"Somewhere along the way, we have missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves."
Think this statement is a bit extreme? So did I the first time I read it. Then I read the following excerpts and I understood what the author meant . . .Check it out for yourselves :
Read Luke 9:57-62 (click the link) The heading is called "The Cost of Following Jesus." It is the story of three men who approach Jesus and are eager to follow Him. However, instead of welcoming them, Jesus tries to talk them out of doing so :
"To the first man, He says: "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." In other words, expect homelessness. Followers of Christ are not guaranteed that even their basic need of shelter will be met.
To the second man who wants to go back and bury his father first, Jesus says: "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Basically, Jesus is saying "Don't even go to your dad's funeral. There are more important things to do."
To the third man who wanted to first say good-bye to his family, Jesus says: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Plainly put, a relationship with Jesus requires total, superior, and exclusive devotion.
Become homeless.
Let someone else bury your dad.
Don't even say good-bye to your family.
Is it surprising that, from all we can tell in Luke 9, Jesus was successful in persuading these men not to follow Him?" Which way are we persuaded?
"This was not some sort of reverse-psychology gimmick to get people to follow Him. Jesus was simply and boldly making it clear from the start that if you follow Him, you abandon everything--your needs, your desires, even your family.
Think this was just an extreme case on Jesus' part? He doesn't mean that for everyone, does He?
Read Luke 14:25-27 Again, the heading is called "The Cost of Being a Disciple." According to these verses, if we want to be Jesus' disciple, plain and simple, we must: Give up everything we have, carry a cross,(Yes, a cross--an instrument of torture.This isn't just a metaphor. Imagine a leader coming on the scene today and inviting all who would come after him to puck up an electric chair and become his disciple. Any takers?) and hate our family. This sounds a lot different than, "Admit, believe, confess, and pray after me."
Need another example? Check out Mark 10:17-31 with the story of the rich, young ruler.
What About Us?
"Let's put ourselves in the shoes of these eager followers of Jesus in the first century. What if I were the potential disciple being told to drop my nets? What if you were the man whom Jesus told to not even say good-bye to his family? What if we were told to hate our families and give up everything we had in order to follow Jesus?
This is where we come face to face with a dangerous reality. We do have to give up everything we have to follow Jesus. We do have to love Him in a way that makes our closest relationships in this world look like hate. And it is entirely possible that He will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor.
But we don't want to believe it. We are afraid of what it might mean for our lives. So we rationalize these passages away. "Jesus wouldn't really tell us not to bury our father or say good-bye to our family. Jesus didn't literally mean to sell all we have and give it to the poor. What Jesus really meant was..."
And this is where we need to pause. Because we are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving into the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist Him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with.
A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake our closest relationships so that He receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, He loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants to avoid danger all together. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream.
But do you and I realize what we are doing at this point? We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in our church buildings to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshiping the Jesus of the Bible. Instead we may be worshiping ourselves." (whoa.)
If any part of this post convicted you, you need to read this book.
If any part of this post did not convict you, seriously ask yourself why not. And then you need to read this book.
I cannot say it anymore plainly.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Prayer of Jabez [part 5]
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
"Parents love to see their children fulfilled and content. It grieves them when they do just the opposite of what they've told them and the consequences bring pain. Why would we think our heavenly Father is any different?"
"Walking with God was meant to be the most exciting experience of life. And the prayer of Jabez takes us one step closer to turning what was meant to be into what is. So what could possibly hold you or anyone back from praying the Jabez prayer?"
[If this doesn't convince you, then I'm not sure that anything will . . .]
"Even though our Father already knows our heart, He wants us to go through the process of persistently asking Him for what we desire. He knows that as we do this, we become convinced that what we are asking for is what He wants to give us. When He eventually acts to grant our request, His delight is as great as ours."
"Life with God is an endlessly exciting adventure. And God doesn't want you to miss one moment of it. That's why He wants to hear your voice today, asking Him for His blessings and for a bigger view of all that's possible."
