Part 4: Establishing A Strong Walk With God

1 Cor. 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

One night when my first daughter Stephanie was a new-born, I was sitting in the living room. It was dark, quiet, and peaceful. Renee had just finished nursing her and I took Stephanie and told Renee to go back to sleep. I took her into the living room and sat down in our rocking chair.

Holding my little baby girl in this new experience in this quiet and serene atmosphere seemed amazing. As I rocked her, I could not stop kissing her cheeks and I could not stop thanking God for this precious gift. Like any new parent in this position, a thousand thoughts flooded my mind – two of which I will never forget. One thought I remember was the overwhelming thought of how this new little girl was completely 100% dependent on Renee and I for everything. It sparked this sense of responsibility within me that scared me. The other thought was this feeling of selfishness. I suddenly felt so selfish. The past couple of years – the first two of our marriage – had been just about Renee and I doing everything for ourselves – for our pleasure and benefit. This was all coming to a screeching halt. Our lives were now quickly about doing things for her benefit.

Prior to her birth, I had the potential to be extremely faithful but only to what I wanted to be faithful to – usually motivated by selfishness. I was now learning to be faithful and make commitments that were somewhat forced upon me by this new season of children. It truly was life changing.

I was thankful that I had seeds of learning to be faithful deposited in my life along the way. When I was fourteen years old, I received a job as a stock boy in a small grocery store. The gentleman who hired me – Ozzie – turned out to be like a grandfather to me. I just loved him. He put a lot of faith in me. He treated me like an adult. He taught me many wonderful values and business principles. He put unmerited trust in me, giving me responsibility. 1 Cor 4:2 says that faithfulness should be required. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” He had a way of expecting faithfulness out of me. Because he put faith in me, I wanted so bad to be someone he could count on. I became that person. I would do anything for that man. I worked hard for him and became someone he could count on eventually managing three grocery stores for him.

My own father was one of the hardest working men I had ever known. He modeled this incredible work ethic. I had some of the right stuff put in me but I was still selfish. I was only faithful when I wanted to be.

I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 24 and started attending an exciting Bible teaching church that taught from the Bible and opened my eyes and heart to God. I learned of God’s will for my life. Through preaching and Bible study, I was regularly confronted with the values and thoughts of stewardship, faithfulness, and commitment. Ephes. 4:11-16 taught me how spiritual maturity was enhanced –through the commitment of each person in the body of Christ finding ways to serve others in commitment. “God gave gifts to the church – the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip (teach and bring maturity to) God’s people to do His work and build up the church… that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord… As each part (person) does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

The Holy Spirit would constantly challenge me with today’s Fresh Manna verse – “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” I was faithful to something things (for my self interest) but was I committed and faithful to consistently serve God and His people in various ways for their sake and in obedience to God? I didn’t think so.

God began to speak to me of the value of faithfulness to Him. Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” I would constantly be challenged in church through the Pastor’s words,“If you want to learn to grow, learn to give. Learn to give of your love, your time, your talents and service, and your resources. Let God stretch you. Let God draw out those undiscovered gifts and talents within you through your commitment and service to Him and your church. What God teaches you in commitment in the church will add great character and blessing to help you succeed in the world around you and throughout the rest of your life.“

I decided to practice commitment. I was afraid – actually terrified of it but knew I should. I volunteered first serving in facility maintenance for two years. I added teaching 4 & 5 year-olds in Sunday school for nine years. I learned how to teach and facilitate a Bible study. I served in many many areas over the years. Each one stretched and tested my commitment. I learned to consistently serve others when I felt like it and when I didn’t. The true test of commitment and faithfulness of stewardship is when it’s not easy or convenient. The true test of financial stewardship is giving when you need the money elsewhere. That’s where your love walk will be developed and tested over and over and over again. Through these God will help you spiritually grow and develop and mature building real life transforming character through your trust in Him to help you be faithful. Without this training that came through learning commitment, I wouldn’t be a fraction of the man I’ve become today.

Our motivation to service should be out of a love for Jesus. That motivation is tested also. Does God know? Does He care? Yup! He does! Luke 12:43 says, “It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when He returns.” More next time…

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt

http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.

Part 3: Establishing A Strong Walk With God

Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

The teaching of the Word of God in the midst of God’s people gathered together can touch a person’s heart in a way that cannot come across a radio or television broadcast. There are things that God does within our hearts at church that will not happen any where else. Because of this truth, it’s no wonder that Satan would launch an assault on any and every church that is truly preaching the gospel, reaching people, touching lives, and making a difference by influencing people with the love of Jesus Christ. One of those assaults is the deception – “I don’t need to go to church to be a good Christian.”

Going to church is not what gets you to Heaven. Salvation through Jesus Christ is a gift to all who will believe. But, the Holy Spirit will help transform your life in church in a way that will not happen any where else. Church contrary to many erroneous ideas is God’s idea and plan.

Hebrews 10:25 speaks these very powerful words. “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

A word study of this verse reveals this: “assembling” in the Greek means – a complete collection – or to call everyone together for worship. “Exhorting” implies almost a “begging of everyone to comply.” “So much the more” is referring to “as we get closer to” and “as you see the day approaching” is referring to the coming of Christ’s soon return.” This verse is saying “Please – I urge – even beg you, please comply and assemble together with consistency and regularity as we get closer and closer to Jesus’ soon return.” Why is there this kind of appeal? Because Jesus revealed something we can’t be ignorant of in Matthew 24:12. “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” Its Satan’s design to keep you away from church and surrounded by sin and evil so that it dampens your love for God and leads you to a backslidden state. Remember that Jesus spoke these words in Luke 18:8 “… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

This inspired plea from the Holy Spirit was warning us that as we drew closer to the “day of Christ” that there would be those pulling away from “the assembling of ourselves together (as a complete collection coming together to worship God.) The assembling of God’s church locally is God’s will and plan.

Though it is God’s will for a person to go to and be a part of a strong vibrant church, a person that is a shut-in because of a disability or because of older age, may not be able to fulfill God’s will in this area. In some geographical locations there is no church. In other place the churches are outlawed or persecuted and they go underground as home churches or what ever they can do. In this case, the prevailing truth are Jesus’ words, “Where ever two or more are gathered in my name, there shall I be in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. God’s grace is always there for us when circumstances impede us from living out His perfect will for whatever reason. Remember, Satan’s full-time purpose is to attack God’s saints and impede God’s will. Regardless, God will help us make the best of any given situation and His grace will be sufficient when we can’t get done everything He would like us to do.

That does not replace the need or His will “for the assembling together.” It just makes the best of what can’t happen until God makes a way. In these kinds of circumstances, someone isn’t out of God’s will because His will isn’t prevailing in that place. If there is a city or town or location without a good Bible teaching church, that is not God’s perfect will – but people can’t just change that. They should pray until His will for this change manifests in their midst. In the meantime they would worship and learn of and stay close to God and continue in any way they could. The Apostle Paul traveled everywhere he could establishing churches and leaders for them – because it was God’s perfect will. Yet there were places the Holy Spirit would not let Paul go, probably because he would have been killed. That was a place that had to be bathed in prayer for some time until God’s will prevailed and eventually manifest.

People that are physically able and do have a good Bible based church they can attend need to make this their priority. God is always looking for the diversity of giftings and callings within people that build and make a strong church. When a strong church arises, it impacts a community. The restraint of sin increases and demonic activity decreases in the lives of Christians personally and in that community. This is God’s will and it takes Christians functioning as the church for this to happen.

This nation if filled with Christians that frankly, were up too late on Saturday night to get to church on Sunday – (some even with a hangover.) Church was simply not “convenient” that weekend. If you watch the sports stadiums on Sundays they are filled. It used to be churches that were filled on Sunday. Some people say, “Well church isn’t relevant anymore.” That might feel true in churches that conduct only religious services but don’t teach God’s Word. People might feel bored and not want to come. That is why God’s Word must be taught. There are many people that get up and “Watch it on TV.” That’s only slightly better than nothing but it’s not the same as “the assembling of all the believers together.” The Holy Spirit can seldom reach or touch them in the same way. They do not serve others while at home. Their children do not come along side other children at home. They don’t fellowship with other believers. The tithes and offerings are not collected hindering the blessing of God’s saints. The local church and local believers are weakened. This is the equivalent of Israel in their declining state of backsliding in the Old Testament.

