Cheated

Have you ever been cheated? Years ago, I was invited to attend a home bible study with a couple of guys. I felt honored and privileged to be invited to this study and gladly welcomed the invitation. As the leader began to teach I noticed that he was emphasizing too much on works. Was this legalism? I thought. Oh yeah, it was definitely legalism and even me as a baby Christian knew that something was wrong. At the end of the study he began to tell me that I wasn't really a disciple of Jesus Christ. I said, Now wait a minute, I love Jesus Christ and I have freely received His salvation! Well, I walked away that night not feeling like I wasn't believer, but feeling like I had been cheated. Someone has said that, "legalism is a lie, that comes like a law, that leads to lifelessness." That is exactly what I witnessed that night. The Apostle Paul writing to the Colossian Church said, "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility" Col 2:18 When someone tries to come at you and question your salvation. Remember, that you have been justified freely by His grace!!!

Possition Problems

One of the most common problems in our Churches today is the attempt to try to earn a leadership position. People love the idea of being in charge and having some kind of recognition from others. People will come knocking on the Pastor's door explaining to him how skilled they are at playing the guitar, teaching a bible study, and preaching a sermon. I don't recall ever hearing of someone telling the Pastor how skilled they are at cleaning the Church facility, folding bulletins, or taking out the Churches trash. This is because most people would like to hurdle over everyone else in order to get to the front of the line. Someone has said that. "Before you give a man the podium, you should first give him the plunger." I would have to agree with that. Jesus said, "if anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." God's church needs more humble servants. The work of God needs to get done without pride dwelling in the hearts of His people. God help us to remember the words of our Lord, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

"EXIT" a way out!!!

Have you ever felt like you just can't take it anymore? Have you ever felt like there is no way out to the temptation that you face? Many Christians feel this way at times. Being a Christian is no easy task. It it probably one of the hardest decisions you will ever make. It's been said that being a Christian is, "Committing yourself to Christ, and than walking in that commitment." It is a daily choice and a daily decision that you and I have to make. When Paul was writing to the Corinthians he said, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Cor 10:13 Temptation is normal. Being tempted on a daily basis is part of the life that we live. However, there is a way out. God has provided us with an exit, or a way of escape. Obedience takes choice. God has given us free will and its up to us to choose to do the right thing. If we truly love God than we will make the choice to walk in obedience rather than disobedience. God help us to be a people who take the exit that He has provided!

The Friendship Factor

What does it take to cultivate a friendship? Because of the rapid growth of social networking such as Twitter, My Space, and Facebook it seems like honest one on one relationships are deteriorating. Many Christians have traded in a genuine face to face relationship for artificial friendships. Perhaps it is just the evidence that we are quickly becoming a more self serving culture. We don't want to take the time to build a relationship because that might require time which we do not have. One of the titles that was given of Jesus was, "friend of sinners." Jesus was friendly to the men and women that were around him. He took the time to invest in them. He loved them, he taught them, and he wasn't afraid to correct them. the bible says that faithful are the wounds of a friend. Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." The friendship Factor is the mindset of consistently building strong friendships. Anyone could build acquaintances, but it takes hard work and the Holy Spirit to be a real friend.

Unbreakable

When I was younger I really enjoyed comic books. There was something that was adventurous about reading a comic. Perhaps it was the fairytale, make believe quality that drew me into the story. One thing that I loved was the indestructible, or unbreakable ability of the super hero. There was absolutely nothing that could destroy the super hero. As a Christian, I wonder if many of us have that same attitude when it comes to our Christianity. It becomes more of a temptation when you have been a believer for a number of years. When Paul was writing to the Corinthians he said, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Cor 10:12 The writer of Proverbs says, "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" Prov 6:27 As a Christian we must always remember that we are not a super hero. We are not indestructible, or unbreakable. As soon as we think we are, we stumble. We have to stay connected to Christ, continue you in his word, and be accountable to our fellow Christians. If we do this, we will definitely overcome our greatest villain Satan.