Category: Practical

Rely on the Spirit to live “on mission”

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

“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. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

John 15:26-26

We are able to live life “on mission” because the Spirit dwells within us and empowers us.

The degree to which we rely on the Spirit is the degree to which our mission will be successful.

Relying on the Spirit doesn’t look like us sitting on our hands. Rather it looks like us depending on Him to provide us the Words to say in difficult or foreign situations.

It looks like us trusting He will bring people into our paths. A “divine appointment” if you will.

It also looks like us petition the Spirit to change the hearts of those whom we know and asking that He would use us as His instruments to bring about change.

It further looks like us trusting that the Spirit will convict, convince, and regenerate.

Instead of seeking to build the church and make disciples in a man-centered way, we must rely on the Spirit and align ourselves with God’s will found in God’s Word.

Jesus sends the Spirit for a reason, let’s not deny His existence and power. Instead, let’s allow the Spirit to empower us to live life “on mission” for Jesus, making disciple-making disciples of all peoples.

The Importance of Reading the Bible in Context

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, PracticalLeave a comment

“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

(Matt 19:21)

Yes, Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. But why? The context tells us and the context is key. The rich young ruler thought he could earn his way into heaven through good works. Jesus, however, used his possessions to show him that was not true.

In the case of the rich young ruler, he may have kept some of the commandments but when it came to putting other gods before Yahweh, he failed. He worshipped his possessions, which is idolatry. When asked to put away his idols, he refused.

Our hearts are desperately wicked. An idol factories even. We don’t need the secret combination of works. Selling your possessions does no more to earn you a place in the kingdom than does keeping all the rest of the commandments. It is not about our actions, but our heart. Our heart is sick with sin. We need a complete heart change. We need a Savior. We can’t be our own. We need Jesus to pay our debt because we can’t pay it ourselves.

Be a responsible Bible reader. Don’t read verses in isolation. Read the context. It is important to understanding God’s will.

How Can We Reach the Next Generation?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (Ps 78:5–8)

I have been reading through the Psalms as part of a program to read through them all 150 in a month. In this morning’s reading, I came across the above passage. In it, we are told that generational ministry is important. Whatever else we are doing, we need to see the importance of reaching the next generation for Christ.

How do we do it?

(1) It begins at home

If you want to reach the next generation and you have kids, you need to start pouring God’s Word into them. Start early and young. Get in a routine of reading the Bible with your children, even if it is a paraphrased version. A favorite at our house is the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is a great beginner Bible because it introduces them to the storyline of Scripture in a non-moralistic way.

You can also start memorizing Scripture with your kids. This is something I have started doing lately with my oldest. His mind is a sponge at this age, which means it is a good time for him to start hiding God’s Word in there. I am using the Fighter Verses App, and we are working through the Foundation verses for kids.

(2) It continues in the community

If we want to reach the next generation, we have to make ourselves available to them. As well as we need to seek to build relationships with them. We need to show interest in the things in which they are interested. Be an encouragement to them. Let them know we are a resource to them.

(3) It continues on into the church

If we want to reach the next generation, we have to recognize that the things that reached our generation are probably not the same things that are going to reach the generation or two or three after us. Their preferences are different. How they interact with the world is different. What they expect and want out of the church may even be different. We need to be willing to remove any obstacles to them coming into the church. As well as we need to look for ways to serve them.

But, and this is huge, we need to remove obstacles and serve the next generation do in any way we can without diminishing the gospel, and the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. The gospel changes everything, we need to make sure it is central. Life change happens as the Word of God is driven into our hearts by the Work of the Holy Spirit. Watering down its message, changing it, or diminishing the centrality of God’s Word in any way our ministries will not result in us truly reaching the next generation.

The Psalmist tells us it is the truths of God’s Word that we are to teach our children to set their hope on, not fun and games, musical preferences, TedTalks, community service, etc. It is God’s Word that produces fruitful people who are ever seeking to glorify God with their lives, so we must keep God’s Word central, while at the same time removing any preferential obstacles in the church.

Question for Reflection

  1. How else can we reach the next generation?

How to Read the Book of Psalms

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

I hope that you have chosen to read the Psalms in community this month. If you have, here is an excellent video from the Bible Project that should help with that endeavor.

