Collaborative Transformation
  • Blog
  • About the Blogger
  • Contact

Mathew 22

12/27/2014

0 Comments

 
Matthew 22:11-14
"But when the king came into meet the guest, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.  'Friend,' he asked , 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."


As I read this it just tugged on my heart, and made me think about how important it is that we surrender our will for His.  The clothing wasn't the important part, it was the heart change, the belief and action of accepting the free gift of Jesus and shining His light.  In a commentary by Warren Wiersbe he writes, "The wedding garment would be provided by the host so that everybody would be properly attired and the poor would not feel conspicuous.  Salvation is personal and individual.  We must accept what God gives to us - the righteousness of Christ - and not try to make it on our own."  Our repentance and release of our self is how the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us how to change from who we were to who God made us to be.

The sin nature is there because of Adam but the new life and transformed life is there because God sent Jesus to die and resurrect for us.  When we let go, God will transform our hearts and as we continue to grow and seek, we become less and less and the Holy Spirit in us becomes more and more.  This working together is how we grow our faith and develop our passion to say, 'not my will but yours.'  In chapter 21 Jesus shares a parable about two sons (please read) then He explains His meaning by saying in verse 31, "...I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (He is talking to the teachers of religious laws and the priest) See it's not about where we start it's where we finish. 

The first boy in the story said no but then did what he was asked.  The second boy said yes but then didn't do anything.  Our actions show our belief to be true and our words can just be a lot of hot air.  At the Rock Church, where I am one of the Pastors, we say, "The Rock a church that cares where you are going... and not where you have been."  We all have the same chance to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the gift can't change, but we all won't follow our words with the love for Christ that comes with obedience.  Chapter 22 verse 14 says, "For many are called but few are chosen."  We can't feel comfortable with the idea of Jesus as Lord, we need to embrace it and live out what we believe. 

It's not about perfection, it's about surrender and co-laboring with God to go beyond our own abilities.  Faith that means; assurance, belief, them that believe and fidelity is the Greek word Pistis.  This type of faith moves us to action and living out our action just as the first boy did, so I say lets do all we can to be wearing the proper wedding clothes and hear, well done good and faithful servant.  Amen


0 Comments

Matthew 8

12/17/2014

1 Comment

 
Matthew 8:21
The Cost; count it and believe it, that is what is best.  When we count the cost we see that it takes surrender and opening our heart to let the Holy Spirit show us the way.  In Matthew chapter 8 verse 21 it says, "Another of His disciples said, 'Lord, first let me return home and bury my father."  Sounds like a simple request for someone who is going to follow Jesus, but Jesus says in verse 22, "But Jesus told him, 'Follow me now.  Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead."  Our priorities need to be lined up with God and what He is telling or showing us.  Pastor Warren Wiersbe wrote this about this verse and it made me think.  "Jesus was not asking the man to be disrespectful to his father (who was not yet dead,) but to have the right priority in life.  It would be better to preach the gospel and give life to the spiritually dead than to wait for ones father to die and bury him."  We are here to make disciples and learn from God to be like Jesus and that takes listening to Him and not the world.  

If we live trying to please ourselves or get the stuff we want to get done all the time we will miss out on our chance to witness.  It seems like (in our minds that if we work hard we deserve to have and do all the things that we desire.) When we follow God and live our life like Christ (outwardly thinking) our desires are to give, serve and share the Good News about Christ and we will use our time to make a difference in peoples lives.  What I noticed since accepting the Lord, my life hasn't changed to be boring, it has changed to be exciting because everything I do or try to do comes with love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit and all situations become a chance to shine a light.  (Don't get me wrong, I still have things that I want to have, the focus is just different.)  I find that makes all I do seem more exciting and i enjoy the simple things a lot more.

The transformation that takes place highlights my life it doesn't darken it.  When I was living for myself, when things didn't happen how I wanted them I was sad or hurt, but since learning, growing, and focusing on Him my goals aren't to please myself but working to please the Lord.  Then when things don't happen the way I though they should, I know God will continue to use what happens for His kingdom, and that makes me keep pressing on.  

I love what it says in Romans chapter 8 verse 28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."  When we believe this we see what the Spirit is showing us and we live a way that is according to His purpose for us not what we feel is right for our lives.  When we let God transform us we are outwardly focused and we give, serve, and share so others see a light.  Then we can grow in our faith and we become an example of Christ for people to see.  Amen 
1 Comment

Matthew 4

12/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Matthew 4:5-7
 "Then the devil took Him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scripture say, 'He will order His angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone." 'Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God."

