03.27.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 7:29 am by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:18 Theme: Reasons to remember Paul’s chains Key verses: “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you” (v. 18) What God said to me: Good morning, Dwayne. I’ve missed meeting with you the past several mornings. I want to show you something here in my Word today. I love talking with you and renewing your spirit and perspective before me. Like your pastor shared Sunday, the first small hole that allows you to “leak” and ultimately lose all passion and anointing is to ignore my voice of truth by not reading and studying my Word. Consider Paul: According to this final verse of his letter here, he wrote this letter with his own hand. Often Luke and others would help him with the actual dictation. But Paul took special care to write this one himself. This further underscores his passion and determination to communicate my supremacy to this local church at Colosse. Why did Paul urge them to remember his chains? Certainly it wasn’t to gain their sympathy. Paul was far past needing someone to feel depressed and sorry for him. He was in me. For him to live was Christ and to die was gain. However, Paul did dote on people’s prayers for him. He understood the power in prayer and intercession. Dwayne, always take the time to pray on others’ behalf. Remember those in other ministries and on foreign and difficult fields serving me. Remember your brothers and sisters in bondage. Another reason to remember others’ chains is that they remind you of your own blessings and freedoms. Everything good in your life, every moment you can walk into the daylight free from pain and shackles is a gift from me. There is one more reason to remember chains that I want you to realize and embrace: Chains aren’t necessarily bad. Perhaps Paul wanted his readers to keep his chains in mind because those metal links pointed toward a greater and far more weighty and wonderful enslavery. Paul was completely yeilded and bonded to me. He only did what I bided. Perhaps the chains he really had in mind weren’t physical but spiritual. Of course, the ”chains” I give you, like my yoke, are easy and my burden is light. In fact my chains are worn willingly not forcefully. And my chains actually bring you the greatest freedom and joy. Remember others’ chains, and appreciate your own chains. What I said to God: Holy God, I praise You for speaking to me today. I will make time this day to remember my fellow Christians around the world who suffer persecution and trial for Your name’s sake. I will remember their chains and I will be reminded and thankful for my lack of bondage and imprisonment. We are incredibly blessed with freedom to share your love with others. I choose today to take up my cross, my “chains,” and follow You closely and only.
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03.21.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 9:15 am by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:17 Theme: Paul wanted others in the Kingdom to finish their work as well. Key verses: “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’” What God said to me: My servant, Paul, recognized that his work wasn’t the only work in my Kingdom. He knew other believers had their assignments as well. And because Paul was Kingdom-minded he wanted their work to be completed as much as he wanted his own. Paul wasn’t focused on himself and his own ministry as though that was the only one that mattered. In these last words of this letter, he took time to challenge a fellow laborer to stay the course and complete his part of the bigger vision - my vision that none would perish, but that all would come to repentance. Dwayne, Paul was willing to die for that vision. It consumed him, and he embraced it as his mission on earth. Yet, he always kept his own ministry in proper perspective. His was simply one among many that I will use to reach this world. Always keep your own life and work in proper relation to other’s around you. Never think too highly of yourself or the ministry to which I have called you. Yes, your mission is great and important and must be completed. In fact, I will hold you personally accountable if you do not disciple your family and equip worship leaders and encourage and challenge believers and illumine the lost with my Light. However, never lose sight of the thousands of other viable and important ministries out there. Furthermore, encourage and challenge and pray for them as I give you opportunity. What I said to God: Thank you, Father, for speaking to me today. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing this truth to my heart. Please burn into my conscious an awareness and love for the ministries of others. May I never think only of my own work. Mine is only one piece of the puzzle, one part of the bigger plan. Thank you for Paul who had a sober and clear view of his work and his life and his accomplishments in the Kingdom. Such a view can only come from hours invested alone with You. Such a view produces a minister You can use to the fullest to also encourage others to be used to their fullest potential. Wow, I am so glad You have called me into this thing called ministry and into this thing called abundant life! Thank You, my Lord and my God!
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03.20.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 4:07 pm by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:10-17 Theme: Even the great missionary and writer Paul made space for the concerns of his fellow workers. Key verses: “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark…(v. 10a) “These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” (v. 11b) Epaphras…sends greetings.” (v. 12) “Our dear friend Luke…and Demas send greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house.” (v. 14-15) “…see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans…” (v. 16) “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received from the Lord.” (v. 17) What God said to me: Dwayne, I want you to grasp this so listen carefully. As important as it is to share with others what I am doing with you and your ministry, it is even more important to consider your fellow brothers and sisters and their needs and concerns. If fact, people are your ministry. Never overlook the people I have placed in your path for looking at your “bigger vision.” You will never have a bigger vision than ministering and esteeming those very ones - my little ones - standing right in front of you. I love you, Dwayne. I have a tremendous ministry assigned to you, one you have “received from the Lord.” But it is not bigger than Paul’s. If Paul could and did always take time to write what about what concerned and helped others, so must you. Paul sent these greetings to encourage his fellow workers and prisoners and to encourage and comfort his readers. Yet, beyond that season of struggle, those greetings would be dated and passe. Had Paul only looked at the bigger picture of those of us who would read his writings hundreds of years later, he might not have thought it appropriate to include such “menial” and temporary words. Dwayne, my child, that is just the point: Thinking of others is never menial and ultimately not at all temporary. Be a blessing to those you encounter today. Be where you are and be all you can be to those you meet and to those you love. What I said to God: Holy Lord and eternal Father, I am amazed at the insights in Your Word. I am humbled that You would speak to me in such clear and simple words that convict and cleanse and change. Forgive me for thinking so loftily at times about this great ministry You have shown us that I look right over the heads of the very ones You want me to help and witness to from day to day. I embrace the truth that I have no greater ministry than focusing on my ministry for today. I look forward to an opportunity to share Your love with someone this very day.
