Blog Archives - Collaborative Transformation

Luke 11

8/31/2012

Luke 11:28 “Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

We have to see how important our learning and growing is because when we surrender to the Spirit and practice what we learn we can see and feel the blessings in our lives. Putting into practice is so important because it helps us become more like Christ and then we can reflect His light and work with Him to advance the Kingdom.

Verse 23 says, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” It’s more than just believing in Him, it is living in Him that makes us different than the world. We must take what we know and grow, then go and spread the Good News so the world can hear it and choose to accept it or not. We need to be persistent even when we are tired and people keep us down.

Luke chapter 11 verses 9-11 always makes me focus because it says, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” So let’s hear the word and be the word. Let’s have the passion and desire to put God first and love the fact that He has given us tools to know Jesus so we can put it all into practice and know that we are working with Him. Amen

Luke 10

8/28/2012

Luke 10:8-11 “If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this – the Kingdom of God is near!”

All we can do is love God and love people and when we continue to grow and learn from Him we can plant seeds and water but we can’t make anyone understand or seek the Good News. We need to seek and serve the lost but it will only come because of God. We have to be patient and know that there will be people that refuse to hear the message. I truly believe that’s why it is so important for us to continue to water and disciple people that are seeking to know more.

We can help them each step of the way, showing love and sharing Jesus Christ to them as they are dealing with the trials and tribulations of this world. When our soil (heart) is fertile we have a chance to grow and be a light. Church is not the end to our walk and either is baptism; those are times when the devil will turn up the heat and see how we will respond. When we are working together as a team we can make a difference because our hearts are open to learn.

In chapter 9 verses 59-60 Jesus says, “He said to another person, ‘Come follow me.’ The man agreed, but he said, ‘Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” We can’t overlook people but we have to know when to move on and not get stuck in one place. We are called to teach and make learners or as Jesus puts it we must be “fishers of people.” We need to open our hearts and never stop seeking wisdom and asking God for the words to speak so we make a difference.

I want to end with John chapter 1 verses 6-8 which say, “God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.” Let’s all be ready to tell about the light. Amen

Luke 9

8/26/2012

Luke 9:23-24 “Then He said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my followers, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

I think the most important word to see in these verses is “daily” we want change but daily is hard. Daily means every day, I know I am sounding funny but if we can’t take up our cross daily how are we going to grow and handle everything in this world? We are called to know the true grapevine and to live a life that glorifies God. In John chapter 15 verse 4 Jesus says, “Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

This sounds an awful lot like “…Take up your cross daily, and follow me.” When we struggle with something we need to be willing to lay it down and use what Jesus has taught us in the word of God. This is also why it is so important for us to pray and talk to God daily having discussions that build a relationship with Him. What is more important than learning from God and dying to self so we are fruitful?

Think about these next statements: When it comes to understanding, only God can open our hearts. And when it comes to seeking Him only we can turn to God. Our cross is humbleness and servant hood and loving others and trusting God. When we can do this “daily” we can grow and when we can grow then we can go and make disciples and our fruit will be there to see and not something someone has to look for. Amen

Luke 6

8/25/2012

Luke 6:39-40 “Then Jesus gave the following illustration: ‘Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”

This is so important as we work on maturity in Christ. We must always be willing to learn and grow so we can make a difference. This is also a great reason to find a church that is teaching God’s word and sharing the truth because we should desire change and confidence as we learn. We shouldn’t be going to church because we think God wants us to we should be going because we need to learn and train for battle. Our own seeking wisdom is what makes the church shine because we are the church and we make the difference for the kingdom as we learn and live out what the Spirit is showing us.

Look how exciting the next statement is and how Jesus offers us help in our maturing process. In verses 47-49 He says, “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

To me that is exactly what Jesus is telling us about the student and the teacher. When we continue to learn and grow by living out our lives to resemble Christ our greatest teacher then we will become like the teacher (Him) and our foundation, which is our heart, will pour out good. Jesus tells us in verse 44, “A tree is identified by its fruit…” We need to open our hearts and be willing to make a difference by desiring to be like the teacher. Amen

Luke 5

8/21/2012

Luke 5:8-11 “When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around you. For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people! And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”

I like this account of Peter (Simon) because we see his heart. He doesn’t feel he is even worthy of being around Jesus because of who he is and Jesus shows him love. We must remember that nothing we have done is too bad to keep us from accepting Christ and then living as a new creation. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid!” It makes me think of John chapter 16 verse 33 which says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

We must remember that Jesus came while we were still sinners and He came to show us the way to the Father and bridge the gap that was created by sin. We can’t let our fear or our doubt keep us from doing what God wants and that is fishing for people. It will take us growing and continuing to learn and seek wisdom from God. That was one of the few fearful moments for Peter (Simon) and he stayed working and seeing the amazing love Christ showed and was used in incredible ways by God.

Keep shaking off the doubt and fear and step up to know that Jesus has shown us in the word how to fish for people and God sent us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we just need to let go and let God move us. Amen

Nehemiah 1

8/19/2012

Nehemiah 1:7-9 “We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.”

