Christ In Me – March 11, 2009

Christ In Me

Galatians 2:19-20

Jim Stephens

03-11-09

 

Scripture:

 

19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:19-20 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Reading Galatians chapter 2, it seems like Paul is very Ego-centric.  He writes the first half of the chapter about himself and his conflict with the Jewish conservative traditionalists and is very clear in his opinion that he is right and they are wrong!

 

In reality, Paul’s ego has been crucified with Christ and his complete surrender to the will of God and his total dependence on Christ living in him makes his ego powerless to drive him to please others or even to please himself.

 

Application:

 

A commitment like Paul’s can seem arrogant.  But when Christ-in-me takes the place of Ego-in-me, what seems like arrogance is really true submission.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, there is such a mixture at the center of me.  I am as committed and as submitted as I know how to be, yet each day there are situations and complications that show me how far I have to go.  I purpose to keep on until these words are true of me…

 

Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 The Message)

 

Absolutely Convinced – November 30, 2008

Absolutely Convinced

Romans 4:20-22

Jim Stephens

11-30-08

 

Scripture:

 

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was absolutely convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. (Romans 4:20-22 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Abraham’s challenge comes down to one thing:  Could he believe God’s promise that he would have a son, born from his wife Sarah, when he was nearly 100 years old and Sarah was 90 and had never been able to have children?

 

Abraham’s faith, by which he was counted righteous by God, was this simple thing:  “I believe and I am absolutely convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

 

Application:

 

I don’t know if it’s harder or easier for us to simply believe God.  We have 4000 years of Bible that Abraham didn’t have to help us believe God.  On the other hand we have more negative knowledge and we’re aware of more arguments against simple faith.

 

I guess it doesn’t really matter if it’s harder or easier.  The battle is still the same for each of us:  There are always going to be compelling arguments and adverse circumstances to challenge our faith.  The thing that overcomes the challenge I face is still the same as the thing that overcame Abraham’s challenge:  “I believe and am absolutely convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Thanks for Abraham who stood alone and believed you could do whatever you promised.  Help me to live my life absolutely convinced that you are able to do whatever you promise.  I believe.  Amen.

 

Only Jesus – November 24, 2008

Only Jesus

Matthew 17:1-8

Jim Stephens

11-14-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. 4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. 7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. (Matthew 17:1-8 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

I don’t want to make too much of this, but the phrase “only Jesus” really struck me as I read this today.

 

Jesus took his three closest followers to a remote spot on a mountain top to be alone with him.  While they were there a supernatural event, usually referred to as The Transfiguration, occurred.  It’s like a window opened briefly between our reality and heaven and Jesus appeared almost as he appeared to John many years later on the island of Patmos (see Revelation 1:9-20).

 

It’s an assurance of eternal life as well because Moses, from 1500 years earlier and Elijah from about 900 years earlier, appeared and were talking with Jesus.  Amazing!

 

Peter, James, and John got really excited about the experience – this had never happened before on earth – and Peter immediately came up with a plan to capture and sustain the experience.  I’m sure the idea of building a permanent shrine, calling it the Church of the Transfiguration, and selling tickets to see Jesus, Moses, and Elijah didn’t occur to him.

 

Anyhow, Peter’s outburst made it clear that the guys had missed the point altogether and God the Father rebuked them in an audible voice.

 

Application:

 

Today, for me, it all boils down to this – when the dust clears, only Jesus remains.

 

·        Spiritual experiences (I’ve never had one quite like this, but have experienced the tangible presence and power of God) come and then they’re gone.  Only Jesus remains.

·        Friends and influencers come in and out of my life.  When they’re gone, only Jesus remains.

·        I can get excited and try to maintain and sustain something that God did in a moment or a season, but only Jesus remains.

·        It’s easy to get dependent on an organization, a position, or a source of provision, but eventually those all go away.  Only Jesus remains.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, forgive me for wanting to capture and maintain the blessing of a moment or a season.  Forgive me for getting caught up in projects and positions and sources of provision.  Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus.  Only Jesus.  Amen.

 

Because You Believed – September 18, 2008

Because You Believed

Luke 1:45

Jim Stephens

09-18-08

 

Scripture:

 

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:45 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him his wife would become pregnant and that their son would be the “preparer of the way” for God’s Savior.  Elizabeth did become pregnant, just as the angel said.  Then Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and that her child would be God’s own Son.

 

Mary believed the word of God and it happened, just as the angel said.  When Mary, pregnant with the Messiah, visited Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, God gave Elizabeth a prophecy and blessing for Mary….

 

“You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:45 NLT)

 

Application:

 

I will be blessed if I believe that the Lord will do what he says.  This is not about ambition, or entrepreneurial drive and creativity.  This is not about strategy and planning.  This is about simply hearing what God says he will initiate and believing God will do what he says he will do.  Simply hearing and believing.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I know I am in a season in which hearing and believing is vital to your blessing on my life and to fulfilling your purpose for me.  Please help me to keep it simple, hear you clearly, and believe you completely.  Amen.

 

The Need To Know – August 7, 2008

The Need To Know

John 9:25

Jim Stephens

08-07-08

 

Scripture:

 

“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” (John 9:25 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Jesus healed a man who had been born blind – blind now, blind from birth.  He healed him by spitting in the dirt, making mud from the dirty spit, spreading the mud on the man’s eyes, and sending him halfway across town to wash the mud of in the Pool of Siloam.  It worked.  Oh and by the way, it was a Sabbath Day when Jesus healed the man.

 

The Pharisees immediately concluded that Jesus was a sinner because he “worked” on the Sabbath Day.  Some people would conclude that to heal a blind man, you spit on the ground, make mud, and smear it on his face.  Some would conclude that the Pool of Siloam has either magical or medical powers.

 

The now-seeing ex-blind man didn’t know or care about any of this stuff.  He knew he had been blind all his life and now he could see perfectly.  What else did he need to know?

 

When he heard about all the fuss, Jesus went and found the man and told him the one simple thing he needed to know next.  (John 9:35-38)

 

Application:

 

How much do people need to know?  How much do I need to know?  The Pharisees knew a lot and they experienced nothing.  In fact they seemed to be dedicated to experiencing nothing and making sure no one else experienced anything either.

 

Is it possible that the ex-blind man’s simple theology of “I know this:  I was blind and now I can see!” is enough to get started with?  And that if someone can start with a real experience with Jesus he will help them with the next simple steps?  Just wondering about this.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I’ve spent a good deal of time and energy on helping people know stuff – foundational stuff, doctrinal stuff, life application stuff.  I want to be clear on what people need to know and when and how they should learn it.  What can we do about that?