Tag: Listening

“Servant-Leaders: Be Available”

Date: 02-17–15

The Big Idea: A true leader, a godly leader, is one who models a servant-leader lifestyle.

My Thoughts: 

A servant-leader is one who cares more for the people s/he leads than for his/her personal gain. A servant-leader is one who can successfully relate to the people s/he is leading because s/he has made him/herself available to not just hear, but listen to their concerns and needs.

Lifestyle worshiper, have you noticed in our culture today that public servants are neither? In general, they do not appear to have the public’s interest in mind, nor are they serving the public. Rather, it appears that it has turned into a self-service opportunity. But a true leader, a godly leader, is one who models a servant-leader lifestyle, much like Nehemiah demonstrates in the main text noted below. He could have “walled” himself off from the people, creating a barrier between them and him. He could have pretended to listen to them, and then do what he thought was best for the people anyway. But, instead, he walked among the people and sincerely listened to their very severe concerns, some of which he may not have genuinely been aware of, but now he is….

Lifestyle worshiper, join me in living a life that worships our Heavenly Father in Spirit and Truth by being sincerely available to hear the concerns of those around us, especially those of our immediate family. Then we can more effectively rebuilt the walls of broken & fatigued relationships.

Main Text: — Nehemiah 5:1-5 — 1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” [NIV84]

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.— Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV84)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.— Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV84)

It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry.— Titus 1:7 (The Message)

  Lord Jesus Christ,  be the Servant Leader in my life, one who will model Your Life in a way that is pleasing to You and genuinely effective with others. May my ears be attentive to Your promptings as well as to the concerns of my loved ones. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Troubleshooting”

Date: 01-28-15

Text: — Nehemiah 2:13-15 — 13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Systematic inspection offers a better perspective of the damage.

My Thoughts: 

Being one who loves doing things systematically, I really enjoy watching a professional troubleshoot a problem. Be it an automotive issue or an electrical problem, the way the pro goes about it is simply fascinating. Recently, I was at my sister’s house. She noted a rather large water bill and asked if I could help her hunt down the like. Well, through a series of trial and error, I determined it had something to do with the hot water line. However, it wasn’t until my nephew, a trained electrician, came over, we were able to verify it and determine its approximate location. My nephew took his electrician training and used it to troubleshoot the water leak. It was fascinating to watch him start at the source and eliminate many possibilities that I didn’t even consider. What a pleasure to see someone who knows what they are doing do it!

Nehemiah was a professional. He took his cupbearer training and applied it to the rebuilding of the wall by first troubleshooting the problem. In the above passage, he is seen systematically inspecting the wall, making the circuit where possible and getting a better perspective of the damage….

Lifestyle worshipers, in our “An Awareness Walk,” (aka “A Nehemiah Walk”), it is wise to take a systematic approach as any troubleshooter would. Take the skills you have acquired in another field and apply them to your current situation. Get perspective, too, and properly assess the damaged of the situation you are concerned about.

I know for some this systematic approach may seem awkward and almost Spirit-Squeezing, but I’m sure He will enlighten you through the process and give you insight into the matter before you.   Your thoughts.

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

— Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV84)

  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

— 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV84)

 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”But we have the mind of Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father,  I yield to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and insight into my situation. May He grant me insight and perspective. Forgive me for acting hastily and in an uniformed manner.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“How Bad Is It, Doc?”

Date: 01-27-15

Text: — Nehemiah 2:11-12 — 11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: When we examine our situation in more detail, the solutions then can be more laser focused.

My Thoughts: 

You enter the doctor’s office, and ask, “How bad is it, Doc?” She looks at you and says, “You probably have a sprained wrist. Just take two tylenol, ice it for a few days, and wrap it with an ace bandage; you should be fine in a few weeks.” Mind you, you just sat done on the table. No other examination was done. The doctor merely looked at you! How would you feel? Cheated? Put out? Or worse…?

Nehemiah would agree with your feelings. A closer examination of the damaged area would yield a more accurate assessment of the situation. After arriving in Jerusalem, he set out by night to examine the damage. He did this in order to have an accurate assessment of the situation.