This is so true for us as well, we can’t get caught up in what we have done in the past we must remember God’s mercy is great and He is waiting for us to repent and turn to Him. It doesn’t matter how bad we think we are God loves us and wants us to love Him. When we open our hearts and we let the Spirit in we can learn and grow to obey and follow what God desires from us and that is our love for Him and all people.

He sent Jesus to bridge the gap to heaven and when we accept Him and repent and turn to God we have hope in eternal life. I like what Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, says to Mary the mother of Jesus in Luke chapter 1 verse 45, “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.” Do we believe in our hearts and have faith by our lives that Jesus is our Lord and Savior? That is what separates us from the world and makes us children of God. We all must open our hearts and turn to Jesus and then open our hearts and let the Spirit lead us to obey all that God requires so we can become fully devoted followers of Jesus. Amen

Mark 13

8/15/2012

Mark 13:34-37 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return – in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

I love this warning from Jesus. Too me He is just reminding us that the world is going to have many distractions and we could lose focus easily. We can’t be satisfied with what we know if we aren’t going to put action behind it. Every day we should give thanks to God and seek wisdom from the Lord because we know the devil is lurking ready to devour.

As a former football coach I could tell you the more prepared and the more we studied the other team the better chance we had to be successful. Our walk is similar, we will be in the game always; how we prepare is vital. Jesus says, “come to me” and that’s what we should do. In verse 33 Jesus says, “And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” Nothing is more important as knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior and nothing gives life like learning all we can to be fully devoted followers of Him. The more we learn and live the more prepared we will be and the better we will shine for the world to know Him. Amen

Mark 8

8/11/2012

Mark 8:34-35 “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

We have got to see this and know how important it is for us to live as new creations. If we want to be followers then we have to follow. It is simple, we give up our life and our thoughts and let the Spirit lead us. We can only do this using Him for our strength. We will always have sinful thoughts in our mind because of the sin of Adam but Jesus is telling us to turn from what is in our mind and open our hearts to the truth because that truth will set us free.

He says in verse 35, “If you try and hang on to your life, you will lose it…” We must let it go and open our hearts to learn and grow to know and believe who Jesus is and desire to belong to Him. 1 John chapter 4 verse 9 says, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”

Are we going to choose Him and live in Him or are we going to know Him and follow our sinful nature that is in all of us? We are told in Luke chapter 10 verse 27, “…You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind…” We can’t have one foot in the world we must let go and let the Holy Spirit and the word show us the way and then follow it glorifying God in all we do. Amen

Ezra

8/6/2012

Ezra 7:10 I was reading in the book of Ezra in the seventh chapter and the tenth verse just jumped out to me. Verse 6 shares who Ezra was by saying, “This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.” The amazing part of this chapter is that we see the reason why Ezra had the hand of God on him. Verse 10 says, “This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Laws of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.” He didn’t only study he wanted to obey, he made a choice to choose God. After we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior do we become determined to study and obey? Or do we think it’s done and we are all good?

The hand of God was on him and it can be on us in the form of the Holy Spirit. When we want to learn and obey we can feel the Holy Spirit and our hearts will change and transformation will take place. This heart change is important as we learn and seek our new life in Christ. We are called to repent and turn to God, when we decide to do this and surrender our will to God’s we start to understand how important our obeying what the word says is.

Jesus tells us in John chapter 14 verse 15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” When we choose Christ and are baptized we are new creations and our lives should be living for glorifying God and living like Christ. We can’t do anything to earn salvation, Jesus already died and shed his blood for us we just need to accept it and know that we no longer live but Christ is living in us. I love what it says in Joel chapter 2 verses 12-13, “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”

Are we “determined to study and obey” or are we just going through the motions? We are promised peace of mind and heart not perfection in this world. Our perfection comes with our new life when we die and join Jesus in heaven. Let’s not just say we are Christians let’s be determined to live it out and make a difference. Amen

Mark 5

8/2/2012

It’s not what we want it’s what God need’s us to do. This is a great statement to look at and remember because it is easy for us to think we know what is best for us. We can’t get caught up in thinking we know what we need; our wants can easily over take what God wants and needs us to do if we keep thinking instead of listening. In Mark chapter 5 verse 18 we see right after Jesus cast out the legion of demons the man he wants to go with Him, it says, “As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him.” But Jesus responds in verse 19, “No go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” God knows what is best and when we slow down and listen and then follow, we will feel the peace and joy promised to us by Jesus.

We get excited and we want to do whatever we can to keep that excitement about Jesus but as we see sometimes what helps the Kingdom grow is that we stay and live it out and be that light to our families and co-workers right where we are at. When we surrender and follow we can make an impact and it glorifies God but when we get ahead of ourselves we tend to have the glory fall back on us. Look what the man starts to do as he goes back to his home town. Verse 20 says, “So the man started off to visit the ten towns of the region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”

If he was with Jesus he couldn’t have been used in this way, we must remember that we are the tools and God has put us into place to plant and water this world to help it be ready for eternity. When we listen we can know how we are perfect sometimes right where we are at because He knows best. Amen