Romans 1:14I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Habakkuk 2:4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Galatians 3:11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Faith: Hebrews 11:1” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
So faith is that firm belief in what we know is but that we have not yet seen. We know that Jesus is and that He is coming back but we have not seen Him with our eyes. We have experienced him, felt him, and we can testify to His power. We believe and that is faith.
Justification: Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 4:24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Justification is to be made right, just, or reasonable. We can only be made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. Isaiah says that our “righteousnesses “ are as “filthy rags” meaning that whatever I do that is good, just, right, or favorable is still not good enough when viewed in the light of God’s glory. To be just is to be made right by the blood of Christ.
We need to understand just and faith to be able to understand that verse. I know these are simplistic definitions but they are accurate. If we have been born again through the blood of Jesus and we have faith in him as our savior then we are the just and we must live by our faith in Jesus Christ. We do not live by our faith in finances, credit cards, paychecks, jobs, talent, ability (men tend to live by faith in what they can do.) We do not live by faith in other people, or houses, or governments, or religion and churches. We live, we must live; we are commanded to live by faith in Jesus.
That is obviously easier said than done. We live in a society that teaches reliance on self, reliance on the government. We put faith in the tangible; our money and houses, and relationships. Where does that leave us when all that is gone? What happens then? The suicide rate in our nation has sky rocketed as the bottom has fallen out of everything we have believed in. Many people find themselves with nothing that has ever given them security. What about us? What about me? What about you?
You might be able to build for yourself a wall of security made up of finances, family, friends, and numerous other things and even if you hold it all together your entire life where does that leave you when you stand in judgment before God?
The just shall live by faith! That means that in these insane times we live in we are impacted by what goes on around us just like everyone else but we are not controlled by it. We trust God to provide just like He promised He would. That doesn’t mean we won’t face tough times, be hungry, be persecuted, etc. but it means we walk with a faith in our Lord Jesus Christ in all aspects of our lives and even if people think we’re nuts we still walk by faith and in so doing let our light shine before men. Walking by faith is not easy. It is a challenge but if we will strengthen our personal walk with God and build our selves up through prayer, serving, reading the Bible etc. we will have a faith that will stand in the good times and the bad. Jesus loves you, He died for you, and He is with you every single day.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Where there is no vision
New American Standard Bible Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”
King James Bible Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained! That truth goes a long way to explain the total chaos and anarchy in the world and in the church. The world has no true vision beyond tomorrow. People are so focused on living for today and in the moment that our vision doesn’t seem to extend much beyond that. The result is broken homes, shattered lives, and lost dreams.
The thing is I don’t cringe as much about the world acting like the world. I mean I wish people weren’t living ungodly lives but they are. It is after all what the world does. What really troubles me the most is that the church is doing the same thing. We have no vision beyond now and what it takes to fill the church and pay the bills and keep things going now and for ourselves. Limited vision has produced weak Christians and weak churches. The vision should be big and by big I mean eternal. The vision that we have for the church should be a vision that far surpasses our lifetime. We should set up a vision for the church that helps us build, grow, and establish a church now and that helps people sustain growth in the future and have a continual impact on the kingdom. My vision for the church should be looked at like this. “How will what we are doing today help people in this church win souls for the kingdom 100 years from now?”
If we are planning for now but not for tomorrow then maybe we will thrive today but where there is no vision the people perish and the future church will die because the present church didn’t plan for the next generation and the generation after that. Without a clear vision that leads to the future growth of the church and salvation of souls then the people will become unrestrained and start chasing around every wind of doctrine. Many wonderful fundamental churches that preach and teach truth have died or are dying because we have focused on preaching and teaching today but we have no articulated a vision for next year. Yes I must preach to those I have now and minister to the needs of my present congregation but I must also preach and teach with the people that will be in this church after I am dead and gone.
Let’s ask ourselves a few things.
1) Do I have a Biblical vision for the future of my specific church and the kingdom of God?
2) Can I articulate that vision?
3) Do other people in my church and my friends/family know my vision?
4) Do I know the future vision of the others in my church?
