Sunday, July 5, 2015
Doing the right things and yet . . .
If you call yourself a Christian, a Christ follower, and
rely on God’s Word for daily re-calibrating, and boast in God’s provision and
protection, and know His will and approve of the irreducible essentials, being
taught the Bible by stellar teachers, and are confident that you yourself are a
guide for those growing in godliness and light for turning hearts toward God, a
corrector of foolishness, a teacher of the immature, having in the Bible the embodiment
of knowledge and truth, you who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
You who teach how to follow Christ, do you follow yourself?
You who preach do not covet, do you covet?
You who say that one should not commit adultery, do your
eyes or emotions commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you turn to your comfort idols?
You who boast in God’s Word, through your drifting from God’s
will, do you dishonor God?
For “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
because of you,” just as it is written.
[Now compare Rm 7.14-25. What are the similarities?]
For indeed Bible reading and prayer are of value if you
practice God’s will, but if you are a transgressor of God’s ways, your Bible
reading and prayers become non-Bible reading and non-prayers. So if a non-Bible
reader does God’s will, will he not be regarded as a Bible reader? For he is
not a Christ follower who is one outwardly, but he is a Christ follower who is
one inwardly, one whose heart is turned toward God, by the Spirit, not by externals;
and his praise is not from men, but from God.
(A modified applicational reading of Romans 2.12-29, craving
today’s demonstration.)
Solution:
Romans 8, heart of the solution.
“ . . . if by the
Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans
8.13
This is a
winnable war.
Turning Hearts Toward God,
Paul A Lewis
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Monday, December 24, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Bait and switch or soft sell?
This morning's Bible class discussion surfaced the question of, "How to speak boldly?" "Boldly" characterizes the prominent speakers in Acts and is featured in Acts 4.29 ". . . Grant that your servants may speak your Word with all boldness . . . ."
Speaking boldly is not being concerned about the consequences when speaking the truth in love. How do I speak the Word with boldness with the "guys at work?" Neither a red faced, veins bulging, in your face with judgmental tones nor a warm-fuzzy soft sell version seem to be biblical approaches. The bait and switch version is also unacceptable. I think that I have bought into a mind-set that says don't offend or alienate and be really - really gentle. Thus being guilty of saying nothing or not enough. That approach is not easily confused with boldness.
So, what do I say? How do I engage the "guys at work" in conversation that contributes progress toward faith in Jesus? What if Hebrews 10.24 entered the approach? ". . . Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds . . . ." What if I carefully observed the conversations and actions at work and considered a response or contribution that would move people toward the faith in God? Maybe no one can teach me a set of responses for a variety of settings. The Spirit, however, certainly is capable of prompting a fitting response.
4:10 P.M. There's a knock at the door, [tempting thought, "Go away boy, you bother me." I'm trying write.]
Boy. "Want to play catch?"
Me. [silence] "I'm trying to remember where I put my glove. If you don't take care of things, you can't find them. Do you take care of things?"
Boy. "Yes."
4:50 P.M. Return from from playing catch and back to writing.
Was that a fitting Spirit led response?
Perhaps I don't say anything at work because I don't know what to say?
I could just speak from what Jesus has done for me in my walk with him.
Although there's value in speaking from my current relationship with God, I am driven to grow in my love for him and develop my relationship with him, thus optimally positioning myself to be used by the Spirit. Out of that rich relationship, he would be free to cause me to recognize entry points into situations and to supply the necessary words and thoughts that would turn hearts toward God.
Hhmm, I would have to get more familiar with the Bible and know my theology better.
Following through on his lead and obeying the first time may require speaking with boldness.
Speaking boldly is not being concerned about the consequences when speaking the truth in love. How do I speak the Word with boldness with the "guys at work?" Neither a red faced, veins bulging, in your face with judgmental tones nor a warm-fuzzy soft sell version seem to be biblical approaches. The bait and switch version is also unacceptable. I think that I have bought into a mind-set that says don't offend or alienate and be really - really gentle. Thus being guilty of saying nothing or not enough. That approach is not easily confused with boldness.
So, what do I say? How do I engage the "guys at work" in conversation that contributes progress toward faith in Jesus? What if Hebrews 10.24 entered the approach? ". . . Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds . . . ." What if I carefully observed the conversations and actions at work and considered a response or contribution that would move people toward the faith in God? Maybe no one can teach me a set of responses for a variety of settings. The Spirit, however, certainly is capable of prompting a fitting response.
4:10 P.M. There's a knock at the door, [tempting thought, "Go away boy, you bother me." I'm trying write.]
Boy. "Want to play catch?"
Me. [silence] "I'm trying to remember where I put my glove. If you don't take care of things, you can't find them. Do you take care of things?"
Boy. "Yes."
4:50 P.M. Return from from playing catch and back to writing.
Was that a fitting Spirit led response?
Perhaps I don't say anything at work because I don't know what to say?
I could just speak from what Jesus has done for me in my walk with him.
Although there's value in speaking from my current relationship with God, I am driven to grow in my love for him and develop my relationship with him, thus optimally positioning myself to be used by the Spirit. Out of that rich relationship, he would be free to cause me to recognize entry points into situations and to supply the necessary words and thoughts that would turn hearts toward God.
Hhmm, I would have to get more familiar with the Bible and know my theology better.
Following through on his lead and obeying the first time may require speaking with boldness.
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