes a bad turn.  Deists picture God as "way far away" but now that I need him, i will summon him.  Highly organized people tend to this.  "It's all up to us and our perfect planning."  These people love corny leadership maxims and pragmatic quick fix ideals.

I believe for the most part that in the Valley most churches are preaching a moralistic, therapeutic, deism.