St Augustine “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure …”
Demons also….
- · Confessed Christ as Lord
- · Prayed to Christ (not to send them into the pit)
- · Obeyed Christ (by entering the pigs)
- · Were baptized! (Pigs ran into the sea)
What is the difference between demons and saints?
Seriously, I use this example to make this point: The demons were NOT transformed. We see this concept repeated in the example of Simon the Sorcerer. He believed, obeyed, confessed, and was baptized. BUT, he was not transformed. Peter warned him that he might be lost if he did not repent (Acts 8:13-24).
Our conversion to Christ must include transformation; renewing by the Holy Spirit, submitting to being molded into the image of Christ by the power of God for His glorification.
Our conversion includes an inner dimension as we submit to transformational baptism (from darkness to light Col 1:13) which is more than a command; it is our prayer to receive an introduction to God through Christ (Romans 5:1-2) and the indwelling of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). True conversion includes, among other aspects, an understanding of Lordship (1 Peter 3:15), community (2 Cor 6:14; 13:14), commission (Matthew 28:18-19), and the Vision of God for His Kingdom (2 Tim 4:1-5, Hebrews 12:25; 2 Peter 1:1-11).
“Baptism is more important than we think, but not for the reasons we suppose.”
“Baptism is the sinner’s prayer for a good conscience; a prayer for the application of God’s saving act.” (John Mark Hicks & Greg Taylor from Down in the River to Pray)
“We go down in the river to pray for a good conscience” addressing God as the giver of our salvation.
“We go down in the river to pray for a good conscience” addressing God as the giver of our salvation.
Transformational baptism is God’s grace delivered to believers through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of His Spirit (Titus 3:5-7).
Baptism is NOT a work of Man, but a work of God. Colossians 2:12 instructs us to have faith in the working of God requires in our baptism.
BUT THERE IS STILL MORE!
God wants more than good theology; He wants us to know (intimately know), to claim Him as Lord (1 Peter 3:15), and to serve Him (take up our cross and follow Him). The man who says, “I know Him but does not do what He commands is a liar.”
SMALL GROUP: Share Testimony of what your life would be without Christ.
We believe we KNOW the Bible and that we live by it. This is why Paul tells us to continually re-examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.
Video: Are Your Beliefs Biblical.
Goal of this Lesson is to answer these questions:
(1) What is it that we still lack in order to serve God?
(2) How do we need to be equipped so that we are giving God our best and not our leftovers?
Let’s find out about the Laodicea church. What do you learn from each of these Scriptures? Colossians letter was written in about 62 AD during Paul’s imprisonment (Nero). The Revelation letter was written 30 years later. What has happened?
(4) Romans 13:14- 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
(5) Galatians 5:16- 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
VIDEO: Part 1 - Stop Acting Like a Christian. Be One!
Part 2 - Stop Acting Like a Christian. Be One!
Personal Story
- · Colossians 2:1-6
- · Colossians 4:12-16
- · Revelation 3:14-22
Researchers document this kind of cycle in congregations regularly. Often congregations start out strong, remembering their mission and then become “pew-sitters”. This is what happens; newer members are more on fire for God than established members.
Nothing throws cold water on a fire like someone who stops trying to expand their influence for Christ. When the “church” becomes the focus of all its own attention, then we have forgotten our first love, the love for the lost.
Chapter 5 Crazy Love:
If Ronnie, the poor blind boy, can see his ministry more clearly than those who are sighted, then the sighted are truly lukewarm. Chan asks, “What is more messed up—that we have so much more compared to everyone else, or that we don’t think we’re rich? …Even calling ourselves “broke”.
Yes, we are “broke” or rather broken and only the Holy Spirit can wake us up to the Will of God. We know the Scriptures, we don’t need to re-read “Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
What we need, is to live it!
We decide how we will spend our time. First Century Christians had MUCH less leisure time than we do. The huge idol sitting in the room, which we continuously ignore, the perverbal elephant, which no one wants to admit is starring everyone in the face, is our idolatrous use of our leisure time. It is this elephant that is enabling us to slowly float away from Christ or like the frog being boiled alive…we have not yet noticed it….and probably won’t until it is too late.
Henri Nouwen voiced it quite nicely, “It’s hard to bear with people who….seek their own happiness in little pleasures which they cling to…You feel sad about all that self-indulgence and self-satisfaction, for you know with an indestructible certainty that something greater is coming.”
A paraphrase of Luke 9:25 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world of pleasure, entertainment and fun…and lose his whole family to the devil.”
So what does the Bible say about the HUGE elephant in the room?
2 Timothy 3:1-2 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form (rituals) of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Parenting Practices which sell our children’s souls for Fleeting Fun instead of Eternal Joy
About 20 years ago, I was working in Russia on a mission effort. One of my dear Russian friends often asked questions about American life that puzzled her; like how could we eat a fatty burger and wash it down with a ice cold coke. "Don't you know what happens to all that grease when you drink cold liquids?", she would query. Her education in Russia had been as a veterinarian, not what we think of, but an inspector of meat for human consumption. She was often plagued by the fact that Russians on the average died at much earlier ages than Americans yet our eating habits were so detestable to her.
