Driving in the HOV Lane

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant...But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all...But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:1,7,11

Have you ever met someone who was gifted? This kind of person simply excels at a certain thing, having natural ability that goes beyond most other people's natural abilities in that area.

I want you all to be gifted, but with more than just your natural abilities. I want you to be gifted to do things that are impossible without the Holy Spirit.

This gifting of the Holy Spirit begins with an inner work before it goes to the outward signs. It begins with the role of the Holy Spirit as the One who convicts us of sins and opens our understanding of the scriptures, of all that Jesus taught. He works to internalize the realities of God's Word so that our lives-our actions, character, and motivations-begin to look like Christ. In this way the Holy Spirit glorifies God.

But the Holy Spirit does give other gifts, and we can see lists of them in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, among other places. All of these gifts are subject to the guidance and boundaries of scripture. Anyone who starts claiming that their gift of the Spirit somehow equals or supersedes the authority of scripture is not worthy of our trust. That is how cults get started.

The gifts never trump scripture. Never. I'm clear on that, right? However, the gifts are real. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers that empower them to do supernatural things they couldn't do on their own.

How does that work in your life? It works by faith. The Holy Spirit's role is to do the inner working of making you like Christ, and He gives you gifts that you use by faith. Why by faith? Because it takes faith to do something that you couldn't have done if the Holy Spirit didn't help you to do it!

What are the gifts for? As our verses for today tell us, they are for the benefit of all. So why should we pay attention to them in our lives? Because they benefit people and glorify God. Let's ask God together for the faith to use the gifts He has given us so that we can benefit all and glorify God.

Prayer Holy Spirit,

Thank You for Your gifts! Please help me to have the faith and character I need to use the gifts You have given me. I want to bless others with what You have given me.

Amen

What to Be Watching For

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Church, with all my heart and the greatest respect of love, some of you need to move from being believers into being followers.

To be followers of Jesus is an entirely different thing than just being a believer. It's to become a disciple, to go into all the world and make disciples who are committed followers of Jesus, not just believers. The Bible tells us in James 2:19 that even the demons believe, but we must go beyond believing into following.

Do you remember all the stories that Jesus would tell about this? He would say, Come and follow me. And some guy would come up with the lame excuse like, Well, I've got these oxen that I've got to go test drive first. Can I go back and say bye to my folks? Can I go do this and do that? I've got business to attend to.

And for Jesus, the excuses were never anything more than that. He kept on moving while people found reasons to not follow Him. Jesus even rejected the excuse of disciples pointing to other disciples saying, Hey what about him? What if he kind of... and Jesus looks and says, Forget about him. You follow me.

They became followers of us. They became followers of Christ.

Let me tell you one of the absolute hardest things about pastoring a congregation that God has given me. In the neck of the woods where our church is, everybody wants to lead. Nobody-and I mean nobody-in these parts wants to follow.

I don't know if it's that authority thing or that success thing or some other thing, but I'll tell you something I do know. Make sure you're following Christ, because if you don't follow Christ, you're not going to get to Heaven.

You are not going to get there on your own. You need to follow. You need to sacrificially follow Christ; and that is the biggest difference, I think, between believers and followers-sacrifice.

The disciples left their nets and followed Jesus. Paul counted his life as already lost for Christ's sake. They were followers who were willing to give their all. They weren't just believers, sitting on their hands, thinking that their ticket to Heaven was somehow already punched.

Are you willing to give your all today? Or are you just a believer?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I'm so sorry for just living my life as a believer. I want to grow beyond that today. I want to be a follower. My life is Yours today! Please come and fill me so that I have the courage to follow You wherever You lead!

Amen

When Excess Is Too Much

Then the LORD said to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.' Exodus 16:4

Alright, time's up, pencils down. Please pass your tests to the end of the row and someone will come by to collect them.

Like it or not, we've all had tests. Even though most of us are done with school, we still have tests. Really, every day, every unique and new situation, is a test. And in this life that is filled with tests, God will also sometimes test us.

In our verse for today, we see an example of a time when God tested Israel from which we can learn a lot about His tests.

