Mentoring Minutes

(1 Peter 1:16)

What is God’s plan and purpose for you? For each of us? For His Church? If you listen to many sermons today the undeniable conclusion would be that more than anything else God desires our happiness. Unfortunately that has led to many false doctrines and teachings as well as broken and destroyed lives, relationships, families and more.

Nowhere in Scripture will you find that God simply wants us to be happy.  Now before you stop reading and lose your religion with your choice of words for me, let me say…God certainly wants us to be happy. It’s just that it’s not His top priority for us and He knows happiness done our way ultimately brings ruin. He desires us to know happiness…His way. He, being The Author and Creator, knows that we live in a fallen world and in our injured and sinful flesh; happiness can be easily found in the moment in both those settings (world and flesh) only to end in devastation and destruction.

Also, happiness is closely tied to blessing. However, as we take a closer look at this concept of blessing and happiness, we find that these are always tied to obedience and/or the state of the heart (see Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12; also see John 13:17 and 14:15).  This means that happiness in Scripture is much more about the consequences of our lives, actions and hearts than simply circumstances being what we want and us getting what we want. 

With that said, let’s look back at the opening Scripture and find out what God is calling and commanding us to do and be…HOLY!  We are created in His image and in no way can we mirror that image apart from Christ. Any “happiness” separated from Christ and His Spirit in our lives is fleeting and circumstantial and will ultimately lead to our ruin. Only in the holiness that Christ has imparted and imputed to us can we find and know who we are created to be…and experience joy and happiness that’s real and lasting.

God’s desire for you above everything else is for you to be holy. Real happiness and joy is a byproduct of holiness…while at times worldly happiness may be the farthest thing from your being holy and choosing His righteousness. With this in mind we’ll explore how we should interpret Scripture from the Kingdom perspective of Holiness rather than the worldly and fleshly perspective of happiness (the latter being the case in so many churches and teachings today).

As believers in Christ we should always seek His Kingdom perspective above all else as we are commanded to do in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness and all these other things will be added to you.” What are all these other things? What The Lord knows you have need of…not what you think you need. He loves us way too much to give us what our selfish hearts desire because He knows our own “needs” (usually just selfish desires justified by calling them “needs”) will ultimately destroy us.

As we look at several Scriptures keep this in mind…it’s OK for us to have things in this world but when we claim that we’re seeking The Lord and His Kingdom while deceiving ourselves, we will never find the peace, contentment and joy that comes from seeking Him and His Kingdom. We may find momentary happiness but it will never last. The only true joy (happiness) that lasts is found in His presence and perfect provision as we become holy in Christ.

There are 2 questions that are asked over and over in our book, “The Authority of Love, 2nd Edition,” which essentially compels us to determine whether or not we are living in God’s Truth, i.e., seeking to be Holy or just happy?

Everyone of us has a Lord or lord…1) Who’s your Lord or lord? 2) What does your life say about who you are a disciple of?

This is laid out very poignantly in the following quote…

“Love for God competes in our hearts with love of self (remember love of self is rooted in the enemy’s deception from the beginning). Love for God battles with our craving for the love of others. Material things and physical experiences command our affections and our motivations…

I find that most of the things that lay claim to my heart and battle for the position that only love for God should have are not evil in and of themselves…But here’s the thing you and I need to remember, what the battle for the love of our hearts is all about: a desire for a good thing becomes a bad thing when that desire becomes a ruling thing (who’s your Lord or lord?). When good things become controlling, they command the affection of our hearts and then shape our words and behavior. When this happens, they take the place in our hearts that only God should have.

You see, we are always placing the love of our hearts on something (you have a Lord or lord), and it is important to remember that there are only two places where we can invest that life-shaping love–on the Creator or on the creation. It’s not wrong to love God’s glorious creation, but it’s a spiritual disaster to be ruled by that love.” (parenthesis mine)

Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies

This is the essence of Lordship and discipleship and why we must know who our Lord or lord is and whose disciple we are. Apart from Christ we have no hope of being holy, which is what we are called to be and what He has made us by His grace. Also, those who are mature in their faith, walking with Christ as Lord, must be willing to help others do the same (2 Timothy 2:2-6).

