Working out the implications of the life of the Spirit.
One of the things I love about speaking is that it allows me to say things I could never say in any other public setting. I’m not saying I don’t want to share my faith. I’m not saying I won’t pray for the sick on the street. I’m not saying I won’t stand up for what’s right in a difficult conversation. It’s just that I can’t imagine saying the topic for this message without it being the topic for this [...] Read more »
The children of Israel entering the promised land in Numbers 13 – 14 were worried about what was ahead of them. They feared the giants in the land. They didn’t know how they were going to obey and so they chose to complain. Now don’t be so self-righteous. You and I do the same thing. Well, maybe you don’t. It could be I’m the only person in the world who can, at times, completely understand the children of Israel wondering [...] Read more »
In our continuing series on “How Big Is Your But”, it’s time to ask the obvious question. What good is worry? 1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing. Matthew 6:27-29 (NLT) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 2. Worrying [...] Read more »
In our series on “How Big Is Your But” we’ve looked at the story of the 12 spies giving their report of the promised land to the the people of Israel. 10 saw the giants and fortified cities and saw themselves as grasshoppers. Two used the word “and” more than the word “but”. These two were Joshua and Caleb. Joshua loved the Lord’s Presence The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. [...] Read more »
In our series “How Big is Your But” we’ve looked at how the word “but” can excuse worry, and fear. We’ve examined the children of Israel hearing the reports of the spies and choosing to be disobedient. We’ve looked briefly at Joshua and Caleb but still need to apply their spirit in our lives. First we need to examine fear. Most ‘fear’ is simply: “False-Evidence-Appearing-Real™” “Fantasy Expectations Appearing Real” “Faith in – Explanations that are – Against – Reality” What [...] Read more »
In this series on “How Big is Your But?” we’ve looked at the children of Israel’s response to the news from the spies who looked at the giants in the land and said “we looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them.” Their response to worry and fear is only significant in how it affects our response today to situations that look impossible. If God has told you to do the difficult are you [...] Read more »
In our last post in this series of “How Big Is Your But?” I wrote about if we really have any options but to obey God. Of course it’s our choice to disobey, but often we excuse it to the point of not even acknowledging that we are not doing what He’s told us to do or doing what He’s told us not to do. Here are three lies I first saw on Perry Noble’s blog. They are worth repeating [...] Read more »
In this series titled “How Big is Your But?” I’ve spent a lot of time discussing the problem and trying to get us to think about the excuses we may not even realize we’ve rationalized. It’s about time I get onto giving you the practical spirituality for this thing called life. You can stop worrying and being afraid. Jesus wasn’t worried with the weather, the people, the miracles that had to happen…He walked in peace and that peace is yours. [...] Read more »
In this series on “How Big Is Your But?” we’ve gone through the problem with worry, fear and disobedience that can come from that little word – “but”. We’ve started to look at how we can overcome worry, which is the first step in stopping fear which leads to disobedience. Last time I wrote about Agree God Cares. Today we look at our active part – choosing to pray about everything. 2. Pray About Everything Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Don’t worry [...] Read more »
In our series on “How Big Is Your But” we’ve gone through the problems with worry, fear and disobedience. I hope you realize that it’s a process we move through, so if we can stop the worry we can head off the fear and the ultimate disobedience. We’re onto the the solutions for how we can stop worry. We’ve discussed Agreeing that God Cares for You and to Pray About Everything. We need to take a closer look at what [...] Read more »