Euodia and Syntyche

He claims to be a Christian and says he is a minister of Christ, but the email I received from him was full of threatening language about how he was going to contact this one and pressure that one and get this committee to act to get his way.  Oh, he has Biblical knowledge. He can pull the most obscure passage out of the depths of the Old Testament to justify his position. He can argue theology’s finer points intelligently, too. But, he has not grasped the most basic part of the Christian life – love and unity.  He still lives in the land of Euodia and Syntyche.

Pastor Paul wrote a letter to the Christians at Philippi and took time to directly address these two feuding members.  "I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges." (Philippians 4:2, The Message)  They allowed personal issues to hinder the eternal work of God in their city.  I wonder what they were fighting about?  Did Euodia bring the same dish as Syntyche to the potluck dinner?  Did Syntyche take Euodia’s position as lead soprano on the worship team? Did Euodia’s teenage daughter break up with Syntyche’s son?  (Smile, please.) They might have been the first feuding Christians we meet, but they sure were not the last. 

Local churches by the thousands are crippled, often destroyed, by people who want their own way, who want control or vindication, more than the honor and glory of Christ.  Last week I spent some time with a pastor who had been driven from the ministry by two people who took exception to the way he preached. His critics were not offended by bad doctrine. They simply did not like his style! Over six months, these wolves raised the pressure on that pastor to the point that his wife’s emotions collapsed and one of his children ran away from home, just to get away from that church.  Eventually, he gave up and resigned, the 4^th pastor so treated by that little church in the last 6 years.  Listening to his story, I felt for him, but nearly wept for the  honor of Christ. What do the people of that small community think of Christ and His church after seeing such behavior replayed over and over?

Are you a feuding saint? 
Do you air out your every grievance, turn every preference into a principle, and insist only on a ‘win’ as settlement?

Are you quick to fight, ready to threaten, insistent on your own way?

Ponder this plea from the Spirit. What does it say to you? “May I plead with you to put Jesus Christ and His Church first in your life? Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News." (Philippians 1:27, NLT) "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." (Philippians 2:1-5, NLT)

A unified church, singularly focused on the love of Jesus, where people serve with no regard for position, recognition, or power is a beautiful thing. Amazingly wonderful results flow from the efforts of those who desire the Spirit’s leadership and who are ready to live humbly with one another.  The paradox is that in forgetting one’s self there is discovery of the greatest personal peace and fulfillment, as well. 

Conflict is not evil, but selfishness is.  Disagreement will come, but where Christ is Lord, the focus will remain on His kingdom. Let’s take this Word to heart for Christ’s sake.

“I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 The Message)

You're just a kid with a slingshot!

Today, perhaps tomorrow, or next month, there will be a problem in your life that defies you to take it down!  It will threaten, obstruct, and send fear rippling through your body.  Do you have the resources on which to draw to meet it and defeat it?  

David was a teenager when he saw Goliath of Gath.  The man was called a ‘giant,’ and he towered over him.  He was a champion with many kills on his record.  He carried a spear that looked like a beam from a house, with a tip the size of an anvil!  His huge body was encased in a leather wrap, covered with metal scales.  He lumbered to the front line of the Philistine army looking frightful. From there he roared his challenge- “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!" (1 Samuel 17:8-9, NLT) Every day it was the same; he taunted and the men of Israel cowered. After all, who could meet such a freak of nature on the field of battle and succeed? It was an impossibility, or so it appeared to every reasonable man with military experience!

Jesse of Bethlehem woke up his youngest son and told him to take bread and cheese down to his three oldest brothers in the army.  That boy grew up to become David, the poet king of Israel, the composer of Psalms. That day, when he arrived at front, Goliath was just coming out to do his daily challenge.  The men of Israel fell silent, fearful, overwhelmed.  But, David did not see a force of nature; he saw an insult to the Lord God of Israel. Faith rose up in him.  "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) His oldest brother, Eliab, called him an arrogant pup, a know-nothing kid.  David wasn't just a naive boy. He knew the Lord and entered the contest with the giant full of faith. The big man mocked the shepherd boy until he felt smooth stone from the slingshot connect with his forehead.  I wonder if his last conscious was, ‘killed, by a shepherd kid, with a slingshot?’

Goliath never saw what was coming because he could not see the true power of the kid with a slingshot. God saw a mighty warrior of faith and directed that stone to the target. David saw the same giant as a thousand other men, but he saw him through eyes of faith. They saw a champion they could not defeat. David saw a mortal man throwing down a challenge to the Lord God he loved. 

