A PASSION FOR THE PRIZE

 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13-14)

A passion for the prize—that is how we could sum up Paul’s motivation in ministry.  That prize was Christ-likeness—to be ultimately attained in glory, and relentlessly pursued on earth.  Such a life focuses on becoming all that God has designed us to be in Christ.  Our position in Him gives us the solid ground to passionately pursue our call. 

We cannot look back, lest we trip.  Yesterday is past—for good or bad.  Regret over past stumbles will only hinder us today if we wallow in self-pity.  Reliance on past successes will only hobble us today if we swell in self-promotion.  Regret the past to the point of repentance and then move ahead.  Reflect on the past to the point of rejoicing and then go forward.  There is not enough energy for such fruitless retracing our steps, but all our strength must be expended in the race ahead of us.

Friend, we are headed down the homestretch!  The finish line is in sight!  It is time to pour it on—the final kick to propel us onward!  Did you know that today might be the last day of this earthly race?

Beyond the finish line, there stands the Judge on the dais in Heaven.  He holds in His nail-scarred hands the victor’s crown, ready to place on the head of all who finish as champions.  There will be no greater joy than for Him to place it upon our head and hear Him say, “Well done!”  What a victory celebration awaits!  Glory to His name forever!  In running for Christ, we have given ourselves to Him who gave Himself for us!  How much did He give?  He gave His all, and let us respond in turn.  Our ultimate delight is to be abide in Him and live for Him.  If that is true, we will not be disappointed.  We will attain our prize and be finally with Him and become fully like Him!

CONNECTED IN GROWTH: Our Goal

 

“till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)

As the people of God grow, church leaders are our guides, and Christ’s likeness is our goal.  We are moving toward being like Him, and that is a process which is never finished until we reach Heaven.  Growth is measured not by the size of our buildings, the amount of our budget or the numbers of the bottoms placed in a pew, but by growth in godliness.  It may well be that additional facilities are needed for additional souls being reached, who bring an increase in giving with the increase in attendance, drawn by the work that God is doing in a church that is honoring Christ.  Still, this is not the goal.  The goal is becoming like Jesus.  The other growth is the outward display of the upward devotion.

“Unity of the faith,” is a needful part of this growth.  This provides the fertile soil that nourishes the spiritual life of God’s people.  We come together in a common faith in Jesus Christ and the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God.  This focuses on “the knowledge of the Son of God.”  We not only grow to know about Him, we grow to know Christ experientially.  The focus on Jesus, as the One we worship and adore, brings the fruit of becoming like Him.

The destiny of the church is to manifest that majesty fully.  While there are no perfect churches on earth, there will be a perfect church—“a perfect man”—in eternity.  That perfection will be gauged by, “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”  

Let us not be too quick to excuse, however, the lack of Christ-likeness in our local assembly by the reality of the struggle with sin and self, where we do all stumble at times.  Some aren’t striving; they have surrendered!  Admitting that we won’t reach perfection, there should be progression!  Our church ought to look more like Jesus this year than it did last year, and next year should move us closer to the ultimate goal of being just like Him in character—love, righteousness, justice and truth.

How does this happen in the church?  It happens when individual members grow.  You have an assignment this day.  Your mission from God is to become more like Jesus.  You need the environment of the community of believers to nurture that.  As we all focus on the common goal of becoming like Jesus, unity is established, and we go and grow together toward that destination—encouraging each other along the way.

Forward, march!

CONFIDENT HOPE DESPITE FRAILTY

“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”  But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  (Exodus 3:10-11)

 

If a cat ever sits on a hot stove that cat will never sit on one again!  In fact, he won’t even sit on a cold one! 

 

Have you ever been burned?  You tried to do something good and it blew up in your face.  It’s hard to see yourself as anything but a failure and in your mind promise, “I’m not doing that again!”

 

So it was with Moses.  God showed up in dramatic fashion to arrest his stumbling servant’s attention.  But, Moses began to question whether he was the man for the job.  His past failure accentuated his present frailty and he began to make excuse after excuse.  “Who am I?” he incredulously responded to God’s re-commission.   The Lord let Him know—and we must grasp this—it isn’t who we are, but Who God is that makes the difference!

