What is in you will eventually come of you

We continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 3" How do I see what God wants me to see? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about this "churchy" word called "Illumination." Illumination is simply the Holy Spirit bringing to life the Bible and speaking directly to you and your situation. It is like putting on 3D glasses and seeing the Bible come to life. On Sunday we talked about the 1st Benefit of Illumination: This week in my blog we have looked at seeing the solution to the problem, seeing the barrier in front of us and guidance in making decisions.

Today I simply want to encourage you to practice memorizing Scripture verses. Even if you start off memorizing one verse a month, you'll have 12 verses memorized by the end of the year. Having God's Word memorized or hidden in our heart is important.

Psalm 119:11 says I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

When we memorize Scripture it is like putting arrows in our quiver. As you go throughout your day, the Holy Spirit will bring to your mind, the word you have hidden in your heart. When you are at school and feeling peer pressure, when you are on the job and tempted to cut corners, when you are all alone and tempted to go somewhere on-line you shouldn't, when God asks you to walk across the room and share your faith. God's Word empowers us to do the things God has called us to do.

Here are 3 simple verses we have been memorizing as a church family...

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
JAMES 1:22: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Take a few moments and memorize one. Write it out on a card or paper and read it daily for a week. It will begin to become a part of who you are, how you pray and how you think.

Just a reminder that this Sunday is "Souper Sunday." We'll have at least 15 soups in the lobby after the gathering to vote on. You can vote by putting money in the jar next to the soup you like the best. All money is going to the Hope Project. The Hope Project is a MI non-profit that is fighting human trafficking

What is behind door #1?

We continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 3" How do I see what God wants me to see? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about this "churchy" word called "Illumination." Illumination is simply the Holy Spirit bringing to life the Bible and speaking directly to you and your situation. It is like putting on 3D glasses and seeing the Bible come to life. On Sunday we talked about the 1st Benefit of Illumination: This week in my blog we have looked at seeing the solution to the problem, seeing the barrier in front of us and seeing that God is with us. Let's look at the 4th benefit of illumination. 

The 4th benefit of having our eyes opened is knowing what door to walk through.

Remember the old game show, "Let's make a deal." I remember watching that show as a child wishing I could get a hold of the people on TV and stop them from making a bad decision. It always seems so easy and it always seems crystal clear when it is someone elses choice. But for someone reason, when it is our own life, things become more muddy and a lot more complicated.

In life there is very rarely just one door to walk through. In our world there is very rarely only one option. There is often several options presented to us. Do I take the by out and retire? If so, where do I find a part-time job? Do I retire early or do I wait to I get full benefits? What degree to I get at college? Which car do I buy? Where do I want to live or buy a home? Who should I date or pursue more seriously? Choice, choices and more choices. Do I walk through door #1, #2 or #3. What if door #3 is a dud? What if it just a goat eating hay when door #1 had the jackpot.

When we get to crossroads in our lives there are often 2 responses. Some people get paralyzed with fear and they just stare at the options but never open a door. As a result their choice is to not make a choice. What happens is the door is picked for them and they have to go with it. The other thing that happens is people don't stop and come to a healthy decision or don't really hear from God and just start opening all the doors. What is the result? They may eventually find the right choice but there is often a wake of carnage behind them.

This is where we need God to open our eyes and illuminate our path. Here are some great verses in the Bible that speak to this...

Psalm 119:05: Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Whenever we are faced with options, whenever we are faced with big decisions, God's Word (The Bible) often lights up our path. The Bible is full of wisdom, guidance, commandments and truths for our lives. It is God's will for you and me.

Do you buy the house? God's word reveals truth on finances and good stewardship. Do you have the resources? What are the monthly payments? Will you still be able to tithe? Will you be able to give to missions? Will you be able to save?

Do you date that person? God's word reveals truth on romantic relationships. What direction is that persons life going? Do they have a relationship with Jesus? Are they going to sharpen you and challenge you to grow in your faith or will you have to compromise?

God's Word lights our path. That is why it is so important to know God's Word and study His Word. He has our best interest in mind. The Creator of the Universe has given us a manual for abundant living. That is why next week we are going to do a practical blog series on how to study the Bible. I can't wait.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take

Not only does God's Word reveal truth and shine a light on the path we should take, we get t talk to the Author of the book. We get to "seek" God. Prayer is also an important part of having our path illuminated. Sometimes, there are decisions to make that even after reading Gods' Word there ares still several options. We have the privilege of praying and talking to God through prayer. As we do, we can be confident that God will direct our steps.