Lifestyle worshipers, have you done “An Awareness Walk,” aka “A Nehemiah Walk” lately? Have you taken the time to assess your broken relationships? Damaged image? Your personal decisions? Or other issues the Holy Spirit has been poking you on? It is only then that you can see how bad it really is….

I know it can be unnerving, even a life wrecking experience, but I also know when we examine our situation in more detail, the solutions then can be more laser focused.  Your thoughts.

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

— John 7:24 (NIV84)

   Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.

— 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 (NIV84)

 He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame.

— Proverbs 18:13 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father,  I yield to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and insight into my situation. I know You are working out all things for the Good Forgive me for acting hastily and in an uniformed manner.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“When is the Right Time?”

Date: 01-03-15

Text: — Nehemiah 1:1-2 — The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Something can be fixed too soon.

My Thoughts: 

I like getting things done quickly. “The sooner the better,” I often like saying. But I have learned over the years that I can try to fix something too soon, especially when it come to relationships that involve deep emotions. …

Nehemiah knew of Ezra. He knew he was rebuilding the temple. He may have even been aware that there had been a delay, and two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were raised up by the LORD to motivate His people to finish the task. And it is interesting to note that it was a little over 10 years later that Nehemiah gets the news from his brother Hanani recorded for us in the verses above. You would think the Lord would be in a hurry to fix things, but apparently not….

As Lifestyle worshipers, are you acutely aware that fixing things too soon may spin out a new set of issues that need to be fixed? But when we wait on the Lord, His timing is perfect—with its own set of issues still needing to be fixed. The former issues are often self-inflicted; the latter are divinely appointed. Not to say that the LORD isn’t in control of the others; but it is to say it is the harder way.

So when I am tempted to fix something, I first check in with the LORD  and wait on Him for His “go” / “no go” instructions.  I find this is far better than wading through a swamp of issues I created by my impatience. Have you found this to be so, too? Let me know your thoughts.

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

  As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

— Luke 8:15 (ESV)

    Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

— Proverbs 25:15 (NIV)

  Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? …  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

— Isaiah 40:27, 30-31 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,  as I wait on You, I put the Lord Jesus Christ on as my Slippers of Patience, the Right Slipper of Forgiveness and the Left Slipper of Forbearance.  In His Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Which Star; Which Light?”

Date: 12-17-14

Text: — Matthew 2:1-2 — 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Take an honest inward look to answer these questions.

My Thoughts: 

There are many lights in the sky. There are many voices in the crowd. But which do we follow? To which do we listen?

Lifestyle worshiper: we need to take an honest inward look to answer these questions. Sometimes the voices we listen to are from the past—past failures, past guilt, all of which have been confessed and forgiven. Some of the lights we follow are bright enough to offer some guidance, dimly lighting our way, but do we join the magi in follow His star (v. 2)? The Light of this Star is faithful, leading on paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. It leads us to the Voice that calms the sea and forgives the adulteress. “This Voice that is calling you and me.”

Is your light bright enough? Is it His Star? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

— John 8:63 (NIV)

   When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

— John 8:12 (NIV84)

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

— Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

Heavenly Father,  I commit to follow the true Light that has come into the world, Your Son,  the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray I faithfully walk in the Light as He is in the Light. May I hear His voice alone and obey His promptings. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Hard of Hearing Leads to Hardness of Heart”

Date: 12-03-14

Text: — Jeremiah 29:19 — For they have not listened to My words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: “‘Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.’” (NIV84)

My Thoughts: 

It is sad, but I have discovered that hard of hearing leads to hardness of heart. And this is far more serious than any medical condition. I have found the those who hardly listen to the Lord actually have a very hard heart. I have also discover that the more I listen to the Lord the more I can hear Him, but conversely, the less I listen to the Lord the less I can hear Him….

Lifestyle worshipers, how do we listen to the Lord? Is it a still small voice or a loud audible shout? Does He still speak to us today? I think the answer is “yes” to all three questions. Primarily, He speaks to us through His Word. Nothing can contradict this. If we say, “The Lord told me,” or “I feel lead of the Lord to…,” then it better be consistent with the Written Word. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 4:6: “‘Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.’”

