By Allen White
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36
On a beautiful Saturday a few weeks ago, our family decided to go on a hike at Jones Gap. We didn’t have a trail map, but we had a trail head and that was good enough. Our little clan of five, the youngest is three, headed out. And then, we reached a fork in the road.
The blue trail was five miles long. The red trail was shorter and led to Rainbow Falls. The kids were all for it. We set out like Dora the Explorer: across the streams, up the mountain, to the waterfall. About 30 minutes later, legs were beginning to ache. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
I began to interview hikers on their way down the mountain. They confirmed that the falls were too far for them (no three-year-olds in their pack), but the top of the mountain had a great view. So, we were off to the top of the mountain.
We climbed higher and higher, but we weren’t quite reaching the very top of the mountain. I asked another hiker how much higher the trail went. He told me that we were about as high as we would go, but that the falls were only five minutes ahead. What?
With renewed momentum, our family made our way to Rainbow Falls. There was jubilation. “We did it. We did it. We did it. Hurrah!” But, what had we done?
Once we made it back to the car (only 80 minutes after the trails were closed, but who’s counting?), I decided to investigate what we did. I discovered that we had hiked for five miles, ascended 1,000 feet, and had conquered a “strenuous” hike. It’s a good thing we didn’t know that going in. “We can’t do that Rainbow Falls trail. It’s a strenuous hike. Our kids are nine, five and three. We’d better stay on the easy trail to Jones Gap Falls.” You know what I’m saying.
As a result of that day, our family is ready for another hike. We probably won’t conquer the “highly strenuous” trek to the top of Table Rock just yet. But, we are confident in tackling anything that is strenuous or less. Not a bad start for a three-year-old.
Going into our hike, we knew that we were going to hike at Jones Gap. We didn’t know exactly what to expect. We didn’t know exactly where we were going. We didn’t always believe that we would go the whole way. But, we kept going.
Our lives are much the same. As believers, we know that we will follow God. We know that we want to fulfill God’s vision for our lives. We don’t know all of the twists and turns. We don’t know how far there is to go or what obstacles we might face. But, what we do know is that God has a plan, and we’re in it.
What seems impassable in your life these days? Where are you running out of steam? What appears too strenuous to climb? Don’t give up. The payoff might be just around the corner.
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By Allen White
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
What would the church look like if every believer put this verse into practice? What if you did?
There are two ways to read this verse. There is a guilt-inducing way to read this verse that goes like this: “God forgave you, so you’d better start forgiving other people, before God decides to take His forgiveness back.” When we make this verse a “have to” instead of a “want to,” we create a heavy burden.
Fortunately, there is a life-giving way to read this verse: “God’s forgiveness enables us to show kindness and compassion to others and to forgive each other.” That’s not so bad, except that when people hurt us, we tend to want them to “pay” a little bit first.
Forgiveness seldom comes easy. Some things seem nearly impossible to forgive: insults and abuses, betrayal and injustice are more than a little difficult to get past. What are we supposed to do?
If we back track a few days in these devotionals, we understand that this verse came about because God’s Spirit inspired it and intended for us to read it.
We also see that God’s Spirit lives in us. When we are at odds with other people, the Spirit will bring a verse like this to mind, or beat us over the head, whichever we need.
The third piece is that the Spirit possesses the power that raised Christ from the dead. Jesus, who lived a perfect life and never sinned, forgave the sins of the entire world, and was raised from the dead by the Spirit’s power. Is it harder for us to forgive than for Christ to overcome death, hell and the grave?
Now, don’t get all tied up in knots. Put this before God. “God, you know what they did to me. You know how I feel about them. You know what kind of people they are. Yet, Your Word directs me to forgive them as part of Your vision for my life. I don’t know how to do that. I need You, Lord, by Your Spirit to help me, because this is not something that I could possibly do on my own.”
Pray a prayer like that, and then pay attention to what happens next. God will prove Himself to you. God will provide a way. God will help you. It works every time.
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By Allen White
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:10-11
I’m often frustrated that I’m not a better Christian. I committed my life to Christ almost 40 years ago. Why am I not further along?
Some things in Scripture are just so contrary to my nature. Take for instance: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” (James 1:19). Now, put that verse in reverse, and I’ve got it nailed: quick to get angry, quick to speak, slow to listen. It’s much easier.
Yet, God didn’t give us a book of rules that is impossible for us to follow. Well, let me put that a different way. God gave us a task that is too much to accomplish on our own: to conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Sure, we can try harder, but after a while, we just run out of steam. (Anyone broken any New Year’s resolutions lately?) So, what are we supposed to do?
God has already given us the power to achieve His will for us. The same Spirit who inspired God’s Word to be written (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) is the same Spirit who lives in us (Romans 8:9). This is also the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. Read that again. The Spirit of God who lives in every believer is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. What could we not accomplish with that?
One of our small group leaders, Shane, was advised by his doctor three years ago to undergo weight loss surgery. That wasn’t the first thing that Shane wanted to do. But, as time passed, he learned that he would need to start medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But, he really didn’t want to start taking medication.
