“help me not wanna”

I have two crazy cute daughters and a wonderful wife. This morning I was helping Alethia put on her shoes. She’s two years old and likes to be a little independent at times. Danielle, my wife, asked her to put on one pair of shoes yet Alethia wanted a different pair. Danielle told her to ask her Daddy. Her way of asking was this, “Daddy, can you help me not wanna put on those other shoes?” Alethia wanted me to change her heart desire for a shoe preference. The reality was that I could not no matter if I wanted. Parenting may have its days but at least it is entertaining!

There are times when we ask God the same question. “God, help me not want to __________ or help me to do __________”. You know what goes in those blanks much better than I could guess. My question is how does God change our “wanna’s”? Do we really expect we can pray a prayer and assume God will wave His hand and our desires will instantly change from evil to good? I do not believe it is this easy or simple.

The psalmist knew the demand of his desires along with the device of change. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9-11). Certainly the psalmist prayed for God to not let him stray from obedience but his strategy did not end there. Too often Christians pray that prayer then if they sin they think to themself that God didn’t answer their prayer or that He must not have wanted them to obey or even worse, they assume and take for granted that God will forgive them no matter what. All of these thoughts are foolish and fail to understand God and the psalmists approach. After the psalmist prayed that he declared, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.” In other words, his device for God to change his desires was not simply in a half-hearted prayer but in the grind of memorizing and meditating on the words of God. His desires changed because he spent time learning to love the things God loves and hating the things God hates.

So, the next time you pray “help me not wanna __________”; don’t forget to spend some time digesting God’s Word into your life.

A Spiritual Battle

For those of you who do not believe prayer works or that there isn’t a battle being waged then check this video out. The most unsafe place in America is in a woman’s womb. Dare the people of God get serious about prayer for the unborn, loving women and caring for their needs and hurts? I pray for more of this and glad to see new sites like this to make the case for life. May our hearts weep to God and may He hear the sincerity of our prayers over this issue.

What if I’m not a HGG

Growing up with my sister was an interesting time. As a young boy I was involved with the typical activities and items of every boy – matchbox cars, G.I. Joe men, Atari on a black & white television set, and of course there were lots of sports and games. I loved to be outside playing football, baseball, basketball, kickball or any other game that involved lots of competition. My sister on the other hand liked typical things of girlhood – dolls, books, kitchen set to play cook food and various other things. However, there was one aspect that became ironic between the two of us as a boy and a girl. I liked to be clean and avoid messiness and she liked to sit outside on the ground and eat dirt, literally! Gross-ossa!

Many people do not enjoy being messy. They appreciate things to be organized and in their proper place (and dirt’s proper place is not in the mouth!). Whereas others thrive on spontaneity and disorder and life would not be any fun if there were not stained boxers and socks lining the hallway to direct a path to the bedroom J. Of course this is a bit of a sarcastic introduction to say that people and relationships are always a work in progress because relationships are filled with the lives of a sin-tainted world. Every person struggles with the reality of conflict, heartbreak, emotional scars and issues of forgiveness.

The issue for young people is how to be the right person while you are searching for the right person. Dating, courting, going out, girl and boy friends – whatever name it is given it is still a major issue among teens and singles. The problem comes when the chase becomes more important than character. To state it an old-fashion way, “you can’t put the cart before the horse”. Young people must focus on their own heart and identity to become a healthy, whole person – I call this becoming a HGG: Hot Godly Guy/Girl.

What if I’m not a HGG? Proverbs 4:23; 1 Kings 10:23 – 11:13

Solomon was a man who had it all. He had wealth, fame, fortune, the pleasures of entertainment and relationships yet when reflecting on his life he viewed it all as “…meaningless, Even more, for a time, Solomon had the hand of God’s favor in his life. It was in his heart to be a HGG, that was his father’s wishes as well as his personal intention. However, becoming a HGG is more than just wishes and intentions. It occurs through deliberate and specific choices at every layer of life. Solomon found this out very well through the challenge of character.