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03.16.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 4:29 pm by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:7-9 Theme: Keeping people informed about ourselves can be a good thing. Key verses: “Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.” (v. 7) “I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.” (v. 8) “They will tell you everything that is happening here.” (v. 9b) What God said to me: Dwayne, people want and need to know what you are doing. They are encouraged when they see my hand working in your life. Never be reluctant to talk about your ministry, your family, and your joy and difficulties in life. I am not saying you should praise yourself, mind you. “Let another praise you” is still the rule of thumb. Rather, everytime you open your mouth to speak about yourself, do it in tones of praise and thanksgiving to the God (me) who blessed you and has chosen to use you. By bringing attention to yourself you are actually bringing glory to me. Why? Because everything you have and everything you are comes from me. I made you, Dwayne. Be a trophy of my grace, both now and for eternity. One word of caution: Notice Paul sent his representatives to people who loved and supported him and who were fellow believers. What you should share and even if you should share about yourself depends on your audience. Also, only share as much as is needed for the occasion. What I said to God: Thank you, precious, precious Lord, for loving and saving me. Praise you for giving me such a wonderful and supportive wife. I could not have hand -picked someone more perfect to be my companion. Thank You for our two boys. Thank You for saving them both early in their lives. And, Lord, I still can hardly believe I am getting to do this ministry at our church and through our writing. Why would You bless me to allow me to do what I love the most? Why would give me such incredible and wise friends and supporters? Why would you protect our health and give me such amazing visions and ideas and open doors? Why? I know why: to show forth Your praises. Everything about my life is straight from Your hand of grace and mercy. May I never hesitate to tell anyone who asks how and what I am doing. Help me use wisdom on what and when and how I share about myself to others. And most importantly, help me only lift You up above myself.
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03.13.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 10:03 am by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:5-6 Theme: Our lives are to impact others constantly and wisely. Key verses: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” What God said to me: Dwayne, I know you “had a word from me” last week about this passage and that you typed it all out then lost it in the internet transfer. I understand that you got the wind knocked out of your sails just a bit and haven’t wanted to return to this passage for a second, “warmed-over” word. However, you must keep in mind that my Word is alive and active and never warmed-over. Your reluctance to return was little more than an excuse not to dive deeper into my written Word. My Holy Spirit can reveal the same thing to you that He did last week, or He might want to show you something now that you were unable to see last week. Life happens; things get changed; but I never change, and I demand your attention and daily time with me in my Word - no matter how much your “sails” droop. Now on to today’s focus: Paul was in prison when he wrote this. Yet, he was still thinking of others. He understood that our lives exist not for ourselves, but for those around us. “Every opportunity” for Paul at that moment meant witnessing to the prison guards and writting letters of teaching and admonishing to the saints. Dwayne, even when you are down, even when your life is bound up in chains of sickness or tragedy, you are still to think of others more than yourself. You are still to make the most of that moment and see it as yet another opportunity to praise me in front of those around you. Be wise about it. That means to allow my Holy Spirit to fill and direct you through those “opportunities.” Think before you speak and act. Think three times if you need to. And when you do open your mouth, let it project words worth listening to, words that impact the listener and can point their focus toward me as well. Have something interesting to say. It doesn’t have to all “spiritual” all the time, but it does have to be salty, flavored, healthy, thoughtful and purposefully helpful. No more excuses, Dwayne. Come before me again and again and get the words you are to say, the words of life that can change your listeners lives forever. What I said to God: Holy Father, please forgive me for my childish reaction to last week’s little set-back. I admit I did use that as an excuse to put off revisiting this passage before You. Make my life a prayer to You. I want to do what You want me to. I want others to always see You in me. And I want and must not only hope they see You in me. I must verbalize my faith out loud and live to the praise of the glory of Your grace for all to see. May my family and my church live for You today as well. I love You and adore You!
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03.02.07
Posted in Thoughts on Colossians at 7:22 am by Administrator
Text: Colossians 4:2-4 Theme: Paul never ceased to look for more ways to proclaim the Gospel. Key verses: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” What God said to me: When Paul wrote the letter to Colosse he had been in the ministry as a missionary for over 20 years. He was well-known to Christians everywhere. By that time, he had appeared before key government rulers and was infamously hated and feared among many Pharisees and church leaders. As your standards go today, Paul was “successful.” He had “made it.” He would be the equivilent of your most well-known and passionate evangelists and best-selling authors today. He would be greatly sought after for TV interviews and book endorsements. Yet, Paul was still asking others for prayer. Notice it wasn’t your typical Wednesday night church prayer request. Paul wasn’t seeking relief from his thorn in the flesh. He wasn’t asking them to intercede that his chains fall off and he walk out of his prison cell a free man. He didn’t ask for wisdom in planning his comfortable retirement package. Paul had one thing on his mind and heart, one thing that drove him. He wanted souls in the Kingdom. He was not content with his level of accomplishment in winning the lost. He so desired to make the mystery of my Son known that he asked twice in the same breath that he might proclaim it. Dwayne, he never stopped praying for a new and larger door to open. Word to the wise: Don’t be driven by “building your platform or name.” Never be duped by worldly success. Rather, work tirelessly and pray fervantly for more doors, specifically a key door, to be opened by me to allow you to impact thousands for my glory. That prayer I will answer. What I said to God: Wow, Lord, You have once again revealed an amazing truth to me and nailed me to the wall with Your dead-on conviction and direction. I needed to be reminded that the opportunities that have come along for us, as amazing as they are, represent merely the tip of the iceberg. I cannot/will not be content with these initial doors. I now realize they are but entries to other, much larger doors to allow us to proclaim Your Gospel to this world. It’s not about me, but it’s for Your glory!
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