Category: Loner

“You Have A Role”

Date: 02-04-15

Text: — 1 Corinthians 12:27 — 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Join me in eliminating the “Shout Down” method.

My Thoughts: 

Being a former loner, I understand what some are feeling. The irony was, I myself am a team player, and yet I often felt that no wanted to play with me. Many of these feelings were self imposed downers, but the truth was I was the kid that was ditched quite frequently. But I continued to play—anyway….

In truth, deep down I always believed that each of us has a role to play, especially in the Body of Christ. This is the greatest team to ever be on. The Coach doesn’t play favorites, and doesn’t pull you out after making a mistake. You can play your best, and He is pleased with it. When you do flub up, depending on the severity of the ‘foul’, He takes you aside and explains the ‘Game’ a little better. And when He ‘benches’ you, it is for a good reason. One dear mentor told me and another friend that maybe the Coach has ‘benched’ us in order to keep us fresh for the fourth quarter….

Lifestyle worshipers, when you feel like you are not part of a team or are playing in a game that requires no teammates, remember that the Body of Christ has many positions, and He definitely has one with your name on it. So: play your best! Your thoughts.

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

— Corinthians 12:14-26 (NIV84)

  Lord Jesus Christ,  forgive me for feeling like I am not part of Your Team. Open my eyes to the position You have placed me in and empower me to faithful play my best!  In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Don’t Isolate Yourself”

Date: 12-14-14

Text: — Luke 1:39-42 —  At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,  where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” [NIV84]

The Big Idea: If we step out with the same faith we entered this winter, we will not only discover the one, but the many who will support us.

My Thoughts: 

Mary just received some life-changing news: She is going to have a baby. Now, under “normal” circumstances this would be very exciting news, news she could gladly and openly tell her husband and family, but under these circumstances, we have an entire set of risky factors—one being stoning for adultery.

Instead of isolating her self, Mary seeks out support for this angelic vision from someone else in her family who has just received a similar life-changing announcement—“but at least she has a husband!” The above passage captures for us the moment these two meet. Immediately, Mary’s angelic visitation is confirmed by Elizabeth’s response: And this is before Mary could even tell her!

Lifestyle worshiper: Are you tempted to isolate yourself in your winter as I am? Do you fear seeking out support only to discover those who add colder wind to your winter? Surely, the Lord provided Elizabeth as a support for Mary. Someone who knew her, watched her grow up, and understood the step of faith she had taken. …

By faith, I’m going to step out on a limp: I believe that if the Lord led you into this winter you are presently in—as He did Mary, He will also provide, at the very least, one other to support us in and through your winter. The hard part is overcoming the temptation of isolation. We cannot find this one if we isolate ourselves. Ah, but if we step out with the same faith we entered this winter, we will not only discover the one, but the many. Remember the shepherds and wisemen? Oh, and we best not forget Joseph. Join me in stepping out of our isolation into the Lord’s consolation.  Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV84)

  We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. — 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (NIV84)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.— Hebrews 3:13 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father,  forgive me for isolating myself. In faith, I step out of my perverted comfort zone to find true comfort from those You have provide. They offer me Your true consolation. Praise Your Name for Your Faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike