THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF OUR LIVES

This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶ That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.  They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

 ⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”  ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  Jer. 17:5-9

 

 

As I sit here at the table attempting to rest on my "Sabbath Day", I'm challenged by this verse, and more so by the very last text in this scripture excerpt...."The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?"  Because we live in a culture where we follow our hearts (emotions/feelings) more than we follow the LORD.   I mean think about it.....do we REALLY allow the LORD to lead us in many of the decisions that we make?   We all make hundreds if not thousands of decisions a day, some that impact people immediately, some that impact a few, some that have the potential to literally change the world....and I wonder do we ever really consider the LORD when we "pull the trigger" on whatever the decision is for the moment.

 

Preceding this 9th verse God says "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, relies on their abilities, and whose heart turns away from the Lord."  This is devastating to whomever is this person.  In this section of Jeremiah this was written to the people of Judah regarding their sin.  But if this is our/my devotional verse for the day....one has to answer these questions to get to the single most important question of our lives.

 

1)  Do you, are you trusting in a man/woman?  (Whether it's your pastor or the president...or whomever do you "trust in them" or do you "trust them to be human, and capable of making a mistake," that is forgivable under the eyes of God.)

 

2) Do you rely on your own strength or someone else's on a regular bases, so much so that you find yourself relying less and less on the Holy Spirit? (Is your faith your default, or the last resort?)

 

3) Has your heart turned away from the Lord?  (This is probably the biggest.....because it's impossible to be a complainer with your heart facing Christ.)  When we can find more fault in, or about than be thankful for......your heart is in a bad place.    Not only is it in bad place, but it will lead you to a darker place.   Verse 9 reminds us that the heart is deceitful in other words it's skilled at getting or attempting to manipulate people or things to get what it wants.  This is why we have a culture that does what feels good, not what's good for it.   This is why marriages end.   This is why many people leave jobs, schools, churches, cities, etc.....because they actually believe that JESUS or GOD wants them to feel good, and be comfortable.  

 

Last time I checked....Jesus challenged his followers to drop what they were doing and follow Him.   He told some to sell all they had, and follow Him.    He told others to let the dead bury their own dead, and follow Him.   He cared about their heart being turned toward the Father, so much so that their bodies followed their hearts desire to be with and connected to Him.  

 

I don't recall Jesus asking his disciples ever...."How did that make you feel?"  Nor did Paul ever ask for feedback regarding any of his letters......it wasn't that they weren't compassionate....they were actually extremely compassionate, but they knew the heart of man, and the only way to keep that heart from ruining their lives and the ministry was to encourage them to keep their hearts turned toward the will of God.   So the single most important question is not, what you are thinking, or how do you feel about....., or what would you like to do?   

 

It's:  What is GOD, JESUS, the HOLY SPIRIT telling you to do? (Not what you think....but what are they actually telling you to do.)   God was/is always specific....He didn't tell Abraham to  climb any mountain.  He didn't tell Noah to build whatever he wanted to build.   He didn't tell David you'll be someones king.   He didn't say I'm sending a Savior, but you won't know who He is.  Jesus reminds us that His sheep, know His voice...so whatever the decision put your heart in check and do what Christ has specifically told you to do. 

 

As for me........I know I'm to remain focused on the GREAT COMMISSION and COMMANDMENT (which equips me to fulfill changing lives, transforming communities, or whatever the mission is) and leave the rest to Him, so that I really don't have time to complain about...because there's work to do in me, and around me through loving God, and loving people.  What are THEY (the Trinity) telling you to do?  Be Blessed

BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.........In God's ARMY!

¹⁵ Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth.  KJV

 

Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.  MSG

 

¹⁵ Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  NLT

 

¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. NASB  2 Tim. 2:15

 

 If we all had to have our beds, lockers, or houses checked.....oh my it would be a totally different world.  But the since I get when I read 2Timothy 2:15 is for us, the believers to take our studying of the WORD of GOD serious, if for nothing else to show our Father our devotion to learning about Him, His will for us, and His WORD.  Hence the picture above.....I read into the text that we are essentially to BE ALL WE CAN BE FOR GOD!  None of us will be perfect, but it's always about putting our best foot forward in learning the WORD.   But unfortunately what I see, what many of us see, is that we are a lazy people.  For instance according to recent publishing for college students they are expected to spend 3hrs of studying for every credit hour.   The average H.S. student is expected to spend roughly 4-6hr a night studying.   Now I know few to none of us, or our kids study to this max, but we can all agree that some study more than others.   To be even more realistic some don't have to spend as much time, as they retain more, while others don't study as much as they should.