What must believers do to persevere through persecution? – Part 2

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Almost every night the boys and I wrestle with one another. Apart from trying to beat me down to the ground, one of the things they like to do is run full speed down the hall, into the living room, and right into me. Thankfully, at least for now, I’m able to resist them from knocking me over by standing firm. Just as I stand firm against the kids blows, Peter tells us we must stand firm against the devil, resisting his roar of persecution.

(3) Believers must resist the devil by remaining firm in their faith

In contrast to me wrestling the kids, we learn that we aren’t to resist the devil in our own strength. Instead, we resist him by faith. In other words, resisting Satan doesn’t involve herculean acts of strength on our part. It involves continued faith in God’s mighty hand.

Admittedly, continuing in faith is easier said than done, especially when you’re staring a lion down. Peter knows which is why in the next two and a half verses he works to provide the motivation we need to stand firm. He begins in verse 9 by telling us that: Persecution is a common occurrence for the Christian. Look at what he says in the second half of the verse,

“knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Pe 5:9b)

While we might feel isolated when we are standing before the mighty roaring lion of persecution, Peter tells us that we aren’t alone. There are others all over the world experiencing persecution. The implied idea seems to be that they are standing firm, resisting Satan’s attack. If they can do it, so can we. Not in our own strength, but by humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God, trusting that He will provide us what we need in order to persevere.

After telling us we aren’t alone, Peter continues to motivate us to persevere by telling us that: Persecution will not last forever. Look at verse 10,

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Pe 5:10)

One of the ways I like to get my exercise is to run. While the part of Texas in which I live is generally flat, the area right around my house. There aren’t any mountains, but the hills right around my house are deceivingly steep. When I’m out running, I like to push myself to run those hills as fast as I can. Starting out its easy, but there is always this point about half way through where I’m ready to throw in the towel and slow down. While the struggle is real, what allows me to push through and make it up the hill is knowing that the end is near. Peter wants us to see the same. He wants us to see that suffering, though painful at the time, isn’t going to last forever. It’s going to end. We might experience the end at some point in the future.Or we might not experience it until Jesus returns. Either way, persecution is not going to last forever. God will finally and fully deal with it at Jesus’ return where we will be vindicated.

But until that time comes, God will cause to persevere. That’s what Peter is getting at with the four rapid fire verbs he uses at the end of verse 10. While each are slightly different, they all combine to make the same point — God will strengthen and fortify us so that we persevere until the end. We not only learn that in verse 10, but we also learn the same at the beginning of the letter. Starting in verse 3 of chapter 1, we read:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [and here is what I want you to see] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pe 1:3–5)

Notice that God causes us to persevere through faith. Faith, He mightily works in us. That’s an important point to get because it tells us that we don’t persevere in our own strength, but through God’s strength as He works the faith needed for perseverance in us.

God is able to cause us to persevere because: God has dominion and control over this world. Look at verse 11,

“To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pe 5:11)

This verse is a doxology — a written praise to the Lord — but Peter includes it here as a means to strengthen our faith. Knowing that God is sovereign and in control of this world, that nothing happens outside of His sovereign control, that He is not blindsided or overpowered when we face persecution, should give us the confidence we need to press on in resisting the devil by exercising faith in God.

Conclusion

So we see that persevering through persecution requires us to: humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, remain clear-headed and alert to the devil’s plan, and resist the devil by standing firm in our faith. If we do those things, we will be successful in persevering through persecution.

What must believers do to persevere through persecution? – Part 1

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

I recently sat down with my youngest son to build an alligator from a lego set we bought him. Before I opened the box I thought, “I got this. I mean, how hard can it be to build a lego alligator?” Well, let me just say, my tune quickly changed as soon as I opened the box. Whoever designed that alligator had a great imagination. They were using Lego pieces in ways I would have never imagined. Instead of trying to go at it on my own, I did the wise thing, I pulled out the instructions and followed them step by step. And in no time, we had an alligator.

Putting that alligator together with my son reminded me that we are created with a need for instruction. While we all inherently know that’s true, there is something in us that drives us to go at it on our own.

