God’s Will

Posted on April 6, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

God’s Will
2 Peter 3:9; Col 1:28

Driving down the road the other day I heard a song called God’s Will by Martina McBride. The song made me think of how many folks view God’s will. Sometimes it seems we won’t know God’s will until we meet some kid on the street named Will who is indeed a gift from God. There you go, God’s Will. The song expresses that sentiment.

Is there a better way to know God’s will for our lives? 

I think the problem I have is that I always want specifics. I like certainties not generalities. I’m reminded of the guy who walked into the General store and was not allowed to buy anything specific. Well, maybe in the realm of knowing God’s will for our lives, generalities are better than specifics.

I’m the type of person that wants to know what God’s will is for my career, my education, my family life, and how I spend my spare time, etc. In regard to God’s will, I would like specifics about each area of my life. However, I would be better serviced to simply understand a couple generalities about God and how his Word applies to my life. Two verses come to mind; Colossians 1:28 and 2 Peter 3:9. These verses speak respectively of wanting Christians to become complete or mature in Christ and about God’s desire for everyone to come to repentance.

Maybe we should filter what God wants for the specific areas of our lives through the above mentioned verses. God wants us to become mature Christians, growing every day, week and year. In view of that Christian maturity, God wants us to help others come into His kingdom. It is best for us to take these generalities as guidance for our decisions. We won’t always be successful in doing so and that’s when we should pray. We can and should pray that we will view Colossians 1:28 and 2 Peter 3:9 as God’s will for our lives.

God help us all as we strive to be mature Christians and work as instruments of God’s desire that no one perish.

A bit of preaching, Christian Graces

What, me Worry?

Posted on March 28, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

What? Me Worry?
Matthew 6:25-34

One of the first things I spoke to my wife about this morning was Daylight Savings Time. I know it doesn’t happen for another six days, but there I was, talking about something in the future that I didn’t want to happen. I lamented losing 10 minutes a day for the next six days. Of all the things I could be thinking about, wondering about, speaking about on a Monday morning; I was worrying about losing an hour to that monster called Daylight Savings Time. Give me some credit though; I did think about that wonderful time last fall when God blessed us with an extra hour of sleep.

I have been a Christian for many years. I know a lot about my Bible. I know what the Bible says about worrying. “Don’t do it!” the book of Matthew screams at me. But what do I do? I worry. Can any of you associate with my worry problem?

Prayer is a mighty gift from God; one we need to take advantage of when we worry. I am thankful for prayers said on my behalf. Sometimes, I know that’s the only way I make it through a day, especially those days full of worry. I have a suggestion for when that beast of burden called “Worry” knocks you down; STAY THERE! I don’t mean give up. I mean stay there in your knocked down position, and PRAY. The Psalms are full of laments and cries to the LORD. Cry out to God! Give him your trouble. You might just be surprised about the outcome. If only I would do this more often.

As for me, I’m not so concerned about losing that hour any longer. I just know I have to sleep earlier on Saturday night. It certainly helps when I tell God of my problems, even a little one like losing an hour at daylight savings time.

In Christ,
Brian Humek

Struggles

Merely a Suggestion

Posted on March 22, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Merely a Suggestion
John 3:16-17

When I was young, one of my favorite Bible verses was John 3:16. Not until twenty-five years later did I even know what was said in the following verse. I now see that John 3:17 is probably more popular among our younger generations than John 3:16. The reason for this, is because it fits a popular worldview today. This worldview is one of tolerance and political correctness. As I stated last week, there is a problem that needs to be fixed. No one wants to be told that the only way to get to heaven is through Jesus. Saying that there is only one way to get to any location (especially heaven) is now considered intolerant and shallow minded.

A generation or two ago, the words of Jesus Loves Me were sometimes enough to convince someone to become a Christian. That is no longer the case. This generation is not falling in line behind Jesus, ready to follow, because someone tells them that Jesus loves them. There are teens, young adults, even older adults now talking back to the church, yelling at God. If the congregation you attend is doing the same things as they always have, and their attendance and spiritual growth of the congregation is declining, don’t expect to get a different result. I once heard a definition of insanity as, “doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.” 

In doing things different, I do not mean singing different songs; although in certain locations it might be helpful to add a song from the late 20th century to the repertoire. What I am really speaking about is connecting with people, making God real for this generation, being a serving and sincere Christian to those around you. This new generation wants to see sincere Christianity, or relationship oriented Christianity.

People are tired of being judged. John 3:17 says this about our savior, “God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him (NCV).” Jesus’  job was not just to judge, but to save. There are generations itching for Jesus today, but they don’t want the condemnation that often comes with church attendance. This doesn’t mean not calling a sin a sin. But it does mean loving both types of people on the front pew, the 50 year old lady with pierced ears, and the 17 year old girl with a pierced nose, eyebrows, or tongue. Instead of judging who a person is by their piercings, we should rejoice in the savior they have in common, the savior of this world who suffered his own piercings. *

People are not the same today as they used to be. We need to take this into account or we may lose an entire generation. Small groups where people can connect, dynamic young adult classes, more life application in our sermons, and sincere long lasting friendships are a must in the church of today.

We can never change the gospel of Christ. We shall never stop preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. But we must get back to the bedrock of the 1st century church. The church of the 1st century was one centered on relationships and fellowship (Ac.2:42-47); mentoring leadership (2 Tim 2:2) , and love (I Jn 3:11; Col. 3:14) . It was in the context of these aspects, that the message of Christ was spread throughout the world.

* A paraphrase of Prof. Randy Harris, Feb. 25, 2005 keynote lecture at ACU lectures.

Belonging, Evangelism, Ministry

Pick a Medicine, Any Medicine

Posted on March 15, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Pick a Medicine, Any Medicine
John 14:6      

A patient visits a doctor complaining of stomach pains. After the examination, the doctor says the patient is indeed ill. He needs some medicine to make him better. The patient understands his need for medicine and thanks the doctor.

Pointing to the shelves behind him the doctor tells his patient, “Pick a medicine from  these shelves.”

The patient is shocked, “Which one should I take?” he asks.

“It doesn’t matter,” answers the doctor, “They’re all supposed to make you feel better.”

Never would any of us accept a doctor telling us to “pick a medicine, any medicine” as if he were a street corner magician, even if he added the caveat that it was all made to make us feel better. However, our society does this more and more when it comes to religion. Society says, “Pick a religion, any religion; it all takes you to the same place.”

Our children hear this at school. We see this in the movies we watch. The talk shows we watch in the afternoon bash us with the same type of lies. “There is no truth” is the only truth taught on most college campuses these days.

What are we to do? Should we do anything at all? I guess the one thing we must understand is that we are living in a different world today than thirty, twenty, even ten years ago.

We live in a world where John 14:6 is classified as politically incorrect and intolerant. It reads, “I am the way, the truth, and the light, no on goes to the Father but through me.”

The question still stands, “What are we to do?” Next week, lets look a bit closer at this question.

Belonging, Evangelism