May 29, 2008 by Pastor Matt.

Last night we talked from Hebrews 4:12.  The Word of God is living and active able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Verse 13 says that NOTHING is hidden from God’s sight.  Therefore God uses His Word and the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin.  That may sound pretty depressing.  There is no sin that we can hide from God.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!!!

Look at verses 14-16.  God sees our sin, but He does not leave us high and dry.  He sent His Son Jesus, to become our Great High Priest.  This Great High Priest is someone who came down from His throne in Heaven to become a man.  This Great High Priest is someone who can sympathize with our weaknesses (we have many).  This Great High Priest is someone who has been tempted in EVERY way and did not waver into sin.  This Great High Priest is someone who has mercy and grace on standby, ready and willing to give in our time of need.

SO MY QUESTION IS…

 Why do we try and hide our sin from the one who wants to give us mercy and grace?  When caught in and trouble, why do we not quickly ask for forgiveness?

EASY ANSWER

We are stuck in the quagmire of pride.  We think that admitting our sin and weakness will show God that we are not the perfect Christian.  We think that others may realize that we are sinners.  Even in our time of need, we think that we, in our own strength, can free ourselves of sin and despair. 

NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

EVERY TIME we sin, we seek the forgiveness of God.  We receive His grace and mercy in our time of need.  We go to our Great High Priest when tempted with sin.  We look at what the Great High Priest would have done when in our situation.  We humble ourselves before the cross of Christ and trust in Him for our everyday salvation.

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May 23, 2008 by Pastor Matt.

Proverbs 3:3-4  “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.”

Most often we take a look at Proverbs 3:5-6.  We really like these verses because they speak of how if we trust the Lord, He will straighten our paths.  They are fantastic verses.  But look at the previous two verses. 

Importance of kindness and truth

Kindness and truth is essential to finding favor and being of good reputation in the eyes of God and men.  Why?  Ephesians 4:15 says that we are to speak the truth in love.  Notice how truth is preceded in both of these verses by love and kindness. 

Our culture agrees with these verses only in the backwards sense.  Our culture says that you should always speak the truth because that is loving.  It does not say to speak the truth in love.  If you tell a person that they are stupid, ugly, and mean, you are seen as being brave for speaking the truth to them.  You are seen as a revolutionary for telling someone what you think with no concern for their feelings or hurting someone else.  When this is said, the intention is to hurt someone else and/or make you feel better.

The opposite is true of Bible following believers.  When speaking the truth, the point is not to hurt someone else and/or make you feel better, the point is to bring people to Christ and a God-honoring life. 

There is two ways to take the advice of these verses:

1. As the person who must deliver a hard truth to a friend or fellow student.

     a. You FIRST must be in prayer before you confront that person.  You must pray not only that you are doing this out of a loving kind heart to see this person be all that they can be for the glory of God, but that you will come across as loving and kind during your conversation.  You SECONDLY need to ask questions of the person you are talking to.  As a rule, accusations stir up the accused, questions difuse arguments.  Ask questions to get to the truth of the matter.   You cannot judge their heart or motives so ask what they were thinking when they said or did such and such.

2. As the person who will receive a hard truth to hear.

     a.  You FIRST must look at the evidence presented and evaluate your life to see if what is being presented is true.  It is your first fleshly (sinful)  instinct to be defensive and assume that you could never be wrong and the person talking to you has to be in the wrong.  You SECONDLY must not immediately take care of the issue.  If the person bringing the evidence is right, you must ask for forgiveness to God and whoever else was involved.  If the person bringing the evidence is wrong, you must go to that person and kindly in love tell them the truth of why you said what you said or did what you did.

They importance in binding kindness and truth to your life, is that you will find favor with God and man.  This is true, because when kindness and truth are used together, friendships can be restored.  You will be respected by others.  And you are following God’s Word.

Challenge: Let kindness always precede truth in your responses to siblings, parents, friends, or teachers.

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November 15, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

You’ve always heard the phrase, “Patience is a virtue”.  This is a true statement.  It is a good attribute to have to be patient.  I praise the Lord that He gave me the opportunity to be patient behind a slow driver last night.  I was able to immediately practice what i just preached.  Take a look at Ephesians 4:1-2 again.

Notice how we are to treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  It starts out saying that we must “walk in a manner WORTHY of the calling with which you have been called”.  This means that we need to be Christians WORTHY of being called Christians.  God did not call us out of our sin to just dive right back in.  He called us to live up to His moral standard of holiness.  In love, patience is one of those virtues that we MUST demonstrate. 

There are three ways that we can do this.  Try putting these into practice this week.

1.  Putting in love in the place of selfishness (Philippians 2:3-4)

2.  Putting in understanding in the place of harshness (James 1:19)

3.  Putting in forgiveness in the place of grudges (Matthew 18:21-22)

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October 12, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

Romans 10:4 - “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Think about this statement.  List out everything that you think this statement can imply, before reading further.  I will place a list of implications, but it will not be comprehensive.  I hope that it helps you to think deeper about these words and any verse you come up against.

1.  Christ ended the law (Note: sometimes the obvious statement are the most important)

2.  Christ’s work, means that we no longer have to make sacrifices for our sin

3.  Those who believe are no longer judged by the Law in the end.

4.  Those who do not believe ARE judged by the law.  (No one is righteous under the law - Romans 3:20)

In response to these implications, how should you then live?  Should your language involve more grace or law?  Should your actions show grace towards others or should you be legalistic in your mindset?

