EGO: EDGING GOD OUT

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.“He must become greater and I must become less.” –  John 3:30.

There is an acronym in Christian circles for the ego: “Edging God Out.” All of us have an ego—that sense of self that says I am a unique and valuable person, fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God and I’ve got something worthwhile to contribute to this world. But when that self-appreciation of who God made us to be turned into self-importance, when it becomes a self-centered attitude that says, “It’s really all about me,” then our egos will rob us of much of the joy and peace that God intends for us to have in life. In our journey with the Lord, our goal is for Him to become greater and for each of us to be less.

It is John the Baptist who makes the statement in John 3:30. The Bible does not tell us but you have to wonder if John the Baptist, struggled with his ego when he was told by his disciples that “…everybody is going to him (Jesus) instead of coming to us” (John 3:26). It would seem to be a very human reaction since John was something of a local celebrity rock star. How else could people think about an eccentric, camel-hair-wearing, locust and honey-eating desert prophet? He was the talk of the town. Hundreds of people came to hear him preach and to be baptized in the Jordan River. His ministry was a success.

But now, all that is changing. The spotlight was shifting off of John and onto Jesus. While Jesus’ crowds were exploding, John’s were shrinking. For all intents and purposes, Jesus had basically taken over the limelight.

How would you react if you were in John’s shoes, and you were no longer the center of attention when the crowds started to decline? When his disciples reported that Jesus was starting to attract the crowds that had once gone to John, they were unhappy.

But John was not. He knew who was greater. And it was not John. John had come to prepare the way for Jesus. It was only right that Jesus should eclipse him. He must increase. And John should fade into the background and decrease. In the shadow of Jesus’ ever-increasing popularity, he displays beautiful humility. It was an awareness of Jesus’ worth and glory.” John demonstrates that real joy is found not in glorifying ourselves but in glorifying Jesus.

When we look at Christ, everything else fades away. When we consider who He is and all that He has done for us, we are overwhelmed with awe and admiration for the Savior. Only when we truly step aside, putting our ego aside, and look to Christ will we truly have comprehended the depths of salvation.

Like John the Baptist, we must remember it is about Jesus. He must increase, I must decrease.

It’s not about us or our ego.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you view your ego? Is it too big and just about right?
  2. What can we do this week to ensure that Jesus increases and we decrease?

WHEN YOU GIVE TO GOD, YOU DISCOVER THAT GOD GIVES TO YOU

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:38.

In Luke 6:38,  Jesus expands the principle of “give and it will be given unto you.” He teaches that a generous man or unselfish woman will not only benefit from the generosity and graciousness of others, but “Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.”

To understand what Jesus meant by His statement, we need to first understand the context in which He said it. Jesus is describing a situation that took place every time a person went to market. It is so different from today because when we go to Publix or Winn Dixie almost everything we buy is already measured, sealed, and wrapped with shrink wrap. It’s also labeled on the outside “Contents sold by weight, not by volume.” But in Jesus’ day, grain was sold by volume, not by weight. That’s why the verse mentions that the grain was pressed down and shaken together.

With that as background, we may ask the simple question: What precisely is Jesus teaching us here about Christian giving? There are two simple answers to that question: 1. When you give, God gives back to you. 2. God uses the same measure you use. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

The Bible encourages us to be givers. And the awesome part about being a giver is that God rewards those who give. Here is a short list of God’s gifts: victory, peace, hope, life, success, what is good, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, strength, health, discretion, wealth, honor, power, love, a heart to know him, eternal life, living water, all things, and the glory of heaven.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” This verse is a promise that God will never forsake those who seek Him. He will provide for our financial, physical, and spiritual needs. One special meaning in this verse also has to do with God’s desire to reward us for our hard work. When we are generous in our giving of finances, talents, and our time for God’s kingdom, God delights in being even more generous to us than we are to Him. We can’t out-give God!

No one is more generous than God. He’s the greatest giver of all time. And we should acknowledge that fact every day.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Can you remember a time when your resources were very limited, and God provided for you?
  2. Read through Psalm 103 and make it personal. Remember all the good things God has done for you. Worship Him as you read the Psalm.

WHY TITHE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH?

“A checkbook is a theological document, it will tell you who and what you worship.”  — Billy Graham

People regularly ask pastors some challenging questions. Some of those questions will be about financial giving: more specifically about the tithe, the Old Testament principle of giving the first 10 percent of our income back to God. The other question that is often asked is about where the tithe should be given. In other words, should I be giving to my local church, or is it okay to redirect my “tithe” to other ministries or individuals in need?

The local church is God’s “Plan A.” It’s the vehicle through which we care for the poor, feed the hungry, equip people to minister in the community, and send people out to the nations. The local church is the way God intends to accomplish his mission in the world.

The local church should matter to us because it matters to God. The church is Jesus’ body on earth and it is made up of all kinds of people from all walks of life.:” God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” (Ephesians 1:22-23) The church is built for Jesus, by Jesus, and on Jesus.

The local church is where the believer grows. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.)” The local church provides opportunities for growth that are available nowhere else. We all need a local church if we are to become like Christ.

As Christians, we are called to support the work of Jesus. We know from 1 Corinthians 16 that local churches in the first century took up weekly offerings. “Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  There is no command to tithe in the New Testament, simply a call to faithfully and sacrificially support the work of Jesus, the building of the church. When you give financially to a gospel-centered church you are making an investment in the kingdom of God. When we are judicious in where we put God’s money, the tithe, it ensures that the local church is able to feed people the Word of God.

There is certainly a place for personal giving to other ministries and projects that you have a burden for as well as individuals who are needy but, in so doing, do not neglect the local church. It is God’s plan A.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do we need to give to the local church?
  2. What types of blessings have you seen come from tithing? Why do you think God says to test Him in this? Have you tested Him in this? What have been the results?

TITHING: GIVING GOD THE FIRST TENTH OF YOUR INCOME

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open up for you a blessing until it overflows.’” – Malachi 3:10 (New American Standard)

“Tithe” literally means one‑tenth. It’s more or less a mathematical term. When the Bible talks about tithes, it means that followers of Jesus are called to trust with their finances by faithfully returning “the whole tithe” (10 percent of their income) to “the storehouse” (the Church). So if you get $10, you tithe $1. If you get $100, you tithe $10. And so on…And in that step of faith, through the tithe, God promises blessing.

 If God is first in our lives, then He should be first in everything and that includes our finances. You may be thinking that everything is more expensive these days, money is tight and tithing is something I just can’t do at this time.  We can’t always see how God will provide for us. When your account balance is barely in the black, it’s easy to question if God will really provide. But our circumstances do not change God’s faithfulness or His promises. We can trust Him even when it doesn’t seem to make sense.

Tithing is not just a command, it is a gift within an instruction. God promises that when we tithe, He will not only provide for us but will also bless us immensely. God doesn’t want to take from us; He wants to bless us. Deuteronomy 15:10 says when we give generously, God blesses us in everything we do. And in Malachi 3:10, God Himself tells us to put tithing to the test and see if He won’t pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Consider this: You will never be able to afford to tithe until you tithe. We may not be able to afford to give everything we want, but we can always afford to give. Tithing doesn’t freeze your finances; it frees your finances.

Opportunities for charity are everywhere, and there are plenty of credible places to give. In fact, you might think Northstar is just another one of them. To us, one thing is different. Our giving isn’t about charity, it’s about worship. God instructs us, through the Bible, to give regularly, generously, and sacrificially out of all that He gives us—all as part of our worship of Him. Giving is an expression of gratitude, obedience, and reverence: worship. We need to give it to the Savior who died for us cheerfully.

As we partner with God in ministry and trust Him for our provision, we experience His presence and faithfulness in ways we didn’t before. And that experience of God’s presence brings the biggest blessing of all  — the deep and lasting peace of knowing we can trust God with everything.

