Cheerleader

Are you aware that you have a cheerleader and a crowd of witnesses surrounding, supporting, and cheering you on? Well… you do. I would argue that we all need this - that we need others in our lives who will be brave enough to tell us truth, who will risk angering or hurting us as well as loudly supporting us in whatever we are doing. A wishy washy cheerleader is never worth having - just how much would you trust them?

We all need people who do tell us what they think. Perhaps they don’t always verbalize it unless asked, but you also know that if we walked out into the traffic and are about to get hurt, they will try to ‘rescue’ us or pull us to safety. This is a sort of backstop for us and it’s your church family. At least it can be, should be if you allow yourself to be vulnerable to being wrong and who you are. 

You can never look at their words as threats. If this is what you feel then they haven't done their responsibility. Yes we are there to correct fellow brothers and sisters, we are to speak the truth in love - but we aren't there to make the (their) decision nor to add to their pain. And if the situation is reversed and you are the one being a faithful brother or sister, you aren't there to chastise them but to help them to see truth. This is part of their responsibility to you and yours toward them. 

Some of the verses available in scripture to provide a guide to HOW to correct are: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 Timothy 5:20, 2 Thessalonians 3:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, 

2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 5:1-2. which can be summed up in Philippians 2:3-5

   "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or

    strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-

    righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely

    look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 

    Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as

    your example in selfless humility],"

And then there are those of us who occasionally need support, or an encouragement. Granted we act on the scripture that God tells us that He will never leave us. But we also need those around us to cheer us on, especially in difficult situation or to help bind up the wounds when we are injured. But I always feel that the greatest benefit comes when we have those in our lives that we trust to speak truth as they know it and love for us that they would speak rather than let us make a harmful mistake.

A cheerleader does both. Corrects us and Encourages us... and we need them to do both, as should we. The ultimate decision is always ours, but Proverbs does tell us that

   "Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, But with many

    counselors they are established and succeed." [Proverbs 15:22]

The right decision at the right time comes from a type of accountability that is based in those who speak to stop us and to encourage us. This is who and what Cheerleaders do!

 

To make a difference

Does this describe you? Do You want to make a difference? Di you know why? What if you do… then what? AND - what if you aren’t… now what? Making a difference is simple - just being and doing what the Lord asks of you… but remember He never expects you to do it alone. You aren't going into what you are called to do blind - you have been prepared and have all that you need. But also, never forget that it will require everything that you are and do. Which price will you choose to pay because either choice requires a payment. 

I do believe that each of us, saved or not, has a spark of wanting to 'make your mark', to have a positive effect in your world. However, the difference lies in who you partner with... is it God or is it the devil? And don't tell me that you may not choose God, but you'd never choose the devil. Ultimately you do choose one or the other. When it is the Lord, when you make Jesus your Lord, you aren't alone and you are expected to only do and be who the Lord is creating you to chose to become. But this is a journey of discovering. You do grow and as you prove your faithfulness, you will also grow in what the Lord has for you.

Being, becoming a growing Christian is not easy. And yet you either have or will have everything you need to become the person the Lord has always seen in you. Do I need to repeat that? He never just sends you out to do (fill in the blank) from your own strength, your own abilities and talents. And no, this path isn't always easy, isn't always pleasant - then again... when were you promised this? 

   "For this reason I [am ready to] patiently endure all things for the sake of those

    who are the elect (God’s chosen ones), so that they too may obtain the

    salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it the reward of eternal glory. This is

    a faithful and trustworthy saying:

                If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

                If we endure, we will also reign with Him;

                If we deny Him, He will also deny us;

    If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous

    character], for He cannot deny Himself." [2 Timothy 2: 10-13]

Part of our responsibility (and in order to make a difference0 is based in our relationships with one another. We aren't to ignore so great a salvation nor to not let this light shine from us. However, you will never be asked to do anything that YOU can't do. The choice is always yours, and is visible in your words and behaviors. Will you run your race? To make a difference may cost us everything. Will you run your race?

Gifts: Purposes, Understanding....

[Writer's note: this post includes a great deal of scripture - purposely. I've kept commentary to a minimum and have provided scripture to prove it's point. ALL of us have gifts and there is a reason. Because of it's ability to expand our understanding, I've used the Amplified as the source of the scripture. Please consider what's presented to become a basis for further understanding and appreciation.]

Recently I've been co-teaching on the Gifts of the Spirit. To me, this is discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11. This is not the same as the Offices [found in Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-16] also from Paul, nor is it Paul's admonition about how to exercise your gifts as stated in Romans. 

Holy Spirit gifts

   "Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by

    the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers],

    but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers]. 

    And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the

    same Lord [who is served]. 

    And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the

    same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and

    empowering them]. 

    But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual

    illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. To one

    is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of 

    wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and

    understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith

    [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of

    healings by the one Spirit; and to another the working of miracles, and to

    another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to

    the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish

    sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and

    cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another

    interpretation of tongues.  

    All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the

    empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit,

    distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.

Technically, Not our but the gifting by the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish the growing of the body.

