Author: Tom

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Where’s The FIRE? (Part 4: Energy)

This is part 4 of a 4 part series entitled, “Where’s The FIRE?”

Part four of this series brings us to a useful aspect of Fire — Energy!  When brought together in proper balance, the three components we’ve addressed so far — Fuel, Ignition, and Respect, can be used to bring about a life-changing Energy!  It is the energy of a fire that warms us and purifies that which passes through it.  When the fuel and ignition source are used with respect, the energy that fire releases can be used with direction and purpose.

It was the combination of the Word of God ignited by the Holy Spirit and used with respect for all mankind that unleashed an energy in the life of the apostles and early church that turned the world upside down!  Paul states that he was not ashamed of the gospel — the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ — because it is the power, or energy, of God that brings about salvation! 

Is your life in Christ filled with energy?  Do you really believe that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength?  Is that “all things” according to His will and desire or “all things” according to what you want?  Some times we want the energy of being on fire for God that the early church displayed but we really don’t want the fuel of God’s Word to be that dominant in our life.  We like victory if we’re in charge and we get the credit but we’re not so sure about allowing God’s Spirit to actively live and work in our life each and every moment we live.  We stand for truth, and rightly so, but when it comes to others we desperately want the Jesus who overturned the money tables more than we want the Jesus who says in love, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

I pray that you and I would experience the energy that comes from the fire of God in our life!  May our consistent time in the Word of God fuel us to face whatever comes our way.  May our quiet time of seeking God and listening to His Spirit ignite the Word in our life so that it is living and active.  May our reverence of God give us a respect for people and a respect for the fire of God so that we would not bring damage to ourself or others.  May the energy that we receive from pursuing God in this way be used to change us into the image and actions of Jesus so that our life would be one that turns the world upside down as we lift up Jesus and He draws those that watch us to Himself.

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Where’s The FIRE? (Part 3: Respect)

This is part 3 of a 4 part series entitled, “Where’s The FIRE?”

Have you ever been so focused on doing something, or getting somewhere, so quickly that someone asks, “Where’s the fire?”  Perhaps you’ve done something so well that you hear the comment, “Wow!  You’re really on fire!”  Or maybe you’ve heard it said about you, or someone else, “They’re really on fire for God!” 

As I thought about each of these, and other similar phrases, I began to wonder what is at the heart of being on fire metaphorically.  What elements are needed to reach the point of “being on fire”, particularly in my relationship with God through Jesus Christ?  Perhaps looking at some elements of a campfire can help us start, or rekindle, a relationship with God that is truly on FIRE!

In the first post of this series I wrote about the Fuel needed for a life “on FIRE” and the second post covered the Ignition source necessary.  Now we turn our attention to an important, but often overlooked, part of a campfire — and of being “on FIRE” — Respect!  A campfire can be a beautiful, warming, even a calming and peaceful thing to watch and experience.  It is a great tool to aid in relaxing, reflecting on the day, and even cooking the day’s meal!  Without the proper respect, however, the same campfire can quickly take a destructive and deadly turn.  Many fires ranging from the small grass fires to the massive wildfires can be traced back to a simple phrase, “I didn’t think it would spread — I thought I had it under control”.  A lack of respect for the conditions, purpose, and need for the fire can allow a small blaze to rapidly spread out of, and beyond, control.

So, what role does Respect have in our being “on FIRE” for God?  My first thought goes to how do we use the burning combination of God’s Word and His Spirit?  We need to have a respect for the power represented through the name of Jesus!  Throughout the Bible there were people who thought they could play with fire — literally and figuratively — and get away with it.  People thought they could manipulate the power of God for their own glory and benefit only to be “burned” in the end.  Without respect, or reverence, for God it is far too easy to attempt to put ourself into a position that only belongs to God.

