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Developing Patience

By on March 14th, 2005

Some time ago, I was driving down a road in St Louis and I needed to turn off at the next exit. However, someone was in the exit lane next to me, so I slowed down, way down, to wait for an opening. As I was slowing down, a large pick up truck with huge tires raced up behind me honking it’s horn. As I continued to slow, the truck raced around on my right. I saw the driver through the window, shaking his fist, yelling something. I was glad my windows were rolled up. He cut right in front of me and roared on his way. As I finally exited the road, I thought, that was not a patient man, that was an angry man. I didn’t have any warm fuzzy feelings toward him. I would think twice before trying to build a friendship with him. But, I must admit, I’ve had some angry thoughts and words about slow drivers on the road myself, especially when I’m in a hurry. Getting angry seems to come easier than being patient.

Patience is an essential character trait that you need to develop in order to have strong relationships. You can’t talk about patience without talking about anger, because the word patience means “slow to get angry.” The Greek word for patience is “makrothumos”, where makro means “long or slow” and thumos means “anger or wrath.” So patience means you have a long fuse, you don’t blow up easily, you manage your anger.

NIV Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. It’s wise to learn how to develop patience, it’s foolish to be quick tempered. An angry person seems powerful, but he doesn’t accomplish anything contructive. In fact, anger weakens and destroys relationships. On the other hand, a patient person overlooks wrongs in others and strengthens his relationships. NLT Proverbs 19:11 People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.

For a more indepth treatment of this topic, listen to my February 20, 2005 message entitled Developing Patience

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Why Is Love So Hard To Find And Keep?

By on March 7th, 2005

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? Maybe back in middle school or high school. You noticed someone in class, but it was more than just noticing them. You had feelings when you looked at them, when you talked to them, feelings you never had before. Your heart beat faster and you had a funny feeling in your stomach. Must be love, that mysterious feeling that you fall into. You don’t seem to have much control over it, it’s either there or it’s not. When the feeling is there, it’s great, you’re in love. When the feeling is gone, love must be gone, or so many people think.

Love is not just a feeling. When the Bible talks about love, it uses the Greek word agape. Agape means to make a choice to appreciate and act in the best interests of someone else. It is used both for loving God and for loving people. So, love is a choice, a choice to do the right thing for someone else, whether the feelings are there or not. Feelings come and go in even the best of relationships. However, when the choice and commitment to love remains strong, it actually leads to the deepest feelings of love over the long haul.

How can you learn about love, the kind of love that lasts? The best place to start is with the person who invented love, God Himself. God showed us what love was all about in the person of Jesus. Jesus showed us love in His life and His death. It applies to how we love one another. NLT 1 John 4:19 We love each other as a result of his loving us first.

For a more indepth treatment of this topic, listen to my February 13, 2005 message entitled Laying A Foundation Of Love

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Overcoming Discouragement In Your Life

By on February 3rd, 2005

Every person faces discouragement in their life from time to come. The dictionary defines discouragement as the condition of being deprived of confidence, hope or spirit. Discouragement raises it’s ugly head when things seem to go wrong in our lives. A plan that we’ve had seems to be going no where. We may have work problems, or relational problems or health problems. The way we think our lives should go does not seem to be happening. So, our confidence, hope and spirits are dampened. If not checked, discouragement can lead to depression. Someone who is discouraged or depressed usually finds it difficult to know how to make the changes in their lives that will lead to increased confidence, hope and spirit. God’s Word gives us the principles, that with God’s help, can guide you to finding courage and hope for your life.

A discouraged person tends to live in the past, either a past of failures or a past of glory days, never to be repeated. God designed us as people to look to the future not the past. Take your eyes off the past, it’s history, and place them on the future. NIV Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” God wants to do a new thing in your life. No matter what has gone down in the past, God has a good plan for you, a plan that no one can thwart except you. If your life seems like a desert and wasteland, God wants to show you a roadway through that desert and lead you to streams of living water. Look to the future.

A discouraged person tends to withdraw from other people and hide away from relationships. The way out of discouragement is to draw strength from others. First and most importantly, God is there to give you strength and courage. God spoke to Joshua and He speaks to you: NLT Joshua 1:5 For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. God will not force Himself upon you, but He is there, if you will but reach out to Him. He is always as close as your breath. He is never more than a whisper away. Ask Him for strength, submit your life to Him.

A discouraged person doesn’t want to do anything. Sometimes they don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning. If God has a good plan for your future and He is there to give you strength, then you’ve got to get up and take action to follow that plan. Draw courage and strength from God and God’s family, the church, to take action in your life. If you do nothing, nothing will change in your life. God spoke to Joshua and He speaks to you: NLT Joshua 1:9 I command you– be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” God never commands someone to do something that He does not empower them to do. So when God commands you to be strong and courageous, you can do it! When God commands you to not be afraid or discouraged, you can do it! Why? Because He will be with you wherever you go.

God will show you His plan for your life as you study, meditate on and obey God’s Word written down in the Bible. The only path to success in life is through a relationship with Jesus Christ and obedience to God’s Word. NLT Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.

For a more indepth treatment of this topic, listen to my February 6, 2005 message entitled Bringing Out The Best In Others

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If you don’t yet have a relationship with God, these principles will be impossible to put into practice fully. To find out about starting a relationship with God, read my blog How To Have A Relationship With God.

