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Purple Driven Life - Part 2 - Stand Up in Truth

(Luke 11:33-36) "No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, it is put on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room. Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you."

Today, we continue our pursuit of shining the light of God's truth into every dark corner of our heart.  As we do we must deal with the thought that what we think we know as truth may not be truth at all.  Just because we have convinced ourselves of a truth doesn't make it true.  There is only one Truth and one source of Truth - God.  The enemy of our souls wants to get us to follow an idea of truth but in reality it is a lie and leads to darkness.  These lies keep us trapped in dark places.  Today, let's look at three primary lies from the dark and how we can stand up in truth in response to them.

Three Lies From The Dark

(Revelation 12:10 NLT) “...the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night.”

(John 8:44 NLT) "the devil...was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Satan is the ultimate accuser.  He stands before us constantly accusing us of the things we have done and reminding us of the failures of the past.  He comes as an angel of light but there is nothing but darkness in him.  He tells us primarily three lies. 

How are we to defeat the lies from the dark?  The same way that Jesus did - by rightly using the word of God.  After each lie I share a summary of the scripture references as a Stand Up In Truth Point.

1.  You have no right to HEAVEN.

Like all the lies of the Devil he begins with truth and twists it to bring depression and condemnation.  This statement is true.  We have no right to heaven.  But that is not all there is to say on this point.   Paul says...

(Romans 3:23) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death,...”

Satan loves to stop here - hanging his argument on the fact that sin = death.  "Everyone sins so all is lost. Enjoy life while you have it," he says.  But Paul did not stop there!

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Romans 5:8) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 10:9) “...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

(Romans 5:1)  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we defeat this lie of the enemy?

 STAND UP IN TRUTH : CHRIST makes me RIGHT

2. You have no right to FINISH YOUR COURSE.

(Isaiah 46:9) “...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning...”

Don't miss this!  He ID's himself as one who "declares the end FROM the beginning."  The only way he can stand at the beginning and tell what the end will be is if he already knows what the end result looks like.  It is easy for us to look at God in the confines of time - this bubble that allows us to live in this realm.  But he is outside of time.  He knows the failures that are yet to be made and is he still makes us right!  Look at this in Simon Peter's life.

(Luke 21:31-32) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."

What would Peter have to repent for in the future?  His triple denial of Jesus.  Knowing what was to come in Peter's life, He encourages him that when he turns back his heart to Jesus he is to strengthen and build up others.  Can you imagine the depression that Peter faced when he failed the Master?  It's very similar to what you and I experience when we fail the Lord.  It's very easy to stay in that depression and give up on life.  But the Bible says....

(Philippians 1:6)  “...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 STAND UP IN TRUTH : As long as I BREATHE there’s more to ACHIEVE.

3. You have a right to be an ACCUSER.

If there is one thing that we are good at as people it is pointing out the faults of others.  Earlier we saw that Satan is the ultimate accuser.  Children imitate their fathers.  Christians are to imitate the actions of Christ.  When we accuse and point faults out we are imitating the Accuser.  This is why Jesus called Peter the Devil at one point - because his actions were those that the Accuser would have done.

Not only do we have a tenancy to accuse but we also feel we have a right to point out everyone's faults and to complain.  Well, look at what Jesus had to say about that right.

(Matthew 7:1 NLT) “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them.”

The Apostle John says, "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that they world through him might be saved" (John 3:17).  Jesus didn't not come to condemn.  He convicts of failures and faults but his conviction is based in a different authority and has a different outcome. 

(Romans 2:1) “Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has happened at last – the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ! For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth – the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night.”

The heart of Jesus is not one of condemnation but of intercession or prayer.  At his greatest moment of pain and humiliation, he didn't not lash out and point out the faults of others or condemn those who crucified him.  His true nature and purpose was put on display.  He died on the cross to pay our sin and to earn the right to do for eternity what he did in his final moments - to pray (intercede) for others.  In his final moments...he prayed and asked God to forgive the people who didn't understand what they were doing.

Not only did he intercede in his final moments on the cross but he is now seated and the right hand of God...interceding for you and me before the Father!

(Romans 8:34 NLT) “Christ Jesus...is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

Our actions tell who the father of our heart is.  To defeat this lie of the enemy we must begin acting in a way that Christ acts.  What would the world be like if our first thought was to intercede for others instead of judging them?  What if we really believed that our prayers mattered and we could trust God to to correct things in his time and in his way?  This is the key to defeating this lie.

 STAND UP IN TRUTH : Satan ACCUSES.  Christ INTERCEDES.  I’ll PRAY for others like Christ PRAYS for me.

Purple Driven Life - Part 1 - Churches That Stand Out - P4

Continued from Part 3

Churches that Stand Out have more than just an uncivilized approach or divine boldness.  They must also possess the golden key to unlocking the powerful presence of God in their lives and church.  The Bible teaches that everyone has this already but not all at the same level.  The reason for this is that those who use this characteristic, find more and more of it in their lives and it enables them to do bolder and bolder things for the Glory of the Father.  In fact, you cannot please God with out this third characteristic of Churches That Stand Out.

3. A Risk-Taking Faith.

Faith is more than just an ability to believe for things that others do not.  It's more than simply wishful thinking.  Faith is a key component in our ability to please God.

(Hebrews 11:6) "...without faith it's impossible to please God."

Don't skip this.  Paul says you CANNOT please God without faith.  Many people find it easier to believe in logic.  If I can explain God to your satisfaction then you will believe in Him.  Paul says that is impossible.  Others have said, "if you can produce a miracle like Jesus then I will believe Him."  Jesus said we who follow him should have incredible signs following us BUT those signs were not enough for people in Jesus' day and they are not good enough today.  You cannot please God without Faith.

They biggest step of faith this side of believing in Christ and salvation is that of giving up our desires and wants in exchange for His desires and wants.  Paul calls this losing our lives for the cause of Christ. 

(Matthew 16:25) “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

That sounds really drastic - and it is.  But I want to show what this meant in Paul's day.  Paul was a Jew. He considered himself a jew of jews.  When he converted to Christianity, he experienced what every other jewish Christian experience.  He lost his inheritance, he was cut off from his family, he lost his access to the temple, he was outcast from the jewish community.  In essence, he lost his life.

Jesus said that those will have faith enough to go through this level of pain will find a new life and a new community that will fill the void.  Perhaps now you might see why the jews resisted the gentiles from joining the church in the early stages - they didn't have to pay the same price that the jews did to join.

But the church developed its own support system and a new life was discovered with those who took a risky step of faith and left all that they knew for the cause of the one the believed to be the savior of all mankind.  They risked their lives for the cause of Christ.

(Acts 15:25-26)  “So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul - men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Churches that stand out are going to be marked by the characteristic of death to personalities and positions.  Giving away of possessions and provisions.  They are going to be caught up with a vision that they are not one more church in a city but they are another branch of one church within a city.  They are going to believe for things that others think is impossible only to find that the risk taking faith that they have is the very key to unlocking the powerful manifested presence, provision, providence and position of God.

I have never be apart of anything more risky than starting Fellowship Church.  The expectations that others have of us is incredible.  The personal pressure to produce is high.  The financial investment that we have made as a family is higher than anyone knows.  And yet.  The risk-taking faith is worth it.  Do you believe in the dreams of your heart enough to not only have faith but to risk everything to see them come to pass?  If not, pitch your tent in the land of mediocrity.  But as for me and my house we are going to push until we cannot push anymore.

CRITICAL QUESTION:  When was the last time you faith risk?

Purple Driven Life - Part 1 - Churches That Stand Out - P3

Continued from Part 2

Churches that Stand Out have more than just an uncivilized approach.  They have to have something that allows them to challenge the status quo of a society that celebrates mediocrity.  They must possess something that enables them to breakdown walls and barriers that others see but are afraid to challenge.  This brings us to characteristic number 2 of Church That Stand Out...

2. Divine Boldness.

My two favorite definitions for boldness are: 

(1) not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring

(2) beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative. 

Get this inside of you - whether you are tied to FC as a leader or a leader of another ministry - I believe that we are coming to a new day for the church in America.  The culture within the last 10 years has so shifted that it's going to take more and more of a miraculous power and presence to break through the darkness of our society so the light of God can break in.  This is not about worship style...but is about living in the constant presence of the Spirit of God.  This means that we are going to be forced to seek out, as leaders, the presence of God that is required to do bold things.  Business leaders are going to need divine strategies to see their business flourish in the coming years.  Politicians are going to need guidance and empowerment in order to properly govern and protect the people etc. 

Our New Testament leaders met the same type of issue and look at what they prayed...

(Acts 4:29; 31) “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

I want to point at two things that have jumped at me as I study this scripture. 

(1) Don't under estimate the importance of the earthquake.  Their prayers not only reach Heaven but they unlocked something that caused the earth to react.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:7 that one of the signs that things were drawing towards an end would be that nature would begin to respond to the spiritual pressures of the eternal conflict ("...there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.")  Have you ever thought about what it would be like to pray and hit a nerve in the spirit world that would cause the earth itself to respond?  Look I understand this sounds out there but I believe that is the type of prayer and spirit empowerment that we are going to need from here on out. 

(2) Don't forget to notice the result of their prayer - they spoke the word of God boldly.  They took a stand.  They found an inner strength that allowed them to stand up to their culture and shine the light of God truth into the darkness. 

Many times light in the Bible means understanding and darkness means ignorance.  In our foundational scripture it says that no one lights a lamp (brings truth into the house) and then hides it away (ignores what truth has shown them).  But they put that light on display (they live out the truth openly).  We at Fellowship Church cannot do this without the presence of the Spirit of God that helped them to overcome their inner weakness and find the courage to stand boldly into the night an be a light.

Friends, we need the presence of the Spirit of God.  We need the boldness that comes from an assurance that God is with us.  David said, "I will not be afraid for you are with me."  The presence of God gives us the assurance that He is with us and we are not alone.  Churches that stand out may not be the most charismatic worship styled organizations of the future but their people will possess a boldness that comes from a complete and total reliance on the Spirit of God.

CRITICAL QUESTION:  When was the last time you took a bold stand for Christ?

Tomorrow, Characteristic 3 of Churches that Stand Out.

Purple Driven Life - Part 1 - Churches That Stand out - P2

Continued...

The Church, the creation of God through Christ, was not designed to blend in.  It was designed to have a mission and purpose that would cause it to stand out.  Here are three characteristics of churches that stand out.

1.  They have an uncivilized approach.  But God is a civilized God, John.  Really?

(Matthew 3:1-6 NCV) “About that time John the Baptist began preaching in the desert area of Judea. John said, ‘Change your hearts and lives because the kingdom of heaven is near.’ "  “John's clothes were made from camel's hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. Many people came ...They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.”

Here is a guy who preached that we need to change our hearts but also our lives.  If we believe we have God in our heart but never change our lives we have not had an encounter.  Encounters with God are not just about realizing that He loves us unconditionally but it's also allowing that love to unconditionally change us!

Not only was his message interesting but did you check out the clothes and diet?  Clothes were made from camel's hair, leather belt, eating flying insects and drinking honey from a bee hive. HE POSSESSED AN UNCIVILIZED APPROACH!  What was the outcome?  "Many people came...They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River."

(Matthew 21:12-13 NLT) “Jesus went into the Temple and threw out all the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of those who were exchanging different kinds of money, and he upset the benches of those who were selling doves.  Jesus said to all the people there, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'My Temple will be called a house for prayer.' But you are changing it into a 'hideout for robbers.' ”

Jesus, the Son of God, is depicted in this scene as a man who was so upset that he kicked people out of the building and turned over the furniture!  Then he accused them of using the house of prayer as a place to rob people in the name of ministry.  HE POSSESSED AN UNCIVILIZED APPROACH!  What was the outcome?  Crucifixion on a cross, resurrection from the grave, sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us, so that we can be called Children of God!

CRITICAL QUESTION:  When was the last time you had an uncivilized encounter with God?

Tomorrow, Characteristic #2 of Church that Stand Out!

Purple Driven Life - Part 1 - Churches That Stand Out - P1

It has been a fantastic week.  I feel like a new man.  The sun has been shinning, birds singing, wind blowing, weeds growing...Just the other day I was walking through my neighborhood when I noticed several lawns are already green!  How can that be?  Well, they are full of weeds.  Weeds just don't seem to die no matter what weather is thrown at them.  This winter we have found out you can't drown them either!

One of my neighbors just moved in recently to the house that has occupied one of the nicest lawns on the block for years.  I new the previous owner and what he did to keep his yard so lush and weed free.  While talking to the new owner I asked about the lawn care company that usually services the house and if they were going to continue using the same company.  To which the new owner replied, "No...everyone has weeds.  It's part of life."

It' got me thinking about how most of us have just resolved that weeds in our lawn is a part of life.  But here was a man who possessed the best lawn on the block and he was happy to just blend in and let weeds live in his lawn because everyone else has weeds.

In the same way I think that many Christians are content to live with the dark areas of their lives.  We believe our own lies when we convince ourselves that everyone else has dark ares of their lives so ours are no big deal.  We gather around our weaknesses.  We celebrate them together.  The thought of moving beyond them - living without them - that is not even on our radar.  So we blend into the fabric of the very society that we are called to lead to Christ!

For too many Church is now celebrated as the place of the mixed up, messed up, dinged up, drink up, stuck up, split up, anything goes as long as nobody knows place to hang out!

As we begin year two of Fellowship Church, let me emphatically state that Fellowship is a safe community for the messed up and mixed up BUT we are to be known as the place of the fixed up.  As the Body of Christ we are to be a circuit connected to the current of Christ power and love.  A people who not only sing about but begin experiencing the incredible goodness of a God who loved us enough to accept us but also enough to change us.

Here is a scripture that I have been thinking on for over 2 months now.  It is the foundational scripture for this series.  It's Luke 11:33-36

(Luke 11:33-36) "No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, it is put on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room. Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you."

I believe that Fellowship Church - an all churches by that matter - are not to be churches that blend in.  I can think of 3 characteristics of churches that blend in.

1.  The strive to keep members happy.  This is the goal of the leadership.  Don't rock the boat - keep the money coming in and the paycheck in the bank.

2.  They stay away from controversial topics.  They basically preach the same messages over, and over and over hoping to duplicate yesterday's results.  They speak to a generations that have come and gone while the current generation is deaf to their communication - not because the message is  out of style but because they are no longer speaking the language of the current culture.  My life long job as a minister of the gospel is to translate the timeless messages of Christ into modern culture and produce eternal results. 

3.  They remain cautious.  They keep doing what they have always done because the have spent so much time figuring it out that their system is now their trophy.  The though of trying anything new has long ago died because they have figured out what they were good at and they have done it so long that they lost the drive to get good at anything else. 

Fellowship Church is not designed to be any of these three.  Let me share with you a little about FC.  Our Mission Statement - the orders which we are destined to carry out - To lead people to become full-time followers of Christ by connecting them to God, His Spirit and each other. 

We truly believe that if we come to know God through the light and life of Jesus Christ, allow His Spirit to fill our hearts and minds, and if we will open our lives up to each other so that no one walks through life alone, we will become full-time followers of Christ in all areas of our lives.

Fellowship Church has four purposes.  They are to REACH people, RENEW their minds and lives, RELATE to each other in small groups and RESPOND to needs in our church, city and culture.

Fellowship Church - any Christ proclaiming, Spirit empowered church is not meant to blend in. 

Tomorrow we will look at 3 signs of churches who stand out.