We also must understand and respect the specific purpose of the fire we represent and any point and time.  Once the Word of God is ignited in our life, how we use it can bring healing and warmth to a person or harm and devastation.  We are told to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us.  That verse goes on to tell us to do so with “gentleness and respect”.  Many times we need to evaluate the situation before us and determine just how big of a fire is needed!  When I build a campfire at camp, I’m always assessing the surroundings, the weather conditions, the purpose of the fire, and other elements to determine where to build the fire and how much fuel to use so that the fire meets its purpose and is useful.

Respect is the element that keeps you from “torching” someone with your use of God’s Word!  I pray that as you and I live in the power of the Word through the Spirit of God that we would do so with a reverence for God and a respect for the people around us!

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Where’s The FIRE? (Part 2: Ignition)

This is part 2 of a 4 part series entitled, “Where’s The FIRE?”

Have you ever been so focused on doing something, or getting somewhere, so quickly that someone asks, “Where’s the fire?”  Perhaps you’ve done something so well that you hear the comment, “Wow!  You’re really on fire!”  Or maybe you’ve heard it said about you, or someone else, “They’re really on fire for God!” 

As I thought about each of these, and other similar phrases, I began to wonder what is at the heart of being on fire metaphorically.  What elements are needed to reach the point of “being on fire”, particularly in my relationship with God through Jesus Christ?  Perhaps looking at some elements of a campfire can help us start, or rekindle, a relationship with God that is truly on FIRE!

So, if you’ve read the first post in this series, what’s the next question?  If the fuel source is plentiful and readily available, why aren’t more of us on fire for God?  Sometimes it is because we don’t make use of the fuel available to us.  It’s like many of the fallen trees at camp.  They’re out in the woods — I know they are there yet I’ve not taken the time to take ownership of them by cutting and splitting them and adding them to the “storehouse” of available fuel.  How often do I inventory the “spiritual woodpile” and realize I need to do some serious work of bringing into my mind the fuel of God’s Word?  Am I disciplined enough to spend the time in prayer and fasting for the sole purpose of knowing God and His will?  While all of this needs done, I believe that for many Christians the problem isn’t as much in the collecting of the fuel as it is in the igniting of the fire!

I can collect, stack, and store as much fuel as I want but until something ignites it, it simply remains fuel and never becomes a fire.  There were many in the days of Jesus — religious leaders, in fact — who were amply supplied in fuel and even experts in its storage.  Yet their fuel never caught fire.  In their hands, God’s Word simply remained a bunch of sticks that they used to beat the people with.  They never allowed the breath of God to ignite the fuel so that God’s Word would bring warmth and healing to all people. 

A big part of ignition requires the presence of both fuel components.  With a campfire, the obvious fuel is the wood.  However, without the additional fuel of oxygen obtained from the air, there is no campfire!  The religious leaders had an overflowing supply of the solid fuel of God’s Word but they seemed to be completely lacking in obtaining the “oxygen” component of God’s will through prayer and fasting.  As I consider my fuel supply, am I balanced in both collecting the word of God in my mind and life and in pursuing God’s will through prayer and fasting?

So, if my fuel supply is adequate and balanced, why am I still not on fire for God like I ought to be?  What was it that ignited the fire of the early disciples so that they gained the reputation of “turning the world upside down”?  I believe that the ignition of our fuel supply is done by and through the Holy Spirit — the breath of God given to each believer as God’s indwelling presence.  Many times we are not on fire for God because we have quenched the ignition source of his Spirit in our life.  It is God’s Spirit that empowers the fuel — the Word that dwells so richly within us.  It is His Spirit that counsels and instructs us in His will — His good and perfect will.  At some level we become so afraid of God being in charge that we never allow the ignition source to be anywhere near the fuel we have been collecting.

To be on fire for God we must walk by the Spirit even as He is in the Spirit.  We must let the consuming fire of our God ignite His Word and will in our life so that His fire is seen in us.

I pray that you and I will not simply store up the fuel of God’s Word and His will but that we will allow His Spirit to ignite that fuel so that His fire will burn brightly in each of us.

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Where’s The FIRE? (Part 1: Fuel)

Have you ever been so focused on doing something, or getting somewhere, so quickly that someone asks, “Where’s the fire?”  Perhaps you’ve done something so well that you hear the comment, “Wow!  You’re really on fire!”  Or maybe you’ve heard it said about you, or someone else, “They’re really on fire for God!” 

As I thought about each of these, and other similar phrases, I began to wonder what is at the heart of being on fire metaphorically.  What elements are needed to reach the point of “being on fire”, particularly in my relationship with God through Jesus Christ?  Perhaps looking at some elements of a campfire can help us start, or rekindle, a relationship with God that is truly on FIRE!

When I think about building a campfire, one of the first questions that must be answered is, “Where’s the Fuel?”.  There is no fire without some type of fuel source.  A typical campfire uses wood as its fuel source.  When the fuel is gone, the fire no longer exists.  The same is true if we want to be on fire for Jesus.  We must ask the basic question, “Where, or what, is the fuel?”  What is the next question?  My next question would be, “where, or what, was the fuel that Jesus used for his ministry on earth and in his relationship with his father? 

When Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread, Jesus responded, “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  When the disciples try to get Jesus to eat food that they’ve brought Jesus replies, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”  Another time when Jesus casts out a demon that the disciples couldn’t they want to know his secret and he replies, “This type only comes out by prayer and fasting.”

Was Jesus “on fire” for God?  I would say, “Absolutely yes!”  So, what was his fuel?  What kept his fire for God burning?  I would say that even a casual reading and study of the life of Jesus would reveal his fuel was the word and will of God revealed to him through times of prayer and fasting!   He was fluent in knowing and understanding scripture in ways that amazed those who listened to him.  He was constant in his pursuit of not only knowing, but in doing the will of God.  He was consistent in seeking and finding time alone with God.

So, the answer to where’s the fire in your life begins with the question, “Where’s the Fuel?”.  To be on fire for God requires the correct fuel.  The early disciples gained the reputation of “turning the world upside down” because their fire was fueled by the same fuel that empowered Jesus.  They devoted themselves to the fuel of “the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  We live in a time that is in desperate need of a sweeping revival fire to turn the world upside down.  Could it be that the necessary revival has stalled out because the fire in you and I has gone out because of a lack of fuel?  May you and I examine our fuel supply, and source, as we seek to live for God

I pray that we would stock up on the fuel of God’s word and will through intentional times of prayer and fasting so that our fire for Jesus would burn brightly for all to see!

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1 Samuel: Lesson 35 — Who Do You Serve? 1 Samuel in Review

The following are the final review discussion questions from a weekly study I led through the book of 1 Samuel at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 35 (Who Do You Serve?)
1 Samuel in Review

 

  1. What stands out to you from our study of 1 Samuel?  Why?  What are some key things you have learned?  Has the study changed any of your thoughts or actions?
     
  2. Who was Samuel?   How/where did he grow up?  What is the character of the people around him as he grows up?  What happens to them?  Why?  Do/should the people around you determine how you “turn out” in life?
     
  3. As Samuel grows older, what do the people of Israel request?  What is their purpose and reasoning?  What do they expect?  How does Samuel feel about their request?  What answer does God have for Samuel’s concerns? In what ways today do people reject  God as “king” in their life? 
     
  4. How is Saul selected to be the king of Israel?  What credentials does he have?  How does he seem to take the idea of becoming king?  What are some highlights/lowlights of his life?  What are some changes that take place in him as he reigns as king?  What is behind those changes?  Do you know specific things that God has called you to do?  What qualifies you to do what God calls you to do?  Does God’s calling guarantee that you will do it correctly or faithfully?  What are some influences to changes in your life . . . For the good?  . . . For the bad?
     
  5. How does David gain national attention?  What makes him think he can do a task no one else is willing to attempt?  Where is he when it comes time to select the replacement to Saul as king?  What does he do after being anointed by Samuel to be the next king?  How confident are you of God being able to do the impossible through you?  What would it take to believe/do that?  What does it take to faithfully live day-to-day when you know God has something different in store for you?   
     