But if we can’t handle putting together something as simple as a Lego alligator without following the instructions, what makes us think that we can handle the difficulties the world throws at us on our own?

We need instruction. Not just anyone’s instruction. We need God’s instruction. Especially, when we are facing something as difficult and all-consuming as persecution.

Because our God is a good God who loves us and wants what’s best for us, He gives us what we need. He gives us the instruction that we need so that we can persevere through persecution. Let’s look at what He has to say.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pe 5:6–11)

One of the greatest acts of betrayal a father can experience is when a son rises up against him. Throughout history, many fathers, leaders, and kings have had that experience. King David is no exception. His son Absalom made a power play for the throne. After four years of secretly working behind the scenes to build the support of the people, he put his plan in motion. By God’s grace, on the day Absalom decided to cash in on his hard work, David heard about the conspiracy and was able to escape to the wilderness.

While he avoided Absalom for some time, the day of battle finally came.  When that day came, David did something strange. Something you wouldn’t expect a deceived father, a king who had been humiliated, his throne ripped from him to do. He told his army to “deal gently…with…Absalom” (2 Sam 18:5). David not only gave that command because he loved his son, but because he fully trusted in the Lord. We know that because Psalm 55 allows us to peer into David’s heart during this difficult time. Starting in verse 16 he says,

“But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God.” (Ps 55:16–19)

Instead of taking matters into his own hands, David turns to the Lord. When we are facing difficulties we must do the same.

Believers must humble themselves under the mighty hand of God

We learn this from David, as well as we learn this from Peter. After telling us to literally clothe ourselves in humility in verse 5, Peter says in verse 6,

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” (1 Pe 5:6)

Pride says, “I can do it on my own. I am strong enough to handle it.” Humility says, “I recognize that I’m not strong enough, that God is mightier than I, and that I don’t have to do it on my own.” We don’t have to pull own our bootstraps and go out it on our own, instead, we are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand like David did, trusting that God can and will deal with the difficulties of life, especially when it comes to persecution.

Why can we humble ourselves?

We can humble ourselves for several reasons, but I’ll offer two:

(1) God is great and mighty God who fights on behalf of His people.

Throughout biblical history God has done just that. Israel’s Exodus out of Egypt is one of the greatest displays of God’s care and glory besides the cross of Christ. If you remember, God’s people were enslaved in Egypt. They were being treated terribly. Hearing His people’s prayer, God rises up against the Pharaoh, displaying. His power through 10 plagues that ultimately result in Israel’s release.

God, however, wasn’t done showing His power. With Israel’s back was against the Red Sea and the Egyptians bearing down on them, God literally parts the sea so that His people are able to walk across on dry ground. Seeing that the Israelites were getting away, the Egyptians ran into those walls of water which were soon to become their tomb. As they were running through this magnificent site, God removes His mighty hand and the waters came crashing down, drowning the mighty Egyptian army. Our God is a mighty God, who uses His power on behalf of His people

(2) God is a great and mighty God who cares for His people.

Did you know that there are 7.6 billion people on planet earth? That is unbelievable! A number I can’t even fathom. With so many people there is no way that we could ever know what is going on in their life. We can’t even do that for the 5,000 or more people that live here in Decatur.

But you know who does know? God knows. He doesn’t just know about us. We aren’t just a statistic to God. No, He knows us intimately. He knows us in that way because He cares about us. Because He cares about us, we can cast our cares on Him. Look at verse 7,

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Pe 5:7)

Our God is a God who cares, which means that nothing that we are facing is insignificant to Him. It doesn’t matter if it is something that is small or big, God cares. Because God cares, we can cast “all” not just some, “all” of our anxieties on Him. Anything that causes us to worry, we are to take it to God. Don’t think that the problem you are dealing with is too small for God to be bothered with. No problem that we face is insignificant to Him. Our God is a God who cares!

So we need to quit trying to handle things on our own. Instead, we need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, allowing Him to handle it for us. That is what He instructs us to do and that is what we must do. This is especially true when we are facing persecution. That’s because persecution is not a flesh and blood battle it is a spiritual battle, it’s spiritual warfare. We need God to fight that battle for us, to strengthen us, to work in and through us. We need Him to deal with our persecutors.