When temptation, loss, disappointment, confusion, or fear taunts us will we cower or conquer? That largely depends on our perspective, and whether it is informed by faith that flows from a daily conversation with God and truth of the Scripture. Pray often, "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions." (Psalm 119:18, NLT)  Do you see only the probable or do you see the possible?  Is your vision sharpened by faith that allows you to walk in the power of the Spirit, doing the supernatural work of a living God?  

We can only see as God sees when we are living near to Him, walking in holiness, and listening intently to the voice of the Spirit.  If we will walk with Him, faith will live in us and we will be prepared to meet the Goliath challenges with sight sharpened by faith!

Here’s a word from the Word.  Read it slowly, prayerfully. Let the amazing promise soak into your soul and mind today; then take on that giant!

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.

Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NLT)

________________

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You, I want to see You.

To see You high and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your pow'r and love;
As we sing holy, holy, holy.

High and lifted up,
Shining in the light of Your glory.
Pour out Your pow'r and love;
As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy, holy,
Holy, holy, holy;
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see You.

Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Baloche, Paul

© 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055

I'm Free - Praise God

I’m free, praise God!

Killing Jesus, Bill O’Reilly’s book which sets the crucifixion of Jesus in historical context, reveals the depravity that gripped the ruling class of Rome.  Our Savior came into an ugly, brutal world. The nobility of the empire were not noble. Murder was a sport.  Pedophilia and other sexual perversions were rampant. They oppressed the poor with confiscatory taxes used to field vast armies and to build cities in their honor. Conquest provided vast armies of slaves for the empire.  The cruelty of the Romans was legendary. Students of history know that the Romans were not the first, nor the last, people who built an empire on the suffering of others. They were not and are not unique in their sins.

As I read about the brutality of that era, I wanted to distance myself from it.  I wished to comfort myself that such things could not happen in my world, but they do!  Sex trafficking is on the increase, with younger girls being dragged from poorer nations to serve the pleasures of those who are rich. (see http://ijm.org/)  Economic disparity between the rich and poor grows wider as rich nations and corporations cooperate in exploitation of those who have no access to power. This is the world of which I am a part.

But, thank God I am free from the sin that once dragged me down. The Bible tells me, and all who are alive in the Spirit because of faith in Christ Jesus, that depravity is past tense. After a long list of sins, the Word says, ‘that is what you were.’  - "Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, The Message)

In Christ, I am given the ability to choose live nobly, to serve God, and to defeat dark depravity.  Look how the Word explains this. "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. ... But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. … we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:9-17, NIV)

Don’t  misunderstand me. I am not claiming perfection. I fail daily to live to God’s standard of gentle love and selfless concern for others. But, I am not a slave to the sin that once controlled me.  I am now a servant of God, with an obligation to live by the power of the Spirit. What a difference that will make!   In the Roman empire, just a century after Jesus walked the earth, Christians went to the far corners of the depraved, darkness empire and served the least, the lost, the broken, the powerless.  The power of the Spirit working through them brought light and life, hope and joy, to millions.  They were known for their compassion.  Were they applauded and admired? Not by those in power!  Those who held power recognized the threat of the Gospel of Christ and killed Christians by the thousands in a vain attempt to put out the Light.

Christian, we are free to love, free to serve, free from slavery to sin, Self, and Satan. Will you reach out to our Abba and pray to live in a way that you bring liberty and life to others?  This mission caused the depraved to hate Jesus and they killed Him!   Those who love their darkness will hate those of us who love the Light, too.  But remember, “if we share in His suffering… we will also share in His glory.”   Let’s go change the world, one life at a time.

"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law." (Galatians 5:1, NLT)  "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13, NLT)  "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves." (Galatians 5:16, NLT)  "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)

Running on Empty

Running on Empty

Dary Northrup recounts arriving at the Denver airport eager to get home.  It was late at night and his bed was just an hour away!  As he drove through a desolate stretch of Northern Colorado, a light on the dashboard signaled that the car was nearly out of gas.  Knowing that the nearest fuel was 20 miles away, tension mounted. He coasted down hills, used every trick he knew to conserve fuel, and finally coasted into the station.  His hands were sweaty, shoulder muscles knotted. After pumping the gas, he relaxed. When he got back into his car he heard his favorite CD was playing.  He looked out and saw the bright moonlight reflecting off the snow caps of the Rocky Mountains just to the west.  And then it hit him – the immediate problem had made him deaf and blind to all this beauty!  His point in this story – don’t live your life on empty.