Shane chose to lose the weight instead – on his own. He started watching what he ate and exercising. In just a couple of months, 30 pounds fell off. Then, he got stuck.
By his own admission, his self-control got 30 pounds off, but couldn’t get him any further. Shane turned to God and prayed, “Lord, if you will help me, then I will work to get the rest of this weight off.” It’s been seven months now since Shane first started his weight loss. He has lost 101 pounds. His blood pressure is lower. His cholesterol is lower. He’s never taken any medication. Shane’s willingness and God’s power have transformed his life.
You have the power you need to fulfill God’s vision for your life. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in you. What is impossible for God?
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The 3,976 folks at Brookwood Church gave a total of $4,186 yesterday to provide fresh water to 4,186 people through Water of Life. What an awesome day! One person giving one dollar can change the life of one person in West Africa or India. Not $1 per month, or $1 per year, but $1 provides fresh water for the next 20 years. (Not a typo)
If you would like to get involved with Water of Life: http://www.givefreshwater.org
By Allen White
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16
The Holy Spirit is not just the possession of Charismatics. You don’t have to speak in tongues to be Spirit-filled. God gives His Spirit to every believer, and then God gives spiritual gifts (charismata) to every believer as well (1 Corinthians 12:7).
In fact, according to this verse, if you do not possess the Holy Spirit, then you cannot be God’s child. Don’t worry. There aren’t any snakes involved.
Let’s put something together. Going back to yesterday’s devotional, we understand that the Holy Spirit inspired and directed the writing of the Bible. Add to that the fact that the Holy Spirit lives within every believer. This means that the same Spirit that inspired Scripture to be written lives inside you and me.
When we, as Spirit-filled people, pick up God’s Spirit-inspired Word, an amazing dynamic takes place. Sometimes it seems that words jump off of the page. Sometimes we read things that somehow we never seemed to read before, though we’ve read the passages many times. God speaks to us through His Word. But, before you get nervous about that, there is a backup.
Scholars and theologians have been writing about and interpreting the Bible for thousands of years. If we come up with something that contradicts what orthodox scholars teach, then we need to make sure that it was the Holy Spirit speaking, and not just indigestion. A quick scan of the notes in a study Bible is a great indicator of whether we’re hearing right.
The Bible was written for us. The Bible wasn’t written to us, but it was written for us. That’s why it’s good to learn about the different types of literature in the Bible and how to interpret it. This is where a BrookwoodU class could be helpful.
As you sit down with your Bible, start by praying and asking God to reveal His truth by His Spirit. Then, pay attention to what you read. What thoughts enter your mind? How do you feel about what you are reading? What do the words prompt you to do? Then, do it.
Reading the Bible is a powerful and supernatural exchange. There is no other book like it.
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If you missed my message, God's Vision for Your Life, today, it will be available online at http://www.brookwoodchurch.org/mediaplayer on Monday morning.
If you'd like to contribute to Water of Life and provide fresh drinking water to people in West Africa and India: http://www.givefreshwater.org
God bless,
Allen
By Allen White
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21
I love books. Like some people love chocolate, I love books. At any given time, I am in the middle of six or more books. Always. So, you can imagine that over the years, I’ve collected quite a few books.
So many books, in fact, that when we moved into the new offices at Brookwood Church, there wasn’t enough room in my office for all of my books and me. My books are in my office, in my house, in my garage, and in other people's offices.
What do I read? I’m so glad that you asked. I read books on leadership, discipleship, spiritual formation, sales and marketing, reference, theology, commentaries, novels – all kinds of pastor/leader/teacher sorts of things.
Most of my books were written by one author. Sometimes there is a co-author. But, among my sets of biblical commentaries there are many authors and a general editor. Since each book is written by a different scholar, the general editor makes sure that the whole thing makes sense together. You don’t want a legalist interpreting James, and then an antinomian translating Galatians in the same set of books. That would be confusing. The thoughts have to flow.
I have one book that was written by 40 authors over 1,500 years on three continents in three different languages. It has no general author. How could it? The writing took 40 generations to complete. That book is the Bible.
The Bible is a remarkable book. Using the personalities and experiences of the writers, the Holy Spirit led them to compose different elements to reveal God’s vision for our lives.
Both kings and peasants wrote of grace and redemption. A murderer reveals the origins of the universe (Genesis). A tax collector translates Jesus to a Jewish audience (Matthew). A terrorist leads us down the Romans Road of God’s grace.
No one could have planned the Bible. There were no cheat sheets as to what should be written next.
We aren’t told everything that we want to know, but we are given everything that we need to know. Are these the end times? We don’t know that. What we do know is that God has given us His power to win the lost (Acts 1:6-8). But, what about all of this turmoil in the Middle East? Is that a sign?
If it is a sign, it points us to look up from the internet and look across the street to our neighbor who needs Christ. The answers to their problems are found in God’s Word.
God’s Word is alive and active. It’s not a dusty old book. The Bible is the bestselling book of all-time, yet it’s nearly 2,000 years old.
What do you need to hear from God today? The Bible reveals God’s vision for your life.
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