Dependence…learned from a couple of Jesus Stories
In the USA, we love the Declaration of Independence. In fact, rugged independence defines us at a deep level. In the spiritual world, it is the exact opposite…we are totally dependent! We enter into a relationship with God totally reliant, trusting on Him & Him alone! In truth, we are reliant upon God for everything!
On Sunday, we ventured into a story about Jesus which nails this concept:
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Here are kids…who know more about the kingdom of God because they are dependent! When it comes to our relationship with God we need to always remember that we are kids!
To put even a finer point on this, the very next story in the Gospel of Mark is about the Rich Young Ruler. Jesus doesn’t give the same answer to this man (i.e., “become like a child”). This Rich Young man claimed that he had kept everything in the law since being a child. And Jesus asked Him for something more than keeping the law, “You lack one thing, sell everything you have and give the money to the poor!”
This Rich Young Ruler was self-reliant. The issue wasn’t his stuff, but it was rather Who he trusted in. He trusted more in his own riches, his own youth, and himself than Jesus.
We must trust Jesus! Become little children and depend our our Great and Mighty God!!!
These thoughts were spawned from the message by Phil Helfer on 11/11/2012 @LosAltosGrace. Published in the MidWeek E-newsletter If you want to hear Pastor Phil Helfer talk through this message and much more, tune in online here.
Worship in the Crucible of Life
I had the chance to interview a couple of beloved folks from Los Altos Grace to share their stories.
In this interview format, Pete Anderson who lost a spouse to divorce and another to death (and is now happily married to Cheryl) speaks candidly about the difficulty of worship even through great loss.
The second person on the panel, was Erin Vidovich who is currently battling through cancer for the second time. Erin has a blog which chronicles her journey and learning called Serendipity
These are modern day models of how we can trust God and truly worship Him no matter what comes our way in life!
Download the “Worship in the Crucible of Life MP3
Listen in online >> Worship in the Crucible of Life
Scriptures Reflecting Their Inspiration: Top Ten Bible Passages on Inspiration
What the Bible says about itself. . .
All Scripture is inspired. Inspiration is literally “God-breathed.” Inspiration in the biblical definition means that all the very words of Scripture were God-breathed.
This text emphasizes that divine inspiration applies to the whole original text of the Bible. It doesn’t say that all Scripture is equally important, but that it is equally inspired by God (cf. Judges 3:16 and John 3:16).
ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED
This text explains something of the “how” in divine revelation. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s superintending work over the human authors. Both the human and divine elements exist, but the divine is in control.
THE HOW OF INSPIRATION INCLUDED GOD AND MAN
3) Mark 7:8‑13
Christ endorsed
1) the fact that Moses authored the Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT) and
2) the divine inspiration of the Pentateuch.
As a corollary, the emphasis is once again, as in 2 Timothy 3:16‑17, on the written product as being divinely inspired and preserved (see Matthew 5:18).
THE PENTATEUCH IS INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Prophets. In this case, Daniel is mentioned by name. Thus this becomes an important proof text since Daniel, more than any other book outside the Pentateuch, is ridiculed and rejected by liberal “scholarship.”
THE PROPHETS ARE INSPIRED
5) Mark 12:36
Christ endorsed the Psalms, in this case also attesting to David’s authorship.
THE POETIC BOOKS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the entire Old Testament (called the “Law and the Prophets” in this verse‑ see Matthew 5:17, 7:12, 11:13).
THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED
7) Mark 13:31
Christ declared that his own words were eternal and infallible.
THE GOSPELS ARE INSPIRED
Christ declared that His teaching did not represent the sum of new revelation. He stated that the Holy Spirit would give further, complete truth to the Apostles. This verse teaches two things: (a) further revelation would be given to the Apostles, and (b) this revelation would be completed in the Apostles’ lifetimes, since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all” truth. Correlate this passage with John 17:17, where Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, “Thy word is truth [aleithia, same word as 16:12‑13].”