The reason Solomon struggled to be a HGG is found in something he wrote: Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else [with all diligence], guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

He discovered that life has multiple distractions and if we allow them, they will take over your life. The Bible passage 1 Kings 10:23 – 11:13 describes Solomon’s slippery slide of faith and integrity. The primary reason for his slide was relationships with the opposite gender. Solomon loved many foreign (idolatrous) women who turned his heart away from the one true God. He failed to guard his heart.

It is easy to get distracted from life’s purpose and goals and ultimately from God. The Bible calls us to guard our heart and lives diligently from being distracted or diverted away from the main focus of your faith in Jesus. An overview of these Scriptures are as follows: “have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3), “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5), “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15), “if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14), “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” (Matt 6:33), “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11), “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20), “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Php 1:21), “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Php 3:10), “all things were created by him and for him” (Col 1:16b), “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:1-3), “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 1:8),

In summary, God calls us to seek Him and make Him first priority of our lives. In doing so we are becoming what I call a HGG. But what if you are like Solomon? What if you have slipped from being a HGG? By responding to these 2 questions you will be able to consider if you are becoming a HGG?

1)  What is your standard for “Hot”? Many people would assume to be a HGG that you have to follow the same standards of appearance as the world. This is not necessarily so. Though looks and appearance are important in relationships and self-image they are not primary. One’s “hotness” is truly defined by Scripture not your shape; your faith and not your figure. In other words, your character overrules your image.

2) Who has your heart? This question often leads you to think relationally with the notion of love and romance. However, it’s really a question of authority in your life. Who is the biggest influence in your life? The answer to this question reveals what is most important to you and what your god is.

Your heart should not be solely accessible by a key pad or internet connection. Solomon reminds us to guard our hearts with all diligence because it will determine the course and direction of your life. This includes not just who you are and where you go but how you feel about life and self. It’s physical, spiritual, emotional – it’s everything!

God wants your heart that you might not chase after fleeting romance but the eternal God, Jesus Christ. “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (Jonah 2:8). 

What if I could know for certain I was saved?

This is a great question that deserves attention. In my 10+ years of Youth Ministry I have found that this is one of the top questions that puzzle young people. I believe one of the reasons it gives them difficulty is because it is ingrained in our psyche to approach God through the lenses of personal performance or achievements. This viewpoint is classic religion, believing that God will love and accept you based on your obedience to do good works. Further, religion views God as a means to an end. We become consumers looking to get things from God rather than seeing God as the gift. Religion leaves a person unsatisfied and uncertain because they never know when or if they have done enough to stand confident before God.

The gospel gives certainty about salvation. The gospel is completely different than salvation because it is not about you but about Jesus. You are accepted and loved based on the perfect life of Jesus and the finished payment of sin from His death. Jesus lived the perfect, righteous life that is required of us and He paid the punishment of death which we deserve for our sin. Because of Jesus, we can humbly stand confident before God. It is by grace through faith that we are saved, not by works so that no one can take pride in themselves (Ephesians 2:8-9).

JOHN 3

As you continue to explore what it means to have certainty in salvation it may be helpful to examine the life of a curiously religious man named Nicodemus. To start with Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Pharisees were a religious sect of Judaism that interpreted the Law with extreme careful exactitude (Josephus). They sought strict adherence to the words of Scripture. They even went so far as to add traditions to the Law to assist in obedience to God. Good Pharisees kept company with positive role models with good values (Matt 9:11), practiced spiritual disciplines of prayer & fasting (Matt 9:14), attended religious functions (Matt 12:2), memorized Scripture (Matt 23:5), were influential among upper class and religious groups (Matt 23:7), were adventurous missionaries (Matt 23:15), gave tithes (Matt 23:23), morally pure (Matt 23:24-28), knew only God forgave sin (Mark 2:7), protected God’s name (Mark 2:7-8), practiced religious traditions (Mark 7:5), prayed for signs and miracles from heaven (Mark 8:11), sought God’s wisdom on divorce and marriage (Mark 10:2), paid government taxes (Mark 12:13-15), practiced hospitality (Luke 11:37), separated from evil influencers (Luke 18:11), condemned adultery (John 8:3), investigated the legitimacy of healings and prophets (John 9:13), and on top of all that had doctrinal truth believing the resurrection (Acts 23:8).