We encounter situations every day that drain us, exhaust us. Temptation comes and we wrestle with it. Decisions have to be made that demand something from us. Sometimes it’s just the effort to get up and get going that wearies us!  In all this, we can just grit our teeth and live by sheer determination or we can go to the One who can fill us up.  The words that the Lord spoke to Isaiah are not just poetry. "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." (Isaiah 44:3-4, NIV)

If we take life into our own hands, if we fail to balance work and worship, if we forget to take the grace He offers by faith, we become empty and desperate. The songs around us will go unheard; the beauty of His blessings unseen. With Israel’s ancient pilgrims, let’s pray: "I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" (Psalm 121:1-2, NLT)

 Are you running on empty? Do what seems impossible- stop! Acknowledge your desperation and His sufficiency. Wait! Before you rush ahead, listen for the Spirit’s voice. "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, NLT)

There is no need to run on empty because God promises Christians the fullness of the Spirit.  "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts." (Ephesians 5:15-19, NLT)

And when we are overflowing with His life, desperation disappears replaced with "life… more abundantly." (John 10:10, KJV)

________

Are you trusting Jesus,
All along the way?
Does He grow more precious
To your heart each day?
Are you His disciple?
Test His Word and see,
He will give the Spirit more abundantly.

More abundantly,
More abundantly,
“That they might have life
And more abundantly”;
More abundantly,
More abundantly,
“That they might have life
And more abundantly.”

Public Domain
Thoro Harris

Flat Screen Relationships

(one from the archives while I am on retreat)

I have nearly 1000 friends on Facebook. Scott Pelley of CBS TV visits my home most evenings at 6:30. President Obama drops by occasionally, too. Of course, I don't know Scott or Obama. I barely know half of the people who have 'friended' me on Facebook!  

These are so-called 'flat screen relationships' - made possible by technology.  They have none of the rich texture of a real friendship.

LOL (Laughing Out Loud) typed in a status line does not begin to compare to an actual fit of laughter shared around a dinner table.
"Praying for you" sent in an email or text message, while sweet and kind, is a sorry substitute for feeling the hands of a friend on your shoulders while listening to their voice lifting you to the Father in prayer.   

Healthy people know how to form and sustain real relationships. One of the foundation stones of a strong church is that it is a place of actual community, where people become 'brothers and sisters' in the truest sense of the word. While we were discussing the idea of church community, one person recently remarked: "I don't think I have ever seen it." She's right. It is rare. While we love being a part of a community, few of us are ready to radically connect to one another. Loving real people is a messy thing, costly to us in terms of our privacy, bringing not only comfort but also conflict. The closer we grow to another, the more our quirks and unique habits become an issue.

Flat screen relationships are much simpler than than real  relationships, aren't they? In that world, when you tire of another's company, you can just change channels or put away the computer. If you don't want to have an email conversation, you can simply ignore the request.  Caller ID on our phones allows us to let calls from 'that person' just go to voice mail!  Our individuality is enhanced and we are poorer in the long run for it.

Jesus Christ does not allow us to live in a flat screen relationship world. He demands that we learn to love another. This is the distinguishing characteristic of a Spirit-filled person. He said, "I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35, NLT) It's not cheap, easy, or even sentimental! It's committed, sometimes gritty, always truthful, and leads to maturity.

Are you content to live in a world of flat screen relationships?

Here's a word from the Word. May it call us to community. "You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart." (1 Peter 1:22, NLT)  "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, NLT)  ________


We Will Stand

Sometimes it's hard for me to understand

Why we pull away from each other so easily

Even though we're all walking the same road

Yet we build dividing walls

Between our brothers and ourselves

But I I don't care what label you may wear

If you believe in Jesus you belong with me

The bond we share is all I care to see

And we'll change the world forever

If you will join with me

Join and sing

Sing

You're my brother you're my sister

So take me by the hand

Together we will work until He comes

There's no foe that can defeat us

When we're walking side by side

As long as there is love

We will stand

The day will come when we will be as one

And with a mighty voice

Together we will proclaim that Jesus

Jesus is King

It will echo through the earth

It will shake the nations

And the world will see

See that

You're my brother you're my sister

So take me by the hand

Together we will work until He comes

There's no foe that can defeat us

When we're walking side by side

As long as there is love

We will stand

Take me by the hand

Join with me

Join and see yeah

CCLI Song # 10642

James Hollihan | Russ Taff | Tori Taff

© 1983 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)CCLI License # 810055