Monday, Jan 19, 2009

TWG - January 19, 2009 - Don't want to grow up?

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TWG – January 19, 2009
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Joshua 4; Psalm 127; 1 John 4

Today is January 19, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

So what did I do that was interesting over the weekend? I made a dump run. I unloaded some materials at a rental. I went to music practice. I preached another message on Christians and riches. I watched a football game. I went to a business meeting. Do any of those things qualify as interesting and exciting? I enjoyed doing them all! That is good. I also got into a running conversation with my nephew about the Palestinian / Israeli conflict. He is against Israel because they are killing innocent bystanders… so do the Palestinian suicide bombers and fighters. So I responded by saying that biblically, defense of country is something God allows and expects! We’ll see what comes next. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. God blesses those who bless his earthly chosen people, and curses those who curse them. I put a picture of Phil and Doris’s dog squirt on the blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out.

Today’s thought comes from 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Do you belong to the “Carnal Christian Club?” What is a Carnal Christian? Here’s how Paul defines them in 1 Corinthians 3: They are not spiritual. They act like babes in Christ. They must be bottle fed from the Word. They can’t handle solid application of Scriptural truth to their lives. They are characterized by envy, strife and divisions. They behave like non-believers. Not too flattering of a description huh? It almost sounds as though it would be tough to tell the difference between the way a Carnal Christian acts and a Heathen! That can’t be good! We are supposed to be new creatures in Christ Jesus. Christians are supposed to be transformed and delivered. Reality check! There are a lot of us Christians who have never grown up! So let’s do a solemn review of our lives to see whether we are stuck in Carnality or whether (hopefully) we’ve moved on to maturity. Another word for Carnal is fleshly and the word means “under the control of our fleshly appetites.” I want you to meet one of these fleshly folk: Carnal Karl is a guy driven by his emotions and passions. He has a difficult time keeping himself under control. His feelings will suddenly bubble up to the surface. HE is controlled by them! Karl can flash from 0 to angry in .005 seconds. A world’s record! And defensive! Don’t say the wrong thing about Karl! He is opinionated as the day is long. He’s got a comeback for everything you say. Karl tries to hide some of the “less acceptable” sins, but once you get to know him, you realize that he is a taker not a giver (they call that greed). His humor is a little risqué (they call that lust). And when he asks you for prayer about someone in the church he is quite descriptive of their faults and failings (they call that gossip!). Karl’s problem? He’s never submitted his life to the Lordship of Christ and had Jesus transform him. He loves his sin, and doesn’t want to give it up. His life is riddled with faults and shortcomings. He is threatened by the need to change. He is enormously insecure and afraid that people will find out what he is like! What does Karl need? Repentance! He needs to face the painful truth about himself and humbly seek Divine help and human accountability. Time to grow up!
Do you belong to the “Carnal Christian Club?” What is a Carnal Christian? Here’s how Paul defines them in 1 Corinthians 3: They are not spiritual. They act like babes in Christ. They must be bottle fed from the Word. They can’t handle solid application of Scriptural truth to their lives. They are characterized by envy, strife and divisions. They behave like non-believers. Not too flattering of a description huh? It almost sounds as though it would be tough to tell the difference between the way a Carnal Christian acts and a Heathen! That can’t be good! We are supposed to be new creatures in Christ Jesus. Christians are supposed to be transformed and delivered. Reality check! There are a lot of us Christians who have never grown up! So let’s do a solemn review of our lives to see whether we are stuck in Carnality or whether (hopefully) we’ve moved on to maturity. Another word for Carnal is fleshly and the word means “under the control of our fleshly appetites.” I want you to meet one of these fleshly folk: Carnal Karl is a guy driven by his emotions and passions. He has a difficult time keeping himself under control. His feelings will suddenly bubble up to the surface. HE is controlled by them! Karl can flash from 0 to angry in .005 seconds. A world’s record! And defensive! Don’t say the wrong thing about Karl! He is opinionated as the day is long. He’s got a comeback for everything you say. Karl tries to hide some of the “less acceptable” sins, but once you get to know him, you realize that he is a taker not a giver (they call that greed). His humor is a little risqué (they call that lust). And when he asks you for prayer about someone in the church he is quite descriptive of their faults and failings (they call that gossip!). Karl’s problem? He’s never submitted his life to the Lordship of Christ and had Jesus transform him. He loves his sin, and doesn’t want to give it up. His life is riddled with faults and shortcomings. He is threatened by the need to change. He is enormously insecure and afraid that people will find out what he is like! What does Karl need? Repentance! He needs to face the painful truth about himself and humbly seek Divine help and human accountability. Time to grow up!

Dear Father: Forgive me for my carnal tendencies. I need your transformation. I am afraid of change, it is so painful. Please help me to love what you love and despise what you hate. I want to grow up to be just like You. I can only do that with the Spirits filling.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:52 AM |   

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