  6. How does Saul treat David?  How does that treatment change over the course of time?  What happens as Saul begins to suspect, then becomes confident, that David is to be his replacement as king?  How do you treat others?  Does that change if you perceive them to be a threat to your current position?  What protections do you need to have in place to help keep from treating people in ways that are wrong?
     
  7. How does David treat Saul?  Does that change over time?  How can you maintain a “righteous” treatment of people who don’t treat you well?  How important is honoring and respecting others to you?  How do you act toward those who are set against you?  How do you respond when your “enemies” fall?
     
  8. Who is really “king” in your life?  How can you maintain a practice of Jesus as Lord?
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Why Job?

Why Job?  For the purpose of this article that would be the Bible character, not the work.  Although, the answers could be surprisingly similar. 🙂

I’ve been teaching from the Old Testament for a Wednesday night Bible class for a couple of years now.  We began with the book of Joshua and have worked our way through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and now, 1 Samuel.  It has been interesting, and sad, to hear participants who have been Christians and involved in church for many years comment that they had never before been in a Bible study that had gone through an entire Old Testament book. They’ve been taught the highlights — the quotable moments — but not usually much context around it.  We may well say that we believe God when He says all scripture is profitable, but do we practice that?  God included each book for a purpose.  Not only is the information in each meant to be transformational, it also helps provide context and greater understanding of other passages and the Bible as a whole.  I know for me, our study of 1 Samuel this past year has really brought greater depth and meaning to my daily reading in the Psalms.

As I thought about these comments, I wondered what gets overlooked the most.  I know there are verses and teachings that we avoid or skip over because we find them too controversial, divisive, hard, convicting, difficult to  understand, challenging, old-fashioned, restricting, . . . you get the idea; but I’m thinking from a Bible book perspective, what would make the bottom of the list in books studied in their entirety?  Unfortunately, I’m sure there are several that would be in the running for that bottom spot.  I think Job would be one of the books on that list.  I know I don’t recall ever teaching through the book of Job or being involved in a study through the book that someone else was leading.

It made me think, “Why not Job?”  As I’ve pondered this question, the answer that keeps coming up is interesting.  Could it be that we avoid the book of Job, other than a few quotable verses, because the answer to another question is “too controversial, divisive, hard, convicting, difficult to  understand, challenging, old-fashioned, restricting, . . . you get the idea”?  We’re not sure what to do with the question, or the answer to the question, “Why Job?”.

But is that really the question that catches us?  If you’ve read the book, or at least started to read the book, you know the answer — God!  And that’s the answer I think we struggle with.  Not so much the answer to “Why Job?”, I don’t think most of us really care that much about Job, rather the majority of the time someone is asking, “Why Job?”, they are really asking, “Why me?”!  We focus on the loss and suffering we face while being misunderstood by everyone around us and we go to the book of Job for answers — after all, he lost much, suffered greatly, and was misunderstood by those closest to him.  Yet to go to the book of Job searching for an answer to the question, “Why me?”, forces us to at least consider the answer may be the same as the one Job received — “None of your business!”  Yes, you read that right!  We have the opening commentary that gives some explanation to what was going on but there is no indication that Job was ever let in on any of that.  To boil it down, the answer God finally gives to Job at the end of the book sounds a lot like, “I’m God.  I know what I’m doing.  Trust me.”

So, what do you do when the foremost question in your mind is “Why me?”.  Do you hear God say, “I’m God.  I know what I’m doing.  Trust me.”?  Do you believe it?  Can you look at the book of Job differently than perhaps you ever have before?  You see, I’m not convinced that the primary theme of Job is the loss and suffering that we often connect with the book — I think the primary theme is faithfulness!

Jesus said in Matthew 19:29-30, “And everyone who has left [lost] houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”  Isn’t that the heart of the story of Job?  He lost nearly everything for the sake of God’s name yet through faithfulness it was restored many times over.