All of that to say that Nicodemus was a Pharisee who approached Jesus with questions about God. One of the realities about religious people is that even they have unanswered questions. Nicodemus knew Jesus was from God because of the miracles and teaching He was doing. But his opinions about Jesus were not personal. He did not fully engage Jesus with commitment but with curiosity.

Through examining Jesus’ response and interaction with Nicodemus you can understand what it means to have certainty with God in your faith journey (salvation).

You can know for certain because of Jesus’ authority (3:1-4).
Nicodemus approached Jesus with curiosity and perhaps some hesitation. As a Pharisee he was intrigued about Jesus’ teaching and actions. He viewed Jesus as a Rabbi (teacher) and a miracle worker from God. Yet, he was unsure of Jesus’ full identity as being the Messiah.

Jesus’ responded with authority. In the original language, John used the words “Amen, Amen. I say unto you…” as a sign of Jesus’ assurance and certainty in His teaching. Jesus can be certain about the truth of His teaching because He is more than a Rabbi or prophet from God – He is God. Jesus is the divine Son of God (in the flesh 1:14).

Today there is resistance to identify Jesus as more than a good teacher or messenger of God. However, when examining His teaching and His actions one can clearly see that He claimed to be God. So, to believe Jesus’ words is to believe the words of Almighty God. Jesus has the full authority of God who says you will see the kingdom of God and be set free from sin through a faith that is “born again”. Being born again means having a renewed and forgiven spirit, and a renewed authority to live under. Whether than living for self, you are now living for above – the kingdom of God. Therefore, your certainty of salvation does not come from your performance but from the power and Lordship of Jesus.

You can know for certain because of Jesus’ awakening (3:5-8).
As Jesus continued to tell Nicodemus that he had to be born again to see the kingdom of God, this caused confusion for Nicodemus. He thought this meant he had to enter his mother’s womb a second time. Jesus gave further explanation saying that this new birth would not be physical but spiritual; “of water and the Spirit”. Jesus was describing a person who would be cleansed and forgiven of sin so that their failures do not define their identity but they had a renewal or awakening from God’s Spirit.

God’s Holy Spirit brings an unidentifiable awakening in a person’s life. Jesus describes the Spirit as a blowing of the wind that is unpredictable yet unmistakable. Two points to make regarding God’s Spirit to bring awakening in your life.

The first, though His presence is somewhat subjective He will always be a complement to God’s Word. In other words, the Spirit will never be, do or lead someone to contradict the character and commands of God. It is more than an emotional experience that will explode at first encounter leading to odd religious hysteria. Jesus is testifying of things of the greatest reality (v.12).

A second point to make is that God does not hide Himself from those who truly want to seek Him. God’s Spirit is available to all those who surrender to God on the basis of repentance and faith (v.15-18). Being born again and awakened to new life is not another religious ritual to perform… raise hand… walk an aisle… check this box type of mentality. What Nicodemus needed and we all need is an awakening of Jesus in the very depths of our being. This is more than mental assent but a heartfelt devotion that forever changes your identity.

You can know for certain because of Jesus’ actions (3:9-21).
As Jesus finishes His conversation with Nicodemus there becomes a teaching, whether from Jesus or John is to be determined, that further describes how born again life is cultivated. Salvation is attained on the basis of God loving the world and sending His Son for all those to believe in Him. Another way to describe what this message has been saying is that religion starts with man; salvation starts with God. God is the originator of new life because it was His idea to create and love the world. He demonstrates this through the sending of His Son.

Therefore, your certainty is not based on your actions or moral performance. It is based on Jesus being lifted up (v.14) and for all those who believe in His finished work on the cross will have eternal life.

TAKING IT HOME

- Who would Pharisees be compared to today?

- Do you think Nicodemus followed through in his faith? Why?

- Why is Jesus’ identity more important than a good teacher or a prophet?

- What are some common misconceptions about being “born again”?

- How is the Holy Spirit unpredictable yet unmistakable?

- How can you test to see if someone is acting or living based on the Holy Spirit? (Give several examples)

- Why does Jesus’ death on the cross finish or complete all the action required for salvation?

-  Are you certain of your salvation? What unanswered questions do you have regarding “born again” faith?

-  Who is your Nicodemus – someone you should seek to share and explain faith to?

 

Little girl, I say to you, get up!

Audrey Wenger was 11 years old. She had a smile and laughter to fill a room. Audrey was crazy about riding horses, played the piano and sang, and she had a loving faith in the Lord Jesus. She loved her family – her parents Bob & Lynne, her sisters Emily & Holly and her brother Jimmy. Last week Audrey got sick and was unable to recover, leaving earth way too early but joining Heaven in complete joy. Audrey will be sincerely missed by many; she was my cousin through my wife’s family. We love and miss you Audrey.

This real life story reminds me of a real life story in the Bible. A father named Jairus, pleaded earnestly with Jesus saying, “My little daughter is dying. Please come [and heal her]”. Later Jairus would learn that his daughter died. His friends told him to stop seeking Jesus’ help after the death of his daughter.

Jesus’ response is significant in Mark 5:36 and following:

First, Jesus ignored what others said. He didn’t want Jairus to be fooled by the counsel of others. He surrounded the family with only those who would love and support them. Those who are hurting need the love and support of their friends and family; even if it means just being there silently in the same room. There’s comfort in presence.

Second, Jesus encouraged the hurting family. His counsel was “Fear not; just believe.” This is great counsel because the first temptation for the hurting individual is to fear and lose control. When faced with death or disappointment we doubt God’s goodness that He has a purpose for every detail of our life. Yet, this is reality. In essence, Jesus reaffirms to Jairus that He is in control and to continue his trust.

Third, Jesus restored hope. While this little girl was dying there was no one or nothing to help prevent her from dying. Her hope rested in a God who had the power to resurrect. Jesus did just that, astonishing everyone. He entered the room, took her hand and said, “Talitha koum”, which means “Little girl, I say to you get up!”

Our hope is in the resurrection life of Jesus. Because He rose we have the promise and confidence of rising too. Our faith will be fulfilled when we enter the presence of eternal joy. We will see Jesus and we will see Audrey because of her faith in Jesus.

Listen to the words of Audrey’s father: “God is so close. He knows what’s going on and has a purpose – perhaps many purposes in this. Audrey touched everyone she met in a positive way. She loved her Jesus. I praise God that I was able to be blessed by having her as my daughter. She was a special friend, too.”

 Thank You, Audrey!
I dreamed I went to heaven,
‘Twas you I came to see!
We walked along the streets of gold,
Beside the crystal sea!
We heard the angels singing,
Then someone called your name,
We turned and saw the Savior,
He was smiling as He came.
He said, “Audrey, I’m glad to have you here!
I have a place for you!
We walked up to a new log house,
On the porch an old church pew.
It has a grand piano,
And such a mountain view!
The horses are outside the gate,
And waiting there for you!”
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
We are all lives that are changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord -
We are so glad you gave.
“Back on earth they’re grieving,”
The Lord continued on.
“They just can’t seem to comprehend,
The reason that you’re gone.”
“I have to ask that you trust me,
And I ask the same of them.”
“My purpose is hard to understand,
But you know, Audrey, I died for them.”
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
We are all lives that are changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord -
We are so glad you gave.

Adapted By Bob Wenger

What if I could live without regrets or rewind and have do-overs?

The Bible shows that life’s decisions matter, our actions carry grave consequences. In Israel’s time, King Ahab found this out as much as anyone. Ahab could and should have been a king to lead Israel to follow God. Yet, he allowed evil influences into his life and completely rejected God’s ways.

 Listen to these statements:
“Ahab did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those [kings] before him… He considered it trivial to commit sins… he also married Jezebel… and he did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him” (1 Kings 16:29-33 selected)

Later in Ahab’s life the consequences of his life would catch up with him. After worshiping false gods, marrying an evil woman, disobeying God’s commands, taking God’s grace for granted and carelessly living like sin does not matter the time came for him to be held accountable. God sent Elijah to confront Ahab and prophecy his judgment and ultimate death. (1 Kings 21:17-24)

Surprisingly, all of Ahab’s life must have flashed in front of him. It is as if a veil was lifted from his eyes and he realized the reality of all he had done. Surely, a huge turn happened in his mind and he felt the grief of his sin. “When Ahab heard these words [of confrontation and judgment], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly” (1 Kings 21:27). Ahab faced his moment of regret.