After all the interesting conversations I have had with her, the most haunting was this observation that she made, "When visiting the United States as we get in the car to leave, Americans always wave good bye and say, 'Have fun!'. Why do you all always think that we are looking for fun?"
Apparently, "fun" was not a criterion for a successful life in soviet Russia. But for the next 20 years I became very sensitized to the word "fun":
· This is going to be fun
· How fun!
· That was funny.
· Was that fun?
· Did you have fun?
It seems the opposite of having fun is being bored:
· This is soooooooooooooooooooooo boring
· I'm bored
· I have nothing to do…..BORRRRRRING!
Too often we, as Americans, measure something's worth by whether it is boring or fun.
My point in introducing you to my Russian friend was to let you know that seeking "fun" is NOT a universal aspiration. And I hope to provide you with enough of the inspired Word to transform your family’s incessant pursuit of "fun" into pursuit of eternal joy.
Seeking fun, the goal of many Americans, is perhaps the most detrimental enemy of the Church and Christianity. Many have sold their souls to seeking after fun and entertainment every weekend to the detriment of the Cross of Christ.
St Augustine put it this way, “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure …”
Followers of Christ have never been called to “fun”, but to sacrifice. Our weekly schedules are often too overrun with entertainment, sports, dance lessons, etc. to give any time to Kingdom concerns.
WHAT IS FUN?
Let’s try and define "fun.” To some it is a night of drinking and dancing, amusement parks, toilet papering someone's house, wild sex, birthday parties with innocent games, wrestling with your children on the floor, watching a football game, cruising the Mediterranean, or attending a rock concert. Fun is defined by each individual. What is fun for some is not for others. But basically fun is something that amuses, brings thrills or laughter, indulges the senses in pleasure, entertains, or involves joking.
When children leave the house we often hear someone say, “Have fun and stay safe!” These two parameters often go hand-in-hand. As neither are actually Biblical goals or modeled by Christ and his disciples, it might be wise to rethink how we have been frogs slowly boiling in the waters of self-satisfaction, self-indulgence, and continuously on the hunt for what pleases our lust for amusement.
The BIG QUESTIONS
- · Do we care that we might be raising children who seek too much after self-satisfaction, entertainment, and pleasure?
- · Do we see the “disconnect” between the Followers of Christ and the followers of American culture?
- · Do we really want to measure life by fleeting fun, which is much like a dog chasing its tail?
- · Is it pleasing to us that our family life is entangled so much in the pursuit of happiness, entertainment, amusement, and fun in order to ward off boredom?
- · What does the Bible say about why we should make money?
CONTEXT
In the context of our culture, we are surrounded by a powerful entertainment industry that is selling fleeting fun. The world knows how to dish it out, but does not know how to sustainable it. Fun is fleeting and produces a continual thirst for it (definition of addiction). Our thirst for fun often out-weighs our hunger and thirst for righteousness and the Kingdom of God. What is the opposite of “fun?” Well, it is not boredom, it is eternal joy brought about through a meaningful relationship and service to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
You can search all day long in Scripture and you won’t find a word in the Greek or Hebrew that refers to what we have come to idolized by our continuous pursuits. You will find the word “pleasure” several times usually referring to the fleeting pleasures of sin. Let’s look more closely, as Followers of Christ, into the text to re-examine what a family’s goals should be to be pleasing to God.
When searching Scripture concerning this topic of “seeking fun", this is what we find:
( (1) Luke 8:14 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
(2) Mark 4:19 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
It is pretty clear here that the elephant in the room is........ our own desire for pleasures and other “things”, other priorities, and other time-wasting pursuits that are choking out the Word of God which produces no fruit for the Kingdom.
( (3) 2Tim 3:3f 3- But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
(4) Romans 13:14- 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
(5) Galatians 5:16- 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Yes, the desire of fleshly pleasure, and we are not only talking about sexual appetites here, war against our calling in Jesus Christ. Christ has called us to a sacrificial service (taking up our cross daily) which brings eternal joy, peace, and hope to the one who answers His call.
What I see, as an educator in young people, is a galloping trend towards self-indulgence, complacency, narcissism, and boredom.
Try taking away a child’s video game and see what reaction you get! There is an addiction to instant gratification and stimulation which when deprived of will result in depression, defiance, and disconnection.
This has been well documented in recent research studies. Recent brain research documents that video gaming lights up the same centers in the brain as cocaine (Behavioral Health http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57357895-10391704/internet-addiction-changes-brain-similar-to-cocaine-study/
Is it sinful to indulge in video gaming? Only if we are in bondage to it and only if God has nothing else better for a Follower of Christ to do.
Is it sinful to have fun and unwind? Only if we have made this our priority and "practice." God has a lot to say about "practice" and how we "spend" our time.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
A GOOD ANSWER
Is it a sinful to encourage children to play baseball, soccer, or other sports? No, however, if their love for the sport grows more than their love for being a sacrificial servant of Christ, then--YES. Is it a sin to have “fun” with the kids? No, but only if we have a priority to build deeper relationships with Christ, friends and family for the sake of reflecting the Light.