Discussion Questions

  1. It has been said that our checkbooks reveal our values and priorities. Do you think that is true? Why or why not?
  2. How is setting aside the tithe a good place to place to start when seeking to honor God with our money?
  3. What is the first thing you usually do on payday? Has that always been the first thing? How has your response to getting paid for work changed over the years? Why is that response an accurate measure of our priorities in life?

IN JESUS, WE HAVE REDEMPTION

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight,” – Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV).

According to Webster, redemption means the act of making something better or more acceptable, the act of exchanging something for money, the act of buying back or repurchasing, or in Christianity, the act of saving people from sin.

One of Jesus’ purposes in descending to earth was to redeem people for Himself. This redemption is an amazing revelation of God’s grace toward every one of us.“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV).

Redemption is the act of gaining possession of something in exchange for payment of a debt. Jesus, God the Son, suffered the penalty for the sins of all mankind on the cross so that those who believe in Him would be saved. This is the gospel in its simplicity: Jesus takes everything that I am, just as I am, while I receive everything that He is. Jesus’ death in exchange for my life. Jesus took our sins on Himself at the cross; all sins – past, present, and future.  When we are saved, God only sees the righteousness of Jesus in us.

Jesus is doing the true work of redeeming every believer every day. It isn’t a one-time occurrence but rather something ongoing, as we fail and fail and fail again. Each time we fall into sin, turning away from living as we should, the Lord’s redeeming love is there, ready to forgive us once again. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

Jesus’ redemption, along with our faith in Him, is a gift of God. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s righteousness or forgiveness. Our salvation is not tied to our behavior, attitude, or compliance with religious rules or traditions. We surrender ourselves to Jesus just as we are and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out.

 It is through the saving love and death of Jesus Christ that we are redeemed. He has bought us back, repurchased us, and exchanged our sins for eternal salvation. He is making us better through His love. He has redeemed us according to all the definitions of the word.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is so amazing to you about redemption?
  2. How do we experience redemption in our daily lives?
  3. How does the “redemption” story help you understand the meaning of the cross?

CHURCH CONSUMER OR CONTRIBUTOR

Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” – Dwight L. Moody

It is clear that in every church we have two types of people who attend; the consumers and the contributors. In essence, it is the difference of sitting on the sidelines instead of taking a step of faith and getting involved.

If I approach church as a contributor, I come to church expecting to be part of a community. While at times I find it challenging, I count it a privilege to be part of a fellowship of diverse people with whom I can share my life.  I commit myself to the community and this shows by my attendance and servant’s mentality. I embrace my calling to be a partner and co-worker with others for the gospel and I do whatever I can to support church initiatives. I give sacrificially of my time, energy, and money.

When I approach church as a consumer, I attend, but I don’t commit. I prefer to be on the fringe rather than a member of the core.  I just don’t have the time to volunteer, take on responsibility or contribute to the church. If I approach church as a consumer, I am content to attend each week and enjoy worship and hearing God’s word.

The Bible doesn’t give some of us a hall pass and say we’ve been excused from serving because we aren’t gifted. Everyone has gifts. There are no exceptions. 1 Peter 4 teaches us, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

We were made for a purpose and have a God-given gift that we need to be pouring into the kingdom.  As believers and followers of Jesus, we are all called to be participants in God’s kingdom right here and now. Usually, when we don’t serve the kingdom it’s not because we believe we aren’t gifted, it’s because we’ve got so many things going on we don’t have time to get actively involved in the church.

There is a principle in business that 20 percent of your customers give you 80 percent of your revenue and profits. A recent survey shows that the 80/20 principle is a fact of church life as well. Only 20 percent are heavily involved, while 80 percent are minimally involved.

The church does not exist for us. It exists to reach people with the saving message of Jesus Christ wherever in the world they live. The church is people using gifts to make a difference in the lives of others.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would you fall into the consumer or the contributor camp? What caused to you be in either one?
  2. Serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, kindness, prophecy — which gifts has God given you?
  3. Pray and ask God for wisdom on where you can best make contributions to the church.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AT HOME IN YOU

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me..” – John 15:26 (ESV).