Let me ask you one question and suggest something to think about that will likely change completely how you live your life and deal with all that it entails…What are the major problems, sins or issues that you are enslaved to in your life?

Now the suggestion that I know is true in every life but we fail to recognize and therefore do what needs to be done…You first and foremost don’t have a personal problem; a relationship problem; a marriage problem; a parenting problem; a porn problem; drug or alcohol problem or __________ (fill in the blank) problem…

First and foremost, you have a God problem! Every person or couple I meet with, every circumstance or problem presented, in every situation has ultimately always gone back to the real issue that they don’t truly know Christ as Lord and are deceiving themselves (Galatians 6:7-9). They are living for the false idol of happiness first in their life (lives) rather than the holiness that God designed us to live and bestows to us only in Christ.

This is hard to hear but it is the same lie and deception the enemy used through the serpent in Genesis 3:1-5…

Do you really know God’s Word/Truth (v. 1…”did God really say”)?

Can you detect the lies and deceptions of the enemy, the world and even your own flesh (v. 4…”you certainly will not die.”)?

Are you drawn in by the lure of “being your own god/lord” (v.5)?

Therein lays the root of every sin, addiction, problem that we have ever had…and the answer is the same for every one of them…Jesus Christ (John 8:31-32; 14:6)! This is the God/god problem and He is the solution to every sin, addiction or issue in your life. Get right with Him and you will be able to handle every other temptation, problem, sin or addiction in your life…and you will be walking in the holiness that He came to give you when you receive Him as Savior…and Lord!

Holiness is found in The Living Word – Christ, and in His written Word – The Bible.  What do you think of when you think of God’s Word?

Let me give you 3 things that may help you both appreciate it and desire it even more than you already do…Here is where you can learn to live out “being holy” even as He is holy.  God’s Word is…

1) The very life that God gives. His Word brings life (Psalm 119:25). Where is your life coming from?

2) The very breath of God that gives that life…2 Timothy 3:16 the word “inspired” in many translations literally means “God-breathed.” His breath is what gives life (Genesis 2:7) therefore His Word is the breath that gives life.

3) The very Word (Logos) of God…the final Word of Truth that should guide every part of our lives and Jesus manifested it by becoming The Word (Logos) in the flesh (John 1:1, 14).

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Why would we look to anyone other than God and His Word for anything in our life? (Psalm 19, emphasis vv. 7-11…notice all the synonyms for His Word) This is how you live a life of holiness and trust Him for the blessings and happiness that are a result of His holiness in and through you.

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. Honestly assess and list the things that you look to for happiness. Where does this rank in your life compared to holiness?
3. How do you see holiness in your life and how are you pursuing this holiness that Christ has placed in you?
4. If you haven’t surrendered to Christ as your Savior and Lord seek out someone (contact us at L&L) to find out more so you can “be holy” as He is holy.  You won’t regret it!

(2 Corinthians 9:15) – Those who receive emails or texts from me know that I often close with this Scripture. It’s a great place to begin, end and fill all things in between with gratitude…“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (Jesus).” Parentheses added

I must wholeheartedly confess that I’m a Grade A, #1, certified Holiday junkie!  I’m especially known in my family and circle of friends as a “CHRISTmas freak” and I do overlap CHRISTmas with Thanksgiving.  I don’t do it to diminish Thanksgiving but to add to it! I begin decorations the 1^st weekend of November and usually don’t take them down until mid or late January!  I know there are many who start much earlier and end much later…I know there are some who only to 1 day for Thanksgiving and one evening and day for CHRISTmas!?! I fully get the longer period and don’t understand at all the 1 or 2 days but I know you have your reasons! Just don’t hate on me for how I do it as I certainly won’t hate on you for celebrating Thanksgiving and CHRISTmas as you deem best for you and your family! 