I realize anyone who reads these little excerpts didn't get the opportunity to read the entire book like I did, but I think these give a pretty good idea of how important it is to pray this Prayer of Jabez. If you're still not convinced, I want to challenge you to go out and get this book and read it for yourself. I am convinced that this prayer needs to be prayed by every child of God. Plain and simple.
The author of the book challenged me to pray this prayer every day for 30 days and to keep track of when I first recognize God's answer. I want to challenge you all to do the same. If you sincerely pray this prayer every morning for 30 days. Great things will happen--I am absolutely convinced. If nothing happens for you, you may do or say to me anything you'd like, I guess. Just please, pray this prayer : )
And as I was praying this prayer just this morning, this song "popped into my head." (If that's what you want to call it . . .) Enjoy! : )
Bless Me Indeed (click the link)
by MercyMe
My Jesus, I need You now
May Your grace look my way
To hear You sing over me
Your desires and mine the same
Bless me indeed
Open wide my horizons to share Your name
Bless me indeed
Let Your hand keep me
from harm and pain
Bless me
Bless me
Lord, I cling to Your heart
Your love is what I need
All great things come from You
May Your greatness fall on me
The Lord bless and keep you
May His face shine upon you
And be gracious
And give you peace
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted what he requested."Why does this prayer have such a positive effect on those who commit to sincerely pray it? Maybe it's because it leads us to discover what God has always known--we were made to live like this! What can possibly delight the heart of God more than to have His children ask for His blessing, seek to do more for Him, depend on His Spirit, and plead for His protection?
"Parents love to see their children fulfilled and content. It grieves them when they do just the opposite of what they've told them and the consequences bring pain. Why would we think our heavenly Father is any different?"
"Walking with God was meant to be the most exciting experience of life. And the prayer of Jabez takes us one step closer to turning what was meant to be into what is. So what could possibly hold you or anyone back from praying the Jabez prayer?"
[If this doesn't convince you, then I'm not sure that anything will . . .]
"Even though our Father already knows our heart, He wants us to go through the process of persistently asking Him for what we desire. He knows that as we do this, we become convinced that what we are asking for is what He wants to give us. When He eventually acts to grant our request, His delight is as great as ours."
"Life with God is an endlessly exciting adventure. And God doesn't want you to miss one moment of it. That's why He wants to hear your voice today, asking Him for His blessings and for a bigger view of all that's possible."
I realize anyone who reads these little excerpts didn't get the opportunity to read the entire book like I did, but I think these give a pretty good idea of how important it is to pray this Prayer of Jabez. If you're still not convinced, I want to challenge you to go out and get this book and read it for yourself. I am convinced that this prayer needs to be prayed by every child of God. Plain and simple.
The author of the book challenged me to pray this prayer every day for 30 days and to keep track of when I first recognize God's answer. I want to challenge you all to do the same. If you sincerely pray this prayer every morning for 30 days. Great things will happen--I am absolutely convinced. If nothing happens for you, you may do or say to me anything you'd like, I guess. Just please, pray this prayer : )
And as I was praying this prayer just this morning, this song "popped into my head." (If that's what you want to call it . . .) Enjoy! : )
Bless Me Indeed (click the link)
by MercyMe
My Jesus, I need You now
May Your grace look my way
To hear You sing over me
Your desires and mine the same
Bless me indeed
Open wide my horizons to share Your name
Bless me indeed
Let Your hand keep me
from harm and pain
Bless me
Bless me
Lord, I cling to Your heart
Your love is what I need
All great things come from You
May Your greatness fall on me
The Lord bless and keep you
May His face shine upon you
And be gracious
And give you peace
Friday, May 20, 2011
Prayer of Jabez [part 4]
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
"When God blesses us and expands our territory, we aren't less tempted to sin (though it might feel that way); we are more likely to be tempted! You see, those who are content to do a few things for God don't bother Satan. Those who remain in their comfort zone pose little or no threat to him. But when you begin to take territory for God, guess whose territory you're invading?"
"Make sure that while you're asking God to keep temptation far from you, you're not inviting it to come near by making wrong choices . . . Acknowledge those areas where you're vulnerable and stay away!"