So the best place to start “hearing” from the Lord is hearing His written Words. Then we can better recognize His still small voice, or His loud audible ‘shouts’. Join me in being one who hears more because the more I hear the softer my heart becomes.  Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

— Revelation 2:7 (NIV84)

  Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

— Mark 4:9 (NIV84)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

— James 1:22 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, give me ears to hear so it will soften my heart to obey Your promptings.  In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“How Many Times Do I Have to Tell You?”

Date: 12-02-14

Text: — Jeremiah 29:19 —  For they have not listened to My words,” declares the LORD  “words that I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the LORD.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Before we start pointing fingers or elbowing our mates, let us ask ourselves, we must ask ourselves the same question.

My Thoughts: 

If you’re a parent, I’m sure you can relate to the LORD here. He has told His children time and again to live righteously. He has sent them messengers to reveal how they were really living and how they ought to live. But, as recorded in Jeremiah 29:19 (noted above), “They have not listened.” Can you hear Him saying, “How many times do I have to tell you?”

Lifestyle worshipers, before we start pointing fingers or elbowing our mates, let us ask ourselves, “How many times does the LORD have to tell us  how to live righteously? How many times does He have to point out how we are living and need to change (aka repent)?” An honest heart search will reveal much. I know in my life it has.

This has been especially so during this past Thanksgiving. I put on our church’s kiosk the saying, “A thankful heart has no room for resentment.” I did so for two reasons: (1) It is true; and (2) I needed to hear this. The LORD has been revealing to me how resentful I have been and that the remedy was a thankful heart. Have you, too, discovered that a thank-full heart has no room for resentment?  Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. — Colossians 4:2 (NIV84)

  First, I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him..

— 1 Timothy 2:1 (NCV)

First, I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him.

— Colossians 3:15 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, continue Your healing work in my Life, removing those resentments, large and small. In Your Mercy, heal over the scars, and in Your wisdom grant me the grace to live with the ones You have chosen to leave behind.  In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“What does it mean to Submit to God?”

Date: 11-08-14

Text: — James 4:7-10 — 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea:  Our God deeply desires for us to follow what He has commanded because He Loves us.

My Thoughts: 

We sing, “He is Lord;” we often speak of His lordship over us, but what does it mean to submit to our Lord? Our God? James makes it clear using a military term in an urgent form in v. 7 “Submit”: “Fall in line; obey His orders.” But we cringe to think that the Holy One would do this…. But again, the Holy Spirit prompted James to use just the right word and form which necessarily implies: “willfully fall it line; choose to obey His orders.”

Do you find it as interesting as I do, Lifestyle worshipers, that James uses the word “God” and not “Lord”? I do. I think it further reinforces this free chose to submit. Our God does not demand we grovel at His feet, constantly begging for mercy. (Boy, I sure need to hear this!) No, rather our God deeply desires for us to follow Him, doing what He has commanded because He Loves us, knowing that it will go well with us and for us.

But what does it mean to submit to God? To me, it first means being available to hear from Him through prayer and His Word. In order to be available, I must make time to do this. Sometimes this requires carving out a moment here or there to read His Word, and particularly in my case, beyond sermon and Bible lesson preparation, but rather merely for my own personal edification.

How about your thoughts on what it means to “Submit to God?”  Care to share?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

— John 8:31-32 (NIV84 emphasis added)

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

—1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV84)

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

—Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, as I humbly submit to You, I ask the Lord Jesus Christ to empower me through Your Holy Spirit to make time to listen to You both at a special time and throughout the day.  Lord Jesus Christ, through Your power and by Your shed blood, I confess that I have not made a diligent effort to meet with You. I have sinned grievously against You. I ask You, Lord Jesus Christ, to bear the consequences of my actions. Remove the pain and shame I have caused Your Name. Be that part of my life that has been disobedient to You. I release myself into Your hands. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Can We Know How Much We Are Deceived?”

Date: 11-06-14

Text: — James 4:1-3 — 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: I discovered yet another factor in my remedy for self-deception.

My Thoughts: 

In our walk with Jesus, can we really know how much we are deceived by this world’s system? In the passage above, James jabs some rather pointed indictments, while pulling no punches later in the verses that follow. But as we read this, is your initial response, “I don’t do any of this?” Mine was. I do not kill anyone. I really don’t covet…. Ah, but do? Is it possible that I have not because when I ask, I ask merely to spend it on my selfish pleasures (v. 3)? Good question, oh my soul; good question, indeed.

