Practical Application

Yesterday we finished up a 4-week mini-series on the concept and mandate of biblical, Christ-filled unity. Coming off the Advent and Christmas Season and entering straight into a new year is an encouraging, exciting, and yet, exhausting period of time for many people.

With the holiday celebrations over and with school and work back to some level of normalcy, the cold, wintry January days can seem long. Debt is a little higher, savings are a bit lower, waists may have expanded a tad, and the resolutions for the new year may have already been voided out. Statistically, about 60% of people who list at least one resolution admit that before January closes out – it has been given up on.

With all of this as a pretty consistent history, God delivered to us a focus on unity throughout January, and within our 4-week expedition, He revealed quite a bit. Most importantly, however, is His presence with us. I really sensed all month long, with others who just seemed to confirm it, that His presence was especially close. Yesterday (that being Sunday, January 27), there were scores of comments and confirmations that really collaborated it all. In short, we determined: Our hearts and His house was full of the Holy Spirit. 

I sensed that unity, in Him, opened up the opportunity for His presence to saturate in a way that not only welcomed Him but gave Him complete access. Unity does this. Unity accomplishes this. And even in the things where we might have differences of opinion or personal preference, when we lay them down to be unified, it shows that we take His mantles of “unity in the body” and “unity as the bond of love” passionately, seriously, and with zeal.

Encountering this…experiencing this…being a part of this can only happen and will only happen when we, as His Church, intentionally decide to put His will first and follow His purposes. It happens when the Church is the Church, on mission! It happens when we, in spite of ourselves, seek to bring glory and honor to Him.

  • We can have differences.
  • We should celebrate diversity.

But when it comes to unity, we must lay it down for the sake of love. And out of the love for Christ and for one another, unity will prevail. It is the byproduct of that love.

May the Lord continue to move us, at Bridgeway Church, into unity at deeper levels. I am prayerfully looking forward to what it is He has in store for us into February, and beyond. I believe we are on the threshold of something very enlightening, very engaging, and very eternal. Join us, if you haven’t already. Be in prayer. Seek the Lord. Help us to be unified in love.

Porter

Unity, a Great Convincer

Yesterday, the Lord led us to look at unity as one of the great convincing testimonies for the church. Sure, there are others: forgiveness, grace, joy, and love (to name a few). But in our current series on “Unity,” the focus was on this mandate seen throughout the Word of God.

A church, a community, a people unified under God, on mission for His purpose, will have a lasting impact on the culture and world when they seek and find oneness. This is evident at so many levels and in countless ways.

In these past 3 weeks, we’ve gleaned Ephesians 4, Psalm 133, and 1 Corinthians 1 to see how unity has played a critical role with God’s people, in His Church, and in accomplishing His will on earth. In our Wednesday evening Colony Gatherings, this season, we are in a study called, “Be My Witnesses!” – a journey through Acts. Here, we have witnessed firsthand the living testimony of the church in the earliest days. They were on board with God’s mission and they invested in the work. Not only that, they were committed to doing life together.

Here at Bridgeway, our heart is in line with that of our Lord. We desire to be poured out for His plan and purpose: here, in this region, and wherever He leads us. There are opportunities in ministry and in mission, and together, we can accomplish so much more than we could ever do apart. There is space and a definite place for you here.

In this way, we are surely better together, always!

Unity is a great convincer!

Porter

Impacting Others

One of the many papers I wrote, in the 3rd year of my Master of Divinity program surrounded a theme that had a tremendous amount of practical relevancy to it. The class was Church History II: From the Reformation to the Modern Day, and the paper was a major portion of the final grade.

My, my…those paper writing, mid-term/final exam, 4-5 hours of study and research each evening and night while working full-time, raising a family, going to church, nights and weekend class – days. For me, it took 6 years to complete the 90 credit hours, acquiring field and life experience, and going through approval for degree confirmation. I loved the process and I was blessed in how it equipped and trained me.