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Beginning A Relationship With God

By on February 3rd, 2005

People were created by God to have a relationship with Him. Every person was designed by God with a special plan and purpose in mind for their life. That special plan and purpose for your life can only be fulfilled when you have a relationship with God. Success in life is defined by fulfilling your God-given purpose.

How can a person have a relationship with God? Although, most people in America call themselves Christians, very few actually have a relationship with God. You can call yourself anything you like, but that doesn’t make your label accurate. In this blog, I will lay out the succinct basics of entering into a relationship with God, based on the Bible. There is no other way. It is profound, but yet as simple as ABC.

A, you must ADMIT that you have done wrong things, you have sinned, every human being has. NLT Romans 3:23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. God’s glorious standard was exemplified in the perfect life of Jesus Christ, who never sinned. We all fall short of that standard. That sin separates you, a sinful human being, from having a relationship with a holy God. You need to simply admit it.

B, you must BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died on the cross to forgive your sins and release you from the penalty of the wrong you have done. Your sin separates you from having relationship with a holy God and condemns you to an eternity without God in a place called hell. Jesus having no sin of His own, took your sin upon Himself on the cross and paid your penalty, so that you could be released from eternal death and enter into enternal life. NLT Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. The free gift of God, eternal life, is received through faith, through believing that Jesus’ death is sufficient to forgive your sins and place you into a relationship with God. NLT John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Finally, C, you must COMMIT your life to following Jesus, all your days. That means that you make a firm and irrevocable decision to make Jesus the leader, the CEO, the president, the Lord of your life. From now on, you don’t call the shots anymore, He does. He has a plan for your life, and you are making a decision to follow it, no ifs, ands or buts about it. NLT Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It’s as simple and profound as that. ABC.

So, what are you waiting for? You don’t know how long you have on this earth. You’ve got a plan from God for your life to get started on. Don’t put it off. Simply go through the ABCs above and talk it through with God. He’s right there with you and He’s listening. Do it now!

If you’ve just prayed the ABC prayer, congratulations, you now have a relationship with God. If you are in the St Louis area, come to Life Church St Louis next Sunday, mark your Connect Card that you have committed your life, and we will get you a free New Believer’s New Testament to read and start figuring out God’s plan for you. You also need to get involved in a good, Bible-believing church. If you’re in St Louis, Life Church St Louis is the place to be. See you next Sunday!

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God And The Tsunami

By on January 4th, 2005

In the past week, we have been overwhelmed with pictures and videos of the destruction and loss of life that has occurred as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Some people blame God for what has happened. Others say that God had nothing to do with it, it was just random chance. Both opinions are wrong. The Bible clearly teaches that nothing happens by chance. NLT Proverbs 16:33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall. Nothing happens outside of God’s control, even natural disasters. Chance is simply a word that humans use for something for which they cannot determine cause and effect.

However, to say that nothing happens outside of God’s control, does not mean that God caused the death and destruction. Death and destruction are a result of Satan’s activity and sin in a fallen world. Death and destruction entered our world as a result of Adam’s original sin and are here to stay until the end of history. Yet, God in His awesome power, is able to use events such as these to further His purposes in the world.

Since God is in control of everything, God is in control of history. History is not a random set of events leading nowhere. History is linear, it had a beginning and it has an ending at the return of Jesus Christ to this planet. What is God doing in history? First, let’s look at one line of the Lord’s prayer. NIV Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. History is about God’s kingdom coming to earth, it is about His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. The end of history awaits more people becoming followers of Jesus Christ, that is Christians. NLT 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent.

So now that we understand in the broadest sense what is going on in history, let’s look at how God may be using the tsunami and what our response should be. The biggest barrier to the advance of Christianity around the world is the religion of Islam, with 1 billion adherents. Islam is violently opposed to Christianity in every state in which it has come to power. Conversion to Christianity is often grounds for capital punishment. Christians and missionaries are heavily persecuted. Islamic lands are almost untouched by the Christian message. God’s purposes in history will not let this situation stand and so we are beginning to see tremendous upheaval in these lands to open them up to Christianity.

Afghanistan was 99% Muslim. Now after the war, it is democratic and more open to Christian influence than ever before. Iraq was 95% Muslim and now despite the ongoing violence has a far greater Christian presence than ever before. I am not giving an opinion on whether these wars were just or not, I am simply saying that God is using them to open up closed Islamic lands to Christianity. Indonesia, the country most affected by the tsunami is the largest Muslim country in the world (87%). It has a record of increasing persecution of Christians. Now Indonesia is receiving aid from many Christian organizations around the world. Sri Lanka (70% Buddhist) and India (82% Hindu) were also impacted by the tsunami. God is and will be using these tragic events, not to punish Muslims, but to open their lands to the good news of Jesus Christ.

What should the response of Christians be to these disasters? The Word of God is clear. NLT Isaiah 58:10 Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. God wants believers to extend a helping hand to those who are in deep distress, to show the love of Jesus to them in every possible way. If you are a believer, I encourage you to support Christian aid agencies, such as AG Relief, that can supply both physical and spiritual help. Pray that these terrible events will open up people’s eyes to the only one who can ensure their eternity, Jesus Christ.

We look forward to the end of history. One day, there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more death. But until that day, we work with God, extending His kingdom to the hungry and those in trouble, wherever they may be.

NIV Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”