When people see that your life is governed by grace, what a great testimony that will be.

If you have seen a situation or have a comment about how grace has affected your life, please comment below.

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September 25, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

“John [the Baptist] answered them saying, ‘I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.  It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am unworthy to untie.”

Wow.  The man whose own birth was miraculous (see Luke 1:6-25,57-66).  The man who was designated by God to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah.  He did not consider himself worthy enough for the job of a slave.

Questions to ask yourself for devotions:

1.  How could someone of such high stature (in our eyes) be so humble?

2.  Is it even possible for me to be that humble? 

3.  What MUST change in my life in order for me to become more humble before the Lord?

“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” - James 4:6,10

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August 1, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Often times, we hear this verse being used in the context of trying to accomplish some great feat.  “I can pull a bus 100ft. because God strengthens me.” or “I am really good at basketball because God strengthens me.”  or “I’m really buff because God strengthens me.”  It is true that you can do nothing without the grace of God and God is the one who allows you to excel in whatever area you apply yourself, but these are not the reasons He strengthens you.

Most of the time this is the favorite verse of someone who is involved in some type of competition where physical strength is needed.

Look at the verses that come before verse 13, starting in 11.
“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
 

The strength that God gives us is for the purpose of being content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.  It is for the purpose of understanding that God has us right where He wants us to be.  It is not for the purpose of excelling in a sport.
 

It takes the strength of God to fully rely on God when things are going well in your life.
 

It takes the strength of God to be content and praise God when your world is falling apart.
 

You see, God gave Paul strength, not so that he might lead 20 more people to the Lord, but to help him be content in whatever circumstances he finds himself in.
 

How does God strengthen you?
 

What evidences have you seen of God strengthening you?
 

When have you been tempted to go it on your own instead of relying on God’s strength?
 

Do you thank God for strengthening you to make the right decision in times of trial?
 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
 

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July 17, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

Many decisions and commitments are made during the life of a Christian.  What separates the real decisions and the temporary decisions?  No one would make a decision knowing full well that they don’t plan on keeping it.  When decisions are make, we are fully intent on following through.  So why does it seem that decisions made at camp are often forgotten about 1 or 2 months later?

Accountability - During a camp week, campers are focused on God.  The counselors and other leaders are focused on God.  The counselors are almost always around their campers to help them focus on God.  This accountability and constant focus on God is what helps the campers stay focused on their decisions.  When the campers get back from camp they have ball games, hanging out with friends, and other things to do other than worry about the decision they made at camp and often times, no one around to remind them.

Paul held the Corinthian church accountable.  I Corinthians 4:14-15 - “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  For though you might have tenthousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

Importance - When decisions are made, they are made because the camper thinks that the decision is an important one to make at the time.  Likewise, any decision that is made that would cause someone to be more like Jesus is an important decision.  At camp all spiritual decisions are held in such high regard that some might even be tempted to make a decision just because everyone else is.  It is true that if something is important enough for you, you will make time for it.  If changing your life to become more like Jesus is important to you, you will make time.  If basketball or piano is most important to you, you will make time.  Larry Bird use to shoot 200 free throws before school every morning.  He MADE time to shoot.  There is always time for devotions, it’s just whether we make the time.

Paul also knew what it took to BECOME more like Christ.  Romans 12:2 - “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Steps to help follow through on your commitments 

Step 1: Find someone who WILL keep you accountable.  Someone who will ask you the tough questions.  Someone who you can speak truthfully to.

Step 2: Understand the importance of your commitment.  Commitments made before the Lord should not be taken lightly.  Make the time to give you the opportunity to succeed.  Be willing to clear things that are not important off your schedule to make room.

Step 3: Pray.  God wants you to succeed.  God will help you follow through if you would only ask.  He loves it when we make decisions for Him.  He loves it even more when we follow through.  God gave you the Holy Spirit to help you.  You are not alone.

Everyone should be able to see if you followed through on your commitment.  They should see a changed life.  They should see a desire to please God.  They should see a Christ follower.

Philippians 1:6 - “being CONFIDENT of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

If you would like more tips on how to follow through successfully with your commitments, please email pm@youthteam.org or see Pastor Matt.

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July 4, 2007 by Pastor Matt.

Galatians 5:1 - “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject to a yoke of slavery.”

Before Christ we are slaves to sin.  There is nothing that we can do to please God.

After Christ we are set free so that we might sin no longer.  What did Jesus say to the woman accused of adultery?  “From now on sin no more.” (John 8:5)  Did He set her free to continue in sin?  Did He spare her life and then tell her that He’ll understand if she falls into adultery again?  No.  He said, “sin no more”. 

For those who trust in Christ our challenge is to sin no more.  Are you free to please God?  Praise the Lord that He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  Praise the Lord that three days later He rose from the dead.  Rising from the dead, showed the conquering of sin.  It was that conquering of sin that gave us our freedom. 

Which freedom do you enjoy most, the freedom to say what you want, when you want or the freedom to please and enjoy the Everlasting God?

Praise the Lord for our country where we have the freedom worship the God that has set us free from sin.

Questions to ask yourself this week:

1.  Is there any sin in my life that I am a slave to?  (just pick one)

2.  Did Christ die for that sin?

3.  What are some practical things that i can do to get rid of the temptation to sin in this way?

4.  In putting off that sin, what is something that God wants me to put on?

If you have any questions or comments on this topic, feel free to post a comment or send an email to answers@youthteam.org

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