Mission Impossible?

In yesterday's service we focused on Jesus' saying "with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible" from Matthew 19:26. I stated as stronly as I could that although God sometimes changes impossible circumstances by healing an illness or providing money out of nowhere to help us make ends meet, the most impossible, and important, thing he always does is change us when we are "with Him." If He can change our hearts than our circumstances don't matter all that much. When we are "with God" that's when "all things become possible." "With men" even the possibilities of life seem impossible at times.

Here is what I want you to share. Click on the "comment" icon below and share with us how God has done something impossible in you. I'm sure you can recount times when God did something impossible for you (changing circumstances) or through you (to impact others), but stick with sharing about the impossible things God has done in you (character transformation).

True Love

Although the Bible was written to guide humanity’s relationship with God, so much of it actually addresses how we relate to each other. Why? Because God says to us through the Bible that “if you cannot love your brother whom you have seen, how can you love God whom you have not seen” (1 John 4:20). In other words, true love for God will be evidenced by our love for each other. Those who boast about their grand love for God and yet couldn’t care less about other people, deny their love for God.

The Corinthian Church, which Apostle Paul writes to, had this tendency. They tended to boast about their love for God and their spiritual gifts, even though they took each other to court and had many factions and fights within their congregation. So, Paul takes out his pen and papyrus and writes to them in order to define what true love looks like for Christians wanting to love God.

As you read Paul’s definition below, please reflect upon two questions and feel free to comment on these two questions: First, which part of the definition below represents the area in which you have experienced the most growth over the past few months or years? Second, which one of the components of the definition below represents the greatest challenge to your love for others? Simply put, which word/phrase describes your strength and which describes your weakness when it comes to loving others.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

I encourage you to spend some time in prayer, thanking God for the area in which he has helped you love others better and asking Him for help in that area of love that continues to challenge and sometimes get the best of you.

Rant and Rave or Trust and Obey

The following reflections are from Jason Argo, Family Life Pastor at the Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church. Pastor Jason and his wife Nicole have been a part of our chuch family for about 15 months. They also have an adorable 1 year old daughter named Rowen.

Most of us remember the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. God had incredible plans for Joseph! He communicated to him through a dream that he would be elevated to a high position over his brothers. Since he was the second youngest of 12 boys, this didn’t sit well with his brothers. Their jealousy got the best of them and they ended up selling Joseph into slavery.

Genesis 37:26-28 says, “Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.”

This obviously wasn’t the end of the road for Joseph. God does elevate him to a position of power in Egypt and soon enough, his brothers come before him asking for help.

“His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:18-20

Even though he was sold into slavery, the Bible tells us “the Lord was with Joseph.” And slowly, God brought Joseph to a position of great responsibility in Egypt. Because of this position of authority, Joseph would provide a safe place for his family in Egypt.

Eventually, Joseph’s brothers felt sorry for mistreating Joseph; but Joseph looked at his troubles from a different perspective. Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” Think about it. After all the mistreatment and abuse Joseph experienced, God’s hand was working to bring about good.

How do you react when people or circumstances mistreat you? Do you rant and rave, pointing out your predicament to anyone who will lend an ear? Or do you act like Joseph, stepping back and letting God’s hand work to make things better. The next time you are mistreated, try following the example of Joseph. You’ll be glad you did!

Got Holy Spirit?

I have been reading the biblical book of Acts devotionally over the past few weeks. Acts is the chronicle of the earliest Christians describing how they lived in community and mission together. After Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to guide His followers. Many things happen once the Holy Spirit comes upon God’s people, but everything that happens can be summed up under two categories. When the Holy Spirit comes he moves the church toward more intimate COMMUNITY with each other and more intentional MISSION to the world. Simply put, when the Holy Spirit comes upon a local church the people in that church will begin to experience vital relationships with each other and outreach to the world that bears fruit.

There are many people out there who claim that when the Spirit comes weird things happen like people barking like dogs or getting gold fillings magically to appear in their teeth or they simply begin to levitate or something weird like that. But that is not what happens when the Spirit come according to Acts. The Holy Spirit is much more purposeful.