Why Job?  Because no matter what happens and no matter how little or much you understand, being faithful is the only way to live!  It is not the swift who receive the prize, but only those who remain faithful to the end.  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”  (Matthew 25:21)

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1 Samuel: Lesson 34 — The Mighty Have Fallen

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 34 (The Mighty Have Fallen)
1 Samuel 31:1-13; 2 Samuel 1:1-15

The Text:

  1. How does the battle go as the Philistines fight against the Israelites?  Who do the Philistines target?  How successful are they?  What condition do they leave Saul in?
     
  2. What does Saul want his armor-bearer to do?  What is Saul’s reasoning?  Does the armor-bearer do what Saul wants?  What happens?
     
  3. How does the outcome of the battle affect the rest of Israel?  What do they do?  What do the Philistines do?  What do they do with Saul?  What do the people of Jabesh Gilead do about this?
     
  4. Who comes to visit David after he returns from defeating the Amalekites?  How does he address David?  What news does he bring?  How does he tell the story of what happened? 
          
  5. What is David’s immediate response?  Who joins him in this response to the news that was given?  What does David ask of the Amalekite?  What does David have done to him?  Why?

                    

The Application:

  1. Do you ever feel like you have a target on you?  Why?  Are you a danger to the enemy?      
     
  2. Are you ever tempted to give up?  How do you persevere and remain faithful when it feels like your wounds are life-threatening?  What impact does someone else giving up have on you?  How do you think others are impacted by the way you handle your wounds?   
        
  3. Do you think the enemy would be inclined to announce your demise?  Why or why not?  How much does the honor or respect of others mean to you?  Would your risk your safety to ensure a person receives respect?  . . . Even if they don’t seem to deserve it?    
           
  4. What reasons would a stranger have for showing you honor or respect?  Do you ever try to tell about events in a way that you think the person you are telling would like to hear it?  Why?  What problems might that cause?  
     
  5. How hard is it to genuinely mourn when someone who has been against you fails?  What might make it easier?  . . . More difficult?  Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?

                     

Next week:  1 Samuel in Review

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1 Samuel: Lesson 33 — Share and Share Alike

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 33 (Share and Share Alike)
1 Samuel 30:1-31

The Text:

  1. Where do David and his men go?  What is this place to them?  What has happened while they were gone?  What “good news” detail is given?
     
  2. What is the initial response of David and his men?  What do the men want to do?  How does David deal with his great distress?  Who does David go to?  For what purpose?
     
  3. What answer does David get from the priest?  What happens at the Besor Ravine?  Who is found in a field by David and his men?  Why was he there?  What does he agree to do?  What condition does he set for doing this?
     
  4. What are the Amalekites doing when David and his men catch up with them?  What does David do?  How much of what was taken is recovered?  What else is taken?   
        
  5. What do some of the men want to do when David and the men who fought the Amalekites with him rejoin the rest of the group?  How are these men described?  What is David’s response to them?  What reasoning does he give?  What else did he do with some of the plunder that was taken from the Amalekites?

                   

The Application:

  1. How do you feel when you’ve been away and finally return home?  Do you ever worry that what you leave won’t be there when you return?  Do you tend to notice, or look for, the “silver-linings in the clouds”?     
     
  2. How would you feel if your family and possessions were taken from you?  Have you ever been blamed or held responsible for someone else’s loss when you weren’t the one who took their possession?  Who do you go to when you are distressed and need answers?  
         
  3. Have you ever had to drop out of a task you began because you physically couldn’t continue?  Have you ever continued with a task when others with you had to drop out?  How does either of those situations make you feel?     
          
  4. Are you a “finisher”?  Do you stay at something until it is done or do you quit when you have what you want out of it?  
     
  5. What things keep us from being willing to share?  What role does pride have?  How is our giving a reflection of our heart?

                    

Next week: 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 2 Samuel 1:1-15
The Mighty Have Fallen