Why not leave a comment?

Maybe I have misunderstood one of the points of blogging but I thought that people who read blogs left comments and interacted with the blogger. Did I miss something?

As is indicated on the right hand side of this blog, I have hits from all over the USA and the world... but no one comments. (OK, two people have in the past 6 months and they are good friends of mine locally. Thank you for your comments!) But to the rest... why did you come to my blog? To read a blog "blowing in the wind?"

• Are you just looking for my email address to send spam to me? (you ought to see all the spam I get! I sure am glad that my gmail address account cuts you guys OUT!)
• Is what I have to say is irrelevant to you or of no value? (In which case, why should I write at all in this venue?)
  
• Are you unaware that you can leave comments and if you do it encourages dialog and keeps the blogger motivated to continue to write? (Believe me, blogging serves little purpose if the writer has no idea if people are really reading his/her blog.)
  
• Or does it mean that you are just plain lazy and just "blog-surfing" (kind of like channel-surfing, which my wife doesn't like when I do it!)

So... how about a comment on this blog? Are you game?

• If you are from a place far, far, far away how about a note saying that you visited my page at the very least!
• You disagree with my blog... say so!
• If you agree with my blog... say so!

I have many things to do with my time and keeping up a blog that no one either reads or responds to is not a good use of my time... so speak up!

Thank you!

New Men's Bible Study Available Online!

"Being A Man After God's Own Heart" is a men's Bible study that will give you insight in how to become such a man that God would say this of you! It is a walk with David in 1st and 2nd Samuel (primarily) that seeks to find out why David had this said of him, not by people but by God Himself!
This study is progressive, in other words, you have to complete the lesson at hand before you can move on to the next lesson. You will be emailing your responses to each question, and upon receipt of those responses, you will receive a link to the next lesson, and so forth.
Check it out here!

Colossians 2:8-10 Part 2

Title: Philosophy and the Dilemma of the Existence of Evil

Many people's philosophy of life is "home-brewed" or "home made."
As such it is often based solely on their own observations of life
and the spin they put on it. The existence of evil and catastrophes
can lead one to assume some incorrect assumptions about life
and the character of God. Many people have forsaken church
because someone did them harm. Many people forsake faith in
God because of the evil so prevalent in the world. "How can a
God of love allow such things to happen..." often becomes the
stepping stone to loss of faith in Him.
In this message we will look at what Jesus taught in Matthew 13
regarding the cause of the existence of evil in the world
and the remedy God has in mind.

You can listen to this message online here (scroll to the bottom of that page)
or download the file for listening off line here.

Please leave some comment if this has been of help to you.
It is always encouraging to hear from my listeners!

Colossians 2:8-10 Part 1

This message concerns the issue of Christians needing to beware of how secular philosophy can cheat them of what can only be found in Christ Jesus. This is part 1 of a mini-series on this topic.

You can listen to this sermon at:

http://lapinegracefellowship.org/sermons/


Proceed to the bottom of the page and find the sermon listed as:
Book Recommendation and Part 1 of a sermon from Col 2:8-10 on Deceptions every believer must guard against

Colossians 2:2-4 In Christ We Have All We Need

Intro:

Last week we looked at two of the three focus points for Paul's agonizing struggle for those believers in the city of Colossae. We learned from it how we as spiritual leaders are to help those entrusted by the Lord to our care, whether they be our children, our grandchildren, our students in bible studies, whatever the task or ministry.

1. that we ENCOURAGE them in their hearts

by our faithfulness to do His work when we face hardship

by our expressions of concern and prayer

2. that our desire is for them to be KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE

that God's love in them would find expression in supporting

one another in words and deeds, in prayer and counsel.

That we do not let petty issues or issues of preference divide us from each other

That we focus on the great task of fulfilling His will and purpose in our lives and that we do it TOGETHER

That together we are stronger, and that going it alone is a sure recipe for personal failure and disaster

But now we need to touch on the THIRD issue that was pressing upon Paul's heart and his desire for them. And it is this:

3. That we will come to know and experience ALL the RICHES that come from being FULLY ASSURED from what we have come to know and understand of God the Father's greatest revealed mystery to us in the person of Jesus Christ, in whom we will find all the wisdom and knowledge that we will need to truly live if we will continue to seek after Him as we would seek hidden treasure!

Now that is a mouthful!

So we will need to break it up into smaller pieces in order to digest it and make it both understandable and applicable to our lives.

A. There is a DANGER that we must realize is out there. And it is this: that there are those who DON'T think that knowing Christ is enough!

There are those who will come and tell them that, yes, Christ is important... but He is NOT ENOUGH... one needs "Jesus PLUS...." (you fill in the blank!)

• Paul warns them that poorly informed preachers and self-deceived teachers will want to ADD to what Jesus taught, add what they think is missing in what Jesus taught so that people will be "complete" "informed" "respectable in the world's eyes" "better able to overcome whatever ails them" "in on the secrets of the universe." etc.

• But at the heart of their false teaching is this: Jesus isn't enough! They will teach that you need Jesus PLUS.... something else, either some secular and humanistic philosophy or teaching, or that you need to do some kind of religious rituals or works, or that you need someone (like them!) to guide you into some kind of "spiritual mystery or light" that is greater than what Jesus came to bring to us.

Now one might think that such efforts would fall upon deaf ears, that Christians would not listen to them, and even less think that Christians would believe this "Jesus PLUS' kind of teaching. But the problem is that

1) too many professing Christians are ignorant of the Word of God and the all-sufficiency of Christ. There are Bibles a-plenty everywhere, yes, and even on the Internet... and yet so few Christians actually READ and STUDY and CONTEMPLATE upon it! SHAME on you, if the shoe fits!

2) too many professing Christians think that the Bible does not cover all one needs to know about how to deal with life issues (politics, science, finances, family problems, personal problems, psychology, etc.) While it is true that the Bible is not a science textbook, the Bible IS about everything one needs to know to handle all these issues! The apostle Paul understood this. He was educated not just in Judaism and Phariseeism but also in the culture of his day. He has since been esteemed by the world's great minds as one of the greatest minds in his age. Paul wrote Timothy in 2 Tim 3:16-17 that the Word of God had all one needed for one's salvation but also for how one can live holy and righteous in this present generation. To think otherwise is once again this shows EITHER the lack of applying oneself to knowing the Word of God in it's practical application (wisdom) OR it shows the UNWILLINGESS to want to know the will of God revealed in its pages. There is NO EXCUSE for this kind of ignorance. If you want to learn, I am ready to teach BEYOND a simple Sunday morning message. Contact me and we will plug you into the intensive and practical study of God's Word that you need to be able to "be prepared for every good work!" 2 Tim 3:16-17

3) that many professing Christians have not put into practice all they know about Christ and from Him and so they don't know the all-sufficient power He has for them to overcome their sins and to accomplish His purpose for their life. People misquote Jesus constantly in this regard. They seem to think that Jesus said, "You will know the truth (mentally) and that truth (accented to only in the thoughts) will set you free." NO! That is a partial quote but context of that quote plainly shows us that Joh 8:31-32 'If you HOLD to MY teaching, you are really my disciples. THEN you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' That means that only by patient, consistent application of what Jesus said, not mixing it in with others teachings, that one would come to know (experience) the truth of what He taught and THAT would result in freedom from sin (v. 34-36). YOU MUST put what Jesus says INTO PRACTICE. Then and only then will you come to the belief that He is all-sufficient!

4) that those who are teaching some sort of "Jesus PLUS..." are VERY persuasive! It amazes me that if someone tries to persuade you of the truthfulness of the Word of God you question, doubt, resist. But if another comes along in his own authority, has "presence" with his/her appearance, is bold in their assertions, and tries to persuade you of their lies and deceit, many there be that will be gullible to swallow the lie! How easily people are swayed by a person's education, their economic status, their appearance, the impressiveness of their speech, the skillfulness of their ability to plant doubt as to Christ's all-sufficiency, and the plausibleness of their system of belief!