Go ahead and read Acts. You will see that the Holy Spirit moves Christians to love each other enough to share resources, spend lots of time together, support each other through tough times, and celebrate together during the good times. You will also see that when the Holy Spirit comes, Christians begin to love those outside of the church enough to go out and proclaim with boldness the good news about Jesus, even if they get arrested or beaten or mocked because of it.

Here are a few questions to consider. How do you know if the Holy Spirit is filling your life more and more? According to Acts you will love your brothers and sisters in Christ more, even when they are difficult to love, and you will begin to live a missional life that embodies the gospel for those who have yet to believe in Christ. So, where do you see the Holy Spirit evidenced in your life and/or where do you see the Holy Spirit evidenced in your church in the areas of your community or mission together?

Are You Ready To Share Your Resurrection Story?

I said in this past Sunday’s sermon that I see people at SWC who were once dead but are now walking around fully alive because of what Christ has done for them. “When we were dead in our sins…God made us alive with Christ” (Col. 2:13). When people ask me questions about my faith in Christ, I usually end up describing how I was once dead but Christ has brought me back to life. I recall the details of my dead life without Christ using descriptive words like empty, lonely, purposeless, hurting, and hopeless. I describe my new life in Christ with words such as joy, love, peace, and purpose.

In Scripture, we run into people who share, in just a few words, the difference that Christ has made in their lives. The blind man in John 9 says “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" The Apostle Paul says 1 Timothy 1:13 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy.”

What would you say to someone who asked you to share your death to life, before and after story? In other words, share in 1-2 sentences what Christ has done for you. The Apostle Peter challenges us in 1 Peter to “be prepared to give a reason for the hope you profess in Christ, but do it with gentleness and respect.” So, here is your chance to be prepared. In 1-2 sentences, share how a relationship with Christ has brought you from death to life.

Looking forward to your resurrection story,

Pastor Lenny

What's Your View of God?

Over the years I have discovered that one’s view of God, even if not consciously articulated, has a way of affected one’s relationship with God. I have also discovered over the years that some of my own God-views have been way off base. 18 years ago I began a quest to know and love the God who knows and loves me. While I think I’m beginning to get an accurate picture of who God really is, here are some inaccurate views of God that many, including myself at various points in my quest, hold.

God is a sheriff, out to get me with his six-shooter once I mess up. The only thing God cares about is whether I break his law or not. If I do, I’m dead meat!

God is a happy clown, totally harmless and only concerned with making me happy- not holy. I can pretty much do anything I want and this God will simply laugh and support whatever makes me feel good- even if it means sinning against Him or others in the process.

God is an old man, powerless and impotent. He is sweet and mannerly, but is too feeble to do anything powerful. He is totally harmless.

God is so holy and austere that he is completely inaccessible. He certainly wouldn’t want to hang out with a sinful loser like me.

God is my buddy, who exists to give me the thumbs up on whatever I want to do and whatever I want to be. No matter what I want, even if it’s harmful to me or others, he is there to simply give me the thumb’s up.

Make a comment to this post by clicking on the word “comment” below and let me know which one of the God-Views above describes how you once viewed God.

The Church...Why Bother???

Good morning friends. This coming Sunday I will be sharing a message entitled “The Church…Why Bother?” I have wrestled with this question quite often. There are several things that cause me to ask about the church, “why bother?” But somehow I keep coming back because, despite all of the flaws, failures and foibles of life together in Christian community, I have discovered that I need the church. In other words, when it comes to the church, I feel as though I can’t live with her and I can’t live without her. Maybe you feel the same.

I’ll save my reasons for why I sometimes can’t live with the church and why I can’t live without her until this coming Sunday. But I would like to hear from you. Tell me why you have sometimes felt “I can’t live with the church” and/or why you may feel “I can’t live without the church.”

Looking forward to getting some sermon fodder from you,

Pastor Lenny