God saw that Ahab’s regret and remorse was sincere and he relented on the measure of his judgment, although not removing it. Sin still must be accounted for regardless of the regret or remorse.

TAKING IT HOME
So, what if you could live life without regrets? What if you could rewind life and have a do over? Well, the short answer is that you can’t. Even as current events have shown in the Kanye West – Taylor   Swift – Beyonce drama, your actions will generate a reputation. You cannot unscramble eggs or undo behaviors. And, that means there will be consequences.

However, though you cannot rewind life you can repent life. What I mean is that life will have its regrets and there will be much need for repentance. But the cure for a life of regret, as Ahab, is cultivating a life of repentance each day. Martin Luther of the Protestant Reformation, began his “Ninety-Five Theses” saying, “Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ… willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” At first glance this may seem disheartening that there will never be any progress in the Christian life. Or it could appear arrogant in that we can sin as much as we want and God’s grace will cover it regardless. Neither of these glances were Luther’s intentions. The point is that a life of repentance is a life of growth and sanctified learning. True repentance is not sorry for the consequences of sin – i.e. being caught – but it is sorry for dishonoring God and His glory in your life.

Therefore, our regret which leads to a sad empty life turns into a life of repentance discovering joy. Regret cannot bring happiness because it is self-centered and will always fall short. Repentance has the power to bring true joy because it is rooted not in personal performance but in Christ’s righteousness. The gospel is our only hope for a life without regret.

- What was your reaction to the Kanye – Taylor – Beyonce drama? How does this relate to this message of a life of regret?

- What is your greatest regret?

- Why do you think Ahab suddenly experienced regret?

- What is the difference between regret and repentance?

- Do you view having a “life of repentance” as depressing or encouraging? Why?

- How does the gospel bring about change and growth, propelling you toward a life without regret?

- Memorize “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

Fear or Love God? Or Both?

I’m intentionally slowly reworking through a 2-volume work by Jerry Bridges “The Pursuit of Holiness” and “The Practice of Godliness” . Currently Bridges is talking about fearing God is a balance that drives us to stand back in awe and yet also enter toward Him in love. He writes about this tension (TPOG; pp.19-20) …

“It is impossible to be devoted to God if one’s heart is not filled with the fear of God. It is this profound sense of veneration and honor, reverence and awe that draws forth from our hearts the worship and adoration that characterizes true devotion to God. The reverent, godly Christian sees God first in His transcendent glory, majesty, and holiness before he sees Him in His love, mercy and grace.”

“One of the more serious sins of Christians today may well be the almost flippant familiarity with which we often address God in prayer. None of the godly men of the Bible ever adopted the casual manner we often do. They always addressed God with reverence. The same writer who tells us that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, the throne room of God, also tells us that we should worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 10:19, 12:28-29). The same Paul who tells us that the Holy Spirit dwelling within us causes us to cry, “Abba, Father,” also tells us that this same God lives in “unapproachable light” (Romans 8:15; 1 Timothy 6:16).

I am to be reminded that God is not only full of love, grace and forgiveness but also full of holiness, justice and wrath. Of course, both these categories are displayed in the person of Jesus. The gospel is truly amazing and humbling that we can intimately know this great God who is to be both feared and loved. And this works out practically in the way we approach God in prayer:

- By how we address God in prayer. God is our Heavenly Daddy but He’s not our Homeboy.
- By how consistently we approach God in prayer. Do we fear and stay away because of guilt? If so, this is a misunderstanding of the gospel. Our sin should drive us toward God because the cross is the only place we can go for freedom.
-By how we live the Christian life. God is to be loved and feared not liked and placated once a week or so. This Fearful Loving God should consume every waking thought and breath that we realize our utter dependence on and desperation without Him (Psalm 42:1-2).

God, help me to see more of You! Help me to both fear and love You!

What if I’m out of options?