So what is one to do......The WORD is true, and doesn't lie.....so are we....believers to actually study the WORD of GOD?   Are we really expected to know scripture?   YES and YES!  I grew up being told that the BIBLE is our BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH, and if I'm honest....if I truly had spent more time studying earlier in life, it very well may have saved me from many of the mistakes that I made.  Wisdom is knowledge applied....and if you don't have knowledge of the WORD you can't apply it to everyday living so in turn you find yourself making the same mistakes (financially, relationally, professionally) expecting different results, which we all know is insanity.

So PASTOR RAY, what do you suggest we do:  I thought you'd never ask..

1) Since you, we are roughly in church for about 1-2hrs, while 20-40min of that is given to presenting the message, that you'd devote at least 30-1hr reading/studying the verse for yourself.

2) This is assuming (cause we should be doing this) review any notes you have taken, see if there's something you missed.  If you can go online to listen to the message again, or have a CD, utilize those tools to help in your studying.

3) Challenge your pastor/church leadership, if there is something you don't understand call them, and ask them to explain it, in most cases they would love for someone to ask them to further impart spiritual knowledge.

4) Get into a small group, a Bible Study at your local church....in ACTS 2:44-47 it was in these small groups that people grew in faith, and wisdom, and as a result the church grew.   We were designed for community, and without it, we are only an island to ourselves.

I'm sorry but there is nothing much more shameful than a said believer showing up to work on Monday, and being asked " What was the message about.....?"  Only to have them tell you....they don't know, they can't remember.....because this is not showing yourself approved.   This is showing them you are not a student of the WORD, and you could've actually not even gone to church and produced the same answer.   It's time for us to wake up, Christian brothers and sisters....and in our hands should be  the tools necessary on Sunday morning to take notes, jot down ideas that spin from the our full engagement into the WORSHIP EXPERIENCE on SUNDAY.  I currently see a few folks taking notes, others grabbing CDs after service......but only GOD knows are you taking growing in knowledge/wisdom serious enough that you are changing how you love and live in a post-modern world.  


You know what was mind blowing, and impressive....?  Watching the movie The Book of Eli, and seeing how one man dedicated his life to getting the WORD of GOD in him so much, that he memorized.  When I think of 2Timothy 2:15....I can't help but think of the example that man had of being able to recite the WORD cover to cover.  It would be incredible if we all could do that, me included....but for now....can you at least begin taking notes, studying, get into a group, and being ready to give an honorable, and intelligent answer when someone asks you...."What was the message about...?"   LGLP247

COMMUNITY SERVICE

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Gal. 5:22-24

Some people are sentenced to community service........CHRISTIANS are called to it......it's part of who we are.  The question is could the people in your community (neighborhood), work place, and even family have you convicted of being a Christian?  LGLP

And A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID.........

But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
¹⁶ After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  Matt. 3:15-17

After baptizing 9 souls at Connections but over 40 between 3 campuses (I think.....sometimerz might be setting in...please forgive me...and correct me if I'm wrong) one thing became apparent to me at one point:  We have a seriously unique and loving Church!   I had given instructions on how we want to honor God, celebrate & encourage every soul that came up out of the water by singing " You Make All Things New," and after 1-2 attempts the congregation seemed to catch on, and even take over the moment.

When Jesus came up out of the water the heavens opened up and God spoke......how amazing that had to be for John, and anyone else there experiencing this miracle never seen/heard before.   Today, I got to experience a miracle, and many other people did too......where the people of GOD sang songs, literally weeping and rejoicing over the welcoming of each of these new souls, young and old into the body of CHRIST!

I pray you didn't miss the significance of the moment...and hold on to your hats.....WE ARE GOING PLACES...this CALVARY CHURCH IS!  LGLP (changing lives...transforming communities)

NEW LIFE: EITHER YOU ARE LIVING IT OR NOT!

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Eph. 4:30-32

In the 90's there was a variety comedy show called " In Living Color", starring the Wayans brothers and the likes of many of today's pop-culture icons such as Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carey, and Jamie Foxx.   The opening line to the show was a questions that went:  HOW YOU LIVING.....(what).....HOW YOU LIVING.....(what).......HOW YOU LIVING...IN LIVING COLOR.... You can do what you want to do........

And it's from there I want to pick up....because if we are followers of Christ can we really do what we want to do?  I mean I realize we do have the freedom of choice, but our choices even as believers have dire consequences.   Our choices can lead to broken relationships, jail, death, and probably the worst of them all....grieving the Holy Spirit.  Grief means to bring deep sorrow or mentally distressed....and Paul then encourages us to then get rid of , throw away, have nothing to do with certain habits and attitudes shouldn't be found in those REALLY LIVING THE NEW LIFE:

BITTERNESS:  according to Prov. 17:25 only a fool brings grief to their father/creator.  Or in Amos 6:12 talks of how we've turned justice into bitterness by trying to force things.  Hebrews tell us to be very careful that bitterness doesn't take root in us........Question is what are you, what have you allowed to take root in you?

