Playbook For Christian Living - Relying On His Strength

Play Two: Relying On His Strength 
11.1.15

When a team takes the field, they have to rely on the strength of either the offense or defense. The element of the team that has helped them to victory in the past. As a Christian, our greatest strength is Christ! We read in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Today we will explore some of the elements found in this powerful verse!

1. I Can

There is a prideful way in which we as humans can say with defiance to God - "I can!" The people of ancient Babel had this attitude. In Genesis 11:4 we read where they made plans to build a city with a tower that would reach the heavens, so that they may make a name for themselves. This pride persists today. It is in our culture that leads to self important players and leaders thinking they did it - all by themselves! Unfortunately, this pride is seen in churches of today as well. Men and women who "build" a church with their name and brand on it and call it "good".

Instead of the prideful approach to the I Can statement, let us consider what Paul writes about we who are doing good for God. In 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, he reminds us that "God chose the foolish things of this world (that's us) to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -and the that that are not- to nullify the things that are." The "i can" should be with a little "i". A humble spirit for sure.

2. All Things

Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3 both remind us that God created ALL THINGS, and that he governs over all things which means there are no limits of what we can do or accomplish In HIM! All things which are according to HIS WILL can be accomplished because he has rule over all things and all situations.

3. Through Him Who Gives Strength

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power." - 2 Timothy 1:7

When you consider the power of the Holy Spirit - creation, sustaining, convicting of sin, and bringing Christ back from the dead - all of this power is available to us through the Spirit. But we must be connected to the power source. The lamp does not generate its own power, but if it is plugged into a power outlet, it can produce light. We are called to be light, and that requires power through us.

4. Strength Comes From Within

The power and strength offered to us is a spiritual strength. No amount of push ups or weight lifting will give it to us. It must come from a spiritual source. Paul prays in Ephesians 3:16 that those in Ephesus will be "strengthened with power through his Spirit" in their inner being. His prayer was the the strength came from the spiritual, not the physical. We must be in tune spiritually to process the power and strength promised.

5. We Are Strengthened For His Glory

"But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed...The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - 2 Timothy 4:17-18

Playbook For Christian Living - Christ First

Play One: Putting Christ First

10.25.15

Football season is one of my favorite times of year. It is one of the most popular sports in the world. Every week mountain size men fling themselves at each other in hope of moving a small pigskin down a patch of grass and across a predetermined line. But these men do not do so haphazardly. They scheme and plan each move to maximize their objective. Like us watching the gladiators of the gridiron, Paul witnessed the games in the Roman Empire and had this to say: "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 9:26. As Christians we are to be mindful that we are not all about the physical world, but the spiritual one instead. In our Playbook For Christian Living, our first play is to Put Christ First. Jesus told it to his disciples this way in Matthew 6:33 - "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Let's look at this verse closer. 

1. Seek First

David writes in Psalms 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." If we delight in the Lord, the desires of our heart will align with His will. Like a complex LEGO set on Christmas morning, you have to start with step one before you proceed or else the whole plan will be in frustration. Every down of football begins with lining up with the ball on what is called the line of scrimmage. Failure to take this first step will result in a penalty and you will not be able to finish the play you intended to execute. 

2. The Kingdom of God

I will point out two verses which demonstrates that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. It is not of the things we can buy or build. It is not about the temporary, but it is about the eternal. 

1 Corinthians 15:50 - "I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." 

Romans 14:17 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Since the Kingdom of God is not a physical place, it cannot be reached by physical means. There is no train or plane to take you there. It is by faith alone that allows us interest into the spiritual Kingdom of God. 

Matthew 6:33 obviously is a verse which follows earlier verses and statements by Christ. Verses 25 to 32 of this same chapter describes the "all these" things which Jesus is speaking of. They can be categorized as a) Food and clothing b)Security c)Time and d)Blessings. Who in this world does not seek these things too often for themselves at the expense of relationships, health, and even their soul. They are the forces which drive manufacturers and marketers to develop products and advertising to manipulate our base desires. Just watch a late night infomercial on t.v. promoting the latest kitchen gadget that you MUST have so that you can prepare your meal faster and therefore give you healthy food, slimmer waists, and more free time. All in one product! Wow! 

Our heavenly Father already knows that we need these things, and he is happy to share them, but we must have our priorities straight! A person who is incapable of handling limited resources and blessings, will certainly fail to manage lots of resources and blessings. Consider the number of Lotto winners who later file for bankruptcy. Lack or abundance of resources is not the core issue. 

4. We Already Have Everything

In Ephesians 3:16-19, Paul is praying for the Ephesians. He is asking for a blessing from God for the church. He prays: 

"According to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

God's riches is his glory! Is is far greater than we can imagine! He is wanting to share it all with us, so that we reach the fullness of God. 

5. Content In The Situation

When we are filled with God in our life, and reach towards the fullness of Him, then we will be like Paul who wrote in Philippians 4:11-13 - "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Seek Him first, and His Kingdom and right ways, and then all the things of our hearts will come into alignment with his and he will fulfill our desires because they will become like his. We must learn in the game of Christian Living, we must approach our line of scrimmage and line up properly, putting Christ first in our life!