Let’s learn from the past and know that church is a critical part of our spiritual growth. More to come…

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt

http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.

Part 2: Establishing A Strong Walk With God

Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

As I am speaking about the importance the local church plays in our spiritual lives – an alive, Bible teaching, Spirit-filled church – I do understand that there are those that are disabled or shut in for reasons of age, and others that cannot make it to church for other legitimate reasons. Maybe there is no such church in your area. Maybe you don’t drive and have a way to such a church. Maybe you live in a part of the world where churches are a part of the underground church because of persecution. This teaching is not to insult or to ask you to do something that presently seems impossible. It’s not to create a frustration or tease to suggest you do something that you want to but are unable. It’s to help you understand God’s will and what to pursue in prayer if you can’t participate in the local church. Just as someone might have a horrible marriage and having a good marriage might seem impossible – that doesn’t eliminate the need to teach on God’ s will to have a good marriage and the benefits of one. It would still help you know what to pray toward and believe God for. Such is the case with this message on the importance of an alive church and its influence in your life.

Understanding Israel’s spiritual history from the Old Testament will help us understand that their relationship and intimacy with God was like a roller coaster. They would go through periods where they would be obedient to Him as a people group and in their individual lives. They would obey Him. They would worship and bring sacrifices to Him. They would desirously learn God’s laws and ways. In these times, God’s blessing and protection would cover them like a blanket. But then, over time, for various reasons – familiarity, taking God for granted, becoming prayerless, evil leaders setting the example of idolatry and paganism and sinful ways – any and all of these contributed to their slipping away from God. They would become backslidden. God would become less and less a part of the central focus of their lives. After warnings from God and long periods of patient waiting by God for their repentance and return to Him and righteous living, judgment and wrath would come. Eventually in the broken and desperate state of their lives, they would again begin to think about and cry out to God. As they did individually, they eventually did corporately. They would eventually begin to repent as a nation.

It was Abraham’s nephew Lot who would cry from Sodom and Gomorrah for God’s help and deliverance from the evils he and his family were surrounded by. The people’s hearts were too hardened by evil and they were beyond repenting and help so God had to remove Lot and his family from that place. Then judgment came.

God heard the cry (prayers for help) from His people under Pharaoh’s harsh rule and spoke to Moses concerning His plan to help them. Exodus 3:7-8 “Then the Lord told Mose, “You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…”

When God’s people repented for their lives of sin and abandonment of Him and His ways, then God’s forgiveness and restoration would come. God would begin to deliver them from the evil oppressors that were coming against them. He would again re-establish their place of worship – the temple, sacrifices, and teaching of the law. Again the people would enter into a period of intimacy with God – a place where their lives were centered around God and His ways. His blessing and protection would return.

Unfortunately, it would only be a matter of time before they would again backslide. Whenever Israel backslid, they would stop coming to the temple, stop bring sacrifices, and begin to lean on idol worship which ultimately meant leaning upon and trusting idols or men. They’d trust in idols or man’s promises and system’s for survival, protection and blessing instead of God – something that was an abomination to God.

The comparison today would be “Yea, I believe in God but I don’t need to go to church. I try to be a good Christian and worship Him in my own way.” The truth is, the vast majority of those that say this spend little of their life establishing what God wants to establish in their lives and in their midst – a strong vibrant local and corporate church filled with strong vibrant Christians that build and influence their community and world for God. There is no deception that weakens the church and Christians more. It’s a living lie and deception that many have fallen pray to. Thus the verse and exhortation given in Hebrews 10:25 – today’s Fresh Manna verse: “Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

Tomorrow, I promise you a powerful look and understanding of this verse and God’s plea to us through it. For today, please understand the big picture. When we assemble together, we worship Him together. We all lift Him up and as we do, He lifts us up. We rise into a greater place of blessing together.

Psalm 111:1 “Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet in the assembly and congregation of God’s people.” More tomorrow…

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt

http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.