RAGE/ANGER these two I paired because I believe they are so closely related.   Anger is an emotion given to us by GOD, and we are cautioned never not to be angry, but rather don't SIN in our ANGER.  Don't let the sun go down, don't let the day end with you being angry because we give Satan a vantage and angle on us, and when that's contained, bottled up in you.....RAGE is the explosive manifestation of uncontrolled anger and unlike CHRIST we SIN in ours and it causes separation and the lost of a witness often in the BODY.

HARSH WORDS so who is that receives your negative opinions and views?  Who are the people that GOD created that you call stupid, or morons?  Do you curse......blessings and cursing should not come out of the same mouth James 3:10.   Remember when you criticize others (who GOD created as well) you are ultimately criticizing their Creator.

SLANDER in an age where people are so self indulgent we actually believe our opinions matter.   Even I will post what's my favorite this, or that......do we ever state half truths, lies?  We speak on gov't, current events, etc......without having all the details which makes it a lie.   We slander people and events often much to the dismaying of the Spirit because we get our emotions into it, and the reality is....WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH so it's best not to comment at all or only use language to BUILD UP!

ALL EVIL BEHAVIOR - just when you thought the above was enough....you know we can come up with EVIL to do.   We'll will contemplate how to get back at our kids, our spouses, our bosses, even attempt to get back at the church and GOD for........you name it.   REALLY?!?!?  That's what followers of Christ do...NOT!  We read of, study and discover the disciples and apostles going through literal hell....even see Peter lash out and slice off a soldiers ear, trying to protect JESUS, well we find out JESUS doesn't need our protection and he rebukes Peter.   YOU ARE NOT CALLED TO DEFEND the WORD, NOR ARE YOU CALLED to DEBATE it vs CURRENT CULTURE.....you are called be WITNESSES.   The WITNESS and LAWYER and JUDGE all have different roles....make sure you are LIVING OUT YOURS.

So what are we left to do......WHAT JESUS DID:  He was kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to Judas and those who persecuted Him....He even offered up a sincere prayer to the FATHER in the midst of utter anguish.   Stephen a fully mortal man did the same thing....and so can you!  LGLP

NEW LIFE: WHAT YOU SAY? WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.  Eph. 4:28-30

Remeber the childhood game Red Light, Green Light, where the goal was to make it to the caller.   That you had to listen and know when to go, and when to stop........   Paul is talking about how we need to stop certain things once we accept Christ.   Paul begins this section of scripture of drawing out attention to what happens when a life has changed...and what that should actually look like.   He says first if you are a thief...then in the new life you are to not just stop stealing, but then take those same hands and do good with them.  This is the beginning of a series of behaviors that will need to change when one has proclaimed CHRIST as LORD of their lives.  

So it was asked of us this weekend by J.J. would it be better if after we've accepted Christ, that everyone got a piece of duck-tape placed on their mouths, because Paul's next words say....Don't use foul or abusive language, and if we are ALL HONEST....WE FAIL GREATLY IN THIS!  I'm not talking about those not in CHRIST, I'm talking about those that have TOTALLY confused SCRIPTURE with the freedoms expressed in the U.S. Constitution.   I don't need your justifications......your senseless rationalizations......the FACT IS GOD, HIS SPIRIT is grieved GREATLY when our talk tears down the VERY PEOPLE, HIS CREATIONS.....the VERY ONES THAT WERE MADE IN HIS IMAGE. 

IF YOU CALL YOURSELF a CHRISTIAN, A BELIEVER, a FOLLOWER of CHRIST and you have politically charged posts, comments, conversations, dirty jokes, talking about people, make no mistake about it......if it DOESN'T BUILD UP, you probably need to SHUT UP ( I borrowed this......) and I'm not looking into the Constitution for this....I'm looking at verse 29 of the WORD OF GOD that says  " LET EVERYTHING YOU SAY BE GOOD & HELPFUL that build up those that hear you!"  WHY?  Because you have been identified as ONE OF HIS OWN, and remember you represent Him......never do we read or see where JESUS took HIS AUTHORITY to malign the very creations HE LOVED. 

