An Honest Heart – March 29, 2009

An Honest Heart

Psalm 17:1b

Jim Stephens

03-29-09

 

Scripture:

 

Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart. (Psalm 17:1b NLT)

 

How many times do my prayers come out of a heart that is thinking, “How am I supposed to say this?  What is the appropriate way to feel about what’s happening?  How should I be thinking?”  How much of my praying is “should do, should be” praying?  How much of my preaching and teaching is “should do” teaching?

 

How much of my life as a Christ-follower and child of God is “should do, should be” living?

 

Because the leadership gift is not a strong gift in me, when I am in a leadership role I often have to think, “As a leader, what do I need to do now?”  With those who lead out of a leadership gift, it comes naturally.  They don’t have to think about leadership next steps because it’s a gift in them, but for me it requires constantly reminding myself to think about what I should do next.

 

When I’m involved in giving encouragement, conflict resolution, helping someone get a clear picture of a situation or set of issues so they can think and act wisely – when I’m in a creative discussion seeking solutions or next steps, and practical wisdom, I don’t strain at all.  It’s my gift.  It just flows out of an honest heart.

 

Too much working out of a role definition and living the Christian life in a “should do, should be” manner makes my relationship with God cease to be a Father-child relationship and become a taskmaster-slave relationship.  My prayers cease to be honest, in-the-moment expressions of an honest heart and become unsatisfying attempts to pray what I should pray, feel what I should feel, and do what I should do.

This is my season to re-learn that God has not called me to do poorly a list of things I must constantly be reminded are the “should do” requirements of a role.  This is my season to learn that God has called me to do well the things that flow out of an honest heart and that, in the doing, bring joy to him and to me and bring blessing to others!

 

Prayer:

 

Father, When I watch Buddy the Dog run in the desert, I feel joy because I see him feeling the joy of doing what you created him to do.  I am going to learn how to do what you have created me to do, to do it out of an honest heart, to do it with joy.  I hope you enjoy watching me do what you created me to do as much as I enjoy watching Buddy run.  Amen.

 

Jesus Served Them – December 24, 2008

Jesus Served Them

John 21:9, 12-13

Jim Stephens

12-24-08

 

Scripture:

 

9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.  12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.  (John 21:9, 12-13 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

I love this story.  I love the honesty in Peter and the others who, when their world rocked under their feet, reverted to what they knew and felt they could control.  I love the appearance of Jesus on the shore in the early light of dawn.  I love C.S. Lewis’ picture of the Lamb on the shore at the end of the Narnia book, “Voyage of the Dawntreader.”  I love the walk on the beach after breakfast when Jesus restored Peter to his calling.  I love the mystery that slightly blurs the background like early morning mist in the woods.

 

But this morning, I saw that Jesus served them bread and fish.

 

Jesus, after fulfilling the greatest mission in humanity’s history – after ministry and miracles, after betrayal and torture, after death and resurrection, after going to hell and back – served his friends bread and fish.

 

How did he find the balance between being Lord of Lords and being a short order fry cook for fisherman on their way home from a night’s work?

 

I’m trying to learn what really matters.  I think one thing that matters is being fully present in the moment and being fully myself in relationships with others.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Help me get free from the things inside me that make me think the questions, “How’s this going to look?” and “What will they think?”  Teach me what really matters.  Amen.

 

Martha Served – December 22, 2008

Martha Served

John 12:1-3

Jim Stephens

12-22-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. (John 12:1-3 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

This was a dinner in Jesus’ honor at the home of some of his closest friends.  There was a poignancy about this dinner for Jesus that the others wouldn’t understand.  For all the others, Jesus was at the peak of his popularity.  For Jesus, he knew that in a week, he would die for the sins of all mankind.

 

Martha served, Lazarus sat, Mary sacrificed in worship.  In the presence of Jesus, at a joyful occasion, each of these three friends of Jesus behaved exactly according to their nature and their relationship with Jesus.

 

Martha was the consummate servant-manager and she served.  Lazarus was Jesus’ friend and they sat together at the table.  Mary was a worshipper and she worshipped, expressively and lavishly.

 

That’s as right as it gets!

 

Application:

 

It’s important for me to be who I am made by God to be and for me to be who I am in my relationship with Jesus.  It is equally important for me to give everyone else the right to be and do exactly the same – not the same as me, but the same as God made them to be and do.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, forgive me when I fail to act out of who I am and who I am in my relationship with Jesus.  I purpose to be and to express the person you made me to be.  And forgive me for the times I have expected others to be and act like I do.  Help me help others be free to be themselves and to live the way you created them to.  Amen.

My Servant And Witness – October 26, 2008

My Servant And Witness

Acts 26:12-18

Jim Stephens

10-26-08

 

Scripture:

 

12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ 15 “ ‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you. 17 And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:12-18 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul sums up his experience with the risen Christ and the commission that directed the rest of his life in these short verses.  Paul told this story again and again, to crowds and to individuals, to pagans and priests, to governors and kings, and eventually to the Roman Emperor.

 

His passion never faded and is purpose never wavered – to tell the stories of his encounters with Jesus Christ and to take the Good News to the Gentiles.  The outworking of this commission involved teaching and travel, church planting and leadership development, writing letters and laying on of hands.  And it all suited his person and his personality.

 

Application:

 

I think the most effective people know who they are and what they are supposed to be doing before they die.  It seems that the most effective people work with their strengths and don’t spend all their energy trying to overcome their weaknesses.  It seems that the most effective people work out of something in their heart.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I want to spend the rest of my life doing the right things, not just doing things right.  I want to be effective and not just try to be efficient.  Please blow the breath of your Spirit on my soul and kindle a fire of passion for your purpose – your purpose for my life.  Amen.

