“A Desire for Righteousness”

The statement made by Jesus captured in our main text this morning is indeed a shock and awe moment for us. If we are honest with ourselves, the first shock and awe is even if we have a desire to be righteousness. You know, do we desire to live the Life that is pleasing to our Master? Well, we may desire to want to get into heaven, but our culture has been the proverbial frog in the boiling pot to us, and we have dumbed down our passions and desires. We don’t want to stick out too much. Just be medium. Mediocre.

Is this so of you? I can feel the warmth of the water as the other frog legs entangle mine….

But what if I were to tell you “righteousness” is not a thing but a person? The Lord Jesus Himself. He is our Righteousness. Does this change anything? Do passions rise in you to please Him? Love Him more and more each day?

This is my prayer and desire for all of us: that we continue to press hard with a profound passion after our Lord Jesus. Let us spur one another on this Journey. It is only when the Lord Jesus is our Righteousness that indeed we have a superior Righteousness.

Main Text— Matthew 5:20 (NIV84) 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,  “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,  a King who will reign wisely  and do what is just and right in the land.   In his days Judah will be saved  and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called:  The Lord Our Righteousness.”Jeremiah 23:5–6 (NIV84)

 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.—Roman 3:22–24 (NIV84)

  It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”— 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, swell in me a passion and desire to follow you with a heart that is true. In Your Holy Name, Amen. 

Pastor Mike

“An Intense Pursuit or A Disinterested Accomplishment”

As I observe cats playing with a toy or a cricket, they act almost disinterested in playing with it. A little catch and release, and then they soon get bored. Ah, but if you give a dog a bone, he’ll gnaw on it until it is gone. Every morning, my dog pursues me until he gets this special minty doggy treat. I have taught him to politely take it from me. (Prior to this he would nearly take my fingers with his treat!) But once he finds his special place, he devours this treat—gnawing on it until it is completely consumed.

In my observations of these two different approaches to pursing, I have discovered that in some areas of my life, my pursuit of Jesus is like a cat: I have arrived! I’ve accomplished something, and then quite frankly, I appear disinterested and forget about “it”—whatever lesson or character aspect He has revealed…. But in other areas of my walk with Jesus, I am like my dog: I intensely pursue Him and then gnaw on the truth of His Character He is revealing to me until I have consumed it. (Grant it, this gnawing & consuming is not as instantaneous as my dog’s.)

Now, to be sure, some truths about Jesus for some are an accomplishment, while others are a continual pursuit. But I am referring to the intensity and completeness of the pursuit versus the disinterest that appears to accompany accomplishing something. Have I settle for merely scratching the surface, or have I dug down deep (to change the metaphor)? Is it okay for me to sometimes be like a cat and take in only a little?  Intriguingly, the Greek word for “pursue” in our main text means, “to do something with intense effort and with definite purpose or goal.” This is the sort of pursuit of Jesus I want to have….

This Sunday’s Advent focus is “The Pursuit of the Messiah.” And as I focus on my pursing the Lord Jesus Christ with intensity and a definite purpose of getting to know Him as my Righteousness, I wonder what marvelous truths about myself and His being my Righteousness I will discover this Christmas, … Oh, and what does it look like to have this intense pursuit of a dog?

Join me on our journey with Jesus at this Christmas time to really inventory our intensity and purpose in our pursuit of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus!

… and make this Christmas especially merry.

Main Text: — 1 Timothy 6:11–12 (NIV84)— 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.— Hebrews 12:1–2 (NIV84)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.— Matthew 6:33 (NIV84)

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.—Jeremiah 23:5–6 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, satisfy the desires of my soul as I passionately pursue the Lord Jesus Christ as my Righteousness. I put You on, Lord Jesus Christ, as my Breastplate of Righteousness that I might walk in paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. In Your Name, Amen!

Pastor Mike

“Passion and Progress”

Date: 06-04-15

My Thoughts:

How do you measure your passion and progress in your walk with Jesus? What metrics are convenient for you to use? How much time you read the Bible or spend in a quiet time? How frequently you attend Bible studies and celebration services?

Or do you use the Fruit of the Spirit growing in you? You know: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Or how about thinking about the now proverbial (and near trivialized) WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) prior to ever decision you make?

I have seen quiet passion and subtle progress in myself and others, and I have seen massive grow and explosive passion, as well. I think there is room in the Kingdom for both. Do you?  Oh, and how do you measure being ‘more patient’ with someone?

Your thoughts?

Main Text: — Romans 12:11-13 — 11 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 13 Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. [The Message]

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. — 1 John 3:16-18 (NIV84)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. —Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV84)

  Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. — Philippians 2:14-16a (NIV84)

 Heavenly Father, ignite in me a passion for Your Son that will make Your Light in me first blind and then reveal the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep my mind and thoughts stayed on Him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Pastor Mike

“Betwixt the Two?”

Date: 04-12-15

The Big IdeaBurn in my soul a passion to please You in and through what I say and do.

My Thoughts: Lifestyle worshiper, are you betwixt the two? Are you torn between being with Jesus or remaining here (v. 23)? Or is there no struggle at all? In the main text noted below, the Apostle Paul expresses a deep passion to be with the Lord Jesus; but he has an equally deep passion for continuing his ministry of sharing the Good News. For him this is a great struggle. But have you noticed that for some there is no struggle at all, yet for different reasons.

What do you feel are some reasons that some do not have this struggle? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one struggle.

Main Text: — Philippians 1:21-23 — 21  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; [NIV84]

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. — 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 (NIV84)

  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.   —Romans 12:2 (NIV84)

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.   — 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV84)

 Lord Jesus Christ, as You burn in my soul a passion to please You in and through what I say and do, may my yearning to be with You make me more faithful until I am. In Your Name, Amen. 

Pastor Mike

“Prayer: A Common Habit”

Date: 12-28-14

Text: — Acts 10:9 — About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Beyond New Year’s resolutions and revolutions, let us make it a common habit to pray.

My Thoughts: 

As you read the above verse, prayer seems like a natural part of Peter’s life. No fanfare or special attention was made. It is stated as if it is a natural, common habit of Peter’s life: “Peter went up on the roof to prayer.”

Lifestyle worshiper: Peter was ‘caught’ several times in the Book of Acts personally praying or a part of group prayer: Acts 1:14; 3:1; 4:24-31; 8:15 just to list a few…

As we close out one year and begin a new one, perhaps you have sense the urgency to pray more. I know I have. Beyond New Year’s resolutions and revolutions, let us make it a common habit to pray: both privately and in groups. The way I understand it: Praying is to the spiritual Life as breathing is to the physical. So I guess praying is a good thing, eh?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed

— Luke 5:16 (NIV84)

   One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

— Luke 11:1 (NIV84)

 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

— Luke 22:31-32 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father,  burn in my soul a passion to pray.  Direct me by  Your Holy Spirit to the topics of prayer from praise to intersession. May I humbly seek Your Face through Your Son’s empowerment. In His Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike