Stephen Kuropas was born with cerebral palsy. He cannot use his hands to write, he gets around in a wheelchair, and he requires help for such day-to-day functions as eating. However, after making some adjustments to his life and daily routine Kuropas was able to graduate with an associate’s degree from Community College of Philadelphia, at the age of 41.
Signing up for one class each semester, Kuropas tape recorded lectures and had assistants who took notes for him. Because he gets migraines from reading, helpers also recorded all of his books onto cassettes. At home, he typed his assignments onto a computer, using his head. Because he cannot speak clearly he communicates through expressive gestures and he shares his more complex thoughts on paper.
No doubt Stephen Kuropas had to make some major adjustments in his life to accomplish his dream. In the same way you and I must make adjustments in our lives in order to men the men and women of God that we desire to be.
Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 14:33.
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
You see in life you cannot stay where you are and go with God. You have to give up everything you are in order to take on the life that Christ has in store for you. Too many times we attempt to follow God while keeping our old lifestyles that we are so comfortable with. When we accept Christ as our savior and make him Lord of our lives we give up the way we spoke, the way we thought, the way we act, and the way we desire things. We take on a new identity in Christ. Basically we adjust our lives to him.
Here are a few men who made major adjustments in their lives to follow God.
Noah – Prepared for a world flood, even though there had never been rain before.
Moses – Went back to Egypt the place where he fled from.
Matthew – Gave up his lifestyle to follow Jesus.
Saul – Changed his identity and life purpose.
Even Jesus had to make major adjustments. He left heaven and came to earth. He became a man. Instead of being in complete control he allowed men to beat him and stretch him out and nail him to a cross.
Your greatest single difficulty in following God may come at the point of the adjustment. The reason why is because you are giving up something you want for what God wants. Why? Why would God want us to give something up that we want? It could be because He wants to see if we are truly devoted to Him, or it could be that He just knows better than we do.
Isaiah 55:9
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
During the terrible days of the Blitz in World War II, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a created that had been created by a bomb. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, “I can’t see you!”
“It’s okay”, the father yelled back, “I can see you.” The boy obeyed his father and jumped, trusting that he would be there to catch him.
Life adjustments come through obedience and faith. We have to trust God, even when we can’t see the outcome. We have to be obedient to Him, even when we are scared.
Here is the question it all comes down to. Do you really believe that God is who He says He is?
Go this week and allow God to adjust your life and desires to His will and His desires for you!
Monday, October 31, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
God Speaks II
We began discussing last week how God speaks and who He speaks to. I want to finish that up this week by looking at a few more ways that God speaks and then at how we should respond to Him.
Last week we said that God speaks in different ways. He speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and through prayer, emphasizing that the relationship with God is the key to communication with Him stating that children recognize and hear their father’s voice. Let’s look at a few more ways God speaks to us.
God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
Only the Holy Spirit knows what God is purposing in your life. Many Christians are frustrated with what God is doing, or not doing, in their lives because they don’t have a peace about it or they are uncomfortable with the clash between their lifestyles and the holiness that God desires.
The problem is we make all the decisions regarding our lives based on what we know and what makes us comfortable and not on what God is purposing for us. Let me give you a life application of what I am talking about.
At Mayfair, the church I pastor, we are a small growing church. I believe that God is leading us to be active in missions by sending a team into the mission field. I wasn’t for sure about it, but the more I prayed about it, the more I felt that is where God was leading our church. We had a mission trip information meeting to see if anyone else felt the same way about missions. We had 20 people who showed interest in participating in a mission trip. It turns out that I wasn’t the only one who felt God leading us to the mission field.
It would have been easy for us as a church to say that we are too small to go on the mission field. We are a growing church, 28 new members in 12 weeks, so it would have been easy for us to say, “Let’s wait until we grow more.” Instead we are moving forward with God’s purpose that the Holy Spirit has shown us.
Another way God speaks is through circumstances. In John 5:17 we learn that God is always working. That means in all situations He is at work. Our lives are full of both good and bad circumstances. We have to understand that in the middle of those circumstances is the voice of God. The key to hearing Him is understanding His perspective on our situation. When we learn to do this in both good and bad situations we will also learn to hear God’s voice.
Finally, God speaks to us through the church. A New Testament church is the Body of Christ. It is the responsibility of all members to function in the capacity of Jesus Christ Himself. You have heard the phrase, “Be His hands and feet”, that is exactly what the church is about. Just as your body has many parts, with each part having its own function, the church is made of many people who each serve in different functions.
Every action that you make begins in your mind. Before you stand up your brain actually gives the command for the muscles in your legs. Before the church makes a move, it should receive a command from the head of the body. That head is Jesus Christ! How do you know, if a church is functioning properly? Is it preaching the bible? Is it doing the things of Christ? When the church functions as the body of Christ and listens to the head, Jesus, it becomes the biggest voice of God to the modern world.
Last week we said that God speaks in different ways. He speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and through prayer, emphasizing that the relationship with God is the key to communication with Him stating that children recognize and hear their father’s voice. Let’s look at a few more ways God speaks to us.
God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
Only the Holy Spirit knows what God is purposing in your life. Many Christians are frustrated with what God is doing, or not doing, in their lives because they don’t have a peace about it or they are uncomfortable with the clash between their lifestyles and the holiness that God desires.
The problem is we make all the decisions regarding our lives based on what we know and what makes us comfortable and not on what God is purposing for us. Let me give you a life application of what I am talking about.
At Mayfair, the church I pastor, we are a small growing church. I believe that God is leading us to be active in missions by sending a team into the mission field. I wasn’t for sure about it, but the more I prayed about it, the more I felt that is where God was leading our church. We had a mission trip information meeting to see if anyone else felt the same way about missions. We had 20 people who showed interest in participating in a mission trip. It turns out that I wasn’t the only one who felt God leading us to the mission field.
It would have been easy for us as a church to say that we are too small to go on the mission field. We are a growing church, 28 new members in 12 weeks, so it would have been easy for us to say, “Let’s wait until we grow more.” Instead we are moving forward with God’s purpose that the Holy Spirit has shown us.
Another way God speaks is through circumstances. In John 5:17 we learn that God is always working. That means in all situations He is at work. Our lives are full of both good and bad circumstances. We have to understand that in the middle of those circumstances is the voice of God. The key to hearing Him is understanding His perspective on our situation. When we learn to do this in both good and bad situations we will also learn to hear God’s voice.
Finally, God speaks to us through the church. A New Testament church is the Body of Christ. It is the responsibility of all members to function in the capacity of Jesus Christ Himself. You have heard the phrase, “Be His hands and feet”, that is exactly what the church is about. Just as your body has many parts, with each part having its own function, the church is made of many people who each serve in different functions.
Every action that you make begins in your mind. Before you stand up your brain actually gives the command for the muscles in your legs. Before the church makes a move, it should receive a command from the head of the body. That head is Jesus Christ! How do you know, if a church is functioning properly? Is it preaching the bible? Is it doing the things of Christ? When the church functions as the body of Christ and listens to the head, Jesus, it becomes the biggest voice of God to the modern world.
Monday, October 10, 2005
God Speaks Part I
Have you seen the e-mail that goes around titled “Church Bulletin Bloopers”? It makes its way to me about every four months and it always has new additions to it. They are actually pretty entertaining. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Sermon this morning: “Jesus walks on water.”
The Sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”
Don’t let worry kill you …let the church help.
This evening’s sermon: “What is hell like?”
Come early and hear the choir practice.
Obviously these statements say one thing and mean another. The problem is in communication and communication problems always lead to confusion. Many Christians today are confused spiritually because they are struggling to hear from God. God does speak to people today! The questions we are going to look at are how and to whom?
Hebrews 1:1
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.
In the Old Testament there were several ways God spoke to people. He used prophets, angels, visions, and dreams. The list could go on but when looking at the Old Testament the key is not how God spoke, but understanding that He did speak.
When God spoke, the person was sure God was speaking to them. In Exodus 3:14, when Moses looked for assurance as to who God was, He responded by telling Moses, “I Am who I Am.” In other words he was telling Moses that He was God and there was no other word to describe Him. There would be no chance for a case of mistaken identity. Moses knew exactly who was speaking to him.
When God spoke, the person knew what God said. God speaks in detail. He leaves no doubt as to what He is asking you to do. When you look at the story of Noah you see that God told him in exact detail how to build the ark and what he was to do with it.
In the Gospels, God spoke through Jesus.
John 14:9-10
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
When the disciples were with Jesus they were face to face with God the same way Moses was. When you and I allow Jesus into our lives we are inviting that same God to live through us.
In the book of Acts and to the present time God speaks again through various ways.
He speaks through the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19
19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
The Holy Spirit dwells within us and speaks to us and allows us to hear the voice and feel the nudging of God.
God speaks through the Bible.
Hebrews 4:12
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Bible is God’s gift to you. It is His message to you, everything that is in there is there because He desired it to be. When we read it and apply it’s principles to our lives, it comes to life and we hear Him speaking to us through it.
God speaks through prayer. Prayer is about a relationship, not a religious activity. To speak to God and hear from Him requires that you actually know Him, not know who he is, but know Him in an intimate way.
We’ll talk more next week about how God speaks, but I want to close by discussing who hears Him.
John 8:47
47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Children hear their father’s voice. A father speaks to his child in different ways, he may speak tenderly out of love or he may speak firmly out of correction, but a caring father always speaks out of love. When we look at our relationship with God as a father/child relationship, we understand that God speaks directly to us out of love.
Have you accepted God as your heavenly father? If not, why are you waiting? He loves you with an everlasting love and He wants to give you all the benefits of being His child. Can you hear is voice?
The Sermon this morning: “Jesus walks on water.”
The Sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”
Don’t let worry kill you …let the church help.
This evening’s sermon: “What is hell like?”
Come early and hear the choir practice.
Obviously these statements say one thing and mean another. The problem is in communication and communication problems always lead to confusion. Many Christians today are confused spiritually because they are struggling to hear from God. God does speak to people today! The questions we are going to look at are how and to whom?
Hebrews 1:1
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.
In the Old Testament there were several ways God spoke to people. He used prophets, angels, visions, and dreams. The list could go on but when looking at the Old Testament the key is not how God spoke, but understanding that He did speak.
When God spoke, the person was sure God was speaking to them. In Exodus 3:14, when Moses looked for assurance as to who God was, He responded by telling Moses, “I Am who I Am.” In other words he was telling Moses that He was God and there was no other word to describe Him. There would be no chance for a case of mistaken identity. Moses knew exactly who was speaking to him.
When God spoke, the person knew what God said. God speaks in detail. He leaves no doubt as to what He is asking you to do. When you look at the story of Noah you see that God told him in exact detail how to build the ark and what he was to do with it.
In the Gospels, God spoke through Jesus.
John 14:9-10
9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
When the disciples were with Jesus they were face to face with God the same way Moses was. When you and I allow Jesus into our lives we are inviting that same God to live through us.
In the book of Acts and to the present time God speaks again through various ways.
He speaks through the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19
19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
The Holy Spirit dwells within us and speaks to us and allows us to hear the voice and feel the nudging of God.
God speaks through the Bible.
Hebrews 4:12
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Bible is God’s gift to you. It is His message to you, everything that is in there is there because He desired it to be. When we read it and apply it’s principles to our lives, it comes to life and we hear Him speaking to us through it.
God speaks through prayer. Prayer is about a relationship, not a religious activity. To speak to God and hear from Him requires that you actually know Him, not know who he is, but know Him in an intimate way.
We’ll talk more next week about how God speaks, but I want to close by discussing who hears Him.
John 8:47
47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Children hear their father’s voice. A father speaks to his child in different ways, he may speak tenderly out of love or he may speak firmly out of correction, but a caring father always speaks out of love. When we look at our relationship with God as a father/child relationship, we understand that God speaks directly to us out of love.
Have you accepted God as your heavenly father? If not, why are you waiting? He loves you with an everlasting love and He wants to give you all the benefits of being His child. Can you hear is voice?