FURTHER REVELATION WOULD FOLLOW THE GOSPELS
Paul taught that his teaching carried divine authority (see also 1 Cor 14:37).
THE LETTERS/EPISTLES ARE INSPIRED
10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16
Peter affirmed the inspiration of Paul’s letters, equating them with the “other Scriptures.” (The Greek word for “other” is loipos, meaning rest, further, remaining.)
THE LETTERS OF PAUL ARE INSPIRED
God’s Revealing Work – Revelation
Revelation
Topic:
Revelation defined. These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
• How has God revealed himself to us?
• How do we know He has?
• What means does He reveal himself to us today?
• Why would God communicate with us?
• What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Nurturing Relationships:
How does this truth affect relationships…
…with my spouse (if appropriate):
…with my child/parent:
…with my employer/employee:
…with my friends:
…with my brother/sister:
…with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:
How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?
3 Passages About God Revealing Himself
3 passages to look over about God revealing Himself:
Psalm 19
Romans 1:20
Hebrews 1:1-4
Article on God Revealing Himself
Here’s an article to consider on the subject of Revelation:
The Day of Small Beginnings
Earlier this year I heard a message by another pastor entitled “Not by Might, Nor by Power” from Zechariah 4:1-14.
This phrase which bounces around in Christian circles- “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord” has held great power through the ages. That was the first point- It is about the Holy Spirit. He must be at the center of things. We can’t do anything without Him. Our dependence must be on His guidance, not our own. This was a great reminder….
Pastor Terry’s third point looked intently into verse 10. In the story of the passage, it is a prophecy from the Lord about the completion of the Temple project by Zerubbabel. Listen in:
Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (Zech 4:9-10 NLT)
Embedded in this passage is that amazing statement–Do not despise these small beginnings. Actually in the original it is a rhetorical question:
Who despises the day of small things?
or consider this contemporary translation which gets the spirit of this question:
“For who dares make light of small beginnings?” (from the NET Bible)
The idea behind a rhetorical question is that everyone knows the answer. If I ask this: Isn’t it true that the Buckeyes are the best college football team in the country? Everyone knows (even the polls) the answer to that. Now don’t get side-tracked by my illustration.
The answer that everyone knows to God’s question: Who dares make light of small beginnings? NOBODY. Small is the way things get started. From building the Temple to growing an apple tree, it always starts small.
I was moved by this truth. Beyond that, I really began to embrace that this is the common sense design of our God for the way things work in our world.
In our culture of XL, mega and super-size, the small things get the shaft. They are overlooked. Maybe even despised by some. God’s rhetorical question helps us set out to do the small things. To encourage our co-worker, smile at people on the street, pick up the laundry, make a meal for a neighbor, share more about Jesus in a conversation, etc… All small things, but don’t despise those small things, they pave the way to bigger things.
Small churches ought not be despised either–from without or from within. Rather than bemoan what you don’t have, look at all the benefits you do. You can know each other, reach out to many, serve each other and meet in all kinds of places and times. Don’t despise the small things…. That’s the way God made things to get started.
For who dares make light of small beginnings?
Originally from thequest’s weekly email update August 2006 found here: https://www.thequestcolumbus.com/emailarchive/email08.17.06.html
Posted at CMAResources.org on April 17th, 2008
The Evangelist Gathering notes and resources
Here’s the beginning of a RECAP Article:
Out of the dream and invitation of Kurt Miller, the first Evangelists Gathering—a gathering of evangelists from the Grace Brethren family for conversation, encouragement and movement—happened over the weekend of October 7-9, 2005. No one knows for sure, but quite possibly the last time evangelists from across our fellowship gathered in this fashion was back in 1973 for the Grow73 initiatives. Forty Grace Brethren men and women from across the United States all came together for this recent gathering. READ More HERE
Reports & Resources from the Evangelists Gathering check out the links below:
Here is the latest from thechurchplanter blog…the blog connected to thechurchplanter mini-magazine of Kurt Miller