Given a Spirit of Power, Love & Self-Discipline...

"Fan Into Flame!" sermon from 5/16/10
II Timothy 1:3-12

How have you been at living into what God has for you and has called you to? Maybe you’ve sought that sort of thing out from God, maybe you haven’t concerned yourself with it so much. Well, when I thought about what may be a good message to bring to a church in search of a new minister I thought the encouragement I could give is this; Fan Into Flame the gifts of God given to you. This will probably be a trying time in some respects, but not one that God hasn’t equipped you for or isn’t with you in. Remember, He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called, and He never leaves nor forsakes us, He will guide you through this so be strong & courageous. So I ask you, how are you in following after being called/led to do something? Or, in using/preserving-in your gifts? Are you a risk taker? Do you enjoy challenges? Do you know, and are you confident in, your abilities? Or, are you more cautious or even apprehensive/hesitant when it comes to such things? The Scripture passage I will be using for today is a section of Paul’s second letter to his friend, mentee, & colleague, Timothy, II Timothy 1:3-12. You may turn there with me and follow along as I read…

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Background & Context to Scripture passage:
So, here in this passage we have the Apostle Paul writing a second letter to his friend, mentee, and colleague in the Gospel, Timothy. Paul’s words here are of encouragement and a charge to be strong and courageous in his service for the Gospel. Paul and Timothy were great friends. Paul had a deep love for Timothy and it shows in how he says that he thanks God for him, always remembers him in his prayers, and longs to see him for it would be a great joy for them to be together. This is how it is in Paul’s heart with many of his letters to churches and people such as Timothy. His heart cries and longs for their strength and perseverance in the work of the Gospel. For this work is what he has given his life over to and he strongly desires for people to join him for the same cause. Here we find Paul seeking to give encouragement to Timothy. It appears Paul feels that Timothy may need a boost or reminder of his call, abilities in God, and confidence. It’s hard to know exactly where Timothy’s heart is at, but he may be struggling with the opposition afforded to both Paul (his mentor and most prominent leader) and the Gospel in his day and may feel intimidated and/or ashamed to some degree. Paul basically says, “don’t let such things get you down, but STRIVE FORWARD/CHARGE AHEAD; I love you and know what God is capable of and what He has given you, and therefore what you’re capable of!”

Isn’t this what good leaders, mentors, and coaches do? They have a great love for their cause and the people they serve and direct, and their heart yearns for them to stay strong and charge ahead no matter the circumstances. They greatly believe in them and the cause and don’t want to see them pull back at all. That is the heart of what I want to speak from today. Being a Pastor I have a love for the Church and the Gospel. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be one. I don’t really know those of you here very well, but I believe the church of Jesus Christ to be the light of the world and the Gospel to be the best gift and message there is. I believe if you are part of the Church (body of Christ) you are called to be a witness to the message and faith you profess, and you’ve been gifted to be servants of the kingdom of God. Therefore, it is my desire for the Church and its members to live into their calling and mission, standing together to contend for such a cause as the Gospel in their church, community and world (wherever God would call us to serve).

Now I want to push ahead and speak to some of what Paul does in his letter to Timothy to encourage him onward. As you may or may not notice, Paul kind of follows a similar form to how many worship orders in the Reformed Church follow. You don’t necessarily have it listed in your bulletins, but often there is what is titled the Approach to God, followed by the Word of God where in these two sections we remember who/whose we are, and after that comes the Response to the Word where we remember how to live thereafter. Paul in this section of his letter to Timothy first approaches God in giving thanks and sharing of his and Timothy’s bond in the Lord. He then moves on to sharing a word from God and remembrance of who/whose we are and what we have in God through faith in Jesus Christ. After this he gives a response or a charge of how to live in regards to this word.

2) The Word of God: Remembering Who/Whose We Are in Christ:
So since we’ve already made mention of Paul’s approach to God in how he thanked God and shared of his love in the Lord for Timothy, we can move on to the second part where Paul reminds Timothy of just who he is and where he comes from and who/what he has in the Lord. First He says, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Paul says here, I am reminded of your heritage, that which you came from and belong to, and who has led and taught you in the faith. Why is this so important? Well, because we all need a grounding, a foundation of which to stand firm upon and within. When we get off kilter and struggle with our anxieties it’s often because something has knocked us off our foundation. Our foundation consists of two things, our heritage (familial line who are usually the main influencers in our lives having a great impact on who we become) and as Christians, who we are in Christ. Those two things are what I mean when I say who/whose we are. Now, I’ve come up with my own name for when we get knocked off of our foundations. I call them, “Identity Crises.”

