Solomon Survey: Obedience Part Two

Following up on Part one of Obedience, we see how Jesus obeyed God The Father and because of this obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever...Philippians 2.5-11

Immunity
I think we as Christians have become immune to this word obedience or perhaps even legalistic...we have lost the true meaning of it.

Here is how serious The Lord views our obedience:

Obey the Lord's teachings
and you will live--
disobey and you will die. ~ Proverbs 19:16 ~

Hello! ...Are we obeying God or do we have some other treasure that consumes us...Look at Proverbs 7.2:

Obey me, and you will live!
Let my instructions be
your greatest treasure

Here's the problem: Our greatest treasures are not The Lord's instructions. Our greatest treasures have become television, material goods, and horoscopes. We learn about life through the media instead of Scripture, we have to rent out storage facilities because we have so much "treasure," and we seek horoscopes/culture instead of God's instructions.

God of Grace & Truth
Listen, God is not out to "get us." To the contrary, He loves us so much that He sent His One and only Son for us. But He is The God of Grace and Truth...All throughout The Old Testament we see how the Israelites were kept from entering The Promise Land because of disobedience and whining...but then Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter because of their powerful Faith...And then ultimately we see in The New Testament, how Jesus, because of His obedience, was lifted high and honored far beyond anyone or anything by God His Father."

You and I have a choice today...obey or not...promoted or lost? What will we do?

Solomon Survey: Obedience Part One

Obedience
Being obedient is talked about all through out Scripture, but I can not think of one better than Philippians 2.5-11 which tells us that Jesus "lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death," and "Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything..."


Take Every Thought Captive
What do we need to have "die" off in our lives? Sin, selfishness, complaining, lack of faith, worry, insecurity, criticism, cussing, addictions? We need to crucify it and move forward in obeying God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10.5)

God's Promotion
1 Peter 5 tells us that God will promote us at the right time, but we must keep a cool head and stay alert, because the devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch us napping. We must keep our guard up, because once we let it down, disobedience will reign.

Check out part two of obedience in the next post!

The Cumulative Effect

What are you doing later today? What will you be doing tomorrow? How will you use your time and what will you invest it in?

Andy Stanley, author of "The Best Question Ever," talks about a great way for us to framework how we use our time. He talks about "The Cumulative Effect." In other words, we need to invest our time in things that will build upon themselves.

For instance, If you skip one meal, no big deal. But what if you skipped every meal for the past three weeks. Think about how the "Cumulative Effect" after these three weeks. Take another example....Exercise...One workout will not change your body, but working out consistently over a 12 month cycle can create huge results.

Skipping Prayer? Skipping Meditation on Scripture? Not spending time with your family? One day may not be the end of the world, but when one day turns into two, three, four, etc, it makes a huge difference. When you look back on your week, your month, your life, you must be able to identify what it is that you did with your life. When you invest in things that "snowball" and build on each other, you will then find yourself transformed in order to help others transform themselves for the best!

Don't be so busy trying to get things done, that you end up not getting anything done...

Solomon Survey:Righteousness & Perception

I want to close the Solomon Survey by focusing in on 4 stumbling blocks that could be causing our Prayers to go unanswered. These areas are important to look at because these are the verses no one wants to talk about, but if we are living a life of unanswered Prayers, it is imperative that we become like Sherlock Holmes and investigate what it is that God wants us to know during "dry" seasons of our lives...


So today I want to bring up two topics: Righteousness and Perception

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

~ James 5.16 ~ (emphasis added).

Righteousness & Perception, How Do I Know?

Being righteous simply means being right with God. We all know areas of unrighteousness like lying, stealing, being unethical etc. But I want to hit these 2 areas that are hardly ever discussed. So If our prayers are going unanswered, we must ask ourselves a few questions.

1. Are we confessing our sins?
Proverb 28.13-14 tells us we will be failures if we do not confess our sins.

2. Are we cruel and cutting people down that we see in public or on tv?
Proverb 28.13-14 also tells us that if we are cruel, then we will end up in trouble.

Now, here is The good news. This same passage, Proverb 28.13-14 , also shows us that God is merciful and will bless us IF we confess and are afraid to do evil...

3. Do We have a Perception Problem?
Perception is so important to answered Prayer...As Steven Furtick says,"We receive what we perceive." And what is it that we want from answered Prayers? We want to receive an answer! Wow, that's deep!