First, God tests with instruction. He'll make things really, really clear for us, and He'll wait to see if we can follow instructions. It's like, Are you listening? This is first base. I mean, you can't pass any of the other tests if you don't get at least this far. If you forget to read the instructions on the SAT's, then it won't matter how hard you try to answer correctly, you'll still get quite a few wrong. It's the same way with God. We have to listen to His instructions or we'll fail the tests.

Second, God tests our obedience. He wants to see, not just if we'll pay attention to the instructions, but whether we will obey them. Now that you've listened to the instructions, will you do them? Or will you say, You know what? I think I know a better way to answer these questions than this test facilitator said. I'm going to try it my own way! Yeah, good luck with that one. When God gives us instructions for life, we need to obey them, living life His way and not our own way.

Third, God tests our contentment. So you've listened to the instructions and obeyed them, but are you criticizing the facilitator and His tests? Man, that facilitator thinks he's just so important, like everyone should listen to him. Who does he think he is? Besides, that test was stupid. I could totally come up with better stuff than that. Really? We've got to guard our attitude and make sure we stay thankful that Almighty God simply wants to help us and be part of our lives.

Watch throughout your life and you'll notice this pattern happen over and over again. God will give you instructions, wait to see if you obey, and then watch your attitude through the process.

So now you've received your key to the test. Pencils up, your time has just begun.

Prayer Father God,

Thanks for helping me understand how You test me! Please help me now to be faithful in times of testing so that I can pass. I want to live completely for You!

Amen

One Way

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16

Have you made up your mind about communion yet? It's important, because communion is all about Christ Jesus.

Communion reminds us of the road He took through the cross to the grave and the vic-

tory of the resurrection, and it invites us to follow Him. It demands that we make a stand. It calls us to be committed. It questions the core of who we are, forcing us to look into the deepest places of our hearts and ask ourselves, Do I really believe this?

Have I made up my mind about Jesus? Have I decided that this is my road?

You know, I do funerals from time to time, and I like to ask the people who come, Do you believe this Jesus thing? Is it real to you?

I hope that you believe today. I hope that you are not like Martha when her brother Lazarus died, telling Jesus, Oh, if you had only been here. Where have you been? I hope instead that you hear Jesus' response-I am the resurrection and the life, and he who believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live.

No matter what you are facing today, even if you are facing death, communion reminds us that it isn't over until Jesus says it's over. He is the resurrection and the life. He is the one who faced death head on and won. He is the victory, our champion who now holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave.

Do you believe these things? And if you don't believe these things, then what do you believe? If you don't have someone who conquered death for you, then what is your hope? Do you really think you can conquer it for yourself?

Maybe you're saying to yourself today, I think I believe it, but how do I know?

You know you believe something when you take action on it. If you believe it, then you live it, proclaim it, and profess it.

And right there is the proof of whether we take communion and Jesus Christ seriously-that it shows in our actions as we live out our faith every day, communing with Him in everything we do.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I do take You seriously, and I thank You for everything You have done for me! Please help me every day as I live out what I believe, putting action to my faith and taking You into every part of my life.

Amen

How Far Is Heaven?

He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways; and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them. Isaiah 66:3-4

If I invited you over to my house one day, and several people all tried to offer you conflicting directions for how to get there, what would you do? Chances are pretty good that you would try to ask me, and if none of the other directions agreed with mine then you would ignore them, right?

Of course that's what you would do; it just makes so much sense. Why is it, then, that people believe in so many supposed ways to Heaven that do not agree with God's directions? Let me tell you one of the most common ways people think will get them to Heaven, but will actually get them to Hell-their own works. If you believe that your own works can get you to Heaven then you got a bad set of directions.

Here are some bad directions-thinking that going to church gets you to Heaven, think-

ing that giving to the poor or going on mission trips gets you to Heaven, thinking that living up to a bunch of rules, even God's rules, can get you to Heaven. All of these are good actions to have in our lives, but none of them will get us to Heaven.

That was God's message to Israel in our verses for today, You're making plenty of religious sacrifices, but it's worse than worthless because you aren't paying attention when I speak to you.

God is after our hearts so that we do not just learn some rules and then check out. No, He wants us to keep following Him with our whole hearts, so that He can speak to us out of His Word and continue His work in our lives, to continue leading us all the way through Jesus Christ to Heaven.

