Spiritual Walking

This past Sunday, we studied the idea of walking in the Spirit. Romans 8:1 tells us that the believer is one who is without condemnation and one who walks in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 also addresses walking in the Spirit. What then does it mean to walk in the Spirit? For me, it means going to where the Holy Spirit is working and join Him in His present ministry. It is there that He will have an immediate and transforming impact on your life.

Where can you find the Holy Spirit at work? There are many places, some of which involve the moment of salvation or life in general. However for our study I want to find places where He ministers directly to the believer. Look first at John 14:26 and Ephesians 3:16-18. Here we find that the Holy Spirit teaches and gives understanding to the Bible. I have always felt that the John passage is more Apostle-specific, but I do not so limit the Ephesians passage. Here we see the Holy Spirit giving comprehension to the infinite dimensions of God. This comprehension comes primarily through the reading and understanding of the Word.

Some other places where we find the Holy Spirit working is in our prayer life and in our worship. I link these together because prayer is an important aspect of worship. The Holy Spirit empowers our prayers. Jude 20 and Romans 8:26-27 teach this fact. Philippians 3:3 and John 4:23 tell us that the Holy Spirit gives meaning to our worship. If we could get on a plane and fly to a tribal community and there meet with a group of believers, we would find their church to be most primitive. Where we have padded pews and stained glass windows, they sit on crude wooden benches placed out in the open. Where we have grand instruments, like the piano or organ, they may have an out-of-tune guitar. However, our grandeur does not give meaning to worship. What does? It is the Holy Spirit. For that reason, believers can worship in any setting and find that the worship is full and complete because of the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Two additional areas where we find the ministry of the Holy Spirit is in witnessing and in the use of our spiritual gifts. Acts 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:10 teach this. Without the Holy Spirit we would not have the ability, the burden, nor the direction for our witnessing. To see the local church and the worldwide body of Christ grow, it is essential that we use the gifts given to us by God.

Finally, walking in the Spirit involves a transformation that begins on the inside and resonates outwardly for all to see. Galatians 4:19 says, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you...". The Greek word for "formed" is morpho-o. It carries with it the idea of an outward transformation realized by an inward change. God desires that our character be Christ-like. For this to be, we must meet the Holy Spirit where He is working and submit to Him in faith. Then He will begin to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Of course if we elect to not do those things - read the Bible, pray, worship, witness, serve - then we should not expect God to change us.

So lace up your walking shoes. Go to where we find the Holy Spirit at work and join Him in His ministry. Then you will begin to see God change you into the likeness of His Son.

-Mark

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Rescue & Reward

Here is a wonderful story that aired this morning on the Today Show. It tells a powerful story of rescue and reward - the reward of seeing a life lived well.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Making Sense of Sense & Sensibility

I have often enjoyed watching the various Jane Austin novels that have been made into movies or T.V. dramas. Some would say that I am responding to my inner chick. Maybe they are correct.

So my next book to review will be Sense & Sensibility. I'll begin reading it soon, and will give my opinion and overview in the weeks to come. Until then, feel free to comment about S&S or any other Jane Austin work.

-Mark

XXX Church Porn

There is a illness, a virus, a pandemic that is attacking families, communities, and even churches. What is this illness? It is the illness of pornography. Porn wrecks relationships, marriages, families, and even harms the body of Christ. 47% of all Christians interviewed say that pornography is a major problem in their home.

There are many reasons to fear pornography. I'll only share one. Porn often starts as a secret sin. However over time, porn desensitizes the viewer. Therefore for the viewer to get the same thrill, as previously realized, the viewer must go into more extreme forms of pornography. However, this rarely satisfies for long. So the viewer must manifest their inner thoughts into outward behavior - attend strip clubs, frequent prostitutes, or take on multiple lovers. Now the sin is no longer secret and the harm is even more widespread.

Since this is a problem with such devastating results, I want to share with you some resources that you can begin to use.

http://xxxchurch.com/ is a unique site that has discussion boards, articles, videos, and other resources to help you with the porn illness. The xxxchurch ministry is far from traditional in how it approaches its work, especially its outreach into the sex industry, but for many it is helpful.