Let us establish that many false teachings are being readily accepted in the church (emergent church, Joel Osteen, purpose driven etc. etc.) because the people; including the pastors; are not restrained by a clear articulate Biblical vision and therefore are grasping at anything that sounds good. If I look around and see my church dead or dying let me first examine myself and see if I have ever truly had a real Biblical vision for the church and if I have ever tried to articulate that vision to anyone else. The first step in truly revitalizing the church is to take some personal responsibility and not blame the pastor, leaders, and other members. If I have no vision why should anyone else. It truly amazes me in our society how much we blame others for not doing what we have never tried or even considered. If we have no personal vision for the church or kingdom then why are we surprised that the church is dying and the Kingdom appears to have stalled?
Then we must examine whether or not our vision is Biblical. The vision may be to grow the church but the idea may be secular and not of God. If the idea and vision isn’t supported by the Bible then it may bring physical, financial, and worldly success but it will also bring spiritual death. Some of the loudest, jumping, happening churches with the most people and most money are also DEAD. If the vision does not line up with the true word of God abandon it, repent for it, and cry out to God for a Holy Spirit inspired and led vision. That’s where true vision starts, with prayer.
Can you articulate your vision? If you tell me that your vision is to win souls then guess what? I am totally unimpressed. That is generic at best. How are you going to win souls? Are you going knock on doors, run radio, newspaper, television ads that explain salvation? There are numerous ways that you can effectively and Biblically preach salvation. You’ve got to be able to put it into words. It doesn’t have to big and fancy and more than likely it won’t be. I supply my congregation with Gospels of John, tracts that explain God’s love and salvation through Christ, and ink pens with the church name, number, and address on them so if someone has questions they have a way to contact us. That is simple but it is articulate and people can understand what to do and how to do it. I must be able to explain my vision so that others know it and understand it before I can ever implement it.
Also a church with a true vision for reaching the lost and changing the world will be a church where the vision is the collective whole of the individual vision. I believe that the pastor should set the vision for the church but a wise pastor comes up with a collective vision that is not just his but that of his people. The collective vision, if done correctly, may be worded and even executed differently than the individual vision but it will also make room for every single person who is interested to be a part of it and to fulfill their individual ministries while advancing the church and more importantly the Kingdom of God.
The vision has got to work. We have run ourselves ragged in the church doing things that take up a lot of time, space, and money but don’t actually promote or expand the Kingdom of God. Every individual and church should examine their time and resources and see if they are being used in a way that actually wins souls to the Kingdom of God or if they are just going to things that fill our time without netting results for GOD. That is a hard thing to do but the bottom line is if we are not effective at winning souls and enhancing the Kingdom of God then we are making a lousy investment of our time and money.
So let me explain to you where all this comes from. It comes from me praying and seeking God’s will for my church. It is God challenging me about whether or not I am leading my people in a way that pleases Him and makes a difference for Him. It is me examining myself and praying that God will help me get it right. I don’t think I can afford to be wrong. If God tarries I won’t. My life must end and if Christ doesn’t come back soon, like I think He will, then I need to leave behind a church established on an enduring vision for winning souls and making disciples for my Jesus.
King James Bible Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained! That truth goes a long way to explain the total chaos and anarchy in the world and in the church. The world has no true vision beyond tomorrow. People are so focused on living for today and in the moment that our vision doesn’t seem to extend much beyond that. The result is broken homes, shattered lives, and lost dreams.
The thing is I don’t cringe as much about the world acting like the world. I mean I wish people weren’t living ungodly lives but they are. It is after all what the world does. What really troubles me the most is that the church is doing the same thing. We have no vision beyond now and what it takes to fill the church and pay the bills and keep things going now and for ourselves. Limited vision has produced weak Christians and weak churches. The vision should be big and by big I mean eternal. The vision that we have for the church should be a vision that far surpasses our lifetime. We should set up a vision for the church that helps us build, grow, and establish a church now and that helps people sustain growth in the future and have a continual impact on the kingdom. My vision for the church should be looked at like this. “How will what we are doing today help people in this church win souls for the kingdom 100 years from now?”