Back to this one class though: My paper for this course centered around much of what we face, today, in a very individually, inward focused world.

I mean look around, you don’t have to look far at all to see how deeply people love their own preferences. People occasionally ask me how I know this to be true, and I will respond, “Because I live and breathe.”

Some share their preferences non-stop. And many aren’t hesitant, at all, to let you know what they are.

There are millions of ways to custom-tailor your life to perfectly suit your every preference. When times get rough, or even a little uncertain – many think very little of pulling away from responsibilities. A growing number will completely reorient their life from whatever causes even a hint of inconvenience. This extends to something as central, and needed, and purposeful as our commitment to the Lord and to His local church.

All who are connected to the local church, each genuine Christ-follower, has witnessed people (sometimes family, other times close friends, and even co-workers and neighbors) waiver and wonder in their commitment. Maybe at one time we were that wanderer ourselves. The fact is: It is very personal and up close.

Other times, we have had to extend a call, a hand, a note, in order to encourage someone back into connection, fellowship, participation, and worship. And is often the case, we will often pull out one or two of our “go to passages” from Scripture. There are several that are extracted from many segments of the New Testament that are cited, quoted, and used.

One of the more acclaimed is found in Hebrews, chapter 10. It is here, in vv.24-25 where we are told to warn of the danger of “neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” We insist that those who neglect to participate in the local church will encounter spiritual temptation, spiritual decline, and even spiritual death. And while all of this is true, it is not the key principle of the passage. In fact, when we use the passage in this way, we are not displaying the divine urgency behind the text, but our own deep-rooted individualism.

Here is what Hebrews 10:24-25 states, in its full contextualization and meaning: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

This passage does, indeed, warn of the serious consequences of skipping out on church, but its focus is not what we might expect through our Western, individualized eyes and minds. This passage does not warn us that when we skip church we put ourselves at risk. Rather, it warns us that when we skip church we put other people at risk. You see, the root here is neglecting the needs of others…which means, we don’t demonstrate our love for God, or for them, correctly. And even worse, we show complete disregard for the Bride of Christ: the church.

Gathering with God’s people is not first about being blessed, but it is about being a blessing. It’s not first about getting, but it’s about giving.

As we come together for things like Worship, The Colonies, ministry opportunities, training and workshops, for outreach opportunities, our first consideration should be “how to stir up one another to love and good works.” We should approach Sunday deliberately, eager to do good to others, to be a blessing to them, to give things away – including ourselves.

In those times we feel our passion or zeal is fading (even a bit), when we feel the temptation to skip out on a Sunday or withdraw altogether, we should consider our God-given responsibility to encourage “one another, and all the more as you see the Day of the Lord drawing near.” This text is not about us, but about them. This text is not for Christian individuals but Christian communities.

And, of course, our commitment to the local church is far more than a commitment to Sunday morning services.

  • It is a commitment to other people through all of life.
  • It is a commitment to worship with them; then, to connect and fellowship with them, to serve them, and to pray for them all throughout the week. That is the mantle of DISCIPLESHIP.
  • It is to bind ourselves together in a covenant in which we promise to do good to them, to make them the special object of our attention and encouragement. It is where we can know and where we can be known.
  • It is to promise that we will identify and deploy our spiritual gifts for their benefit so we can serve them, strengthen them, and bless them.

Every Christian has a place within the local church. Every Christian is needed within a local church. Every Christian has responsibilities within a local church. Every Christian is to commit to the members of a local church and to love them, to encourage them, and to stir them up in zeal until the day of Christ’s return.

This has to happen…this must happen…even when our preferences are not met.

Are we considering the needs of others? Are we allowing ministry to happen to people who are not as familiar with faith than we are?

The church must be a place that reaches the unsaved and disciples the saved. The church must be more of a hospital…a clinic…a growing, working, community center than it is a museum, a venue, or a morgue. May God grant us favor and power as we seek to be and further become this, for His glory!

