Where is the Passion?

John 2:13-17
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”  His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.


My goodness! They were using Gods house s though it was a strip mall!  I know we wouldn't use the church as a place to sell cows and sheep, but I remember a large local church many years ago that I visited. In the middle of the vestibule, you had to walk around a large round counter to get into the Sanctuary and it had shelves and stands all filled with items the church was selling with several clerks behind the counter ringing us sales.  The entire vestibule was given over to commerce. I couldn't help but wonder what Jesus would have thought of this.  

The Bible says Jesus had zeal for Gods house that consumed Him. Are you consumed by zeal for Gods house? 
A great example of having a consuming seal for God's house is King David. 

Psalm 26:8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.


While we may not use the Lords House as the local General Store, there are other ways we do not honor  His house.  When you are willfully distracted from the sermon or prayers, are you honoring or loving Gods house?
 How about your appearance? So many of us will dress up for work or for a dinner out with our friends, but take so little effort in our appearance for church. God has always demanded we bring him our best. Does this not apply to bringing our best selves as well? For one person that best may be a suit and tie while for another it may be a clean unwrinkled shirt and blue jeans. I am pretty sure bringing our best is generally not shorts and flip flops regardless of the churches to market "come as you are". Come as you are as a sinner seeking God, but as a mature Christian, we should bring our best.

 I believe it honors God to bring Him our best.  Look at it this way, if you were to be presented to the President of the United States or to the Queen of England, would you wear the outfit you wore to church the last Sunday you attended? Why not? God is the King of everything, our Lord and Master, does He deserve less respect than the President of one nation? 

Do we honor Gods house when we skip church to sleep in or do we show our love for His house when we don't bother to attend prayer meetings? King David was a man after God's heart and in Psalm 84:2 David writes "How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty! How I want to be there!  I long to be in the Lord's Temple." 
In verse 10 he further exclaims "One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else".

Wow!, and many of us get quite upset if the pastor goes over his allotted speaking time and causes us to be late for lunch! When was the last time you spent the entire day in church worshiping the King of Kings?  

I remember as a kid being in church every time the doors were open. So many churches today do not have Sunday night worship or Wednesday night Bible Study like the churches did when I was growing up. 
Why do you think that is?They stopped because of low attendance. They felt there was no point in keeping the doors open when no one bothered to show up. I have to wonder however, where are the church leaders? the deacons, the  the Sunday school teachers, the board members, and where are we? 

Do you have zeal and love for God's house? Should we let our church leaders know that we and our families want to honor God in his House more often than just on Sunday morning. What do you think? Should we set the example for other believers and non-believers? How do you think Jesus would answer that question? How do you think God wants you to answer that question? 
Matthew 18:20  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. 

The Impact of One Church

I was one of several last week, who received a request from our Pastor , asking us to write a couple short paragraphs on the impact our church has had on us.  Pastor Tom specifically requested we keep it short and not send in any novels  as the plan was to use it on our updated church website.

I had such a difficult time keeping it down to less than novel size. How do I explain all the ways Hillcrest Baptist Church Austin has impacted my life? Should I talk about how much I missed Hillcrest when I had a job that kept me far from home? Or perhaps I should write about how I have grown as a follower of Christ, or maybe ... 

 I did send in the 2 short paragraphs after much whittling,  not easy for someone who has so much in her heart for Hillcrest and has been impacted so tremendously. 

I took a look at the stories of the other people who had sent in their stories. They are awesome! I learned about people I see everyday in church but didn't know their story. The young man, Marc Lowe who always goes out of his way to smile and say hello to me and everyone else,  who lost his wife to cancer, but not his faith in Jesus.  The Marshall  family who almost lost their daughter to bacterial meningitis and through that trial came back to God and more stories of Gods grace and members faith. I believe that to most of us the over all story is.. Hillcrest is Home and a  Family

It got me to thinking about how I came to Hillcrest. I was hooked from the first or 2nd service I attended and Pastor Tom had a film clip of Lord of the Rings to illustrate the sermon. It was just so different from the other churches I had been trying out. At the time, I didn't know he is batty over LOTR! 

I found liked the pastors style of teaching in the sermons.

I had always dreaded the usual "Shake Hands and  Welcome of Everyone Around You" that Baptist churches do each Sunday and tried to sit in the back of churches to duck most of that. At HCBC I found I didn't hate it like I usually did. People seemed more genuine.. or maybe the Holy Spirit was softening my hard heart.

 I had been through a long list of churches in my search for a church home, and I was a pro at finding something wrong with them. Like Goldilocks.. this one is too cold, this one is too warm, this one too hard, this one too soft. 