Anyway, I can not get out of my mind that we may not be receiving answered Prayers because of how we perceive ourselves and how we perceive others. Have you ever asked the following question, "God, why are you turning your back on me?"

Well, the problem could be that God is asking you and me, "Why are you speaking evil words to those I have created?"...You see if we perceive the worst in people and constantly criticize them while we are watching the tube or out in public, even if it is under our breath, than God will turn His back on us...don't take my word for it...read what God has to say about it:

Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things. ~ 1 Peter 3.8-12 ~

God's Step-by-Step Manual
We say we always want God to speak to us, to answer our Prayers. 1 Peter 3.8-12 could not be any clearer. It's like a step-by-step instruction manual straight from The Mouth of God...

* "Whoever Wants"..."Here's what you do"...."say"...."snub"..."cultivate"...."run"...it tells us what God approves of, how He listens, how He REPSONDS TO WHAT HE IS ASKED...But because God is a God of both Grace and Truth, we see that yes, He will turn His back on those who do evil things...and He clearly tells us that saying "evil or hurtful" things are evil.

Warm and Fuzzy
Now don't get me wrong...this is not some warm and fuzzy post on accepting everybody and let's all get along so that no one is offended in our politcally correct society. NO! I despise politcal correctness with my heart and soul!!! But what I despise worse are Christians (myself included) who look at the The Carpenter of Creation's Craftmanship and say evil and hurtful things for no apparent reason other than to make themselves feel better about their own faults and weaknesses.

Practical Atheism
If we claim to be Christian but then do not live the Righteous life God calls us to, if we criticize instead of praise, if we say we believe in God but live as though He does not exist, then we are what Craig Groeschel calls, "Practical Atheist"...

Revelation 3.16 tells us we can not be lukewarm Christians...we are either in or we are out...

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—

I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Bottom Line
Look, we must perceive ourselves and others as God perceives us. If we perceive others in a hateful way, it is probably because we are uncomfortable in our own skin. It is time to grow up and get rid of our insecurities. Our insecurities are selfish because we are trying to gain our security-in-ourselves in stead of being Secure-In-God...

Unanswered Prayer...are we righteous? do we have a perception problem?

Let's stop blaming God and start investigating ourselves....

Does Jesus know you?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name and in Your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!'"

~ Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

"I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

Is saying the sinners prayer and saying "Lord, Lord" enough for us to enter Heaven? I am not writing this blog claiming I know who will be in Heaven and who will not be. Who in the world am I to make that judgment? I am nobody; however, I am saying there will be surprises. The Bible tells us that much in regards to the "many" response in Matthew 7:21-23. They were shocked at Jesus' response...it is safe to mention that saying "Lord, Lord" is light years away from living, " Lord, Lord."

" I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

Our hearts are "sicker" than we think.

• I am a Christian. Great. Are you salty? Are you a light? Do you actually practice the Bible (Matthew 5:13-20)
• I am not a murderer. Great, but do you have hatred in your heart? (Matthew 5:21-26)
• I am not sleeping around on my spouse. Great; do you fantasize about somone else though? (Matthew 5:27-30)
• I am not divorced. Great, but do you cherish, honor, and encourage your spouse? (Matthew 5:31-32)
• I keep my promises. Great, but do you have to "promise" in order for someone to believe you. Are you not trustworthy without a promise? (Matthew 5:33-37)
• I do what's expected. Great, do you go above and beyond when not expected for those who don't deserve it? (Matthew 5:38-42)
• I love my friends and neighbors. Great. What about those who irritate you? Do you love them and pray for them? (Matthew 5:43-47)
• I am a pretty good person. Great. Are you perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect? (Matthew 5:48)

" I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

• I pray. Great. Is it for show or for submission? (Matthew 6:1-13)
• Do you forgive easily? Why not? Your Heavenly Father has forgiven you! (Matthew 6:14-15)
• Do you desire God more than food? (Matthew 6:16-18)
• Is your heart in Heaven or in your wallet? (Matthew 6:19-24)
• Are you consumed with keeping up with the "Jones'" or with God's Kingdom (Matthew 6:25-34)
• Does your eye hurt? Maybe you have a big 'ol plank in it? (Matthew 7:1-6)
• Do you believe God has your best interest in mind or that He is out to get you? (Matthew 7:7-11)
• Do you jump at the chance to do something for others that you want done to you? (Matthew 7:12)