With Jesus’ impending departure, the disciples were naturally worried about being left alone. Who could blame them? But in Jesus’ great love and care for them, He promises to show up in a new way. This is one of the most encouraging verses in Scripture. God did not leave us alone to fend for ourselves. He provided an amazing Helper in the person of the Holy Spirit who will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves—if we let Him.

The Holy Spirit is God. There are three Persons in the Trinity–God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is all-powerful. We read in Micah 3:8, “…I am filled with power—with the Spirit of the Lord…” The Bible says that God is present everywhere. No matter where we go, He is there. “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” (Psalm 139:7). We need never be afraid again, or lonely, hopeless, sorrowful, or helplessly inadequate. For the Helper is always with us. The Holy Spirit can be at home in your heart.

There is always Someone standing by to assist us no matter what circumstances we are facing. God has provided every resource we need through His Spirit. When we can’t, He can. When we’re tired, He isn’t, When we’re weak, He’s strong. When we think, “I don’t have the wisdom for this situation, or I don’t know how to love my prodigal, or I can’t take one more round of hard medical news,” He says that’s why you have an in-home Helper. We house His Spirit in us, and if we allow His Spirit to operate in our lives, we’re going to be more than okay, no matter what comes our way.

John 14:26 says, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” And we know from 2 Peter 1:20-21 that the Holy Spirit moved upon the authors of scripture to write the Bible. And it is He who inspired Scripture that helps us interpret it and apply it to our lives today.

Our shortcomings in living the Christian life are often due to our inattention to the Holy Spirit’s leading and prompting in our lives. We spend so much time looking outside of ourselves for answers when we have God at work inside of us. When we become more aware of His presence, we will change from the inside out.

As believers, we must let the Holy Spirit take the lead in our lives so that we will be empowered to do the work that God has given us and to live in humble obedience to the leading and the guidance of the Spirit.   

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you think of the Holy Spirit, what comes to your mind? 
  2. How familiar are you with the topic of the Holy Spirit? Is the Holy Spirit a confusing or encouraging topic of study for you? Why or why not?
  3. As the Spirit works to refine us, the Spirit reminds us of our new identity as God’s children. How does the Spirit’s voice impact my relationship with God?

GOD WILL MAKE A HOME FOR YOU

In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” – Isaiah 65:21-24.

Have you ever thought about why you live where you live?  Was it a set of circumstances or merely a coincidence? It is neither. Nor is it a consequence of your budget, or your season of life. You live where you live because God placed you there. The long series of events, decisions, and circumstances that led you here were orchestrated by God. He brought you home one detail at a time.

Acts 17:26-27 yells us. “ From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist…” (Acts 17:26–27). You do not have a home by accident.

Our home should be built on Christ and nothing less. Maybe at the top of the list of things that you don’t want to show up on a house inspection is a foundation issue. If you buy a house with a bad foundation, you’re going to experience real problems that cost real money to have it fixed. Most buyers simply walk away from a bad foundation and for good reason. Jesus tells as much in Matthew 7:24-37 when He talks about building a strong foundation by building your home on the Rock. Allow His voice to be the regular stabilizing, guiding, shaping, correcting, and comforting foundation under your lives.

But this home is not our home. While we may in a house for a few months or 50 years it is a temporary living situation. Our earthly home is not our true home, because we have a better home, an eternal one, in heaven: “You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.” (Hebrews 10:34). Philippians 3:20 adds, “ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” Wherever we live in this world, we know we belong somewhere else.

That does not mean we cannot treasure the four walls of our homes. God has chosen these walls, for these days, specifically for us. As you enjoy your home for however long you live there, prepare your heart and family to live forever at home with the Lord.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “home?”
  2. God’s home will be a place of joy and safety, where the lame and the outcast are gathered, and shame disappears. Home with God will be a place of restoration and praise. In God’s home, we will be safe and happy, and no one will oppress us ever again. When things seemed impossible and our sin overwhelmed us, Jesus made a way. One day He will return and fulfill this ultimate promise of hope and home. How does that make you feel?

A HOME IS BUILT ON WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

“A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.” – Proverbs 24:3-4

There are countless comprehensive books available if you want to put on your grubbies, get out your tools, and tackle home repairs and improvements. Whether you’re an accomplished do-it-yourselfer or a novice, there are books that will guide you through the process. There are also countless books written on how to build a godly home. Yet none of them come close to giving the kind of counsel we find in Proverbs 24:3-4. These two verses give us a blueprint for a home built around God.    

A house is built on wisdom. Wisdom is seeing things as God sees them.  Wisdom views all of life – all its decisions as decisions to be made in agreement with His will and His Word.  But we are asked to do more than just see things as God sees them. A home built on God’s wisdom will become part of our daily decision-making processes.  Kind of like what Jesus said in Matthew 7 – that the wise builder founds his house upon a rock instead of upon sand.

As believers, we want our home, our family, to be built on wisdom and knowledge: knowledge of God, knowledge of His word, and knowledge of His truth. As we study God’s Word, our knowledge of Scripture deepens. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” So through meditating on God’s Word, we allow the gospel to dwell within us, and that impacts the way we act with other believers. So don’t rush through your time reading your Bible. Instead, open your heart to receive what God wants to teach you. Dwell on what you are reading, and delight in its truth

While it is good to know God’s Word, we must also live out God’s Word. How do we do this? Philippians 2:12–13 points us to an answer as it reminds us to “ …work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” This means that our knowledge of God’s Word will be put into practice. We must do what Scripture tells us to do.

God calls us to build our spiritual homes on solid biblical ground. We must lean into time with God in prayer, worship, and reading our Bible to ensure our actions are matching God’s Word and to rest in His forgiveness when we fall short. It is in this time of relying on God that he will change our hearts thus changing our actions. Because of what our cornerstone Jesus has done for us, God will continue to sanctify us so that our spiritual house will be made strong enough to handle the huffs and puffs of our world.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
  2. How do you define a spiritual home? What can you do this week to make your home built on wisdom?

CHOOSE TO LIVE EXPECTANTLY

“Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3.

The ability to wait is a thing of the past. We expect to get what we want at an ever-increasing speed. Fast food is not fast enough anymore. Our internet speeds are a blur compared to just a few years ago. We communicate with people all over the world instantly. We simply don’t like waiting.

Psalm 5:3 talks about waiting. We talk to God at the beginning of every day. We talk with God about our agenda, our plan, our worry, our heartbreak, and our joy; we present it all to Him and then we wait. God could answer us so fast we would not get the request out before the answer arrives, but that is not typically the case. What we fail to understand is that waiting on God is not a bad thing. There is growth in the waiting and many times, special gifts or blessings are given in the midst of the wait, blessings that if God would have answered as quickly as we would have liked, we might have missed. We become stronger and more confident in God because of our wait.

What we see in David’s prayer life is that he eagerly watched for God to answer. It’s as if he was “sitting on the edge of his seat” just waiting and watching for what God would do. We too need to wait expectantly on the Lord as we look forward to His answers to our prayers.

Some of the greatest figures in the Bible — Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David — had to wait for many years for God’s promises. Everything that happened in the meantime was used to prepare them, inwardly as well as outwardly. Then, when they reached their promise, they were blessed beyond measure.

The good news is He has heard each and every prayer and He is working in our life in ways you can’t always see. Trust Him as you wait. God is moving and His timing is perfect even when we feel it is not. Wait expectantly on His answer. This “waiting on the Lord’” is not a “sitting around, twiddling your thumbs” kind of waiting, fearing an unfavorable outcome. This is a waiting that has action behind it. That action is the exercise of faith in eager anticipation.

God invites us to trust in His goodness today and His faithfulness tomorrow. Relinquishing control over to Him is the main route to experiencing His love and peace. It unites our hearts with His. It creates a level of maturity and character that we will take with us into the future, and it enables us to enjoy His future blessings all the more.

In other words, when you are waiting on the Lord are you doing it with faith, knowing God will act on your behalf, whether that results in what you want or not?

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you ever experienced a long season of waiting?
  2. Given what you know about God’s character, what do you think He wants to show you during this period of waiting?