BUT WHAT IF I HAVE READ THE BIBLE, PRAYED and still don't know which way to go? What if I still don't know what door to decide? My thoughts and experience are to simply wait. I had to make a decision recently that was a pretty BIG ONE. It was going to impact every area of my life. I prayed and read the Bible for months waiting. Then after several months, I felt an overwhelming peace in my heart and assurance of what decision to make.

Whenever you are making a decision that is directed by God, peace is often the result. God is not the author of stress or confusion. The decision he wants you to make may not be easy and make take everything you have but you'll still have a peace about it. Sometimes that doesn't come right away so we wait. We are not paralyzed and refusing to make a decision. We are intentionally and continually seeking God and waiting on HIM to guide us.

Isaiah 40:28-31--Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. ²⁹ He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. ³⁰ Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. ³¹ But those who trust (wait on) in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.They will walk and not faint

When we take time to read Gods Word, pray and wait on Him, we often find the right door to take. God either illuminates a verse, opens our eyes to see something from a different perspective or even puts the right people in our path to talk to.

Decisions we have to life with. I am living with decisions from my past I wish I would have applied these truths to. I can't go back and change them. However, I can change the way I make decisions today.

Ps. This Sunday is "Souper Sunday." Come and vote for best soup. There are going to be 15 soups to choose from. You can vote by putting money in the jar next to the soup you like best. All money will go to the Hope Project, a non profit organization bringing awareness and fighting human trafficking."

Never once did we ever walk along

We continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 3" How do I see what God wants me to see? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about this "churchy" word called "Illumination." Illumination is simply the Holy Spirit bringing to life the Bible and speaking directly to you and your situation. It is like putting on 3D glasses and seeing the Bible come to life. On Sunday we talked about the 1st Benefit of Illumination: Seeing the Solution to the Problem. Yesterday in our blog we talked about  seeing the barrier in front of us. Let's look at the 3rd benefit.

The 3rd benefit of being able to see with spiritual eyes, to have my mind illuminated is…

I see how God is walking with me.

When God opens my eyes I see how God is walking with me.  He’s been with me all along, I just didn’t see it. There are so many seasons of our lives or situations that we walk through when we feel like God has abandoned us. We feel like we are on our own. To be completely honest, many people have quit following Jesus Christ or have stopped believing in God because of this.   

I don’t know what you’re going through right now.  You may feel like you’re alone, you’re out there by yourself, you’re fighting this battle on your own.  You don’t think that God is with you, that God’s a million miles way.  The good news is those are actually lies for your spiritual enemy, the devil!  God’s been with you all along, you just can’t see it until your mind is illuminated.

The story I want to share on this one is in Luke 24.  This is the story that happened on the day that Jesus rose from the dead.  Easter Sunday, the very first Easter Sunday. 

So much had happened over the past seventy-two hours.  Jesus Christ had been arrested.  He had been whipped and beaten and tortured.  He had been crucified.  He died.  And they buried him in a tomb.  All of the disciple are crushed.  Their dream is finished – “We thought this guy was God.  We thought he was the Messiah.  Now that they’ve killed him they’re probably going to kill us,” and they’re all fleeing for their lives.  They’re running away.  Nobody knows what’s happened.  They’re confused, they’re in grief.  They’re sorrowing.  They’re sobbing.  And they’re fearful because they think, they killed Jesus, they’re going to kill us too.

Then on Easter morning some women go to the tomb and they find the tomb has been broken open, that the body is gone, and the angels there are saying, He is risen!  This is too much to believe.  I just can’t believe it.  So they go back and they tell the disciples.  The disciples come out and they go, Yeah, it’s true.  The body’s gone.  But we can’t believe it.

This rumor starts spreading all over that Jesus is risen.  But nobody has actually seen him yet.  Over the next forty days Jesus appeared multiple times, walked around Jerusalem and at one time talked to a crowd of five hundred people.  That would have been weird.  If I was one of the persecutors of Jesus and all of a sudden he’s walking down the street two weeks later … he’s back.  This is why within a few years there were a hundred thousand Christians in the church of Jerusalem.  Why?  Because there were so many eyewitnesses.  It wasn’t just a few people who saw him.  He was walking around Jerusalem for forty days and a hundred thousand people had come to Christ. The Jerusalem church had over a hundred thousand people because of all these witnesses had seen Jesus.