I know there is often much pain in life and relationships, hardships and losses, and it is especially more so at this time of year! I want to be sensitive to that, and am even more so, as this will be the first year in my life and in my family without my dear Mother who passed away just a few weeks ago on September 7 and my wife’s stepfather who passed away on October 19. There will be memories and recollections that will bring tears with them gone but there will be much more laughter and thanksgiving because of so many wonderful years together! I hope this message encourages you, no matter what you’ve been through or are going through, to be a person of gratitude…a thankful person.

Everything in my life that I love and hold dear I owe thanks to my Savior and Lord who left all of Heaven to become fully God and fully man so He could die on a cruel cross to pay a debt of sin that I could never pay and give me the gift of freedom and eternal life in Him that I could never earn! More on this as we move through Thanksgiving and specifically into the CHRISTmas season. 

For now, I simply want to give you my reasons (and I pray they are or will become your reasons) for giving thanks in all things (Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

1. Give thanks to God because He is God…there is no other and we can rest assured that His promises and presence will never fail us (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56). No matter what we may face, He is good for His Word…not based on how we think it ought to be but much better for how He knows it ought to be! You can always count on Him even when you’re not sure. He is sure and always has your best in mind. In line with this…
2. Give thanks to God because He is Sovereign, Faithful and Good – we see God referred to as Sovereign (ruling over all) nearly 300 times in Scripture. All are powerful either in those who recognize and honor His Sovereignty in their lives, the events around them and in all of creation…or in the consequences of those who fail to recognize Him as such.  One of the most touching, personal and powerful to me is found in Luke 2:29 when the righteous and devout Simeon who had been promised and waited on The Lord to allow him to see The Messiah.  Sovereign. Faithful. Good.  Even when we don’t see it, feel it, understand it or agree with it…God is Good and we can count on Him (Romans 8:28). So give thanks to Him for Who He Is in your life and in all of creation!
3. Give thanks because of all His wonderful provision and blessings (Romans 5:17; Philippians 4:19).  He will provide everything you need according to all He has given us in Christ. One of the best things you can do when life and needs and others seem to be dragging you down is to simply take some time to write down, count and thank God for your blessings. If we will take the time and be honest we will find that they are many…life, breath, food, shelter, clothing, friends, talents, opportunities, successes, marriage, spouse, children, job, joy, peace, contentment, etc. I could go on and on but I think you get the picture and as we do stop to thank Him for each and every blessing it changes our hearts and attitudes allowing us to recognize and give thanks for even more.
4. Give thanks for…saving me from sin and myself (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9); justifying me or making it as though I never sinned (Romans 3:21-26; 5:1); sanctifying me or setting me apart for His perfect will and good purpose (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10-14); reconciling me into a relationship with God The Father, Son and Spirit that I could have in no other way (2 Corinthians 5:18), for making me His masterpiece in Christ (Ephesians 2:10), and for giving me new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
5. Give thanks for, and rejoice in, every trial, tribulation, struggle and setback (James 1:2-4). When I was walking totally in my flesh I blamed God for everything so it was kind of, okay, impossible, to thank Him for anything. As I have grown and continue to mature in Christ, I have seen more and more how even the toughest situations, circumstances, relationships, and even failures are simply ways that He points me to Himself and His Truth and grows me more and more to be like Him. I have learned and grown so much more in my trials and struggles than I have in my successes and victories so I have learned to truly choose to be thankful and even choose to rejoice in the midst of hardships and problems because I know He is at work for good. This also causes me to recognize Him as Lord…always!    
6. Giving thanks for Jesus (2 Corinthians 9:15)! Do you see a theme in this Thanksgiving? It’s all about Jesus! Everything mentioned above and so much more, I not only have but am thankful for because of Jesus leaving all of Heaven, coming to earth as a man and giving His life for me (and all who will believe in Him)!  Everything, even the difficulties and struggles, give me an opportunity to know and grow more in my love for Him and become like Him!