   "There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one

    hope when called [to salvation]— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

    and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and

    [living] in all. Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us

    [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of

    Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift. Therefore it says,

            “When He ascended on high,

             He led captivity captive,

            And He bestowed gifts on men.”

    (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also

    had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of

    the earth? He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended

    high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is,

    the whole universe]). And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself

    appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as   

    prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as

    evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and

    teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip

    and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body

    of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the

    knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature

    believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His

    spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity]. So that we

    are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships

    on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the

    cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of

    people ready to do anything [for personal profit].  But speaking the truth in

    love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us

    grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.

    From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and

    knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working

    properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish]

    love." [Ephesians 4:4-16]

PURPOSE

   "For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though

    many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ. For by one [Holy] Spirit we

    were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together]

    whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to

    drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].

    

UNDERSTANDING

   "For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and

    organs]. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the

    body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?  If the ear says,

    'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary

    still a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would the

    hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell

    be? But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in

    the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best

    balance of function]. If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of]

    the body be? But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different

    limbs and organs], but a single body.    

Do you see why and how you are important to the body? Do you appreciate being part of God's plan for the edification and growth of the church? You are. But you also need to continue to grow. Since I believe that acting in our gifting is incredibly important - especially in the times we live in, I will continue to discover and share on this subject.  We need to know and understand so that we operate from a solid rock foundation. In these days we are called, 'for such a time as these' as His Ambassadors in order to bring truth in these times of peril. Remember though, always test the spirits...

The Giver and the gift

I don’t believe there is anything ‘wring’ with seeking the Giver for the Gift… in fact we are told to come, to seek:

   "Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the

    throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we

    may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in

    time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]"

    [Hebrews 4:16].

This verse tells us we have the privilege to come and then it tells us how to come ' with confidence and without fear. Next it tells why - to receive mercy and find grace. That's a great deal of information. But is this how we respond? Do we come knowing we are privileged and being informed of the how and why? It's almost as if God is telling us that He has our answer and He know what we can do to receive what we need. Yes.

In Mathew 7:7-11, he tells us:

   "Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking

    and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to

    you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking

    finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. Or what man is

    there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will [instead] give him a

    stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will [instead] give him a snake? If you then, evil

   (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to

   your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He

   is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him."

Many of us tend to stop after verse 7. Don't. One of the significant teachings happens in the next sentence - everyone who keeps on knocking, asking, seeking WILL receive. But I also believe that it is in verses 9-11, which ask rhetorical questions, that the point is made: ",,,how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him." It is our how we believe this and act on this that proves.

Philippians also talks about this:

   "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say,

    rejoice! Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy,

    tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be

    anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and

    situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your

    [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which 

    reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that

    peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is

    yours]." [4:4-7]

 

Typically we start at verse 6... be anxious for nothing... but when you start with verse 4 we are immediately transported to the focus - rejoice in the Lord always! Next it tells us how we should be viewed by others, what our reputation should be: "Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people." Next it tells us that the Lord is near and then we get to our how "... in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue..." And how do we know... peace will be like a mantle over us. Sadly, this does not represent who and what I do... but I am working on it and maybe that's the point. 

Using only these 3 scriptures, we see that the Giver gives us all the information we need in order to be come to the Giver and receive. He already knows our needs, but wants us to come. Our focus needs to be on the Giver and we need to judge our own needs and wants according to how we are supposed to interact. Personally I believe that the Creator of the Universe wants to provide for us but that He is more interested in our relationship with Him. Do we seek time with Him, sans request? Do we work on developing a rich relationship with Him? Or do we only come asking for our wants and needs... 

 

Righteosness and Relationship

For a moment, consider what God says about righteousness.

   "Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make

    mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]; For what

    partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can

    light have with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and

    Beliai (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

    What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the

    temple of the living God; just as God said." [2 Corinthians 6:14-15] 

 

In these rhetorical questions, the answer(s) are obvious - NONE. With God we have partnership, fellowship, harmony, common, agreement since WE are the temple of the living God. Righteousness can not coexist with unrighteousness. So to be in relationship we need to be in the condition of being righteous. But are we? Not of ourselves, according to Isaiah:

   "For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper],

    And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags... [Isaiah 64:4a]

The Message Bible says this a bit more graphic: "We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags." Goodness, our condition is critical. But there is hope. I believe that The Father knew our frailties, our weaknesses and planned ahead to provide us our path to righteousness.  

   "He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in

    Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made

    acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious  

    lovingkindness]." [2 Corinthians 5:21]

The bottom line is that God made a way for His creation to be righteous and be in relationship. Actually, the only remaining issue is for His creation to maintain this. Since we aren't able we have the promise in 1 John 1:9 that when we do sin, when we confess to Him, we will cleanse and restore us. Personally, this is where I apply the 70 times 7 scripture.

Relationship is only one of the gifts Jesus brought with Himself when He became our Savior. Part of this gifting relates to the condition of Relationship. n my world relationship is crucial each and every day. I want (need) it to be personal and intimate. I do not want a relationship that is only defined when I am in crisis mode. Returning to 2 Corinthians:

   "I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and 

    they shall be My people.