The American Family Association has a helpful section on pornography, www.afa.net/pornography/. The AFA site has many articles on internet porn, sexual addiction, and even how to confront a sexually-oriented business in your community.

There are many sites devoted to counseling for porn addiction. One is http://www.purelifeministries.org/index.cfm. At purelife you can download podcasts, subsribe to an E-newsletter, or take advantage of their counseling. They have counseling tracks for both men and women. If their stats are correct, 20% of all christian women struggle with pornography.

I hope this helps you confront the illness of porn. Later in the year Iwill revisit this problem in even greater detail.

-Mark

Please visit our church at http://wakefieldbible.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=40157

Exospection Leads to Introspection

I came across a wonderful article by Kevin Roose, published in the Brown Alumni magazine. He tells of his semester at Liberty University. Kevin, a graduate of Brown, chose to enroll in LU for one semester in order to experience what life would be like in a conservative Christian university. I might quickly add that LU is not considered conservative in conservative circles. Had Kevin attended Pensacola Christian College, Hyles-Anderson, or Bob Jones University, he would have experienced a true "conservative" college. However, he would not have survived one semester. He would have been kicked out for some indescretion, or they would have smelled a rat. Liberty, though, did give him a good view of life on a Christian evangelical college.

That said, you should read Kevin's article, because his words force us to look at ourselves. Introspection is an important activity that should be taken frequently. Jesus' words and actions, in the Gospels, prompts such by both believers and unbelievers. If we are honest with our handling of all Scripture, then we are constantly forced to view ourselves in light of our Heavenly Father.


-Mark

Kevin Roose's article


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Macbeth And The Sin From Whence We Are Redeemed

I should probably start a blog, titled Stories of Redemption, with a work that is a bit more uplifting, with a work that speaks of redemption. However, I chose Macbeth. There is a reason for this choice. It is my hope that Macbeth will give an opportunity for discussion on the subject from whence is man redeemed. If there is a need for redemption, where does man initially find himself that forces a need for redemption and a redeemer. That place is sin, and Macbeth does a wonderful job in its portrayal of such.

For me, Macbeth speaks more of sin and less of sins. Many artistic works speak of and often celebrate sins, the evil behaviors of mankind. But what makes Macbeth unique is its understanding of sin, that nature, which is in every man, and for which Christ ultimately died. We are given a look into the dark heart of Macbeth just minutes after his first meeting with the three witches. Upon hearing that he would soon be Thane of Cawdor and eventually King, Macbeth mutters,
"This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise and nothing is but what is not....If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me."
So Macbeth begins immediately to wrestle with his inner nature, his dark heart. And this is the power and the purpose of the play, to show the viewer the inner thoughts of a man, the thoughts of which only God is fully aware.
If you take the time to read Macbeth, I would recommend you rent the 1979 video version of the play, starring Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. This is a difficult version to watch, not because it is poorly made or acted - just the opposite. Philp Cason and Trevor Nunn, who direct and conceive this version, take a minimalistic approach. There is no scenery, little to no props, limited costuming, and often only one single spotlight. The intent is to focus the audience on the faces and thus the words of the script. You cannot look away, you cannot escape understanding the man Macbeth and the sin to which he responds.

-Mark

The Mac Daddies on Discipleship

Lately, there has been a discussion here at Wakefield over the question of discipleship. "What is discipleship?" and "What makes one a disciple of Jesus Christ?" are two of the questions kicked around. We know that Matthew 28:19 tells us to go and make disciples. Does that mean that the term "disciple" is the same as "believer"? Let's try in just a few paragraphs to develop an answer.

First, to be a disciple it is absolutely essential to be a believer. One cannot be a disciple of Christ without first putting their trust in Christ. Are there those who follow the principles of the christian life without first believing? No doubt. However, to live the disciple's life does require something that only a believer posseses, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. For the life of a disciple is a supernatural life, a life that can only be lived with the power of God, not the power of self.

William MacDonald, a Plymouth Brethren writer, lists seven terms for discipleship:
1. A supreme love for Jesus Christ - Luke 14:26
2. A denial of self - Matthew 16:24
3. A deliberate choosing of the cross - Matthew 16:24
4. A life spent following Christ - Matthew 16:24; Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:8
5. A fervent love for all who belong to Christ - John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
6. An unswerving continuance in His Word - John 8:31
7. A forsaking of all to follow Him - Luke 14:33

I'll put a link to MacDonald's article below and you can go to it and read the greater detail. Feel free to voice you comments here concerning the article.

We can simplify MacDonald's many words by using a statement from John MacArthur Jr. Commenting on Matthew 7:24-27 in his commentary on Matthew 1-7, MacArthur says, "The mark of true discipleship is not simply hearing and believing, but believing and doing." The two men in the passage build similar homes, but with one major difference - the foundation. The passage speaks of a believer building a life based on obedience to God's Word as opposed to someone, unbeliever or believer, who builds his life on something other than God's Word. The first is a disciple, the second not.

If our understanding of Matthew 7:24-27 is correct, then churches contain many believers, but few disciples. Discipleship begins with faith, but does not end there. Discipleship is a life lived in obedience to Christ and to His Word. God help us in our effort to obey and in our effort to bring others into the the place of discipleship.

-Mark

MacDonald's article

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Celebrating the Harvest

This past Saturday I attended the Christian Farmers Outreach luncheon. This ministry shares the story of Jesus Christ at fairs, sports shows and farm shows around the country. They share this story using a walking stick and colored beads. According to their website, 10, 273 people saved in 2008!

Mr. Wilson Lippy, the president of CFO, officiated the day. The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Ed Herr, the president of Herr Foods. His talk was centered around his personal testimony and his relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, Dr. Ben Carson gave a short address to the crowd of over 600.

How can a simple ministry, with sticks and beads, lead so many into salvation? Is it the beads or the leadership? We could give some credit in that direction. However, I must say that the success comes from the Holy Spirit driving the unsaved into the booths and the fact that many work the harvest. It makes me wonder - If local churches took evangelism seriously, if we put workers into the field to share the simple story of Jesus, would we not also see thousands saved?

Thinking of the thousands reached through this ministry, I am reminded of the pressing need for Christ. This, of course, is nothing new. However, you and I live now. So the time of urgency and response is now. We need to take every opportunity to share Jesus Christ with our friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. Keep tilling the soil, planting the seed, watering, and harvesting souls.

-Mark


Please visit our church at http://www.wakefieldbible.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=40157

Touching the Untouchables

I remember that near the end of my first wife's life, Margaret desired human touch, but because of the cancer that was throughout her body, touch was something that brought pain and discomfort. However, the need for human contact outweighed the pain that was caused by it. She needed to be hugged. I recalled that memory, now 17 years old, because of what I observed in church this past Sunday. I watched as some of the broken people made their way into our church. Although they did not know anyone, and I'm sure attending was in many respects uncomfortable for them, their desire for human contact outweighed their fear of pain.

A few weeks back we examined fellowship, A Shared Life in Jesus. Last week we looked at the broken people who have recently made contact with our church. Now this past Sunday, as I stood in front of the congregation I noticed one of these broken in attendance. I also began to see that there are others just as broken. Why were they at Wakefield? Was it to worship? Possibly. Was it to learn of God? Possibly. However, I must think that their desire for human contact played an important part.

In Matthew 8:1-4 we find a leper asking Jesus to heal him. "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Leprosy is a terrible disease, even more so in the time of Christ. People were isolated from society and considered unclean. This is important to remember as we watch Jesus heal the man. Notice the action Jesus took as He healed. "He stretched out His hand and touched him saying, 'I am willing. Be clean!'" Jesus could have healed him with only a word. But Jesus made a point of touching the untouchable.

Lynn Hall and Kari West wrote in their article, The Power of Touch, "Touch acknowledges both a shared humanness and our individual worth. It amplifies our sense of safety and security. Touch heals not only physically, but also psychologically, by affirming our need for belonging and acceptance." So, Jesus not only healed the leper, but He also affirmed the man's need for belonging and acceptance. He also provided something the leper had deeply longed for - human touch.

Look around your community. Whether that community is a neighborhood or a church, there are people who ache for human contact. Human contact for some may cause discomfort, even pain, but I am certain that their desire to be touched will overcome this. Reach out and touch the untouchables.

-Mark

Please visit our church at www.wakefieldbible.org