But this is later that day and a couple of Jesus’ disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus.  They’re getting out of town.  They’re leaving Jerusalem, in fear for their life.  But they’re grieving and they’re sorrowing.  All of a sudden Jesus shows up and appears to them and starts walking with them.  But because they’re in so much grief they don’t even recognize him.  Their eyes are closed.  They can’t see it.  They don’t even notice who’s with them. 

We pick this story up in verse 15 of Luke 24.  “Suddenly, Jesus himself came along and joined them [these two disciples] and began walking beside them.  But they didn’t know who he was, because God kept them from recognizing him.  Jesus said, ‘You seem to be in a deep discussion about something, what are you so concerned about?’ [Because they’re talking about the crucifixion and all that’s going on and the chaos in Jerusalem.] They stopped short, sadness written on their faces. Then Cleopas said, ‘You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened in the last few days.’  Jesus said, ‘What things?’ [He’s playing dumb!  Obviously he knows what’s going on.  Jesus was the center of attention.  He says, What things?]  And the disciples said, ‘The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,’ they said.  ‘He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles.  He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people.  But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.  We had thought he was the Messiah. [We thought this guy was God.  But he’s dead now.  We thought he was the Messiah] who had come to rescue Israel.  That all happened three days ago,’ they continued.  ‘Then some women were at his tomb early this morning, and came back with an amazing report.  They said his body was missing, and that they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive!  Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.’” 

So they’re all confused.  They haven’t seen Jesus.  He’s walking right there with them, but they haven’t seen him yet.  They don’t know what to believe.  “Then Jesus said, ‘You are such foolish people.  You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering into his time of glory?’  Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses [That’s Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy] and all of the prophets, [that’s the Old Testament] explaining what all the Scriptures said about him.”

A lot of people think that the Old Testament is about Israel and the New Testament is about Jesus.  Wrong.  It’s all about Jesus from cover to cover.  This is a Jesus book.  The first part of the book tells you he’s coming and you see Jesus in allusions and in analogies and in metaphors and in prophecies and in statements and in predictions.  He’s all through almost every book of the Bible.  Then we find in the Gospels where you hear the story of Jesus.  Then we have the book of Acts which is what happened after Jesus goes back to heaven and the church grows.  Then all the letters which is how we’re supposed to live since then.  But it’s all about Jesus.

It says, “By this time they [these two disciples of Jesus] were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey.  Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So he [Jesus] went home with them.  [They still don’t recognize him.] As they sat down to eat, Jesus took a small loaf of bread, [just like he did in the Last Supper] asked God’s blessing on it, [just like in the Last Supper] broke it, then gave it to them.  [verse 31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…”  

WOW!!!!  It’s Jesus!  We’ve been walking with him all day.  We’ve been talking with him.  We’ve been telling him what we saw and he’s been explaining to us the meaning of it.  Now he’s been eating dinner with us.  We can't believe it. Wee see it now.

“Then their eyes were open and hey recognized him, and he disappears from their sight.”  That would be a mindblower.  The guy you think is God is crucified and died.  We missed that one.  We thought that guy was God!  Then we hear he’s been resurrected, but we really don’t believe it.  Then a stranger walks along with us and then he breaks the bread and all of a sudden we realize it’s him.  It’s him!  And as soon as we recognize it’s him, bam!  He disappears. 

That was illumination.  In their grief they could not see that Jesus was with them.  They’d had this enormous loss and they couldn’t see.  They just couldn’t see it.  They needed illumination.  Their circumstance was keeping them from seeing Jesus' faithfulness. Their grief was blinding them from truth and reality.

I don’t know what you’ve lost this last year.  You may have lost a loved one.  You may have lost your health.  You may have lost your job.  You may have lost an important relationship or a big deal, and you are grieving.  And you cannot see that every step of the way Jesus has been walking with you.  You have never been alone.  You have never been by yourself.  That God is with you walking, but your eyes are blinded.  You can’t see it. 

This is something I have experienced time and time again. So many people think because I am a pastor, because I am joyful and because I am always smiling that I haven’t been through pain or heart wrenching circumstances. However, that is far from the truth. What is the truth is while I have walked through painful circumstances in life, I have seen how God has been walking right with me the entire time. I have never been alone. When that happens, you can keep walking. When that illumination takes place, there is nothing that can stop you.