Identity Crises:
To give you a quick definition of what I mean by Identity Crises, basically it’s when these two foundations (identities) clash. What often happens to us in Christ as we strive forward in living out our new identities in Him is that we often experience clashes with our human foundations and identities before Christ or just our humanly flesh in general. What happens is, these two foundations don’t always see eye to eye. They are an important part of who we are as a whole, however life makes them butt heads on occasion. That’s how life is. We can’t foresee, plan for, and expect everything and, I’d say, more often than not we encounter along the way certain things we feel unprepared for and things that don’t feel right, look right, or seem to make sense. It’s in these times when we will struggle with our identity and must remember who we are (our heritage family) and whose we are (God’s, in Christ Jesus). It’s during things that don’t feel right, look right, or seem to make sense that our foundations/identities can clash. Paul seems to possibly be concerned that Timothy could be in one of these times and he wants to encourage him to now let certain things rock your foundation; who & whose you are.

“Get in the Game” Call Story:
I’ll give you a quick example from my own life and faith journey with God. It was just over 7 years ago now when I was sitting in church one Sunday morning upon which I had quite the experience with God. That morning my Pastor closed his message by leading us in prayer and while my eyes were shut I suddenly began having a vision. Interestingly, in my mind I began to picture myself back in middle school, in full basketball jersey attire (basketball was my favorite sport as I had an infatuation with Michael Jordan), and I was sitting at the end of a bench watching and eagerly waiting to be called upon to enter the game. Suddenly off to my left a motion began to take place. What I saw was this; a big, huge hand rise up, point in my direction, and motion me to enter the game. I saw this… (wrist flick). Instantly I knew what that meant! This was my calling from God to get in the game, start living for Him and for the Gospel. It was my call as Paul says to Timothy here, to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you. In that moment God said, I know you, I know where you come from and what you have in Jesus Christ my Son, your Lord. Now get in the game and allow me to grow you into your full potential. Now I share this quickly in light of what I’ve described as identity crises because often while I am in the game and trying to live out such things, things happen that cause me to want to head back to the bench, disengage the game, maybe even step further back and into the bleachers. In this I must remember who/whose I am (my foundations) and what I have been given in order that I might remain in the game and grow into my potential in Christ Jesus.

Carrie Ann Examples:
Now, this sort of thing makes me think of my daughter, Carrie Ann as well. She is now almost 20 months old and she is learning what seems to be tens upon millions of things. She learns so much just from watching her mother and I or the TV or listening to music as she takes things in. She loves to dance, and lately one of her favorite games is to watch “Wheel of Fortune” and repeat the letters as they called out to both me and mommy.

Not all that long ago was her first attempts at mastering walking as well. What was so cute & funny was that she kept standing up, falling forward (almost on her face), and getting up to try over and over again. During this whole session she was the most determined little girl at learning to walk that I have ever seen. It was really interesting to watch, and sure enough after a short time she walked better and better. This is how it often is in this life and especially our faith walks; we learn and grow most from a process of doing something, perceivably failing or making mistakes, and remaining in the game; not giving up; trying again considering what we’ve learned.

What is the reason why infants can do this so well? Well, I sum it up with that they are innocent and not overcome by shame. They haven’t experienced the embarrassments, mocking, hurts, or whatever else that we have. They’re not concerned with failing or looking funny. Also, often they have an audience egging/cheering them on. WE HAVE THESE THINGS TOO IN CHRIST, in our foundation (identity) in Him! In Christ we are made innocent again as our sins are forgiven and He took our shame upon Himself. In Christ we stand forgiven and even become, as Paul says in II Corinthians 5:17, new creations as the old is gone and the new has come. To go along with this, we also have those who have gone before us as a cloud of witnesses to cheer us on in the faith.

Mainly, what Paul/I am trying to say here is that we must remember who and whose we are! You, as... (name of church), have a heritage in the Lord. You have had many people (and previous ministers) live out a sincere faith among you and who have sought to instill that in each of you along the way. Also, you have a denominational heritage along with just a faith heritage in general. Our heritages are important. They are part of who we are and something we can cling to/draw strength from. Also, though, we must remember whose we are as well! There’s a newer contemporary Christian song that I think of here by a band named Sanctus Real called "Forgiven". The chorus for the song goes, “In this life I know what I’ve been, but here in your arms I know what I am… I am forgiven…, I don’t have carry the weight of who I’ve been cause I am forgiven…” This song reminds me that in Christ I am forgiven, I am made innocent again before and with God. I am reunited with God, reconciled to Him through faith in Christ. God loves me with undying love. I belong to Him. And by the power of the Holy Spirit He empowers me to live into that which I have been given in Christ.