Families and teens are under a tremendous amount of pressure. They live franticly, going from home to daycare to school to sports or various other activities, all the while trying to squeeze in a few moments of family time. If that were not enough some families add, rightfully so, spiritual training to their lifestyle. The unfortunate part in this is that children get lost in the plethora of activity. They are overwhelmed with differing values and contrasting worldviews of what they are taught and what they see lived out in front of them. When it comes to their own personal decision they either rebel and reject the value of faith or they walk away with a watered down version of it. Neither of these result in giving teens a foundation which they can sustain the storms of life.

In asking the question “What if…” I was stunned by one of the responses asking, “What if I’m out of options? What if I’ve tried everything and have no where else to turn?” I must confess that my first reaction was doubt. How could a teen who walks through the doors of our church feel like they are alone and out of options with no where to turn? We strive to be a community that cares for one another with open arms to embrace individuals. After further reflection and to my disappointment I have found that this is not just the whisper of one individual but a repeating echo of teens and individuals in our church and community.

Chap Clark in his book Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers says this about such an echo, “The surface of the adolescent landscape is where internal fears, loneliness, and insecurities must be held in check, where friendships are generally shallow, and where performance and image are the name of the game. Alongside, or more accurately, beneath the superficial and all too often cosmetic layer of high school life, there are dark, lonely corners where the neon light of sanitized conformity seldom penetrates. Just below the sheen of coerced normality are the stress and strain of personal survival in a hostile world.” (p. 19).

Psalm 55:1-8, 16-23   (background 2 Samuel 15) Psalm 13 in bullpen

You can flee with fear.
David wrote this psalm during a time when he was betrayed by his son Absalom. He felt isolated and backed into a corner of loneliness and lament. When David prays he feels like his prayers hit a ceiling and perhaps is abandoned by God. He has troubling complaints, feeling distraught, mourning, suffering and anguish. In all, David is afraid. He was tired of fighting, out of options and wanted to give up. His fear had overwhelmed him to the point that all he wants is escape from his circumstances. “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” David thought freedom could be achieved by fantasizing escape and a life without consequences. 

Fear is a powerful and gripping emotion that can control your life. Teens fear not fitting in, being accepted and even being comfortable with their own identity. They see their fears and problems as bigger than anything and anyone. Someone once said that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. In other words, feelings and emotions are not always our friend when it comes to reality. Our perceptions of people or circumstances can be misguided by our fears and ultimately our own sin. The reality of David’s circumstances was that he was experiencing the natural consequences of previous sin in his life. Much of David’s anguish can be traced back to poor choices and wrongful previous priorities. When the forces of the wind have been set in motion we should be prepared to reap the whirlwind.

Do you feel like David? Is your fantasy to flee and escape your circumstances? Could it be that your sin has finally caught up with you? Perhaps it is now time to face the real issue – that God does not want to change your circumstances but he wants to change you! Even if your difficult circumstances are not a consequence of previous sin, God still wants to bring about a change in your faith and character.

You can fight with faith.
David continues the psalm showing his bitterness and anger at the actions of others (v.9-15). He sees wickedness, violence, strife, lies and the evil faults of others. He is obviously hurt and it appears deeply personal (v. 13-14). But, as he writes he realizes that he cannot control the actions of others. One thing he can control is his response.

“But I call to God, and the Lord saves me.” David’s faith in God kept him going. He realized that he did not need escape but elevation. You see, fear causes you to be depressed and look down. Faith calls you to joy and to look up. David saw the big picture that God is in control – “enthroned forever” and will bring about justice in His time (v.19, 23).

God’s goal for you is not removal but circumstances but strength to sustain through them. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (v.22). The point is faith is a journey constantly teaching us we cannot do it alone. Faith is not an abstract doctrine to only believe but it is a Person to receive in your life. God promises to be with you and gives sustaining grace through all circumstances. His goal is not your happiness but your holiness which predominantly comes about through the presence of adversity. In this realization David prayed with confidence in God’s promise to save and continuity in life (v.17).

TAKING IT HOME
- Teens face a lot of “hurts”.[1] What can the Church do to help?

- What does the phrase mean “God never wastes a hurt”?

- Does it help to know that David (and Jesus and many other godly men & women) went through very similar hurts? How does the gospel heal our little hurts (issues, challenges, emotions) and our big hurts (sin, addiction, heart idols)?

- Why is fleeing or escape not a good option when facing difficulty?