I would encourage you to listen to & watch this song by Matt Redman, “Never Once.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=722zPX1npcA

I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened today no matter what you are going through. I pray that His Word is illuminated and comes alive right where you are at.

 

adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign

Why can't I seem to make any progress?

We continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 3" How do I see what God wants me to see? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about this "churchy" word called "Illumination." Illumination is simply the Holy Spirit bringing to life the Bible and speaking directly to you and your situation. It is like putting on 3D glasses and seeing the Bible come to life. On Sunday we talked about the 1st Benefit of Illumination: Seeing the Solution to the Problem. The second benefit of having your eyes spiritually opened is

#2-I see the barrier to my progress.

You have some things you’ve been wanting to do in your life.  You’ve been wanting to start a business, or start a family, or get out of debt, or you’ve had some goal or some dream. Maybe you have written down specific plans and goals for you and your family. You’ve been trying to make progress on it but you just keep bumping up against an invisible wall.  And you’re going, “I don’t get it.  I’m trying the best I can.  I’m doing the best I can.  I’m not making any progress.” 

If we can be real and authentic with each other, most of us find ourselves here. Not only do we find ourselves here. We are frustrated and find ourselves blaming all sorts of people and things in our lives. We can all relate and understand because we all face this.

We need to have your eyes opened, our eyes illuminated. There is something that we are missing. There is something in front of us that we currently don’t see.

The story that gives a good example of this is in Numbers 22.  It’s the story of a guy named Balaam.  Balaam was a prophet of God, he was a man of God.  But Balaam decided and agreed to help the bad guys.  And this didn’t settle well with God. It actually got God pretty upset.  He goes, “Wait minute, Balaam.  You’re supposed to be my representative and you’re going to go help the bad guys?”  So as Balaam starts on his journey to go help the bad guys, God puts an angel in his pathway and blocks his progress.  Only Balaam can’t see the angel.  So he doesn’t know what’s going on.  But his barrier to his progress was invisible and he could not see it.

So he’s heading off on this journey to go help the bad guys.  We pick up the story in verse 22 of Numbers 22.  “But God was furious that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way…  Balaam’s donkey suddenly saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand  [The donkey could see him but Balaam didn’t] and the donkey bolted off the road into a field, [out of fear]  but Balaam beat the donkey and turned it back on the road.  [This is funny.  Balaam can’t see what’s going on but the donkey can.  There’s an angel in the road with a big sword and he goes, I’m not going there.  The donkey’s pretty smart; he goes off into the ditch.  And Balaam gets angry and beats the donkey.  It’s not the donkey’s fault.  He can see what’s out there.]

So the second time it says, “Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed [It is the second time] between two vineyard walls. [Its very narrow and the angel of the Lord stood in the middle.] When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing there, it tried to squeeze by [the angel] and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall.” 

We always get hurt when we try to do something that God doesn’t want us to do.  We always get our foot crushed.  We always get hurt.  Balaam doesn’t see what’s going on.  He looks at the donkey: “Why did you do that?  Why did you run against the wall and break my leg?”  “So Balaam beat the donkey again.”  He’s angry!

Third time: “Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place so narrow that the donkey could not get by at all.  This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam.  [Smart donkey!  I give up.  He just collapsed and gives up.] In a fit of rage [the Bible says] Balaam beat it again with his staff.”

We pick up the story on your outline in verse 31.  “Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,[Circle that phrase.  This is illumination:  “He opened Balaam’s eyes.” and now Balaam saw what the problem was.]  He saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.”  No way, Jose!  You’re not passing this way!

So what does Balaam do now that his eyes are open?  “He bowed low and fell facedown.” and he worships God. 

That is very strange, strange story.  But here’s the point.  You have plans in your life that aren’t working out.  You try to go this way and you get blocked.  You try to go this way and you get blocked.  And you try to go this way and you get blocked.  And you’re getting mad at everybody else.  You’re mad at your wife.  You’re mad at your husband.  You’re beating your donkey.  You’re taking it out on your kids.  You’re talking about your boss behind his back and on and on and on.  You’re mad at everybody because you can’t see what the real problem is. 

God is blocking that issue.  He is trying to keep you from making a serious mistake.  God’s saying, “I’m not going to let you go down that road.  No matter how much you beat your head against the wall I’m not going to let you go down that road because I love you too much.”  And you’re going to be stopped by it.