 

God answered each objection Moses presented.

 

He answered by giving SIGNS.  In Exodus 4:1-9 there are three supernatural signs offered to Moses. 

 

Here’s the first:

 

Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ” ‎So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”  And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), “that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” (4:1-5)

 

God doesn’t call us without equipping us.  If He has a work for us, then He provides the tools.  This shepherd staff would nevermore be the rod of Moses, but would be called, “The rod of God.”  It is a symbol of the power of God committed to the hand of man.   In the hand of Moses, that staff could only do what Moses could do—and that’s not much—but surrendered and reclaimed in faith it could do what the great I AM could do!  But what we have must be surrendered to Him or it has the nature of the Serpent about it!

 

Moses was also given SUPPORT.

 

Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”  So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?  Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”  So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.  Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do.  So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.  (Exodus 4:10-16)

 

Moses had limitations.  He worried about his speech impediment.  Plain and simple, none of us have all the gifts, but all of us have some of the gifts, so that together we can do all God has for us despite our own frailty.  God gives people to assist us. 

 

Hope has been reborn!   Look at this:

 

Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.  ‎And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people.  ‎So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. (Ex.4:29-31)

 

There would be more challenges to be sure.  Still God would overcome and fulfill His promises.  Human frailty does not short-circuit His omnipotent ability.

 

So you’re messed up.  You think God wouldn’t have you.  How many fail to come to Christ because they think they have been too bad or waited too long?  While there’s breath, there’s hope—but don’t delay another day!  God can give you a brand new start in life, and a brand new destination for eternity.  You can be reborn spiritually. 

 

A lot of Christians aren’t doing what they might because of allowing past failures to hold them back.  Let me ask you, “What’s in your hand?”  You may think it nothing, but God can transform it into something.  Surrender to the will of God.  There is hope for you to yet fulfill His purpose for your life.

 

 

 

LOOK BACK, LOOK AROUND AND LOOK AHEAD

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV)

As we prepare to celebrate another birthday of Pole Creek Baptist Church this upcoming Sunday, I had a few thoughts about the purpose of what we call “Homecoming Day.”

Scripture enjoins us to LOOK BACK.  “Now all these things happened to them as examples…”

What Paul writes concerning Israel’s wilderness wanderings is intended to leave us an example—that even in their failures, there is a warning not to repeat the same error.  While we are not to live in the past, we are to learn from the past!  The times have changed since Pole Creek was birthed, but the truth upon which she was founded has not!

It is a mistake for young people and newer members to neglect this element.  We may relegate the past with its testimonies and traditions to the dustbin of time and miss the valuable lessons to learn.  If we do not connect with our roots, we are in danger of becoming spiritual tumbleweeds, blown about by the prevailing winds of the latest fads.

We are exhorted that from this look back to then LOOK AROUND.  “and they were written for our admonition…”  The lessons from yesterday are to make a difference in life today.  Paul was telling the Corinthian Christians that it was imperative to apply the Scripture in their day.  Today is all we have.  Yesterday is past; tomorrow may never come.  Just thinking about the past accomplishes nothing but a dreamy nostalgia.  Others labored at Pole Creek to bring us to the opportunity around us today.  Some snort about the word, “contemporary,” especially when applied to 21^st century music, media and methodology.  But, all we have is the contemporary—our day, and the need to follow the Latin credo, “carpe diem” popularly translated as, “seize the day.”

After a look back and a look around, there follows a LOOK AHEAD.  “upon whom the end of the ages have come.”

The Apostle was telling them that from the Jews came the Messiah, and His arrival brought in the last days which will culminate in the prevailing of the Kingdom of God as Christ holds universal dominion.  What we learn from our past, is to stir us to take action in the present, and that in turn will shape our future.  For the child of God it is a glorious future God plans!

It is vital for those members who have been around awhile to come to grips with the sobering reality that they will not be here forever.  We may be so enamored with stubbornly clinging to personal preferences from decades ago, that we have no energy for opening our arms to embrace the young and accept their gifts and employ them.  Too many churches die prematurely because they begin to converse more on the way it was than to concentrate on the way to move forward.