 

What I Have – October 14, 2008

What I Have

Acts 3:4-6

Jim Stephens

10-14-08

 

Scripture:

 

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:4-6 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Peter and John did a notable miracle here.  By the power of Jesus Christ, they healed a man lame from birth.  But this was only one miracle among many – the others of which aren’t specified.  Look at this from the previous chapter:  A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. (Acts 2:43 NLT)

 

Peter knew what he had to offer.  This wasn’t his first rodeo.  Peter didn’t have money to give, but he did have something and he offered it freely. 

 

Application:

 

There’s a lot I don’t have to offer.  There’s a lot Jean doesn’t have to offer.  But we do have something that people need – gifts from God given through the Holy Spirit – and it’s up to us to be clear on what we do and don’t have to offer and then to freely offer what we have.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, my primary resource is not silver and gold.  I purpose to continue generous giving to my church, to projects, and to people.  But my primary resources to draw on are:  Wisdom, experience, a pastor’s heart, a fresh way of looking at life and truth, knowledge of scripture, a teaching gift, writing ability, and humor.  And a capacity to love.  What I have I freely offer.  Amen.

 

Brothers Of Jesus – October 12, 2008

Brothers Of Jesus

Acts 1:12-14

Jim Stephens

100-12-08

 

Scripture:

 

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.  (Acts 1:12-14 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he left his followers with instructions not to return to their homes in Galilee yet, but to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.  They returned to the house where they had been staying – possibly the same house where they had shared the Passover together 43 days earlier? – and waited.  They didn’t wait passively (sitting and staring at the ceiling and each other).  They waited actively – praying together for God’s Holy Spirit to come upon them.

 

Among those who waited together were the eleven remaining apostles, Jesus’ mother Mary and other faithful women, lots of unnamed disciples of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers.  Jesus’ brothers had mocked him and called him crazy early in his ministry.  Now they believed.  Jesus’ next oldest brother James would, in just a few years, become the lead elder or pastor of the Jerusalem church.

 

Application:

 

Don’t write people off just because it takes them some time to get settled into faith.  I think it took James a while to process everything and when he finally acknowledged that his brother Jesus was truly the Messiah, God’s Son, his faith, his personality, and his wisdom made him a good leader for the entire church.  Peter’s personality and enthusiasm helped him be a good apostle-messenger.  John’s personal affection for Jesus helped him become the apostle of love.

 

Faithfully following Jesus and fully receiving his Holy Spirit enables each of us to fully become who God created us to be.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, may I become everything you created and purposed for me to be, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  And may I use my influence to help others do the same.  Amen.

 

Martha Served – August 10, 2008

Martha Served

John 12:1-3

Jim Stephens

08-10-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. (John 12:1-3 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

This is it.  Six days before Passover.  The next morning, Jesus would ride a donkey into Jerusalem to the cheering of huge crowds lining the road and streets, ready to make him King of Israel.  In a week he would be crucified and buried.

 

But this is now and Martha served.  In Luke 10 there’s a story about Martha complaining to Jesus that her sister Mary wasn’t helping with the preparation of the meal to feed Jesus and his disciples and half the town and Jesus said, “Martha, don’t be under so much pressure about dinner.  And don’t try to take away Mary’s desire to grow spiritually.”  (Martha often gets a bad rap for this, but come on, somebody had to prepare the meal!  You can’t just order in pizza when Jesus comes to your house!)

 

So on this unforgettable occasion, Martha served, Lazarus sat, and Mary worshipped. Martha served because that’s who she was and that’s what God had created her and gifted her to do.  So give Martha a break!

 

Application:

 

God has created each of us with gifts, skills, and passions.  Maybe everyone was glad that Martha served because Mary wasn’t that good in the kitchen!  What if we create an environment in which each uniquely gifted Christ-follower can simply be who God made her or him to be?  It might work.  If we can avoid the damaging behavior of Gift-Projection, where we try to make everyone do the things we are good at and passionate about, the Body of Christ might function pretty well.  Martha served.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, this weekend I purpose to look for the many ways in which the members of Christ’s Body function as we gather for worship at Westside Church.  I’m going to watch for Martha, Lazarus, and Mary.  I bet they’ll all be there.  Please bless us all.  Amen.

God Appoints – August 1, 2008

Scripture:

 

27 John replied, “God in heaven appoints each person’s work.  28 You yourselves know how plainly it told you that I am not the Messiah.  I am here to prepare the way for him – that is all.”  (John 3:27-28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

John the Baptist’s followers were jealous and concerned for him because after his announcement that Jesus was the Messiah, people began to leave John and go to hear and follow Jesus.  They felt like John needed to crank up the promotion machine and remind people that he was here first.

 

John was clear on who he was, what he was called to do, and what the personal effect of faithfulness would be… “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

 

Application:

 

God in heaven still appoints each person’s work.  God has appointed my work.  I want to know my appointed work with the confidence and commitment that John knew his appointed work.  Whether I become greater and greater or less and less, I want to know and do my appointed work.  Not something else, not someone else’s appointed work.  My “God in heaven appointed work.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I don’t know how much longer I have to do my appointed work.  I do know that I don’t want to stand before you and hear you say, “You were busy and worked hard, but you didn’t do the work I appointed you to do!”  I know you have appointed from heaven a work for me to do on earth.  Please may I do my God-appointed work.  Amen.