 I kept looking for the one thing wrong that would allow me to quit going to Hillcrest, but I didn't find it. Oh I know Hillcrest isn't perfect. After all, sinners attend there. Human Beings, but God closed my eyes to imperfections and again like Goldilocks.. this one was just right! 

After a month or so of attending Hillcrest I asked someone where my Sunday School class would meet and she handed me off to Mark Holder who encouraged me to join him and his wife in a small group. When he mentioned they also served really good coffee, I should have known I was a goner! 

Mark and the other members were all s so warm and inviting I had to come back. They invited me each week to come again, they made it seem as though they really cared if I did or not. Mark emailed me when I didn't show up. (I learned from this how to lead my own group and call or email them when they miss a Sunday and encourage others in the group to do the same). 

The next thing I knew, I was actually looking forward to Sunday when I could hang out with my group. 

I found I was moved more often than not by the music and I was growing closer to God with every service Pastor Tom preached,  then closer every day.

I was so embarrassed the first time I found tears running down my face as I sang praises to God in the Praise part of the service and when I was moved to raise my hands in praise to Him, I was absolutely appalled at myself, but the Holy Spirit will not be denied and I found I was doing it again then again.. the closer I get to Jesus, the less I worry about what others may think of me  

I don't know if Pastor Tom knows how much his actions mean to us, but when he called me after I indicated interest in joining the church,  he asked to come to the hospital when he found out I was having surgery, and actually gave me his cell phone # and requested I call and let him know how I was doing, I was touched. wow! The pastor I look up to actually called me? Pastor Tom knows who I am!  And when he remembered my name and greeted me and remembered my job situations on Sundays, I was impressed. I know it has to be difficult in a church of that size. 

 The leaders of any organization set the tone, and I believe my Pastor sets the tone for Hillcrest. I thank God for his leadership and spiritual guidance. I am so glad the God led me to Hillcrest. I am Home

 Hillcrest Baptist in Austin

 www.hbcaustin.org  

What if your friends wrote your "About Me"?

If your friends wrote your “Religious Views” for you in your  “About Me” on your Facebook account, what would they say for you?

Would they say ..None for no religious views? or would they perhaps be at a loss as to what to put in that space? What do you think they would say?

Would your friends be surprised to find out you are a Christian? 

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

The religious leaders of the day quickly recognized Peter and John had been with Jesus. They were ordinary men. They were not graduates from seminary, they were not theologians, in fact it says they had no special training, yet it was obvious they had been with Christ.

Think of the people you talk to every day. Would they be able to quickly identify you as someone who has been with Jesus? Would they see Jesus in your actions and in your heart? Why or why not?

If your answer is “No, I don’t think others can see Jesus in me”, what are you going to do about that?

The True Secret of Contentment

I have heard many people quote Philippians 4:13  I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength, in order to make the statement that no matter what you want, Jesus will help you get it. 

Is that what this verse really means?
Will Jesus help you give you the strength to lift a mini-bus for fun and profit?
Possibly, if lifting heavy items is your gift from God, but If you read the entire chapter, I think you will find it really means something else.

Philippians 4: 11-13 reads ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Paul is thanking the Philippians for their concern for his well being. Later in the chapter Paul thanks them for sending him supplies. 
What Paul is trying to get across here is that because of his faith in Jesus, he is content no matter what. He is content in poverty as well as in plenty. His faith that Jesus helped him to be content.

Paul is sharing the secret of contentment!

Do everything through Jesus and you can be content. 

I know that being content doesn't sound as exciting as being able to get all your desires fulfilled, but if you really think about it, humans are rarely content with what they have or what they do. We never have enough money or enough stuff. We never seem to quite stack up to others. 
But really, wouldn't it be wonderful to truly be content in every situation in life? What a burden that would release us from!

Think about what an awesome blessing this verse gives us.

Yes, Jesus can and will perform miracles in your life if you trust in Him. Jesus does answer the prayers of the faithful, but this talks about contentment through Jesus Christ.
I can just hear you saying " but what about Psalm 37:4? Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Try reading all of Psalm 34
Psalm 34: 3-6
Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight 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 do this:He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,  your vindication like the noonday sun.

Do you notice here we are told to TRUST, TAKE DELIGHT and COMMIT YOUR WAY to God? 

Now take a look at Psalm 34:7-11. what are we told to do in these next verses? 
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him, do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret —it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

 

Wow! We have a lot of work to do before we get to that desires of our hearts thing, don't we?

Be Still
Wait Patiently for God
Don't fret
Refrain from anger, turn away from wrath
Hope in the Lord
Be Meek

It might be easier to be content through Jesus don't you think?  

Have you found the secret of contentment through Jesus?

The Offer of a Lifetime

Have you seen the TV series "Royal Pains" on the USA Network? 

The premise of the show is a successful doctor is wrongfully accused of allowing a wealthy patient to die while saving the life of another patient. The Doctor ends up in the Hamptons where he is rescued by an eccentric wealthy nobleman who offers him a job, a rent free palatial guest house on his estate and even gives him a gold bar. Hank, the Doctor ends up with a much better life than he had before. 

Now imagine something similar happening to you. You strike up a conversation in a coffee shop with the nice man sitting next to you.  The man is wealthy nobleman who is in search of employees. He likes you and makes you the offer of a lifetime. A job that is yours for life, with a yearly salary of $10,000,000 + bonuses and a beautiful, exquisitely furnished,  rent free mansion for you and your family to live in and because he wants your reputation to be good as you represent him and he wants you to put your focus on doing the job he has for you, he will pay off all your debt. No more financial worries. 
The man tells you he will provide you with all the tools you will need and will train you to perform the job to his satisfaction.  

Now imagine you refuse to accept the job and tell the wealthy nobleman " Oh no!  I love my house and my furnishings. I don't want to leave my stuff behind!  My life is perfect just like it is. 

Sounds kind of silly to even think of turning that kind of offer down doesn't it?  Yet I know many people who have and I bet so do you. 

I bet you are also thinking " How silly! No one would offer to rescue me"!
But someone did. Jesus died so he could rescue you. He paid your debt and all you have to do is accept his offer. 

Matthew 16:24,25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it

Jesus want us to give up our old self and follow Him. He wants us to trust that His plan is a better one. He offers us life everlasting and even a home with Him. 

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus says we are to give the old life of living for ourselves and live for Him.  Yet so many people refuse and hang on to the life they have.

Are you one of those people? Have you hung on to this life of sin because you can't bear to give up things you know aren't pleasing to God? 
Is your life really so wonderful you can't possibly improve it? Are you so happy and fulfilled you can't fathom making any changes to your life? I bet the honest answer would be no, it isn't that wonderful. 

Jesus promises us that when we lose the old self and follow Him, we get a new life. And I can testify it is a better life and a better future, a life filled with hope. 

John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart.


So really, what are you hanging on to? Is what you have really worth it? 

Who's approval are you trying to win?

Last week a friend invited me to go to the movies with her. She picked the movie and I failed to check the rating or read viewer reviews.

 It turned out to be rough, violent and filled with nudity and sexual content. I was embarrassed to be there, so I sat through it covering my eyes through much of it while feeling guilty for being there.

We have to be careful that we don't live one way at church or in front of other Christians, and another way when we are around those who do not live a Christian life. 

Matthew 5:16 instructs us to "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

We are to be a beacon in the darkness, pointing the way to our Heavenly Father. We can't do that if we are living in the darkness with the ones to whom we are supposed to be showing the Way.

Acts 5:29b "We ought to obey God rather than men". this is as true today as it was for Peter and the apostles 

I was in a place where I didn't belong because I wanted to please my friend and not look foolish in her eyes. It is better to please God than to please people and I should have remembered and acted on that. 

Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I have confessed to God and I have peace because I know He forgives me. I now will be much more careful about where I go and what I watch and the example I am setting forth for other people.

Take a stand for what pleases God in your daily life. Remember, where ever you go, you are taking Jesus with you. He sees what you see and hears what you hear. 

Don't let the fear of rejection or of being mocked make you afraid to do what is right before God. 

God has a task for each of His children.

Acts 20:24  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Paul wrote this in his goodbye letter to the Ephesians. Paul was obviously a man with a clear understanding that he had a job to do that was given him from God and he put that job before all else. 

Have you received a ministry from God? If you have, be faithful to it. Put that ministry before your own comfort. Our lives are valuable to God for the purpose of fulfilling the ministry given by Him. 

We all have a purpose. We don't feel right in our skins until we are fulfilling that purpose that God has for us. We all feel the need to find our niche and our spiritual niche is the ministry God has for us to do.  

How do you find that purpose? 
Start by doing more than lip service to Gods commandments. 

James 1:21,22 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Follow up by communicating with God. Talk to Him and read His love letter/instructional handbook every day. Talk to Him because you want to and talk to Him even when you don't want to. Communication is a 2 way street, god wants to communicate with us, so read what He has to say, ask Him what He wants you to do and listen to what He tells you. You must be walking in close fellowship with God. 


And lastly, in order to hear "Well Done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21) when your task is completed, follow Paul's example by hard work and setting a good example for others to follow 
2 Thessalonians 3:7-11 For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.  It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”  For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.