Porter

 

Why the Sabbath is Important

I confess: I haven’t always been a pastor.

I know that is hard to comprehend, but it’s true. At one time, I even asked and wondered over the very subject matter (and question) that is in the title bar. In fact, I just didn’t ponder it – I almost tried to find, locate, and prove that the Sabbath wasn’t as important as thought. It was in that period that, among other things, when God showed me just how foolish, and wrong, I really was.

For the purpose of this blog, I won’t consume our time with those details. Just know it was very targeted, and God got my full attention. Yes, I was a “babe” in Christ; just learning the elementary things of the faith; dipping in the waters of Christendom and faithful followship. But within 6 months, my whole perspective began to shift.

Hard to admit: That was nearly 20 years ago, now.

Today, I am obviously at a much different place. People tend to view me as among those who work on Sunday. Others probably conclude that it’s part of my “job” or “responsibility” to promote honoring the Sabbath, so of course I am going to do that. Right? Well, I can say with the utmost transparency here: No matter what it is the Lord would have me do, inside or outside His Church: I will always be a proponent for His Word, His Will, and His Sabbath. It was His idea and He is the Creator of the Sabbath. That is precisely why I see it as important.

Here are 5 Reasons why I believe the Sabbath is essential, necessary, and non-negotiable. [There are probably more reasons, and you can add to the list. But for me, these are the Top 5]:

  1. It is a command. We do well as people and as believers to know the difference between commands and recommendations; to know the difference between orders and opinions. From the very earliest period in the Creative Order decreed by God, to the giving of the 10 Commandments, to the prophets challenging the people to “honor it,” the Sabbath Day is a command given to God’s people. Within the very framework of all of this…we are even shown the benefits of honoring it and the consequences of dishonoring it. [See Genesis 2; Exodus 20; Jeremiah 17 for the references).
  2. If offers you…you and I…the opportunity for both refreshment and rest. The actual word, “sabbath,” is translated as “rest.” As such, the 4th Commandment commands people to take a break from work, from work-related activities, from labor, and from the daily grind in order to pause and focus on God, His presence, and a much needed reset. In this way, it is a day that is promised to contain these things if we will simply receive it: He will give rest to those who are His (see Exodus 35).
  3. Jesus kept the Sabbath (I hope this is not news to you). For those that thought Jesus just overturned and voided out all the Old Testament commands: He didn’t. As we turn the pages over from the Old Testament to the New, the Gospel records are clear: The Lord honored and observed the Sabbath, in His own life and ministry (see Luke 4). He went so far as to claim that He was “the Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12, v.8); and He taught that the day itself was made for us (see Mark 2, v.27). I believe if for no other reason, every believer and Christ follower ought to honor the mandate because Christ Himself showed how important it was.
  4. The Lord transformed the Sabbath, through His death and resurrection, to the 1st Day of the Week. Jesus was raised on the first day of the week. When He was raised on that Easter morning – the old system of sacrifices and sinfulness died too, and He ushered in a new way to honor His resurrection. Sunday marks a new Christian Sabbath, or commonly called, “The Lord’s Day” as He defeated evil and sin and gave us new life.
  5. Over and over again in the New Testament…the Lord shows that the 1st Day of the Week is now the new Holy/Worship Day for His Church and His followers. Consider the following examples:
    • When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, Thomas is not present. To overcome the doubt, Jesus comes to him 1-week later, on Sunday, and Thomas worships His risen Lord (see John 20, vv.24-28).
    • The Day of Pentecost is the day when Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit, in all of His fullness, to the Church (see Acts 2). In the Old Testament, Pentecost was a feast celebrating the harvest, deriving it’s name from the number 50. By arriving 50 days after Passover, it is clear that Pentecost fell on the 1st day of the week. The Holy Spirit coming on the 1st day of the week is significant for understanding the intent it had on worship, and preaching, and sharing (in the Church) on this specific day.
    • The early church began meeting on this day, regularly, for sharing the Gospel, for worshiping the Lord, for giving, and for prayer (see Acts 20; 1 Corinthians 16). It was never altered, changed, corrected, or rebuked. No where in Scripture, after decades of the Church going into the world, was there a reset by our Lord or in the apostolic teachings.

Yes, we are 2,000 years past this. People do have careers, jobs, and responsibilities that require them to work on Sundays (on the sabbath day) that are often difficult to get out of. But in other things, life can get in the way (and all too often, we allow it to). Sundays get occupied with sleeping in, lazy breakfasts, day travels, kid’s sporting events, and shopping. It’s a good day, some will reason, to catch-up…to relax…to breathe from the highly occupied week, and to do what I want to do. I know. I’ve been there, I’ve heard it, and I’ve believed it before.

My only request would be for you to seek God in it if you have a choice. To really glean His heart and His Word. Let us be a people after His own heart, and really acknowledge in the depths of our own lives: He has our best interests, at heart, always. He has. He does. He always will.

Porter

Treasures and Hearts

Oswald  Chambers (one of my favorites, if you’ve never noticed before) asks a question in his My Utmost for His Highest devotionals. Without conjecture or even set-up, here is what he asks: “Have you ever been pierced by the Lord?” 

Now ponder that for a moment. Take a good journey down memory lane.

Have you?

It’s not: Have you been challenged by the Lord? Nor is it: Have you been pushed by the Lord? He can certainly do those alone or in conjunction with other actions. But the question is: Have you ever been pierced by the Lord?

I have multiple times in life, and quite frankly, there is absolutely nothing like it. You can’t deny it, you can hardly explain it, and you can’t get around it. His piercing is both deeply soul-wrenching and incredibly freeing, when it happens. There is no wondering what it is, what it was, or why it happened. It comes with crystal clear clarity and purpose. Truth here: Our Lord pierces us to accomplish His purpose; to better us for His glory and so that we might accomplish His work.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, there is a rich litany of teaching expelled and given by Jesus. I often think of how challenging it must have been for the writers of the Gospels to listen, to soul-search, to capture, and to write the words of the Lord. Surely the Holy Spirit was their true guide in capturing the depth and proclaiming the truth. Starting in Matthew 6, at v.19, Jesus is expounding on the theme of storing up things for ourselves. It had to speak exceptionally loudly and a bit uncomfortably to the disciples and followers. After all, most of them had very little in the way of “earthly value” and “assets.”

But Jesus goes deep, and after driving home the point of “storing up treasures in Heaven,” He hits the real nerve (I feel) that He wanted to tackle in v.21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” 

Let’s go ahead and say it together: “Ouch!” It’s o.k., we are all people and we are all familiar with treasures.

I run into different people with different treasures every week. Here is a short-list of what could be a treasure: addictions; athletics; family; money; title/position; power; school; leisure time; work-out plans; and just work itself. There are more, no doubt. Even in my past, there were things that became, and were, treasures. The thing is, no matter what the treasure is (which can be/become a form of idolatry, if not careful), our heart is also right there with it.

People put there “treasures” ahead of everything, including God. 
We hold onto them, with a grip that is unrelenting.
And most often, it is denied that it really has control over us.

When Chambers asks: “Have you ever been pierced by the Lord?” – I feel he is going head on into this very subject matter. Sure, it could be other things and relate to entirely different circumstances in our life journey. But I come back to the reality that when the Lord pierces us, it is often with the intention to get our attention and to get us back to what is most important in our lives…His presence and lordship.

Never allow your own will to eradicate or undermine the Lord’s purpose in your life. If our treasure is in Him…if we place our life in His hands…if we see ourselves as a people after His own heart…our treasures will reflect and represent where our heart truly is. So let’s allow Him to pierce us, so that our treasure is truly in the Lord Jesus Christ – once and for all. Then, we will be better equipped and positioned to be a blessing to His Kingdom and to others.

In His grace,

Porter