Twice in his letter, James warns us not to deceive ourselves (1:22, 26). Self-deception is very cunning. The sad truth is, we really do not know when we are deceived. (If we did, we wouldn’t be, right?) I think this is why James closes his letter with “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth…” (5:19 emphasis added). (The Greek word for wander has the implication of being deceived from any source.)

Lifestyle worshipers, is it important to discover how much we are or have been deceived? I think so. If the truth shall set us free, then knowing the Lord Jesus (The Truth!) more intimately will set us free from deception, be it self-delusion or other-concocted.

Several years back, for several Sundays—which seemed like months, “We don’t know how much we are deceived” kept sneaking into my sermons. I am not sure if the Holy Spirit was talking to someone else, but He sure was directly talking to me. It was shortly after this that I had an epiphany. I received a DVD in the mail asking the question: “Is America A Christian Nation.” For years I had argued it wasn’t. I had all my history books from College and high school which clearly demonstrated we were more deistic is foundation than Christian, but as the DVD unfolded with original documents to establish that America, indeed, had deep Christian roots it her founding, my worldview of this began to crumble and a melancholy grieving overtook my life for some months to follow. (In subsequent research, I had discovered that this specific aspect of history had been systematically sterilized from our text books for decades.)

Now I know to some, this would seem like a frivolous bunny trail of sorts, but for me it was a soul stirring moment. Because after this unveiling, I had to ask, “How much more was I being deceived on other subjects—civil or sacred?” Back to the Word I went!

If the Word is the Truth, and if the Holy Spirit has imbued it with the very essence of the Holy Trinity, then it naturally follows that this Word shines a bright spotlight on any deception I may be in…. So I studied the Word all the more intensely. And in doing so, I discovered yet another factor in my remedy for self-deception, and I think James is subtly telling us this: We need each other to expose our blindspots.

In Love, I need to confess my sins to my accountability team (see 5:16) in order to find healing, and part of this healing is lifting the self-deception from my life. I must practice true wisdom from above (see 4:17) by often checking in with a close confidant in order to get a ‘spiritual checkup’ as one would a physical checkup. And in Love, I must make myself available for those who have ‘wandered from the truth,’ and gentle restore such a one, who may not realized that they, too, have been deceived.

Have you discovered these same elements if addressing deception? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive.” — Matthew 24:4-5 (NIV84)

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness —Colossians 2:4-7 (NIV84)

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. —1 Corinthians 3: 18 (NIV84)

 

Heavenly Father, by the shed blood of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through His power, I submit myself to You. Renew my mind. Deliver me from any deception I may be exposed to, whether it is self-imposed or not. I put You on, Lord Jesus Christ, as my Belt of Truth. Sanctify me and set me apart by this Truth: Your Word is Truth.  Be that part of my life that has been in bondage to any deception. I release myself into Your hands. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“What is a ‘Shema’ Faith?”

 

Date: 10-10-14

Text: — James 2:18 — 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. [NIV84]

The Big Idea:  A necessary element to ‘Shema,’ ‘to hear’ is to hear as to pay attention so to promptly and properly obey (or act on) what is heard.

My Thoughts: 

First of all, the word, ‘Shema’ is Hebrew. Its primary meaning is to hear. It is not always translated so, however. This is because there is a necessary element to ‘Shema’: ‘to hear’ as to pay attention so to promptly and properly obey (or act on) what is heard….

Lifestyle worshipers, this morning’s Heartwork devotion reminds of us the healing grace found in our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father, especially through adoption (read Eph.1:3-10 for a fuller view of this). How does a ‘Shema’ Faith interweave with such overwhelming grace? Does not the beggar who found a feast share it with his friends? Is this the fruit of a ‘Shema’ faith? Or does it mean something else? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. —  Galatians 5:6 (NIV84)
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. — Matthew 7:24 (NIV84)

 

Heavenly Father, as I seek Your face open my heart to what pleases You in heaven so I may do the same on earth. Forgive me for having dull ears and weak hands. In Your Grace and Mercy empower me by Your Spirit to walk in the power of a ‘Shema’ Faith,’  pleasing You in all I think and do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike