When The Honeymoon Ends (6/10/12 Revisited)

Revelation 2:1-7

 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

TIME CAN MAKE LOVE BORING.  BUSYNESS CAN MAKE LOVE STAGNANT.  SUCCESS CAN MAKE LOVE COMPLACENT.  These are all warning signs for newlyweds.

The tragedy of honeymoons is that at some point they must come to an end.  Often times the honeymoon ends too quickly.  But for some people, the honeymoon never starts.

What do we do when our love for Jesus grows boring?  When the newness of our faith wears off?  How do we continue to love God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength?  How do we continue to love our neighbor as ourselves?

These questions are not new.  They were the subjects of Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.

Four Things We Must Do To Keep Jesus First

1. 1.     YOU’VE GOT TO LISTEN TO JESUS.

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecies and heed the things that are written in it for the time is near.”   Revelation 1:3

“O Israel, you should listen and be careful to do it that it may be well with you and you may multiply greatly just as the Lord the God of your fathers has promised you in a land of milk and honey.”  Deuteronomy 6:3

“They did not listen to Me or incline their ear but stiffened their neck.  They did more evil than their fathers as a result.”   Jeremiah 7:26

“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 17:5.

What does he say to the disciples?  “Listen to Him.”

How do you listen to Jesus?  How do you develop that?

I.     Quiet solitude and reflection in our lives, in prayer and in God’s Word.

II.     Through wise counselors and friends.

III.     A message that you hear.

IV.     Steps of obedience.

1. 2.     DON’T HIDE BEHIND A BUSY CHRISTIAN LIFE.

“I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance that you cannot endure evil men.  You put to the test those who call themselves apostles.  They are not and you found them to be false.  You have perseverance and you’ve endured for My name’s sake and you’ve not grown weary.”    Revelation 2: 2-3

1. 3.     ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR FIRST LOVE IS JESUS CHRIST.

Revelation 2:4 “But I have this against you that you have left your first love.”

“Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.”  C.S. Lewis

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”   Philippians 3:8

1. 4.     TAKE STEPS TO RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE FOR CHRIST.

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  Revelation 2:5

“Pay attention to what you have heard lest you drift away from it.”  Hebrews 2:1

So… What happened to the church in Ephesus?  Did they repent?   Did her believers return to Jesus as the first love of their lives? Was their church restored to greatness? No. In fact, today there is no Ephesus and there is no Ephesian church. There are only ruins—ruins of her stadiums, her temples, and her theatres. Ruins of her church. The lampstand has gone. Of all the churches in Revelation, she was the greatest, and now she is gone.

The church in Ephesus had only one problem, and a crucial one at that.  One that many churches I suspect have today.  They had forsaken their first love.  A massive spiritual malignancy had formed in their hearts.  “They we consumed with the doing and had lost the being”.

Are you in a honeymoon period in your life?  Have you lost your first love?  If you’ve lost your first love, it’s not too late for you. At least, not yet!

Are You Thirsty?

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;

When shall I come and appear before God?

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.
Psalm 42:1-2; John 7:37,38

Often times we lose track of our walk with Christ.  It is so easy to get in a place of mundaneness, where we live by routines and are overwhelmed with the business of life.  If I were to ask you how your spiritual walk with Christ was right this second, how would you answer that question?  Are you in a spiritual place of mundaneness, where everything is a blur?  Or are you thirstily like the deer who pants for streams of water?  Does your soul thirst for God, THE LIVING GOD?

May we live our lives as ones who long to be with Christ every second of every day!  May we pursue Christ with a vengeance.

Her Name Shall Be… (Baby M has a name)

LUCY Grace!

We have decided to name our little girl LUCY! We are so excited that she will be here very soon. April 22 can’t come soon enough for us, yet we are also very nervous.

Listen to what LUCY means: “bringer” or “bearer” of LIGHT!

Our prayer is that God would use Lucy to be a bright light in this world and that God would use her in MIGHTY ways. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the LIGHT of the world…”!

God, use our little LUCY to be a light into this world. May she bring you great joy!

Never Once

I want to share this song with you because it is having such a SIGNIFICANT impact on my life RIGHT NOW!  We have a FAITHFUL GOD!  AMEN?  Let me know what you think!

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Tebow Time: We Are All Witnesses

Love him or hate him. That is what most NFL followers do. Tim Tebow is not your prototypical NFL quarterback. Does that bother you?  Does it bother you that he only completes about 50% of his passes?  Does it bother you that the Denver Broncos had to re-work their offense to suit Tim better?  The funny thing is…  None, and I mean none of the NFL analysts pegged him to be a winning quarterback in the NFL.  What about the Denver Broncos upper management?  The conversation around the NFL has been that John Elway, the Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations has publicly stated that he was not sold that Tebow would be his longterm quarterback.  He has been seen other places scouting future NFL quarterbacks.  Does that bother Tim Tebow?  Not in the least bit.

The reality of the story is this:  Tim Tebow is now 7-1 this season since taking over the starting quarterback position.  The whole Denver team has rallied behind him.  This is not shocking to the Denver fans, they have been calling for Tebow to be their guy for a very long time.  I find it very interesting that the Broncos are playing so well now.  Since Tebow has taken over the helm, the Bronco defense has been spectacular.  The funny thing is that it is the same defense that played with Kyle Orton as quarterback.  Coincidence?  Not at all!

Tebow is criticized all of the time about not being a “true” quarterback.  Recently Jake Plummer, former NFL and Denver Bronco quarterback criticized him about sharing his faith “too much.”  Here is what he said on the XTRA Sports Show 910 in Phoenix:

Did you ever think the city of Denver would go crazy for a quarterback who can’t complete a forward pass?
“[Laughs] I’m telling you I came in at the wrong time down there. He is a winner though. I like that because I think the town and the fans and everybody there – they are craving a winner. They lost one when I was run out of town. I don’t have to say it. We won a lot of games when I was playing. It wasn’t all me. The team was Rod Smith, John Lynch, all those guys. I had some ballers that could play like Mike Anderson. I didn’t do it all, but we won and I think you can see with Tebow. He knows he’s not the only cog down there as a piece of that puzzle that is making them win and helping them win. They have a belief in the kid. That’s really special because they make such a big deal about intangibles and height and arm strength and leaping ability and bench press and 40-time and all this crap that really means nothing when it is crunch time. Tebow, regardless of whether I wish he’d just shut up after a game and go hug his teammates, I think he’s a winner and I respect that about him. I think that when he accepts the fact that we know that he loves Jesus Christ then I think I’ll like him a little better. I don’t hate him because of that, I just would rather not have to hear that every single time he takes a good snap or makes a good handoff…like you know, I understand dude where you’re coming from….but he is a baller. He knows how to win and when your teammates believe in you that you can do good things and that’s what they are doing. They are winning. That’s fun to see.”

Here is what I know…  As a believer we can learn one thing from Tim Tebow:  ”We Are All Witnesses.”  Tim Tebow never backs down about his faith.  He is absolutely the real deal.  I have never seen a post game interview where he did not give credit to Jesus Christ, his personal savior before he talked about the football game.  Tebowing, a new worldwide craze, was started because he always prays on the field.

Tim Tebow has been given an incredible platform to be an ambassador for the Kingdom of God.  He never backs down from the opportunity to share his faith.  You and I have been given a platform just as important as his.  It doesn’t matter that you don’t have the opportunity for post game interviews.  It doesn’t matter that you don’t play football on Sunday.  The only thing that matters is that you understand the fact that you have influence on the world just like Tim Tebow does.  How are you making an impact on this world?  What will people remember you for?  I guarantee you people will not remember Tebow for being the best NFL quarterback this world has ever seen.  What people will remember him for is that he is the most genuine, authentic, passionate follower of Christ that this world has ever seen.  So how about it?  Are you up for the challenge?

WE ARE ALL WITNESSES

Who’s Got It Better Than Us?