    So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,

    'And do not touch what is unclean;

    And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],

    And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,'

    Says the Lord Almighty. [2 Corinthians 6:16-18] 

When we consider how God views righteousness and relationship, and that it is He who reconciles and brings us back into relationship. The point - what is our response?

Why... oh, WHY?

Have you ever felt that you were in the middle of 'something'... maybe an important decision, a 'move;, a transition? It feels kind of strange but not necessarily fearsome... just a bit of discombobulate-ism. There’s a sense of movement away from the familiar and into an unknown. For those who hate change, the cry of 'why... oh why' must rise into this realization, though intellectually you can know that the only constant IS change. And, especially in the beginning stages, who's in charge? Plus, not all change is 'good' or even necessary. Yet... without change, can there be growth? 

Personally I’m not sure I would be as proactive in these situations if it weren’t for the fact that I’m saved and I know that my Lord is with me through every situation including the unfamiliar and/or change but there's always the transition stage. I also know that when it's the Lord then what I’m moving toward is better than where I am now - I am becoming Who am I am supposed to be and what I should be doing. However, no one said it would be easy. Our attitude is critical in these times and Isaiah gives us a mindset:

   "For you will go out [from exile] with joy  And be led forth [by the Lord

    Himself] with peace;

    The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,

    And all the trees of the field will clap their hands." [Isaiah 55:12]

This has become one of my supports during these stressful situations. We all are in a kind of exile when we aren't focused on being and doing who we are, even in the unfamiliar times and places. Perhaps we feel we have been in a desert but it's familiar... and what we know. Is that the point? Do we long for the familiar even if it isn't comfortable nor in our best interest? Surely we don't trust the Lord in these times?! But look at what awaits us!  

For me, I’ve discovered that the closer that I cling to the Lord, the more that I abide in Him and the easier and quicker He can help me through whatever I’m facing. What may seem difficult may end up being the answer to our 'why... oh, why'. Is the problem that we too, like the Israelites who were being led by Moses out of slavery and into the Lord's promised land, moan and whine? And what does this get us? When the Lord has shown Himself faithful to/for us over and over and over... why do we act so unappreciative?

Why... oh why should never be our cry. We should never doubt the One who has saved us, protects and has protected us, and provides and has provided for us regardless of our circumstances. The Lord has told us He will be our source, our defender, and that He would never leave us. This should be the mindset when why... oh why tries to have us act in fear. We ARE more than conquerors! We can do all things through Christ! 

Not enough

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not doing 'enough'... that you could be doing 'more' or 'different' - maybe you should be doing something else - or that you could be doing a 'better' job? Part of the problem is that all the ' ' are rarely defined and even more rarely operationalized. Do you ever wonder if you’re running your race? Do you ever feel you’re not enough. Sobering thoughts. Frustrating thinking. Doesn't stop us from asking ourselves these questions though... does it? Do we ever stop and ask the Lord if we are abiding in Him, if we are doing what He wants for and from us? Probably just as rare.

If you do that kind of self analysis, that’s not unusual. I think we all feel that we fall short of the mark. that there’s always more that we can/should do or do better. The problem is when we allow that to cripple us into not doing anything... or perhaps worse. If we allow those feelings to dictate who we are what we do how we do it then truly we aren’t enough (undefined).

Who's asking these questions? You? The Lord? Your enemy? I think the thing that we need to realize is the Lord expects us to do the very best that we can be, but He doesn’t expect us to go beyond what we know. what we know we can do. And at the same time He never limits us and He’s always with us so the ultimate decision is what we do with all that so that we are enough.

The problem is The (OUR) feelings. How do we deal with them? We can’t shove them down, we can’t dismiss the feelings, we can’t ignore them. But how do we get beyond? In a way each of us has to resolve this for ourselves and we need to resolve it in a proactive way not in a 'give up give in' mentality. Remember scripture at a time like this: we are more than conquerors, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, know that there is NO temptation that the Lord doesn’t know about and will help us find a way through. Actually, we need to rest and stand in, John 15:4-11:

   "Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by

    itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing

    evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me." [v. 4]

   "... I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in

    him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital

    union with Me] you can do nothing." [v. 5]

Do you see and understand those 2 verses? They really do provide the context for our answer to the question. We can speak from confidence when we know not only who we are, whose we are, but where we are! There are also promises - we can't bear fruit without being in union/relationship with the Lord, but those who do abide/remain....... bear much fruit. 

We can never get beyond the (seemingly unending) limitations... we can never become all we can be if all we do is focus on what we’re not doing. The Lord didn’t create us as quitters as people who give in, who are ill or non-equipped The point is we need to become who we have been destined to be we need to run our race, to bear fruit. And... we CAN. 

If you can look yourself in the eye and say with all the understanding you possess that you are doing what you think you should be doing, doing what's at your hand, and doing everything to the best of your ability - then tell the deceiver he has no place in you and you won't believe his lies You are enough!