What We Have in Christ:
That takes us to the next part of this message, for in remembering who/whose we must also remember what we’ve been given. For Paul says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” Firstly, Paul says we have been given a spirit of power. What is this power? Well, it’s a power that is in the Cross and is made perfect in weakness. If you recall, Paul explains in II Corinthians that he heard a message from Christ during a time of struggle that said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This power of God is what Paul goes on to say to Timothy that has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This is a power that is revealed in Jesus Christ, in His life, death, and resurrection from the dead. Is there really any greater such power?

Secondly, we have been given a spirit of love. The Bible explains the love of Jesus as this; “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” And it is in this that we are commanded of by Jesus in John 15:12 to love each other as [He] loved us. Because Jesus so loved us, we are drawn and called to love others in His name. The best part is, there is no greater love in all of this life. The Spirit of this love lives in us and it is what is to be shown of us to the world. In this love we are reunited with God and with His people everywhere, we are called and able to live a new life, and restoration and redemption can happen in us and the world around us. There is no greater love!

Thirdly, we have been given a spirit of self-discipline. Now to understand what this means, I had to do a little searching. In Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary it defines discipline as, “training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character” and the word used here in the Greek describes “an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self control.” This is the work that is taking place within us by the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. It’s a work by which we are molded, perfected into greater soundness of mind and character in our new selves/identities in Christ. This is the power of God working within us as we live into who/whose we are and encounter, become affected by, and live out the love we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are grown into our full potentials in who/whose we are.

3) Response to the Word: Remembering How to Live:
Finally then, after all this Paul encourages Timothy of how he is to respond to what he has written. Paul says, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God,…” This is Paul’s charge to Timothy in light of who/whose he is (his foundations) and the Spirit he has been given in the Lord (of love, power and discipline) and it stands as a charge for us also. We are called to this as well. Of this gospel Paul was appointed a herald, an apostle, and a teacher. Paul fanned into flame these callings even to the point of imprisonment and death. We too are all given, even appointed with certain gifts/callings and we must fan them into flame for the continued furthering of the Gospel of Christ. In this Paul encourages us that we might also be able to say along with him, “[we] know whom [we] have believed, and [are] convinced that He is able to guard what [we] have entrusted to Him for that day.” So therefore, know who/whose you are (strive to know this and be strengthened in this more and more). Also, know what you’ve been given in Christ; a spirit of power, love, & self-discipline (refinement). And in light of these things, no matter what, no matter the circumstances, no matter how things feel, look, or don’t make sense; fan into flame the gifts of God given you in Christ Jesus! And may God bring out the potential in you and expand His kingdom!

Get'cha Yourself in the Game!...

"Freed to Live Unto God" sermon from 4/13/08

Outline:
Change (Acts 9:1-19)
Identity Crisis
“Get in the Game” call story, and other Jesus encounters
Perseverance/Defiant hope (Psalm 27:1-6)
Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers (3/19)
Our call to come and die (Phil 3:10-12, Galatians 2:20, & Romans 6:5, 10-11)

Recite Psalm 27:1-6 (in Hebrew) – Hear the Word of the Lord from the book that we love in Psalm 27:1-6 in its original language. A psalm of David…

Change:
A word that is brought up here a lot that I don’t think we naturally like too much is CHANGE. We are easily hesitant to accept change. I’d venture to say that most of the time we like things to stay just the way they are. Now let’s revisit what I just did in front of you all on this stage. I just recited a whole passage of Scripture to you in Hebrew. Within the recitation I had actions and a certain tone of voice and bodily posture. Now I am sure none of you sat there in your chair and thought, “oh, how nice, Mike is doing a Hebrew reading for us today.” No! You probably thought it was a bit strange. “No one has ever done this before,” you might have thought, or, “I can’t understand a word he is saying!” I doubt there is a person in the room that it didn’t catch off guard. This proves my point to a certain extent. Change occurs in life. Change occurs on a daily basis. I assume you all changed your underwear this morning and your clothes (or at least I hope). Maybe you changed what you ate for breakfast, or were disappointed or excited depending on the weather change from yesterday. Lots of changes occur over time too like our hair-line, vision, or bodily physique. None of us think we are as good looking as we were in our prime. Just take a look at these pictures of me throughout the years… (Compile pictures of baby, Duder, Pookie, Tough H.S. guy, Tom Cruise, Bearded Mountaineer, & Married Man)

Now, one person who knows change is the Apostle Paul in the NT. Let’s look at what happens to him upon the road to Damascus one day. Turn with me to Acts 9:1-19…
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