If we are planning for now but not for tomorrow then maybe we will thrive today but where there is no vision the people perish and the future church will die because the present church didn’t plan for the next generation and the generation after that. Without a clear vision that leads to the future growth of the church and salvation of souls then the people will become unrestrained and start chasing around every wind of doctrine. Many wonderful fundamental churches that preach and teach truth have died or are dying because we have focused on preaching and teaching today but we have no articulated a vision for next year. Yes I must preach to those I have now and minister to the needs of my present congregation but I must also preach and teach with the people that will be in this church after I am dead and gone.
Let’s ask ourselves a few things.
1) Do I have a Biblical vision for the future of my specific church and the kingdom of God?
2) Can I articulate that vision?
3) Do other people in my church and my friends/family know my vision?
4) Do I know the future vision of the others in my church?
Let us establish that many false teachings are being readily accepted in the church (emergent church, Joel Osteen, purpose driven etc. etc.) because the people; including the pastors; are not restrained by a clear articulate Biblical vision and therefore are grasping at anything that sounds good. If I look around and see my church dead or dying let me first examine myself and see if I have ever truly had a real Biblical vision for the church and if I have ever tried to articulate that vision to anyone else. The first step in truly revitalizing the church is to take some personal responsibility and not blame the pastor, leaders, and other members. If I have no vision why should anyone else. It truly amazes me in our society how much we blame others for not doing what we have never tried or even considered. If we have no personal vision for the church or kingdom then why are we surprised that the church is dying and the Kingdom appears to have stalled?
Then we must examine whether or not our vision is Biblical. The vision may be to grow the church but the idea may be secular and not of God. If the idea and vision isn’t supported by the Bible then it may bring physical, financial, and worldly success but it will also bring spiritual death. Some of the loudest, jumping, happening churches with the most people and most money are also DEAD. If the vision does not line up with the true word of God abandon it, repent for it, and cry out to God for a Holy Spirit inspired and led vision. That’s where true vision starts, with prayer.
Can you articulate your vision? If you tell me that your vision is to win souls then guess what? I am totally unimpressed. That is generic at best. How are you going to win souls? Are you going knock on doors, run radio, newspaper, television ads that explain salvation? There are numerous ways that you can effectively and Biblically preach salvation. You’ve got to be able to put it into words. It doesn’t have to big and fancy and more than likely it won’t be. I supply my congregation with Gospels of John, tracts that explain God’s love and salvation through Christ, and ink pens with the church name, number, and address on them so if someone has questions they have a way to contact us. That is simple but it is articulate and people can understand what to do and how to do it. I must be able to explain my vision so that others know it and understand it before I can ever implement it.
Also a church with a true vision for reaching the lost and changing the world will be a church where the vision is the collective whole of the individual vision. I believe that the pastor should set the vision for the church but a wise pastor comes up with a collective vision that is not just his but that of his people. The collective vision, if done correctly, may be worded and even executed differently than the individual vision but it will also make room for every single person who is interested to be a part of it and to fulfill their individual ministries while advancing the church and more importantly the Kingdom of God.
The vision has got to work. We have run ourselves ragged in the church doing things that take up a lot of time, space, and money but don’t actually promote or expand the Kingdom of God. Every individual and church should examine their time and resources and see if they are being used in a way that actually wins souls to the Kingdom of God or if they are just going to things that fill our time without netting results for GOD. That is a hard thing to do but the bottom line is if we are not effective at winning souls and enhancing the Kingdom of God then we are making a lousy investment of our time and money.
So let me explain to you where all this comes from. It comes from me praying and seeking God’s will for my church. It is God challenging me about whether or not I am leading my people in a way that pleases Him and makes a difference for Him. It is me examining myself and praying that God will help me get it right. I don’t think I can afford to be wrong. If God tarries I won’t. My life must end and if Christ doesn’t come back soon, like I think He will, then I need to leave behind a church established on an enduring vision for winning souls and making disciples for my Jesus.
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