Do you want the real directions to Heaven? Believe in Jesus; He's the only way. Then, having believed, keep your ears open; God still has some things to say to you.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I do believe in You as the only way to Heaven! I choose to trust in You alone! Please help me, lead me, and guide me as I continue following You all the way to Heaven!

Amen

Welcome to Corinth

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. Act 16:6-7

How's your life going? Are you where you planned you would be five years ago? Have you made plans or dreams for your future that just aren't coming about?

Paul had a similar experience at least once as he traveled the world preaching the gospel.

He kept trying to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit wouldn't let him.

It might be that the roadblocks you are facing right now are from the Holy Spirit. Or they might not be from the Holy Spirit, but how do you know?

Knowing what the Holy Spirit is or isn't doing in your life begins with being submitted to His will. Is Jesus Lord of your life or isn't He? Can He do whatever He desires in you? Can He direct your steps wherever He desires you to go? Will you do whatever He calls you to do? Because if He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all.

If Jesus is not Lord of your life, then perhaps the Holy Spirit is trying to get your attention with the circumstances you face. He has answers for everything you need, but we have to be willing to change. If something isn't working, then we need to do something different, which means change. And the Holy Spirit can help us make those changes.

But what if you have followed the Lord as the true Lord of your life, yet you are still facing a roadblock? If this is you then there are two possibilities. First, Jesus is Lord of your life, but He did not tell you to make the plans you have made. This was Paul's situation. He made plans to go to Asia, but those weren't God's plans, so God changed Paul's plans.

However, if Jesus is Lord of your life and you have followed His leading to where you are, yet you are still facing a roadblock, then stand firm. Keep pressing on. If God has directed you to where you are then He will open the doors and empower you to walk on His path for your life.

Measure your life. Are you where God wants you to be? If no, then submit to the Lord and get there. If yes, then stay there and keep pressing on. No matter what, follow Jesus wherever He leads you to go.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I want You to fully be Lord of my life! I submit to You and ask that You would speak to me Your plans for my life. Then give me wisdom to follow You and to always be where You want me to be, doing what You want me to do.

Amen

The Lasting Change Redemption Brings

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22

What places are on your must see list? Hawaii? The Bahamas? Europe? The Great Wall of China? Whatever you have on your list, let me add one more-Mount Zion.

But I'll give you some advice-you don't just want to visit there; you want to live thereforever. Why? I'll give you seven reasons.

First, you get Heaven. It doesn't get much better than that, does it? Right out of the gate, Mount Zion is associated with the home and city of the Living God. And catch this, you get a home not just in Heaven, but right in the Father's house. You get a home in God's home!

Second, you get an innumerable company of angels. Do you know what is implied in the word company? It means a party of angels, a festal gathering. In other words, when you get to Heaven, the band will play, the confetti will fly, and everyone will celebrate you.

Third, you are now the Church of the firstborn that's registered in Heaven. This means that you aren't stuck with the rights of a second, third, fifth, or two-hundredth born child of God. No, you have all the rights, privileges, and inheritance of a firstborn.

Fourth, you get God. No, really. This God who told Moses, No one has seen my face and lived, now receives you without reservation into His presence. There's no appointment necessary; you just get God.

Fifth, you get perfection. Now listen, your body is not eternal. It will fall apart one day. But what's waiting for you in Heaven is complete perfection, all that you were meant to be. And not just you, but all the saints of Old and New Testament will be there completely perfected. Samson, Nehemiah, Daniel, Abraham, Noah, Job, Enoch, and David will all be there!

Sixth, you get Jesus. Yes, don't forget Jesus. He'll be there, too! Oh, for us to hug our Savior, to wrap our arms around His neck, to look into His eyes and to thank Him for all that He has accomplished for us!

Seventh, you get complete forgiveness. You get the blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. Abel's blood, if you remember, cried out for vengeance, but Jesus' blood cries out for victory. This forgiveness is not temporary. It's not momentary. It's not symbolic. This forgiveness is real. It is full. It is complete. It is healing. It is cleansing. It is forever.

Will you come to Mount Zion today?

Prayer Lord God,

Thank You for offering me such a gift! I receive this from You today and trust in Jesus to save me. Change my life and lead me to Mount Zion!

Amen