Hebrews 13:15 in the King James Version tells us exactly what praising God for all He has given us and, done for us in Christ, should look like…it is a continual offering of praise which is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to Him!

Is there any reason or doubt as to why we should not give thanks in all things…all the wonderful things we have in Christ, all the opportunities and challenges we have because of Him, all the blessings and gifts we have in Him, yes, even all the trials and pain we face, overcome and grow in…because He came and gave everything for us? No wonder God’s Word tells us to “give thanks in everything” because when we do we not only recognize Him for Who He Is but we also are recognizing that He belongs on the throne of our hearts and lives. In giving thanks in all things we know that we can trust Him…no matter what! 

I’m not saying at all that you need to celebrate Thanksgiving and CHRISTmas the way that I do. Each and every one of us has the freedom to enjoy and count our blessings the way that we would like and the way that means the most to us.  I’m just saying that everything that I give thanks for in this Thanksgiving season is because He left all the glories of Heaven, came to earth to take my place and receive the punishment and payment for my sin(s) and offers me eternal life with Him. Why would I not give thanks for everything that this good, great and Sovereign God brings or allows into my life? I can trust Him in everything, therefore I will thank Him in all things!

Make it a great day and Thanksgiving season with family and loved ones in and for The Lord (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – If you only give thanks when you get what you want, and/or when you avoid any tough outcomes, I question whether you really understand gratitude and Christ as Lord. Learn to give thanks in all things and let Him teach you why…this will be one of the greatest blessings of your life and especially your relationship with Him!

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. Make a list of all the things you are thankful for.
3. Make a list of all the things you wish were not in your life.
4. Begin to give thanks for both the lists in 2) and 3) above.

Before we begin today’s post on this Veteran’s Day I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all those who have served in our nation’s military, fighting to defend our country and the freedoms that God has given us in this great nation! Thanks also to their families and especially to those who have paid the ultimate price in sacrificing their lives for our nation and freedoms…THANK YOU SO MUCH! You’re in our prayers and thoughts not just today but always! 

(Galatians 5:16-18)

What are you giving in to and feeding…the flesh and its lusts or The Spirit. There is a battle for your soul. Christ has already paid the ultimate price to redeem you but you must willingly choose by faith in His grace to submit to Him and receive His gift.

This also means that when you receive Him as Savior you must walk with Him as Lord as the lusts of the flesh and the enemy will continue to battle against The Spirit in you (Galatians 5:16-18).

As Christ disciples, we continue to grow in faith by the same grace…HIS grace…to live out the power of The Spirit in us.

Which are you feeding in your choices, actions and relationships, even your motives and thoughts, which always precede choices and actions…is it the flesh or The Spirit?

Those of you who have been following these posts…first of all thank you and second, you will not find the following surprising at all. Here we find the Biblical concept of what I’ve been sharing throughout these posts when it comes to being a disciple of Christ and what that truly means.

Think about where you are when it comes to living for Christ, where our churches are with regard to holding people accountable for a moment-by-moment walk in which nothing in our lives is apart from Him…1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Luke 17:7-10.

Could it be that even though you are God’s child, you still think of your life as belonging to you? When you think of your life this way, then ministry is about stepping out of your life, giving God a little bit of your time, energy and money, and then stepping back into your life. In this way of thinking, ministry (discipleship…mine and added) is something separate from your daily life. It tends to be structured and scheduled by the leaders of your church, and you support it for a while with your own efforts. But behind this view of ministry (discipleship…mine and added) is the thought that your life still belongs to you, and you give moments of it to the Lord for His work…

The New Testament is quite clear in its call to us to understand that our lives no longer belong to us. We don’t own our physicality…our emotionality…our spirituality…our mentality…our psychology…our communicative abilities…our relationships…our gifts or experiences…even our own possessions in the deepest sense of what ownership means…

The New Testament does not teach a separation between life and ministry. Every dimension of your life is a forum for ministry. Marriage is ministry. Friendship is ministry. Parenting is ministry. Being a neighbor is ministry. The workplace is a place of ministry.

You have been called to represent a glorious Savior, who has graced you with everything you need to live with a ministry mentality.

(Paul David Trip, New Morning Mercies)

These Biblical Truths are why, as I teach, counsel and disciple, I nearly always make this statement…”You don’t first have a porn problem, or addiction problem, or money problem, or ________ (fill in the blank) problem. First and foremost, you have a God problem.”

How are we doing in this battle for lives and souls? How are you doing when it comes to living the life God called you to in Christ?

It’s good to attend church as we need teaching, fellowship and corporate worship… all part of God’s design and plan and we need to be a part of this. It’s good to give faithfully and generously as God commands, to help build up His Church and advance His Kingdom. It’s good to serve others in our families, churches and those in our communities and beyond to show compassion and care for them, reflecting God’s love for us. But this is not enough.

We must heed His Word to live out His free gift of salvation by dying to self, making Him first and wholeheartedly devoting our entire lives to Him. We must acknowledge His design and order for marriage and family as building blocks of His Bride and Family, The Church. We must build loving accountable relationships within His Body as disciples in obedience (love) making more disciples who will do more than just attend, give and serve.

A disciple is one who makes Christ Lord of every part of their life! How are we doing when it comes to His calling us to be His disciples and help others know Him as Savior and Lord so they can walk as His disciple in their marriage, family, relationships…in every part of their lives! This is what He has called us to and it must permeate every moment of our lives…nothing less. (Matthew 6:24; 22:37-38; Titus 2:11-12)

Practically then, what is your devotional life like? Are you spending time in God’s Word every day (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17)? Are you letting His Word fill you so that it overflows from you into others (Colossians 3:16)?

Are you in prayer every day, seeking The Father’s face and will…what He wants and desires (Psalm 27:8)? Is your prayer life all about you and what you want…or about knowing God more fully and allowing Him to have His way in and through you so others can know Christ as Savior and Lord (Philippians 2:12-13)?

Are you persevering in listening to and for Him so He can grow you and the Church in Christ (Ephesians 4:14-16)?

This battle that is the discipleship life (spiritual disciplines that create Godly loving relationships) must be a life surrendered to Christ and in so doing seeking His Kingdom and righteousness first and above all else (Matthew 6:33). The only true fulfillment in life is Christ in us as we die to our own selfish flesh and desires!

This battle is about seeking, finding and serving Christ as Lord, living as His servant so He can do all that He desires in and through us…no matter the cost. Every other “lord” in this life is simply a covering for satan being lord of our lives and ultimately demands our life from us. Jesus demands it as well but He gives it all back and more!

Jesus, as Lord, patiently and graciously offers Himself for us and allows us to choose to willingly submit our lives fully to Him. This is the True Life, the free life, found only in Him. You do have a Lord or lord. You are someone’s disciple. Do you know who that is? The only way to know Christ is through surrender, time in His Word, prayer and listening to Him. Are you spending time each day to know Him so He can reach others through you?

What is it that you are chasing after? What is your heart set on above all else? What drives you? What are the real priorities of your life?

God tells us very clearly that He must be the first and only Lord of our lives in and through Christ (Exodus 20:3; Mark 12:29; Philippians 2:9-11).

What does that look like? God has provided the answer to that as well…and as we worship Him alone and above all else, we will find Him and grow in our relationship with Him that will bless every other part of our lives!

He alone is worth seeking with all you are!  “…you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

We all know and love the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 but let’s consider what God has told us with regard to the fulfilling of that promise in vv. 12-13… “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

And Christ tells us plainly where to place our priorities… “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – A simple question but maybe not so simple answer…In every moment of every day, what are you chasing after?

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

1. Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
2. What areas of the flesh make the battle most difficult for you? In other words, what desires of the flesh do you continue to give in to?
3. What are you doing when it comes to spiritual disciplines in this battle…Bible study, prayer, quiet time, Godly fellowship and accountability?
4. What steps do you need to take, i.e., disciplines to develop, to ensure that you are winning this battle in Christ and by His Spirit?