NOW THIS IS A MOMENT OF CHANGE! Change happens when we encounter Jesus! Not all of us experience such a drastic change as Paul did in the story we just read. Not all of us are struck down while walking upon a road. Sure, I am polish, and I’ve tripped and stumbled over things often, but I’ve never blamed that on God before (maybe I should rethink this). You may not have been struck blind or have encountered an angelic being or experienced drastic healing before. However, no matter how or where you have encountered Jesus sometime down the line, change occurs. This doesn’t always happen in one full-swoop like occurrence either. Often it’s a process, something that grows or takes on greater levels of intimacy. Paul summed up what happens in a life that encounters Jesus in his letter to the Corinthian Church when he said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Corinthians 5:17)

What happens to us when we are struck by Jesus is that we face a NEW IDENTITY. For example, let’s take a look at MY WALK WITH JESUS… 9 years ago I had an encounter somewhat like Paul’s. I was attending a college-based Christian fellowship for the first time when Jesus came upon me. My Damascus road up to that evening involved fooling around and having too much to drink with friends earlier in the week. Two of my very close friends (one my girlfriend at the time, the other a good friend from high school) were put into situations of compromise while under the influence. I won’t get into the details, but these occurrences shocked me and had me rethinking my life and actions up to this point. That evening while at the Christian fellowship and participating in prayer I encountered the Jesus I had heard of, but never knew. The person leading us in prayer encouraged us to place that which was heavy upon us onto Christ and as I did I felt the weight of it release, chills rush through me, and like I was being held in thin air. It was the craziest thing I ever experienced and still feels odd as I share it with you today. And the affects of it have left their mark too. It took about 6 months for a lot of it to sink in but one night I finally gave my life to Jesus. I didn’t want that of the past to consume my life anymore and I wanted to walk the path forward with Jesus. I have changed a lot since then and have had many other encounters with Jesus along the way. My actions, persona, and heart have changed; along with my faith. Over the years that has gone from weak to strong and then back to weak and strong again. As you know as well I have been led to different and seemingly awkward places along the way also.

Identity Crises:
That brings me to my next point… As I have already brought up, change happens a lot and it is not something we naturally like. Often our new identity clashes with our old identity. In this life, life happens. Often in our new identity in Christ we run into what I’ve learned to call identity crises along the way. These happen all the time. Unexpected things happen, a loved one passes, tension builds in a relationship, we lose a job, we sense a need to change and don’t know how, or we are led to a seemingly foreign place. Why do these happen? Well, like what we heard about a couple weeks ago, Jesus places things in front of us that don’t feel right, look right, or hardly make any sense. We encounter such things and we can’t get a full grasp on them. They seem out of our span of view or intellect. They seem beyond our reality, situation, or circumstances. Actually, in truth, they are! This is Jesus we are encountering here. He does and desires to do things beyond our conception; beyond our reality. That’s how He takes us further up and further in to faith and the new creation he is making us into. Again, take a look at my walk with Christ up to this point…

Let’s take a look at my “CALL” JOURNEY. It was about 5 years ago now when I was sitting in church one Sunday morning and I had a vision. That morning I closed my eyes while my pastor led us in prayer and in my mind’s eye I saw me, back in middle school sitting on a bench, waiting to get called upon to enter a basketball game. There I was in full uniform; tang-top, shorts, high tops, and youthful appearance (Pookie!), and I was watching the game. Suddenly from down the side of the bench I could see a huge hand like figure stretched out and pointing my way. As I looked and noticed there was a wrist flick. I WAS WANTED IN THE GAME! Now, have you ever wanted something so bad, but just felt you were constantly sitting and sitting while waiting for it to happen? That’s how I felt in that moment. For so long I had been sitting on the bench just itching to get in the game and now I was given the opportunity. I was beside myself! This was a change I was excited about!

Now, what happened from here? Well, I got in the game. I joined a Christian leadership team, began doing some discipleship and other things, but about a year later I found myself in a similar place. I had begun retreating back to the bench again, or maybe I was even stepping further back and into the bleachers. I had become distracted. Things didn’t go like I had planned or expected. The more I faced the game I didn’t feel good enough; I wasn’t successful all the time. I suffered identity crises as my new identity clashed with the old identity and was called to new and foreign places in Christ. Then God floored me once again. He helped me understand why I reacted in such a way and was there to prod me back into the game. Now, if any of you have seen High School Musical you may recognize this dialogue. My dialogue with God in that moment went something like this… I gotta Get my, get my head in the game. You gotta Get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game!