BEST ANSWER
Larry West helped to teach his children core Kingdom values. One example was when his son asked if he can go to the prom. “Yes, you can go to the prom as long as you go because you want to share Christ.”
REFLECTION- Are we giving God the leftovers
Did we misunderstand Christ? Did He say, “Take up your cross ‘once a week’ and follow me?”
What are your thoughts?
A REAL STORY
As an educator, I am often blessed to teach a 4th -5th grade Bible classes. I was on a one-year mission effort with several other families. One father, on the mission team, decided he wanted his boy to become the world’s best baseball player. He signed his son up for every team in the county. The boy began to play baseball every day. He gained skills, as you might imagine with as much practice as he was getting. The dad started taking him to games and tournaments in other counties every weekend. These tournaments lasted until late Sunday evening requiring the boy and father to miss assembly and Bible classes for months at a time.
When the boy finally did attend class, on an off weekend, he was visibly disgruntled and vocally unhappy to be there. He was “bored” in Bible study and would much rather be playing baseball than attending assembly worship or a Bible class. He had already prioritized his life and seeking the Kingdom was not anywhere in his preferred agenda.
TOO BUSY FOR GOD
The question that keeps coming up when we talk about learning to disciple others; peers, friends and family members is, “how do you have enough time? My family is on the go all the time. I don’t have time for anything else. Just tell me, how are we suppose to add anything else to our family’s schedule?”
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER?
Mine is: REALLY? Is time really the problem? Or have we sold our souls for a life of entertainment, sporting events, and fun? Will the trophies our children gather in ballet, baseball, soccer, piano, or band make any difference in eternity?.... Only if we are showing up at these events to shine the Light.
WHAT ARE WE EQUIPPING OUR CHILDREN TO BECOME?
God has uniquely made each of his followers to become both a disciple and a disciple-maker. How will you and your children develop that skill? Remember this requires life-long skill development. You don’t wake up one day and become a disciple or a disciple maker. Who will your children model themselves after?
Narcissism has reached 89% in our current generation. Why do you think we have become, “lovers of self and lovers of our own pleasure?”
VIDEO: Part 1 - Stop Acting Like a Christian. Be One!
Part 2 - Stop Acting Like a Christian. Be One!
Personal Story
My experience as a child was moving all over the United States from Oregon to Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and California. Mission trips included Mexico, Washington State, Florida, Germany, Estonia, Ukraine, and 20 years in Russia. I think God that He gave me a fairly good global perspective on the world, even though it has been pretty unpopular in my neck of the woods.
Having grown up in LA, I wanted to find a more environmentally friendly place to raise my kids. Raising them in East Texas meant that they could be fairly safe, unhampered by gangs, most drugs, and bullies. They were able to attend a small school where prayer and Scripture were still modeled every day. But something was lacking. They were not the global citizens I had hoped.
They began to exhibit some traits that made me worry. I woke up one day and realized their thinking was very “small town” and cliquish. They didn't tolerate a whole lot of diversity and were often afraid of expanding their experiences outside of their little slice of Heaven.
This concerned me so much that I decided to include them on my mission trips over seas. At first I begged my oldest to join me, but she just didn't want to go. Then I tricked her by inviting one of her friends to come along to Russia. I did the same thing with my son when we went to China.
After only a few trips, both of these children took on global trips of their own including mission work to Russia and China. The moral of this story is….you have to stretch your children’s comfort zones and teach them to sacrificially serve others. It does not happen while sitting in a pew or looking in their teenage narcissistic mirror.
GIVING GOD THE LEFTOVERS
The discussion about “seeking fun and entertainment” leads us in so many directions that we could talk about it for hours. Here are some things to consider:
· Do we stay up late on Saturday night to indulge in our favorite entertainment and then give the assembly a tired, worn-out effort?
· Do we spend all our time on Sundays watching football instead of visiting the sick or in Bible studies with friends?
· Do we spend all our money on vacations, concerts, toys, games, etc. and give God the leftover from our paycheck?
· Do we buy the biggest house, most expensive car, and best clothes to fit in with our peers or do we follow Galatians 5:13
· Yes, we are free in American but how do we use your freedom? In accordance with 1 Peter 2:16?
· Yes, we make more money that most people on the planet, but how do we spend that money? In accordance with 2 Corinthians 8:2, 14, 1 Tim 6:17-19, 1 John 3:17, Prov 28:8, James 2:14-17; 5:1-3, Hebrew 13:16, Luke 3:11, Romans 12:13
· Yes, we are rich! Do we see ourselves in the Luke 16:19-31 parable?
· How can we raise children and/or dedicate ourselves to being first and foremost Followers of Christ?
· Have you discussed with your children your short-term and long-term goals for their transformation into disciple-makers?
Resources:
· Behavioral Health http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57357895-10391704/internet-addiction-changes-brain-similar-to-cocaine-study/
· The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement,
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2013/08/20/wealthy-selfies-how-being-rich-increases-narcissism/#ixzz2hjDSiNxx
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2013/08/20/wealthy-selfies-how-being-rich-increases-narcissism/#ixzz2hjDSiNxx
No comments:
Post a Comment