- Respond to the acronym: FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. In other words, feelings and emotions are not always our friend when it comes to reality.

- Respond to the statement: God does not want to change your circumstances as much as he wants to change you!

- What does it mean to fight life’s problems with faith? Specifically look at each verse of Psalm 55:16, 17, 18, 19, 22.

- How does adversity and challenges make you stronger?

- What questions do you have when it comes to meshing your faith with your hurts?

 

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[1] A helpful and provocative window into this world is Chap Clark’s book “Hurt”.

Teen against low expectations

Teens raising the bar over low expectations. Love it!

Plus, check out this story…

What if I could save the world?

There is an inward yearning in all of us to influence others and have a life of significance. Everyone wants to be a hero to someone. God wants us to know that we do not have to have a cape and wear tights to do so. It is simply a matter of faith and obedience in small decisions in the world around us. Are you ready to save the world?

Movie Clip: Pay it Forward. Please excuse slight objectionable language

What does the world mean to you? Is there anyone who matters to you? How often do you think of people outside the church? What does the world expect of Christians? NOTHING? Unfortunately, these are difficult questions facing Christians and the Church. But what if we flipped everything upside down and it was POSSIBLE to save the world?

1 Kings 17:17-24
“What if I could save the world? What if every time I witnessed someone was saved?”

If you want to save the world then:

Get ready (17:17-18).
The widow’s need was that her son was ill and died. Obviously, this was a huge crisis for the woman emotionally and spiritually. Emotionally because she was a widow and all her family had passed away; she was all alone. She was in a spiritual crisis because she didn’t know where to turn and felt God was abandoning her only to bring judgment.

Likewise, people have needs all around us. Are we (you) ready to meet some of those needs and answer such questions that the world is asking? You see, it is God’s desire to bring awakening to the world but God’s people are often unprepared for the harvest. The world is asking the right questions and yearning for something more but unfortunately, many believers are not ready to share the reason of their hope (1Peter 3:15).

It begins with getting serious about your personal faith journey and knowing who and why you believe. Are you ready?

Get involved (17:19). 
Elijah saw the need and took the initiative to get involved. Rather than viewing the woman as a problem to be managed or ignored he saw her as a hurting person who needed help. He took charge of the situation and made himself available to God to be of assistance.

As you look around the world, there are countless opportunities to get involved. It starts with seeing others not as problems to solve but people to love. We can invest in relationships to show others we care by listening to their life stories and being there when they have spiritual curiosity.

Certainly there are way too many needs for any one person to get involved on their own. To make a difference you must focus your resources into a few areas where you see God is leading you to make a difference. As God’s people take initiative and work together they can accomplish big things for God. They can be somebody’s hero, who points to the ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ. However, it only happens when we understand Christianity is not a spectator sport or lived on the sidelines but requires personal involvement with others.

Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Get praying (17:20-24).
Elijah knew he could not bring the boy back to life on his own. As he personally engaged himself in the problem by stretching himself out three times and did the best thing he could do – cry out to God. He prayed for God to give an answer. Note that Elijah had to persevere, he did it three different times. Through committed prayer God not only heard but responded by bringing the boy back to life. The woman’s response was priceless as she saw and believed in God’s power.

The power of prayer is often overlooked when it comes to making a difference, bringing others to faith in Christ or solving problems. Every great movement of God began and continued from the priority of prayer. E.M. Bounds says,”The praying which makes a prayerful ministry is not a little praying put in as we put flavor to give it a pleasant smack, but the praying must be in the body, and form the blood and bones. Prayer is no petty duty, put into a corner; no piecemeal performance made out of the fragments of time which have been snatched from business and other engagements of life; but it means that the best of our time, the heart of our time and strength must be given.” He goes on to say that the character of our prayer life will determine the character and impact of our ministry life. If we desire to join God’s desire for significant impact then we must become people who get praying.

TAKING IT HOME
- How will you prepare to “save the world” and leave an eternal influence in the world? What are some practical steps for you to take?

- What community problems do you see that Christians and the Church could address?

-  Think of a way to save the world and put it into action! What would it look like to act justly and love mercy in our community? Be specific.

-  Why is prayer an essential element of reaching others? How can we (you) make it more of a priority?