While it was suggested that a piece of DUCK TAPE be given and used....I almost think in today's technological age, that we need to have mittens on our hands too....to challenge us in the area of posting and texting....so it would force is to reconsider our posts, tweets....but still leave our hands free to serve so that we'd actually show people how CHRIST's lives through us, through how we physically show CHRIST.  Instead of expressing you views and opinions, try showing them the love of CHRIST through how you serve them today.  LGLP   

NEW LIFE: TAKE OFF THE OLD, PUTTING ON THE NEW SELF

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.  Ephesians 4: 24-27

If there is one thing that we'll all be doing today is putting on.......something.   I mean we'll be putting on clothes (prayerfully...at these temperatures...I couldn't see how you couldn't).   Some will be putting on a face (true and false).   Some will be putting on fronts.......I mean really we all will be engaged in putting on something.   Paul begins to encourage this young church in Ephesus, that they need to put on their NEW NATURE where they are truly righteous and holy.

What does that look like for you?  Surely we know what it means to be fake.....because in Paul's next comments he tells us to stop telling lies and rather tell the truth.....for we are all parts of the same body.   So what does that mean?  Does it mean I'm to now let people KNOW HOW I REALLY FEEL ABOUT THEM?  UH....NOT in this since people.....what it means is that you are to see people as CHRIST sees them....so much so that you give them the same grace that He gave you.   When was the last time the SPIRIT of GOD told you, yes you personally that YOU SUCK, YOU ARE WRETCHED, and GOD REALLY THINKS YOU NEED TO GO TO HELL?

To be truly HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS means you see the faults of yourself and others, and you THROUGH the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT fall on the grace/mercy of GOD, and that you are supposed to demo this to others living in darkness as to win them over with that same grace/mercy/forgiveness and love!

Paul takes this a little further to simply compare us to the human body, by saying aren't we all part of the same body?   Can you imagine what it would be like if the heart hated the rest of the body.   Or if the brain thought the hands and feet were useless?  What if your intestines went on strike because it felt disrespected?   Sure we all have feelings, but we can't let those feelings dictate how we are to be.   Paul says don't go to bed, don't let the sun go down, don't let the day end with us being angry.....because remember everything begins with a thought, and if you end the day angry, you will begin the next one in anger.    Satan will use that.....will use you to execute his destructive will.

So as you are getting dressed....what are you putting on?  Is it the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, with His Armor, the armor of light, the full armor of GOD?   Or are you putting on the frustrations of the job, the world, your marriage, etc?  I guarantee only this........putting off the old, you will experience the NEWNESS of THIS WONDERFUL DAY THAT HE HAS MADE.   PUTTING ON THE OLD....will only yield more frustrations, and this day will be more of the SAME OL, SAME OL....and you'll totally miss out on the blessings GOD has intended for you to experience.   LGLP

NEW MIND: HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND...???? REALLY!?

  With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
This past weekend I spent my time with those that some might consider the least of these, our youth.  Mind you I don't believe them to be the LEAST by any stretch, I rather believe they are my future, and like Christ sternly instructed us not to keep His children from Him, I took sometime to learn and invest in our futures.   What I want to communicate is simply some of nuggets we received getting away from the culture that we are so steeped in and are affected by, to see what is it that GOD is and would like to say to us.

I submit to you this.....since accepting CHRIST what has changed?  Paul is writing to the Church of Ephesus because He's heard that there are things going on in the CHURCH BODY that shouldn't be...and I believe while that applied to the Ephesian church then, it very much applies to the BODY right now.   He speaks to how closed their minds are and how hardened their hearts have become.   What about you.......are you closed minded to people thinking differently than you?  Are you closed minded to people that live differently, or not in the same locale as you?   Do you judged people based on "What High School, or College they went to or didn't?"    Have you developed a cynical heart towards people of different races, socioeconomic statuses, or based on how they look or are dressed?

Since everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING start with a thought......how is your thought life?  Are there people you would rather just not see at your job, in your church, your neighborhood, your world?   Does Jesus agree with you on YOUR FEELINGS regarding those certain people, and their beliefs? Is it possible He even loves them?  Does your heart beat, and break for ALL people as His does?  

Paul then attempts to turn our attention to the fact that since we have desires and agendas that don't match those of the ones LEARNED by FOLLOWING JESUS that we need to throw off our old sinful natures and have a renewed mind and attitude.  I wonder for those that have taken the time to read this.....what type of attitude would Christ say you have with those considered the LEAST of THESE in our society?   Is it jaded.....is it apathetic......what would your be toward _______________________________ (fill in the blank) and do the homework as it relates to HOW JESUS dealt with  them.....because if I said find the scripture...you'd spend your time looking for one to justify your feelings, which is actually witchcraft, because you are using it for your own selfish purposes......but I challenge you to find HOW JESUS dealt with...even JUDAS who HE KNEW WAS GOING TO BETRAY HIM...how did HE TREAT HIM.   

I DIGRESS....have you lost your (OLD) mind? Or do you still think the old way, and so much so that your heart has hardened to being as loving as CHRIST models and commands us to be.  LGLP