" I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

• Are you one of the few? (Matthew 7:13-14)
• Fake fruit or the real deal? (Matthew 7:15-20)
• Flashy ministry or willing to go unnoticed by hanging out with the ignored? (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:31-40)
• Serious about hearing and doing Jesus' words or do you let them go in one ear and out the other? (Matthew 7:24-27)
• Amazed by Jesus or following Jesus? (Matthew 7:28-29)

" I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

We...need...Jesus. We need Him to...(Matthew 5:1-12)

• Make us poor in spirit
• Make us mournful
• Make us meek
• Cause us to hunger and thirst for Him
• Make us merciful
• Make us peaceful
• Make us ready for persecution

These are the marks of Him conquering every part of our soul. Then and only then, with His life consuming ours, will we be capable of a Matthew 5-7 lifestyle mentioned in the above questions. It is the life of Heaven on earth. It is the life of Heaven in us. Without Heaven in us, Jesus claims to NOT know us. Without His perfect and holy life in us, we are nothing but "evildoers." "Nice guy Christianity" just...will not...cut it. Doing ministry to make us feel better about ourselves will not cut it! Jesus MUST conquer us, penetrate us, consume us, and breath His holy washing Spirit in us. That is the only way we can do the will of His Father and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!

"Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!" ~Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Perception Principle

Perception: –noun
1.the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.

Last week, Steven Furtick from Elevation Church spoke at NewSpring Church about the "Perception Principle"...Here is a paraphrase of his definition:

"We receive what we perceive."

How we view life, people, our careers, etc will produce results in line with our perception. If we perceive ourselves as losers, then we will be losers. But if we perceive ourselves as God perceives us, as His children created in His image, then we will realize and receive the victory we have in Christ.

How we perceive our family and friends is what we will receive. If we are always judging or criticizing them, always telling them they are stupid or lazy, then I can almost guarantee you that we will only receive stupid and lazy results from them. But imagine if you said to your wife or husband, "baby, you got what it takes today!"....or, "Son, you realize you are anointed by God Almighty to do amazing things for His Kingdom." They would walk out of the house ready to blaze for God's Glory!

If you see yourself as someone who God will use to do "mighty wonders" through, then imagine what you can do with His power...but if you perceive yourself as barely making it through the day, then you will probably barely make it through the day...

You and I need to take a look at what we are receiving and adjust our perceptions accordingly...

Praying Dangerously: Wherever, Whatever

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” ~ Michelangelo ~

Dangerous Prayer
Take a challenge with me...Pray a "Dangerous" Prayer...Pray to God and tell Him to send you wherever, whenever, to do whatever, however...all according to His Will and for His Glory!

You may not even know specifically what to Pray for yet, but as you Pray this Prayer, God will begin to reveal the who, what, when, where, why, and how...

Faith Not Fear
We may be somewhat nervous Praying this kind of Prayer...that's natural...but the great thing about it is that we show total faith and dependence on God when we do this, which is the most freeing and exciting adventure we can set out to do...we can have total Faith with out fear because The Almighty God who created us has only The BEST intentions for us...He will put us in situations that are so natural to us because He knows us better than we know ourselves...take a look...

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ~ Matthew 7:11 ~

Imagine
Imagine if you are a parent, and you may be, you would desire the best for your children. You know their strengths and would only send them to do something you knew what benefit all involved. If we, though we are evil know how to give good gifts to our children, I can only imagine how much more our Father in Heaven is waiting to give good gifts to those of who ask and ask Boldly!!! God is going to put us in the right place at the right time if we will pray "Dangerously" and with out hesitation!

The Lord Is With Us
God tells us to go wherever and to do whatever He commands...and we need not fear because He is with us and will rescue us!

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD ~ Jeremiah 1.7-8 ~

Christ Is Your Life
What do you want to accomplish with your life...for all of society? How do you want to leave your mark on this world...to leave a legacy? Pray "Dangerously" for God to reveal it all to you...do it all for His Glory and appreciate the honor to live the life of representing Him...for where Christ is, that is where the action is!

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. ~ Colossians 3:1 ~