James 4:7b -- "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
That I might not cause pain . . .
"All of us know from experience that the consequences of sin always include pain. When I sin, I hurt myself, others, and God. That's because sin disrupts my relationship with God, disillusions the faith of others, and damages the work of God."
We are causing pain to God, others, and ourselves when we fall into evil. That is why we need to ask God to keep us from evil. We can't do it without Him.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted what he requested.Keep Me from Evil . . .
"When God blesses us and expands our territory, we aren't less tempted to sin (though it might feel that way); we are more likely to be tempted! You see, those who are content to do a few things for God don't bother Satan. Those who remain in their comfort zone pose little or no threat to him. But when you begin to take territory for God, guess whose territory you're invading?"
"Make sure that while you're asking God to keep temptation far from you, you're not inviting it to come near by making wrong choices . . . Acknowledge those areas where you're vulnerable and stay away!"
James 4:7b -- "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
That I might not cause pain . . .
"All of us know from experience that the consequences of sin always include pain. When I sin, I hurt myself, others, and God. That's because sin disrupts my relationship with God, disillusions the faith of others, and damages the work of God."
We are causing pain to God, others, and ourselves when we fall into evil. That is why we need to ask God to keep us from evil. We can't do it without Him.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Prayer of Jabez [part 3]
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
"In order to expand your borders beyond where they are, God wants to move you beyond where you are--all the way out on a limb, you might say. Why? Not so He can leave you hanging there to let you fall, but so you will learn to cry out for His hand, His help, His touch on your life. Only then can He do through you what you can't do alone. And only then will He be glorified by your accomplishments--because it's obvious that they couldn't have happened any other way!"
"When Jabez prayed for God's hand, he was literally asking God to give him every kind of divine help possible for every challenge or opportunity he faced."
But now we have it even better! We have His Holy Spirit . . .
"When we ask our heavenly Father to place His hand upon us, we are asking that His presence and provision come to us through the power of His Holy Spirit. It is not our power but God's power in and through us that we are seeking."
"It should come as no surprise that experiencing God's hand on us is essential as we seek to expand our territory."
"God is not limited by our weaknesses but liberated by them! Through our weaknesses God gets to be great and reveal His amazing power." 2 Corinthians 12:9 anyone??
But . . . "Isn't it wonderful to realize that we are all works in progress? God knows exactly where you are in your Christian walk and what you're capable of understanding. Remember, God is more than willing to teach you how to depend on Him on a regular basis."
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted what he requested.That Your hand would be with me . . .
"In order to expand your borders beyond where they are, God wants to move you beyond where you are--all the way out on a limb, you might say. Why? Not so He can leave you hanging there to let you fall, but so you will learn to cry out for His hand, His help, His touch on your life. Only then can He do through you what you can't do alone. And only then will He be glorified by your accomplishments--because it's obvious that they couldn't have happened any other way!"
"When Jabez prayed for God's hand, he was literally asking God to give him every kind of divine help possible for every challenge or opportunity he faced."
But now we have it even better! We have His Holy Spirit . . .
"When we ask our heavenly Father to place His hand upon us, we are asking that His presence and provision come to us through the power of His Holy Spirit. It is not our power but God's power in and through us that we are seeking."
"It should come as no surprise that experiencing God's hand on us is essential as we seek to expand our territory."
"God is not limited by our weaknesses but liberated by them! Through our weaknesses God gets to be great and reveal His amazing power." 2 Corinthians 12:9 anyone??
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."Often we get this wrong...when we feel weak, rather than asking God for His strength, we try harder to be strong on our own...we rob God of an opportunity to reveal His perfect strength through our weakness."
But . . . "Isn't it wonderful to realize that we are all works in progress? God knows exactly where you are in your Christian walk and what you're capable of understanding. Remember, God is more than willing to teach you how to depend on Him on a regular basis."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Prayer of Jabez [part 2]
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
"Your territory begins with the places where you live and work...it also includes the people you are in a position to impact...and finally, your posessions--material belongings, but also your unique gifts & talents."