May God help us this Lord’s Day to commemorate our history, celebrate our opportunity, and consecrate our future hopes and dreams to His glory!

IN OR OUT!

I still remember summertime as a kid.  School was out and each day was running and playing in the heat of the sun and on till the only light came from a streetlight and dew blanketed the lawn.  One of the side effects of our eagerness to play was to run out the screen door and slam it behind us.  Then, we might remember something inside we wanted to play with and run back in.  Next, it was back out with a bang.  Sure enough, before long I needed a drink of water.  After some of this, my mother would say, "In or out!  Stop slamming that door!"

It was time for a choice--in or out.

This morning I was thinking about the four lepers sitting at the gate of the city of Samaria as recorded in 2 Kings 7.  Inside there was a famine and people were slowly dying.  To go inside meant death.  Beyond the walls camped the Syrian army that had besieged the city.  To go there would most likely result in death.

But, as outlandish a scheme as it might seem, the one glimmer of hope was maybe, just maybe, the invaders would have pity and throw them a crust of bread.  Should the Syrians plunge a sword into them, it would be a swift and merciful death compared to perishing agonizingly of starvation.  One thing was certain, to remain there was a losing proposition.  They looked at each other and asked this, "Why are we sitting here until we die?"

God honored their step of faith and not only did they experience a miracle, the Israelis living in the city were delivered from the Syrians and starvation.  God caused the marauders to hear the sound of another army marching against them.  They panicked and fled, leaving all their provisions.  All this came from a decision to stop sitting and get up and do something.

As I look at our church--and we are no different than most--we are starving of a segment of our population. Young adults--those singles in college or beginning their career--a number of folks called the Millennials by some sociologists, these twenty-somethings, are absent. A few churches are reaching them, but most are unchurched and what is criminal is that the majority of churches are making little effort to engage them.

Can we look at these young folks and let them walk away from the only source of true life, eternal life, Jesus Christ?  Don't we care?  As the current church population ages, and we fail to replace dying saints with younger ones, can we not see the church is hemorrhaging and needs a transfusion of youth?

Meanwhile we occupy our pews and wish for the "good old days" and vainly hope for better days that cannot be until we ask, "Why are we sitting here until we die?"

So, I am by the grace of God going to get out of my comfort zone, and embrace my responsibility to do what I can.  Starting this Sunday and for the next three months this summer I'm going to do all I can to reach out to these young adults.  Here's the outlandish plan.

When the morning worship service concludes, we are inviting our young singles to lunch in the Family Life Center.  This food for our bodies will later give way to food for the soul, as I teach a Bible study--thirteen weeks of over-viewing God's Story, Genesis to Revelation.  Our young pastoral intern, Robert Justice will aid me, as I cultivate him and give him increasing responsibility to take over the group by the end of August.  When our time of high-energy, fast-paced, practically useful study concludes we will have some games and activities for those who wish to be involved in that.

It's about connection--connecting with God and each other in the study of transforming truth.

Will it work?  God only knows and time will tell.  All I know is that the virtual nothing we are doing isn't working--and never will.

So, what can you do?  If you are 18-29 and single, come to the launch of this ministry and bring a friend.  For those who are still involved in our church, would you be willing to help serve on a leadership team?  It needs to become your ministry to be most fruitful.  I am asking older adults to pray specifically and fervently for this effort.  We need Sunday School classes that will volunteer to help with a meal, Sunday by Sunday.  Should you want to help me with setup, or hospitality, or outreach and followup, that would be wonderful.

I leave you with this: "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not to do it." (James 4:17 NLT)  In or out?  I'm "all in!"  How about you?

MY GOAL

Here are the words from my journal entry this morning:

I have been reminded once more of my great goal in life:

"To meet people where they are and lead them to become like Jesus."

It is rooted in this passage from Colossians,

"Him [Christ] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.  To this end I labor, striving according to His working that works in me mightily." (1:28-29 NKJV)

Praying today that God reinforces this Word and rekindles a fire which burns more intensely as I head  down the homestretch of ministry!

If those who read this would join me in that passion and prayer, what a difference it would make in us, and then we would make a difference in our world!