NOBODY!

For many years this has been the post-game talk that coach Jack Harbaugh shared with his football team.  Today, in 2011, Jim Harbaugh coach of the San Francisco 49ers, shares those exact words after every game.  Jim grew up around every one of his fathers football teams.  His older brother John, coach of the Baltimore Raven also shares this with his team.  This is an incredible challenge and encouragement to their players.  It is a bold and ferouciuos saying.  Their teams actually believe it and play like there is no tomorrow.  I love this saying:

Who’s Got It Better Than Us?…………..      NOBODY!

It should be a reflection on how we are to live our lives as followers of Christ.  Not in a way to brag or boast, but to live confidently in the love of Christ, to be bold in this broken world.  We should live so bold with the mindset having that nobody has it better than us.  Living with this mindset will enable us to understand the sense of urgency that people need Jesus.  If we live with this mindset it will be at the forefront of our mind.  After all, Christ died for us.  He layer it all on the line that you and I may be free from all sin.  I urge you to reflect on your life and how you live.

How should we live?

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Matthew 7:12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Romans 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Colossians 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

1 Peter 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

So I ask you… WHO HAS IT BETTER THAN US?

One GIANT Question

I heard Perry Noble Challenge his congregation with this question recently.  It really challenged me and I hope it does you too!

If you could attempt anything for God and you knew that you could NOT fail, what would it be?

Connected With God

I was watching this video earlier and something really jumped out at me.  If I can be transparent for a minute, in this busy pace of life I sometimes forget how to be connected to God.  I am not saying that I struggle to believe in Him, but I am saying I tend to neglect Him sometimes in my life.  John talks about being connected with God in John Chapter 15 where he says,

” 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

What an incredible truth that is. He created us for His glory and yet he wants us to stay connected to Him and bear much fruit. But how do we do that when we tend to neglect Him? I believe it is crucial for us to be discipline in our daily walks with Christ that we are able to stay connected. He desires that so much for us, that in the same way our parents want us to stay connected, that is the case even more so for Him.

How about you… What do you need to do in order to stay connected? How can I pray for you?

We NEED More Crazy People

I think we need more crazy people…

• People thought Noah was crazy when he built the ark.
• People thought Abraham was crazy when climbed a mountain to sacrifice his son.
• People thought Joseph was crazy when he shared his dreams!
• People thought Moses was crazy when he announced God’s relocation project!
• People thought Joshua was crazy when he announced the battle plan for Jericho!
• People thought Gideon was crazy when the army got reduced to 300.
• People thought David was crazy when he walked out to meet Goliath.
• People thought Elijah was crazy when he faced the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel
• People thought Nehemiah was crazy when he had a dream to build something incredible for the Kingdom.
• People thought John the Baptist was crazy when he preached a radical message.
• People thought the woman who poured out perfume on Jesus’ feet was crazy…and yet He honored her in front of all of them.
• People thought the Apostles were crazy in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit showed up!
• People thought Paul was crazy for planting churches and taking the Gospel to the Gentiles!

Broken Walls

Hands down one of the most heart-breaking things that I saw while in Ethiopia working with the Somali people was the living conditions. When we were there, there were four refugee camps that all had over 25,000 people in them. In Dolo Ado, there were over 30,000 people in transitional waiting periods to even get into the camps. Today, there are five camps. The stories that we kept hearing was that Somali people were dying everyday as they were traveling to the camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. The conditions in Somalia are horrid and they need help. I am so grateful that I was able to go see and do.

The Somali people physical needs were being met in these camps. The thing that makes me sick to my stomach is that they do not know Jesus. Nearly 100% of the people are Muslim. Join with me in prayer for them and that God would tear down the walls, the physical and spiritual walls of these people. They are BEAUTIFUL people and I have a heart for them. Below are the pictures of their tents that they live in, and pictures of them in line to get food and water.

One thing I know is that I believe in the Ephesians 3:20 God, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” He is ABLE!

He WILL come through, ALWAYS!