"When we plead with God to expand our borders, we're asking him to remove the limits on what we can do and who we can become. We're begging Him to throw wide open the doors of opportunity and enlarge our place in this world."
More? whoa...no, thankyou--I'm busy enough the way it is...
"Add two words behind more--For You. By asking God for more territory, we are really saying to God, 'Let me do more for You. Expand my territory so I can have a greater impact for You.'"
"Imagine how God feels when you, His child, come to Him expressing your desire to be given more so that you might use it to influence others for Him."
"Regardless of who you are or what season of life you're in, God wants you to step up to new opportunities to use the lessons you have learned and the talents He has given you . . . It doesn't matter what you have. What matters is that you bring it and place it in His hands to use in whatever way He desires."
"God allows people to step into our territory--or us into theirs--so that we can plant seeds that He can then water and cause to grow. Our job is to simply be on the lookout for these amazing encounters."
"Picture your entire territory in your mind right now--all the people, places, and possessions in your life. Thank God for all He has given you. Then tell Him you want Him to multiply it over and over."
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted what he requested.Enlarge My Territory - Life without Limits
"Your territory begins with the places where you live and work...it also includes the people you are in a position to impact...and finally, your posessions--material belongings, but also your unique gifts & talents."
"When we plead with God to expand our borders, we're asking him to remove the limits on what we can do and who we can become. We're begging Him to throw wide open the doors of opportunity and enlarge our place in this world."
More? whoa...no, thankyou--I'm busy enough the way it is...
"Add two words behind more--For You. By asking God for more territory, we are really saying to God, 'Let me do more for You. Expand my territory so I can have a greater impact for You.'"
"Imagine how God feels when you, His child, come to Him expressing your desire to be given more so that you might use it to influence others for Him."
"Regardless of who you are or what season of life you're in, God wants you to step up to new opportunities to use the lessons you have learned and the talents He has given you . . . It doesn't matter what you have. What matters is that you bring it and place it in His hands to use in whatever way He desires."
"God allows people to step into our territory--or us into theirs--so that we can plant seeds that He can then water and cause to grow. Our job is to simply be on the lookout for these amazing encounters."
"Picture your entire territory in your mind right now--all the people, places, and possessions in your life. Thank God for all He has given you. Then tell Him you want Him to multiply it over and over."
Prayer of Jabez [part 1]
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
"God longs for you to believe with all your heart that His nature is to give good things to His children. Then you will be able to ask for God's blessings, fully believing that He is delighted by your request."
"Jabez left it entirely up to God to decide what shape--how, when, and in what form--His blessing would come. Who knows what better what to give us than God?...This doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't pray for specifics. It just means that praying for a specific need to be met is different than praying, 'Bless me' and waiting for God to give us what He alone knows will do just that."
Well, I feel pretty blessed already--isn't it selfish to ask for even more blessings?
"The more blessed we become, the more our blessings overflow to others...One of God's main purposes in blessing you is so you can then touch others in ways that move them close to Him."
"We ask according to God's greatness and not according to our worthiness. The kind of blessing we are asking for is not given on the basis of performance but on God's goodness alone. For that reason, God is honored in direct proportion to the magnitude of our requests."
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted what he requested.Bless Me Indeed
"God longs for you to believe with all your heart that His nature is to give good things to His children. Then you will be able to ask for God's blessings, fully believing that He is delighted by your request."
"Jabez left it entirely up to God to decide what shape--how, when, and in what form--His blessing would come. Who knows what better what to give us than God?...This doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't pray for specifics. It just means that praying for a specific need to be met is different than praying, 'Bless me' and waiting for God to give us what He alone knows will do just that."
Well, I feel pretty blessed already--isn't it selfish to ask for even more blessings?
"The more blessed we become, the more our blessings overflow to others...One of God's main purposes in blessing you is so you can then touch others in ways that move them close to Him."
"We ask according to God's greatness and not according to our worthiness. The kind of blessing we are asking for is not given on the basis of performance but on God's goodness alone. For that reason, God is honored in direct proportion to the magnitude of our requests."
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