When your progress is being blocked, you’ve got one of two choices.  Beat the donkey or let God open your eyes.  You can either get mad at everybody around you and spiritually vomit on them and take it out on your kids and your husband or your wife and everybody else.  And you’re just so sick and tired and you’re blaming everybody for your problem.  But the problem is you can’t see the problem.  The barrier is God is not going to let you do that.  Because he loves you too much. 

But when God opens my eyes, I can see the solution to my problems.  And when God opens my eyes, I can see the barrier to my progress.  And then I go, oh… that makes sense.

 
That is the power of God’s Word. When we faithfully read God’s word (The Bible…His revelation to us) our barriers are often illuminated. Our spiritual eyes are opened. I pray that during the 40 Days in the Word, you experience this. Every time we read the Bible, let’s pray and ask God to open our eyes to see what He wants us to see. Let’s ask Him to remove the blinders and help us see the barriers. God loves you and has your best interest in mind. He wants what is best for you.

Adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word

PS. This Sunday is our "Souper Sunday. As of today we have 15 soups. Vote for the best soup by giing your change. All money raised will go to the Hope Project. The hope project fights human trafficking. Read more about them at http://www.hopeprojectusa.org/ 

God's Word helps the "light bulb" come on!

We officially continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 2" How does the Bible Change Me? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about how the Bible Transforms us. The Bible isn't like other books because the Bible is God's Word. It is alive and has power to change lives. We talked about how the Bible recreates our lives. You'll want to check out the link above. The past 3 blogs we talked about how God's Word helps get rid of our guilt, how the Bible builds our faith and how the Bible helps me grow. Let's look at part 5...

The fifth way is... God uses the Bible to illuminate my mind.

Have you ever had someone try to explain something to you but you just couldn’t get it. Someone try to explain something to you and you just couldn’t see it. Then all of a sudden, one word is said or one thing happens and the light bulb comes on. “Oh, now I get it. Oh, now I see it.” "Now it makes perfect sense."
God wants to illuminate our minds. God wants to open up His Word so that we not only understand it but it transforms our minds. So how does it work?  How does God turn the light on?  Psalm 119:130 says “Understanding your Word brings light to the minds of ordinary people.” 

The NLT says… “The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand

So God wants to use his Word to bring light to every one of our minds. God wants to bring light to every single person, every single heart and every single mind.  He wants to light up our minds with the truth of who He is, with the truth of the next step we should take, the next direction to take in our lives, with the truth of how to handle the feelings I’m having, with the truth of how to handle the relationship difficulties or the relationship successes I’m having. He wants to shine his light and the way out of the temptation we are struggling with.  He wants to bring light to our lives through the BIBLE (His Word). That is called "illumination." We'll talk more about this on Sunday.

How does he do that?  How does he turn the light on in our lives?

Some of you may have opened up the Bible and thought, “I’m not getting any light out of that.  It didn’t happen.” Other times it happens immediately.  But more often when the light dawns on you, it comes slowly. 

Psalm 119:99 says “I have more insight than all my teachers for I meditate on your statutes.”  Focus on that word “meditate.”  You notice a lot of verses are from Psalm 119.  It’s not only the longest chapter in the Bible, but it’s also a chapter that’s all about the Bible, so that’s why we look at it a lot.  That reminds us that meditation is the key to turning the light on many times.  Not the type of meditation where you try to clear your mind and go to a happy place. The kind of meditation when you fix, think upon, and strategically focus on God’s Word.

When you soak your mind in the Word. Meditation isn’t losing your mind to the universe; it’s focusing your mind on the Word of God.  All of these are so that God can turn the light on in our lives.  That’s what he wants to do in my life, that’s what he wants to do in our life.

When you soak your mind in the Word, he turns the light on.  He helps you to see things with a different perspective, a different way.  Once that happens, he gives you the opportunity to do something else, Psalm 119:105 says this “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  He turns the light on so that we can have direction in our lives – a lamp for our feet, a light for our path.

When this was first written, the lamp was like a candle in a lamp that they’d carry.  Now we would have a flashlight.  Some of you have like a flashlight on your phone.  So you could read it today, your Word is an app to my feet.  That’s what this is about. God’s Word guides our steps. It shows us which path to take. It makes the path clear, not necessarily easy, but clear.

How does my faith in God’s Word work in practical every day ways?  It’s like a flashlight that I’m holding, a flashlight app that I’m holding.  It gives just enough light for the next few steps.