With this temptation the devil used scripture to try and get Jesus to do something that was wrong.  It wasn't the scripture that was wrong but the way the devil was trying to use it.  2 Timothy 3:16 says,   "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives." All scripture is good and if the devil used Psalm 91:11-12 correctly it would have been good but he twisted it to try and fit it to say what he wanted it to say. We as believers have the Holy Spirit in us, when we go to the word it is not enough to know it and for us to try and put it in our lives, we must seek wisdom and knowledge letting it transform us to be like Christ. The verses in Psalm 91 was written to show us what will happen if we make the Lord our refuge and our shelter.  It wasn't to temp us to try something crazy and see if the Lord protects us. We can so easily make what the Lord says fit into our mind, but we are supposed to let God change us to fit into the word.  Then we will start to shine and be living like Jesus, who is the word.  Jesus comes back with, "The scriptures also say, 'you must not test the Lord your God."  We are not loving God because He is our (get out of jail free card.) We love Him because He loved us first and sent His Son for us while we were still sinners. 

 God's word is not for us to just gain things for ourselves, it's for us to grow so we can shine for others.  As we get stronger with His power we fulfill the commission He gave us in Matthew chapter 28 verse 19-20 which says, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the ends of the age." As we go He says, "...and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

When we see the last temptation by the devil he is offering Jesus the world because it is his to give.  We can't be confused about this point, this world is not our home and we live here being a light in a dark place so that people see light.  It is not for us to gain the world and the riches it offers (and I don't just mean money).  We are to understand that everything we do should be done to "worship the Lord your God and serve only Him."  Read 2 Kings 17:35-36 which says, "For the Lord had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: "Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.  But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to Him alone, and offer sacrifices only to Him." Our temptations don't always come from the devil, but they come from our own fleshly desires that come from our sinful nature that makes us think the world is right and what will help us be happy. We saw that Jesus said He will be with us always and we know that the Holy Spirit lives in us so as we surrender our lives and say, you lead me, He will and we have been given all we need to say as Jesus did "get out of here Satan," and live our lives with confident hope in the Lord. Amen
0 Comments

Hebrews 10

12/6/2014

0 Comments

 
Hebrews 10:35-36
"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will receive all that He has promised."


This is a great example of surrender and dying to self.  Patient endurance in this world and confident trust in eternal life because of Jesus and His surrender to the Father.  As we call ourselves "Christian" we should resemble what that means; and that is Christ-like.  Are we being Christ-like and putting God first in our lives?  In verse 23 it says, "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise."  Jesus is the way, and that will never change.  He is the truth, and we do not need any other thing to make us believe.  And He is the life, the thing we need to live forever and extend our life past these bodies to receive our heavenly bodies.  Once we accept the free gift we should "work hard" to show the fruit of our salvation.  This is important because once we receive the Holy Spirit, He will show us what is right and wrong and He will guide us how to live our lives so people see Christ in us. Hence the word "Christian", something we should be proud of and not have to talk about, but we just live it out.

Pastor Kevin Goff, The Rock Church, Goodyear, Az. shared this in his sermon this past weekend:  1. Faith demands an action.  2. We must give faith a voice. 3. Faith's response is obedience not emotionalism.  As we continue to grow and learn from the Word of God and follow the Holy Spirit in us, we will see and act the way that is pleasing to the Father.  We all know Jesus is coming again and I love what we are told in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 28 which says, "So also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.  He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him."  Eagerly means we are ready, anxious and excited for His return.  This eagerness so make us want to live out what we believe, not just sit back and do nothing.  I want to end with this prayer.  Thank you Lord for making this clear and filling us with the perfect guide, the Holy Spirit, let us always be eager and shine your light as we live for other to see you in us.  I pray this all in Jesus name, Amen.
 
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    April 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009

    Categories

    All
    1 Chronicles
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Chronicles
    2 Corinthians
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Thessalonians
    2 Timothy
    Acts
    Colossians
    Deuteronomy
    Ephesians
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    John
    Joshua
    Jude
    Lamentations
    Leviticus
    Luke
    Mark
    Matthew
    Nehemiah
    Numbers
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Revelation
    Romans
    Titus

    Books to Read:

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.