Now, since then, there have been numerous similar occasions between myself and God. A year after this last occasion I was in South Africa and heard the more specific call to enter into ministry and go to seminary. That pep talk experience wasn’t enough, though. I thought God was nuts. I had already been to school once and on my way to my second degree. Being in front of people scared me to death. This call seemed beyond me and my capabilities. Less than six months later while at work one day, God had to come at me and floor me once again saying,… Get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game (say what!?). He said to me, “Seriously, my plan is for you to go to seminary!” It was then that I could avoid God’s calling no longer. I started applying and visiting seminary schools. However yet again, it became apparent that I still wasn’t fully committed. I took steps and tested the waters but daily I often found new reasons to get back on the bench or bleachers and become a bystander. I knew what God wanted me to do, but I was freaked. It didn’t always feel right, look right, or make sense! But each day I had that voice in my head calling again,… Get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game (say what!?). I have this voice implanted forever in my head. (I am trying to give you voices in your head now too!)

Now, I could go on, but I think you get the picture. And obviously, you know a little bit about where my story goes from there. My point is, along the roads of our lives we encounter Jesus. Often things don’t happen how we expect or want them to. Many things in life don’t feel right, look right, or make sense. Things happen and we are a little lost; confused. We end up in an identity crisis. And,… well, if you think this gets any easier with Christ, it doesn’t. He’s here for the exact reason of to call us out of the box. He’s here to challenge us, to alter our courses and get us back on track. He’s here to call us back to who we were meant to be. But we don’t accept this prodding easily or naturally. Our view isn’t as big as God’s view. Our fleshly nature often keeps us focused on ourselves.

Defiant Hope:
Now, there is a bigger reason why I shared that Scripture passage in Hebrew with you this morning. There’s something here in David that I think we all need. It’s called a DEFIANT HOPE! Now I don’t know if you sensed it like I did, but as I memorized the passage for class a defiant hope came over me. David was feeling surrounded and attacked all around him. If you know much about his story, he was often running for his life. But he was supposed to become king! Why is he getting chased and hunted down by his adversary all the time? Why is it taking so long for God’s fulfillment to come into place? I am sure David encountered identity crises. I am sure at times he felt like giving up, or as if God was crazy. He must have thought this doesn’t feel right, look right, or make sense; I don’t get it!

But he wasn’t going to give up. He knew the Lord was on his side and he said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” David refused to let himself be beaten. He refused to let his heart fear or to lose his confidence! He cries out for one thing from the Lord. “One thing I ask from the Lord, this is what I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek Him in His temple.” In a sense, this was David’s pep talk with God. He could hear that voice in his head calling, Get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha head in the game (say what!?). David knew of God’s faithfulness and protection. He knew what he had been called for and he didn’t want to give up. There’s a quote by Oswald Chambers that I’ve read recently that fits this situation. While speaking of Abraham and his faith journey, Chambers says this, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading.”

Our Call to Come and Die:
We are called to live into this type of faith on our walks with Jesus. This is what it means in the Bible to take on the call of dying to ourselves and living for Christ. We don’t always know where we are headed and what’s happening all the time. But we continue on in love and knowledge of the One Who is leading (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Apostle Paul had this to say in his letter to the Philippians, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of all that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 4:10-12).” This passage always challenges me. I always wonder whether I have the drive he has. Paul here says that he will stop at nothing to be united with Christ in His death and to attain to the resurrection from the dead. He’ll stop at nothing to TAKE HOLD OF ALL THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF HIM.

You see, we need to get passed ourselves. We need to stop letting ourselves in our excuses, our fears, our failures, our disbelief and lack of faith hold us back. How is this possible? Well,… it has been made possible for us in Jesus Christ, in His life, death, and resurrection. Paul had this to say to the Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).” If we count ourselves as Christians than what Paul says here is true of us. If we have put our faith and trust in Christ than that means that we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. In another letter of his, Paul says, “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection… The death [Christ] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus… (Romans 6:5, 10-11)

Live unto God:
In the same way that Christ died once for all and now lives to God, we too have died with him and are now able to live to God. We are able to enter the game. We are freed and no longer captives to ourselves, our chains, or our adversaries. We are captivated by Christ and His love and grace. And in and through Him we are freed to live to God.
Now, if I remain in the bleachers I am living to myself; I am subject to my fears, my feelings, and to all that holds me back. If I am on the bench I am living to those around me; supporting the team and following the orders of the coach. But, when I am in the game I am living for Jesus; I have died to myself and that which has held me back; I have died to those voices telling me I can’t, I am not good enough, or have just not given me a chance. While in the game, I must keep my head in the game, and live to God in the freedom I have in Jesus Christ…

SO, in closing, Get'cha, get'cha, get'cha, get'cha yourself in the game!