Monday, October 03, 2005
An Invitation of Love
By Matt Hofeld
My kids love to receive invitations. When they are invited to a birthday party or to a friend’s house they just glow with excitement. I even like to get invitations. What makes invitations so popular? When we are invited to something it means that someone wants to include us and we all like to feel included. It means that we are liked or loved.
Did you know that God gives you and me an invitation to join Him in what He is doing? He doesn’t do it because He needs us. He gives us an invitation to join Him in what He is doing because He loves us. Before we talk about joining God in what he is doing, let’s talk about the different ways we experience God’s love.
First, we experience God’s love by knowing Him.
John 14:21
21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
We show God our love for Him through our obedience and our obedience is what allows us to know Him. Notice that the Lord will show Himself to the one He loves, the one who shows love through obedience.
Second, we experience God’s love through worship.
Psalm 96:2
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
When we give our devotion to God in worship He gives back to us in love. When we stay close to Him, He will revive us. When we learn from Him and walk in his teachings, He will keep our hearts devoted to Him. All acts of worship draw a response of love from God.
Keep in mind that there are always indications of the depth of our love. Our daily choices to honor God with our lifestyles, how much time we spend in God’s word, and how much time we spend in communication with Him daily are all indications of our love for Him.
God’s indication of His love towards us is the invitation for us to join him. He is already at work and His work isn’t limited to our participation.
John 5:17
17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Often we pray for God to use us or to start something with us. Instead we need to ask Him to show us where He is working. He has already started something and has invited us to join Him, it’s our responsibility to find out where He is working and get plugged in.
John 14:15-17 tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us, but it’s still our responsibility to seek.
The bible is full of stories where God showed where He was at work to normal people and they joined Him. Moses was tending sheep in the desert when God gave him an invitation to join Him. Peter and Andrew were fishing when Jesus gave them their invitation.
What about you? What were you doing when God invited you join Him? Did you accept his invitation? God’s work will continue whether you join Him or not.
Philippians 1:6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It’s out of love that He chooses to invite us. That should make you feel valuable and accepted by the most important being in the entire universe.
My kids love to receive invitations. When they are invited to a birthday party or to a friend’s house they just glow with excitement. I even like to get invitations. What makes invitations so popular? When we are invited to something it means that someone wants to include us and we all like to feel included. It means that we are liked or loved.
Did you know that God gives you and me an invitation to join Him in what He is doing? He doesn’t do it because He needs us. He gives us an invitation to join Him in what He is doing because He loves us. Before we talk about joining God in what he is doing, let’s talk about the different ways we experience God’s love.
First, we experience God’s love by knowing Him.
John 14:21
21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
We show God our love for Him through our obedience and our obedience is what allows us to know Him. Notice that the Lord will show Himself to the one He loves, the one who shows love through obedience.
Second, we experience God’s love through worship.
Psalm 96:2
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
When we give our devotion to God in worship He gives back to us in love. When we stay close to Him, He will revive us. When we learn from Him and walk in his teachings, He will keep our hearts devoted to Him. All acts of worship draw a response of love from God.
Keep in mind that there are always indications of the depth of our love. Our daily choices to honor God with our lifestyles, how much time we spend in God’s word, and how much time we spend in communication with Him daily are all indications of our love for Him.
God’s indication of His love towards us is the invitation for us to join him. He is already at work and His work isn’t limited to our participation.
John 5:17
17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Often we pray for God to use us or to start something with us. Instead we need to ask Him to show us where He is working. He has already started something and has invited us to join Him, it’s our responsibility to find out where He is working and get plugged in.
John 14:15-17 tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us, but it’s still our responsibility to seek.
The bible is full of stories where God showed where He was at work to normal people and they joined Him. Moses was tending sheep in the desert when God gave him an invitation to join Him. Peter and Andrew were fishing when Jesus gave them their invitation.
What about you? What were you doing when God invited you join Him? Did you accept his invitation? God’s work will continue whether you join Him or not.
Philippians 1:6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It’s out of love that He chooses to invite us. That should make you feel valuable and accepted by the most important being in the entire universe.
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