And it is because of this that

v. 4 Paul had to warns them (and us) in advance so that...

• we will not to be deceived by people who have "fine sounding arguments" (NKJV)

• "...no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech." (AMP)

• we will be kept from being fooled by fancy talk. (CEV)

• we will not be lead off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret." (MSG)

We will deal with the issues that Paul was referring to starting next week. But for our purposes right now, this is a "shot across the bow" of our ship, a needed warning that just because people can make some "new" doctrine or teaching sound good doesn't mean that they are being true to Christ.

The fact is that people must be persuaded of the truth in Christ. The fact is that we must be "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" 2 Peter 3:15

How can we be sure we are not being taken for a ride, sold a bill of goods, taken down the primrose lane? We need to learn be like the people of Berea (Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

I am amazed by the naivety and gullibleness of many Christians who sit around waiting for some "new revelation" by some preacher or prophet, but "will not put up with sound Biblical teaching. Instead, to suit their own desires, they gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They... turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3)

Because of this Paul had to tell Timothy to: 2Ti 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."

But what did the great apostle Paul find out from personal experience?

That Christ was all he truly needed! Rom 7:23-25 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God; through Jesus Christ our Lord!

That is why in Colossians 1:28 he made it clear: "Him we preach!"

Paul did not preach...

• his personal opinions of life

• human philosophy

• human-centered psychology

• humanistic world views

• human politics as the answer to life

• human-based religious ideas or denominationalism

Paul spoke only of JESUS!

Why? Because

No one can compare with the wisdom and truth found in Christ

John 7:46 No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

Mat 7:28-29 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Why? Because no one could do the things He did

Mat 9:33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never seen like this in Israel!

Mar 2:12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this!

Why? Because no one can offer what He offered in life

Mat 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

In Christ we can know the riches

• of God's forgiveness and grace

• of power over temptation

• of power over the dominance of sin in our hearts

• of power to love and forgive others

• of hope for the future, and eternal life

• of answered prayer

• of purpose in life

• of His peace

• and so much more

Colossians 2:1-2 Spiritual Leadership that Cares

Colossians 2:1-3 Sermon presented January 27, 2008

The video below is only for those with a FAST internet connection! Otherwise, go here to listen to it in audio form (no special software needed! Go to the bottom of the page and look for the text reference and hit the play button! Note: It may take a few minutes before it begins to play the audio file if you use Firefox.)


My Sermon Notes (I often say more and other than what I have in my notes!):

Colossians 2:1-2

Spiritual Leadership the Cares: The Struggles of Paul

What were the struggles that Paul wanted them to know he was experiencing?

There was his struggle or intense desire that they should mature in their faith in Christ. This is the PRIMARY intense struggle he felt within him for them.

• I knew of a pastor and his wife who, when people left their church they thought they would handle the pain of the loss by simply saying to each other: "Oh, well..." No! That is not the way to handle it!

• It should pain us! It should hurt us, as if someone ripped off our fingers (pro golfer who lost his thumb and index finger accidentally)!

• It should cause us to weep, to ask why (lest we were the cause of their stumbling)

• It surely ought to make them a focus of our prayers for days and weeks afterwards! And when we see them on the street there ought to be a look of love, of desire to have them back!

• Woe to us if we make them the target of gossip! You, know, gossip isn't just spreading lies about someone. Gossip can be "telling the truth" (as you see it!) but not spoken in Christ-like love, not mentioned in a spirit of reconciliation.

Remember that Paul has not met personally many of them and yet he had compassion and heartache for them if they fell short of Christ's goals.

1. He wanted them to be encouraged to persist in the faith despite the possible repercussions like persecution. He was fearful that some might take his imprisonment for the sake of his faith in Christ as a deterrent to following Christ (point them to others Paul had to speak to about this..... (vs discouraged)

2. He wanted them to be knit together in love (knit=bound together, unified vs breaking up into factions of pride and divisiveness.)

• It is amazing how, even when believers in churches can be in agreement about their doctrine how they can divide over most any little thing! Let's face it: we will NEVER agree about everything. All of us have to "put up" with a certain amount of disagreement over some teachings and differences over style in worship, in ministry, in methods, or in styles of church leadership or government.

• If parents can love their kids even when their kids do not agree with 100% why can't we do that for our spiritual family

• Everywhere in the New Testament we are told such things as "be patient with one another" "bear with one another" "be longsuffering with one another" and the like.

• Now if someone denies the deity of Christ, or the inspiration of the Bible, OK, we have a point on which we cannot build unity.

• But He cannot bless us individually or as a church if we are rigid about things that divide us needlessly. And even if a fellow believer sins against us, that is not a good enough excuse to cut them off! Christ would have us pray for them, speak to them, urge them to reconsider their behavior or attitude, to seek to restore them to Christ and ourselves.

• The unity of the local church is just as critical as the unity of our personal physical body pieces (remember that golfer to spoke about earlier. How did he handle the problem?). Separated from the body there can be no growth, no health. Linked to the body, even imperfectly, is better than isolating that separated body part from the body. The same is true of us in the Body of Christ. There is imperfection now. We should expect it! That does not mean that we do not want perfection, maturity, but that we must not use that imperfection as a reason or excuse from cutting ourselves off from the Body of Christ.

3. He wanted them to be fully confident and trusting in Christ alone. (This we will deal with in the weeks to come.) But these three issues must also be of primary concern for us as we minister to those God has put in our path to help follow Christ.

It is important to note here that Paul WANTED them to know about his struggle!

• How different this is from many Christians who want to give the impression that "All is well" with them when it is not!

• Paul was honest and transparent about how he felt about them.

• Love must express itself! It cannot do otherwise!

• Husbands, if you have not told your wife VERBALLY that you love her and mean it from your heart, you need to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the reasons why! Christ expresses His love for His Bride, the Church, not just in actions but in words! The New Testament is not a theological book but an expression of His love for us!

• Love MUST express itself and it will do so "in word" but also in "deed (actions)."

• So Ministry leaders, you have this same necessity pressed upon you to love those in your care and to express your love to them both verbally and in actions.

• What should it mean when we say "I love you"? (See Jefferson Baptist Church's thoughts on this)

Note that his struggle wasn't for himself, but for them. Paul did not have this struggle because he was concerned with how it might reflect upon him. He experienced this struggle because he really cared about THEM. Everything he did he did not to "gain a crown for himself" but he did what he did for THEIR BENEFIT (though he was fully aware that such a crown would be his IF he was faithful to Christ and to his ministry to the end of his physical life.)

So we need to ask ourselves a question: "Am I doing what I am doing more for my own benefit or truly for the benefit of those I have been given the responsibility to help grow to maturity in Christ?" Now we can quickly answer that question and do so thoughtlessly and say "Of course, I do what I do for their benefit, not mine!"

But before we answer that question perhaps we need to rephrase that question in concrete terms:

1. Am I willing to fulfill my ministry EVEN IF I do not receive any personal benefit (praise, honor, payment, reimbursement, notice by others, etc)?

2. Am I willing to fulfill my ministry even if it means I have to suffer being misunderstood (not because I am doing wrong, of course) or have to suffer persecution by those outside of the church, and do so in a way that those I minister to can be encouraged to carry on with Christ even if it means they too must suffer persecution for His names' sake?

3. Am I willing to suffer physical discomfort, sickness, disease and still seek to see those I minister to are ministered to by myself or by someone else who is able to carry on the ministry if I cannot do it myself that day?

4. Am I willing to do my ministry even if I don't feel like it that day (wore out, tired, bummed out mentally, etc.) so that those that I minister to will be fed, encouraged, and taught the value of doing one's duty regardless how one feels so that they too can help others learn this important lesson, or am I a "fair weather" servant of Christ who only does his/her task if all is well and easy?

These questions are all included in that first question: "Am I doing what I am doing more for my own benefit or truly for the benefit of those I have been given the responsibility to help grow to maturity in Christ?"

Now consider your answer in this new light. If you cannot truthfully say "I do it more for the benefit of others than for myself"

• then that is no reason or excuse to back out of your ministry or responsibility. Instead, it is only necessary that you go to prayer, humbly confess your failure in this regard, receive Christ's forgiveness, and commit yourself to fulfilling His call on you in the love of Christ and in the power of His Holy Spirit!

• Then set about your task in love for those in your sphere of influence. Yes, you ultimately do it for Christ, and yes, you will be rewarded. But never forget that your gifting, your ministry, your work is "for others!"

So how do we express this love, this struggle, for those we are responsible for?

1. We must tell those who are our ministry field that their spiritual condition matters to us! Don't just let them "assume it." When you express it verbally and by your diligence and faithfulness in ministry, even when it costs you, your words will help them to see why you are faithful despite the costs.

2. We must VERBALLY tell them THAT we are praying for them, and not little 10 second prayers but battle prayers on their behalf that "take it out of us." Prayer is "time-consuming"but well worth the effort! And as they know THAT we are praying for them, they will come to understand where their power to "continue in the faith" comes from: from the Lord! Nothing is more encouraging for any believer or worker than to know that someone is really praying for them!

3. They must know WHAT we are praying for them about. We are not praying that they will "have a nice day" but that they will persevere in faith in Christ BECAUSE every day has with it a certain amount of "evil" as Jesus warned us about. Go back to Chapter 1 and find what really matters! Explore the letters of Paul and the things he prayed for and you will find out what really matters! There are some things we cannot confidently pray about and know "without a doubt" if that is God's present will for them. BUT these blessings and prayer requests recorded, for example, in Paul's letters you can be 100% SURE and CONFIDENT that God has promised to answer... without a doubt! So let them know THAT you are praying for them and WHAT you are praying for them.

4. We must do all we can to help them EVEN when we cannot do it directly ourselves. Paul was in prison but that did not stop him from doing what he could to help them stay committed to Christ, via this letter, via sending others whom he trusted to help them in his place and by his prayers for them. We must always be prepared with a "back-up plan" should we be unable to fulfill our duties. Paul brought other men and women along side of him, gave them guidance in ministry, sought to develop in them God's giftings, and encourage them to "fill in" for him in his absence or permanently. Paul's method he wrote plainly to Timothy about in 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul meant to have in place a plan for spiritual "great grandchildren!"

If you feel you have failed God and wonder if He has any purpose or plan for your life, rest assured He does! He can "work all things together for good" if you will return to Him and return to Him quickly! Your delay is too risky! "Today if you hear His voice do not harden your heart" means "Do not delay!" for He will not strive with you forever (Scripture.) That tug on your heart is clear evidence that He is calling you to "come home" and if He is calling, He is ready and willing to forgive you your sin and cleanse you, transform you, recreate you into what He wants you to be. It is His love for you that provided Christ Jesus. It is His grace for you that calls out to you in your heart and thoughts right now!

- Pastor Richard Lighthill

Sermon: Colossians 1:29 -The Power to Labor for Christ

(This message was presented January 20, 2008. Not all of this was spoken during the actual sermon but these were the sermon notes.)

VIDEO:




For those with a FAST internet connection: watch the video press the play button above.

For those with a SLOW internet connection try listening to this MP3 of the message

Col 1:28-29 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

"to this end..." ("...for this goal, this purpose...")

If you mean to make this "Christ in you" (verse 27) your genuine life experience you have to keep His goal very clear before you (verse 28).

• The goal of the Christian life is NOT heaven, but becoming like our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, by entire conformity to His kind of love, grace, mercy, truth, compassion and godliness., not half-hearted conformity to His likeness.

• This is the greatest and highest goal in the universe. But because is so high, transcendent and lofty and difficult to attain to and because all the little necessities of daily life come in to clutter up the foreground, we may find that those little things hide the greater thing. So one gets loose and diffused, and vague and uncertain.

• And in the doing of His work, in whatever place and calling He has made you a steward of, we cannot accomplish His goals without a reliance upon His power. The work is too great, both in terms of size, extent, and difficulty.

• Our natural abilities BY THEMSELVES are no match for the work.

• Our natural organizations BY THEMSELVES are no match for the work. A well-oiled church that "covers all the bases" from cradle to the grave in ministries CANNOT accomplish His goals by organization alone. My friends, organization and multiplied ministry groups do not accomplish the end, the goals of Christ by themselves. There must be something greater! I see in many churches that success is measured in terms of one thing: ATTENDANCE! But is that the goal of Christ? Brothers and sisters, may our goal NEVER be ATTENDANCE! Let us let go of the idea that attendance numbers is proof of a church's spirituality, or is proof of that church accomplishing Christ's goals!

• Jeff told me this week that a large "Christian" church had a "retreat" in Sunriver last year that brought lots and lots of young people and adults. But what happened? The adults separated themselves from the youth, and the youth did whatever they wanted, from building snowmen indoors and then cranking up the heat, to buying all the clear plastic tubing from the Sunriver hardware store, wrapping it around the handrail leading upstairs, and then pouring beer thru a funnel into the tube and then having young people lap up the beer downstairs. And that was only a sample of what they did. ATTENDANCE they had but CHRIST-LIKENESS they did not!.

• No, our goals must be higher because Christ's goals are higher! Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled." You would think that many churches and pastors thought Jesus said instead "Blessed are the churches that are filled with spiritual thrill-seekers and spiritual rubber-neckers (an oxymoron, if there ever was one!), There is nothing wrong with music concerts, full-houses, and multiplied ministries IF... if they are EMPOWERED by the same empowerment and have the SAME GOAL that Paul had.

"I also labor" (this means: to work very hard, to the point of fatigue)

• To be sure, all Christians are "laborers together with Christ"

• But some people like to 'labor' so as never to bring a sweat-drop to their foreheads. That is not Christian labor. Can work in Christ's field and kingdom be termed work at all if it does not 'take it out of you'? Some people, when they say, 'I will try to such and such a thing for Christ,' do not mean that they fully intend to do what they promised or to fully seek His empowerment to do it, but instead mean that they are going to try in a half-hearted way, with no real desire to do it! That is not the New Testament meaning of the word 'labor'. A word of warning: Proverbs 18:9 'He that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster,'

"striving" (the Greek word give us the word "agonizing!", the same kind of striving that one does when one knows they are in a competition against others for the same prize, it means to struggle and contend with, The word 'striving' brings up the picture of the arena with the combatants' strain every muscle in their deadly struggle. Paul will speak of his struggle for them in chapter two. It was a mental thing more than a physical thing. But it still "took it out of him!" It is not enough just to bring someone to a place of the sinners prayer and water baptism, and hand them a Bible! The arena of life is filled with foes, foot soldiers of our great for, who seeks, as Jesus said "to steal, kill, and destroy!" The work has just begun when a sinner becomes a child of God.

And it will be difficult work often!

Now, the work and the striving to fulfill whatever stewardship Christ has for us would be sheer slavery unless we had His divine help. It would be impossible of accomplishment unless we had it! Where is the source f our strength to work and how do we get it?

"according to His working"

("working" the Greek word gives us the English word "energizing!" but also carries with it the thought of "strength" or power" and the concept of "effectual" or "effective" ie. accomplishing the goal, ) This is the work of the Holy Spirit! God IS at work in you if Christ be in you at all! Philippians 2:12-13 This means that as we cooperate with Him, He will empower us to accomplish His tasks and goals!

"which works in me" If we are Christians at all, we soon realize that have to work at it. Sanctification is not "automatic!" as if it is something that happens in your sleep! In a very real sense we have to go about it as if we meant work.

• A little child said about his father that 'he was a Christian, but he had not been working much at it lately.'

• What a contrast there is between the lackadaisical way in which some professing Christians pursue what the Bible designates their 'work' and that in which men with far lower aims pursue theirs!

• And what a still sadder contrast there is between the way in which we Christians go about our daily business, and the way in which we go about our Christian life, at home, at school, or on the job!

We cannot accomplish His work in others if it is not a reality in us!

Remember: "Christ in me, the hope of glory" applies not only to the gift of eternal life and personal Christ-likeness (sanctification measured in terms of agape love in action) but "Christ in me, the hope of glory" also in the sense that my labor comes out of His life in me! And we must not forget that Christ cannot accomplish anything much of eternal value in others unless He can accomplish what is of eternal value IN US!

And how much HAS and IS Christ "working" in you? Is it barely discernible? Is it stagnant? Is it bearing any fruit in and thru you? How much is it supposed to be "working in" you?

We all are to be laborers if we are Christians, and that to the very end of our lives. Alexander MacLaren said this: "This infinite goal of the Christian labor means inspiration for youth, and freshness for old age, and that man is happy who can say: 'Not as though I had already attained' at the end of a long life, and can say it, not because he has failed, but because in a great measure he has succeeded in making it a reality in his/her life."

So the first direct aim of all our labor must be to receive and to release that power of the Holy Spirit.

• We must first begin our work, not by working, but by receiving.

Our ability to receive is dependent upon our closeness to Christ and our willingness to keep our hearts open by purity. It is said that doves forsake polluted places and a fouled nest.

• Secondly, we have to use the power which is inwrought. And it is in the choosing and using that the power flows, in much the same way that the electricity to light these lights requires us to first flip the switch. Our flipping the switch does not produce electricity, but it is essential to tramsmit the electricity that is waiting on the other side of the circuit! And only as the circuit is completed that the electrical power is useful and fulfills something of the purpose of its existence. "Use it or lose it" is very true of this "mighty working!"

• We must seek the INCREASE of His power. Use is the way to increase all gifts, from the muscle in your arm to the Holy Spirit's power in your ministry. Use it, and it grows. Neglect it, and it diminishes.

• We must keep up communion with Jesus Christ daily, even moment by moment in a sense, which is the secret of all peaceful and of all noble living.

• We must also keep our focus. You have to detach yourself from hindrances, insignificant and trivial occupations and focus on His goals and His work. "But daily life distracts me!" If we are not making ourselves more like Jesus Christ by the way in which we handle our books, or our pen, or our schoolwork, or our work, or our kitchen utensils, then there is little chance of our ever making ourselves like Jesus Christ. For it is these trifles, these little things that make life, and to concentrate ourselves to carry that Christian aim into every triviality of our daily lives. "Do all to the glory of God!"

"mightily!" (the Greek word "dunamis" is the basis of the English word "dynamite!" but carries with it the idea of "miraculous power" beyond the natural!)

• Paul experienced this in his own life. God's power is not like some kind of crutch that only helps "a little!" It is MIGHTY... like dynamite! It is able to accomplish more in a split second than all your scheming and planning and humanitic efforts ever will!

• He can free you of habits that have formed and seem to have conquered you: Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:

• This power is not only the means by which the great work must be accomplished, but it ought to be in the same degree and measure in which it was received. 'I work according to the working in me.' That is, all the force that came into Paul by that Divine Spirit, came out of Paul in his Christian conduct and work.

Is that true about us?

They say that the old steam-engine was a most wasteful application of power, that a great deal of the energy which is generated goes without ever doing any work, going right up the stack!

Is not that like a great many of us? So much power poured into us; so little coming out from us and translated into actual work!

We have an all-sufficient power. May our working and striving be according to it, and may we work mightily, being 'strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!'

And how are we to experience this divine power?

1. We must ask for it. This asking is more than just a quickie prayer and then off to the work! There is so much to pray about: "Lord, I can't do this on my own! I need the power of Your Holy Spirit within me and also working upon and within them! How can I bring Christ to the forefront and relate Him as He really is to them? Who must I warn? What must I speak? Remind me Holy Spirit of the verses in the Bible that will help them grasp a hold of You, and Your grace, love, faithfulness and truth! How can I best relate it to the listeners? Who else needs to help me? How are we to follow-up and solidify the gains made? "

2. We must empty ourselves of our goals and dependency upon our wisdom

3. We must experience within us what we want Christ to do within them.

4. We must thrust ourselves into the work with abandon

5. We must give the glory to God!