If I’m holding a flashlight and I’m wanting more light down the path, how do I get more light down the path?  I’ve got to take the next step.  The only way to get more light is for me to take the next step.  There have been so many times in my life when I’ve been stuck waiting for more light from God.  What I want is, “God, could you just light up the whole path, my whole life.  The next twenty miles would be nice so I could see where everything’s going.”  But God says, No, I’m just giving you enough for the next step.  You take that step and then you’re going to get light for the next step.  You take that step then you’ll get light for the next step.

God’s given you just enough light for the next step.  So what’s the next step in your life?

To turn the light on in your life one of the great things you can do is pray prayers, related to God’s Word, related to the Bible.  In fact one of them is our memory verse this week.  Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”  There’s a lot of words in the Bible, for the Bible.  We just looked at law, statutes, word, promise – they’re synonymous.  They all mean the same thing.  This is talking about the whole of God’s Word.  “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

The more we read God’s Word, the more clear our path will be. Whether or not we follow the path is a whole other blog and lesson for a whole other time. However, God gives us His Word to illuminate our minds. To shine His light. I pray that you take your NEXT STEP. For many, the next step is daily time reading God’s word. For others it is joining a home group. I pray that you take that next step and watch God illuminate the next one on your journey.

 

adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign

It is "Spiritual Exercise" (How the Bible Helps Me Grow)

We officially continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 2" How does the Bible Change Me? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about how the Bible Transforms us. The Bible isn't like other books because the Bible is God's Word. It is alive and has power to change lives. We talked about how the Bible recreates our lives. You'll want to check out the link above. The past 2 blogs we talked about how God's Word helps get rid of our guilt and how the Bible builds our faith. Let's look at part 4...

The fourth thing the Bible can do in your life is it stimulates my growth.

The Bible stimulates our spiritual growth. I always compare reading the Bible to working out and exercising. Many people are probably made that one of their New Year resolutions. When you exercise, you don’t see instant results. You often feel sore so you know something is happening but you don’t see larger muscles or less fat right away. However, over time, as you faithful exercise, you become stronger and more fit. The investment into your health begins to compound and there is change.

In Acts 20 Paul says to the people in the city of Ephesus, “I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace, [He says, I’ve got to leave, I’m getting ready to leave, he’s never going to see these people again.  As he’s leaving the Ephesians he says to them, I’m going to commit you to God and to the Word of his grace] which can build you up [Circle that.  That’s stimulating my growth.  The Word can build you up.]  and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

What does that mean: “Give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified?”

You know what an inheritance is.  An inheritance is what you get for being part of a family that’s rightfully yours. 

Let’s say Mike Illitch was your father and he writes a will and he dies.  What if you never, ever took the time to read the will?  The only word that would describe that would be ridiculous.  Because you would not be getting in on what was rightfully yours.  You would not be benefiting from that which belonged to you as a child of Mike Illitch.  You would not be able to enjoy the blessings of the Illitch family because you don’t even know about it.

When you cross the line into a relationship with Jesus, when you put your life in Christ’s hand, when you trust him for salvation, you’re not just a believer.  You’re a belonger.  You become a part of God’s family.  Now you get family privileges.  There are family responsibilities and there are family privileges.  You, the Bible says, have an inheritance, a spiritual inheritance, that you’re going to gain from God.  Not just here on earth but eternally in heaven.  And by the way, God’s richer than Mike Illitch in every area.

What if you go through your entire life not knowing the power, the opportunities, the blessings, the benefits that are available to you as a child of God?  You never even took the time to know what they were. That would be ridiculous.  Because God says I want to stimulate your growth and give you the inheritance that you have as my child, that which rightly belongs to you.

Let me show you another verse.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 we looked at this verse last week.  “All Scripture is God-breathed, [theopneustos.]  and is useful for [notice it says four things, useful for…] teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that [that’s called a hina clause in Greek, here’s one of the main purposes of the Bible] so that the man [or woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

One of the main purposes of the Bible is to help you live out the purpose God has for your life. That you will be thoroughly equipped, that you will have all you need, you’ll be fully prepared, you’re ready to face life and you’re not ill-equipped.  You’ve got everything you need to take on life.  And he says the way God gets you ready for life, the way God gets you ready for his purpose is through the Bible.  And the Bible does four things.  He says it’s for teaching and rebuking and correcting and training.

Let me explain that in a little different way.  Teaching is God shows me the path to walk on.  That’s teaching. Rebuking is when God shows me how I got off the path, and I’m now in the ditch. That’s called rebuking. Correcting is how I get back on the path, the right path for life, for my life. And training is how I stay on the path and don’t fall off in the ditch again.

That’s what those four things are.  That’s the way the Word of God helps me grow.  As I faithfully read, study, think about and memorize God’s Word, your faith and relationship with God will grow stronger, stronger and stronger. Then all of a sudden you will look back and think to yourself, “Wow, I’ve really changed. I haven’t realized or noticed that this area of my life is completely different. I am stronger now.” That is the power of God’s Word.

Adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and the 40 Days in the Word Campaign

God's Word builds our faith

We officially continued our new series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 2" How does the Bible Change Me? You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about how the Bible Transforms us. The Bible isn't like other books because the Bible is God's Word. It is alive and has power to change lives. We talked about how the Bible recreates our lives. You'll want to check out the link above. Yesterday's blog we talked about how God's Word helps get rid of our guilt. Let's look at part 3...

God's Word helps activates my faith.

The Bible not only helps eliminate or eradicate my guilt, it also activates my faith. That is so important because it gives me confidence. The Bible is like a spiritual B12 supplement. Regardless of what situation you find yourself in, you are encouraged and built up when you read the truth of God’s Word.

The reality is that many people today are not very confident. People may put up a smoke screen or front but deep down many people are plagued with insecurities and fears.  Many people would rather play it safe in their comfort zones than be courageous.  Many people  have a fear of failure.  They’re afraid of dying, afraid of losing job along with a plethora of other fears.  They’re not walking confidently because they’re not people of faith.

Faith is Word (Bible) activated.  The Bible says this, Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Another translation says “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”   

If you’ve ever read a verse in the Bible and all of a sudden it hits you and all of a sudden you’ve thought, “I can do this!  I can do this!”  You have just had your faith activated by the Word of God.  If you’ve ever been in a gathering at church where someone was teaching or you’ve been in a Bible study and you heard the Word of God and all of a sudden you thought, “I can do this!  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”  You just had your faith activated by the Word of God. That is why so many people describe church as a place where they are refreshed and built up. God’s Word activates faith inside of you. God’s Word strengthens faith.

This is the difference between the Bible and self-help books. Self-help books often tell you some good stuff.  They can tell you the right thing to do, they just don’t give you the power to do it. You read a self-help book that says, “If you really want to succeed in life you need to stop worrying.”  That’s helpful!  “Give up all your bad habits.”  That’s good too.  It’ll tell you all the right things to do and they’re right about a number of those things; stop thinking so negatively… but you don’t know how to stop it.  You don’t have the power, because those books aren’t living.  They aren’t alive. 

But the power of God’s Word not only tells what to do but it gives you the power to do it.  It increases our faith. 

When I read these thousands of promises in the Bible where God says if you do this, this and this, I will do this, this and this, that increases my expectation.  It gives me confidence. It gives me hope. It increases my faith.

My life really began to transform and change when I began to memorize verses from the Bible. When I began to focus on God’s promises and not my problems. When I began to speak God’s truth and not my fears. Why? Because there is power in God’s Word. It is living and active.

I encourage you to take time today to write out some faith statements for your life, marriage, family, job, friends etc. Faith statements are simply prayers based upon Scripture. It is speaking life into every area of your life instead of typical negativity and death. Here are a few examples…

I love You God with all my heart. You are my first priority and reason for living. You are the center of my life from which everything else flows from. I will seek you with all my heart today. I thank you that as I do, I will find you everywhere I am and everywhere I go. Because you are the center of my life, through your power and grace I will obey you and follow you completely! I will follow you today and allow your Spirit to lead my steps.
(Matthew 22:37-39-- Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^{[a] 38}This is the first and greatest commandment. Joshua 22:5—But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” Jeremiah 29:13—If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. John 14:15—“If you love me, obey my commandments.

God I hunger for Your Word and memorize Your truths and allow them to renew my life. Your Word dictates and controls my thoughts and actions not my feelings. Your Word is truth, life and the foundation my life is built on. Your word burns like a fire within me.
(Psalm 119:105-- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:9-- How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119:11—I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:16-18—I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.¹⁷ Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. ¹⁸ Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Romans 12:2-- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.)
The more we can read, meditate on, memorize and speak the truth, the more our fears, lies and confusion will flee. I pray that during 40 Days in the Word your faith will be stronger than ever before. May it continue on even after the 40 Days is done.

adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign