Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you might obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24).

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)


Pretty much every one of us have made a New Years resolution of one kind or another. Probably the most common is to lose weight or to exercise. Usually these kinds of commitments don't make it through the first week of the year. We find that for some reason it just isn't in us to fulfill the resolution we have made. We simply don't have the strength in ourselves.
While that is the most common problem with resolutions, there is another. There are those, "the few, the proud", who seem to have the intestinal fortitude to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. You might say, "That's great! Isn't that the American way?" The problem is that they have set their goals by themselves and for themselves, and seek to fulfill them in their own strength.
In Daniel 5, we read the story of Belshazzar and the handwriting on the wall. This Babylonian king was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who had taken the Jews captive, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and brought the articles of the temple to the city of Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up in arrogance, The Lord humbled him so that he became like an animal for seven years "till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25b). But Belshazzar didn't learn this lesson from his grandfather. Daniel prophesies God's indictment against him: "And you have lifted yourself up against The Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; AND THE GOD WHO HOLDS YOUR BREATH IN HIS HANDS AND OWNS ALL YOUR WAYS, YOU HAVE NOT GLORIFIED". (Daniel 5:23).
The point is that we were created in the image and likeness of God in order that we might have a meaningful relationship with Him, that we don't live our lives apart from Him, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that He freely gives to those who ask (Luke 11:13). We were not designed to live by our own might, or power, but by his Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
How is it that you plan to live in 2013? Do you plan to set your own goals and strive to fulfill them however you can, or do you plan to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and allow Him to add into your life all the things that you need (Matthew 6:33)? The Lord has a great plan for you this year that involves your good and His glory. Let's not be satisfied with anything less than all that He has for us.

Pastor Chris

Saving Your Life

"Then He said to them all, 'if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?'"
(Luke 9:23-25)

How much does Jesus mean to you? If you are a Christian you may be insulted that I would even ask such a thing. "Of course He's number one in my life." But saying that Jesus is number one means that there are many other things that get thrown into the equation as well. Do I take care of Jesus in the morning with a quick devotion, and then go on with everything else on your list? Jesus doesn't want to be a part of your life, or even an important part of your life. He wants to be your life. He wants you to look at every area of your life through Him. There is a simple test that you can give yourself to find out where you are with Jesus. Ask yourself the question: "When I have nothing to think about, what am I thinking about?"
Check out Colossians 3:1-4.

Keep your eyes on Jesus,

Pastor Chris

Blessings

I remember from my days at Columbia International University the words of then president Robertson McQuilken in addressing theological issues, "It is easier to go to either extreme than to stay in the center of biblical tension". This is very true when it comes to the issue of the blessing of God upon a person's life and ministry. On one side are the preachers of prosperity who tell us that it is God's will for each of us to be materialistically well off. On the other side are those who believe that we are more spiritual and earn greater merits if we go through suffering. The biblical balance is that God does fully intend to bless our lives, not necessarily with a lot of material garbage, but with real relationship with Himself. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3). These blessing are administered and applied by the Holy Spirit. Now, if you have a hard time with the fact that God wants to bless you, realize that there is a broader purpose to it, that you might be a blessing to others.

Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Great New App

Hi Everyone,
Just checking out this new Blogger App that I downloaded today. This should make it much easier to update.

God Bless,

Pastor Chris

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to share how much of a blessing it was to go to St Pete last night to see Pastor Chuck and Love Song. It was great to hear again those songs that I first heard when I was saved back in 1974. It was a special blessing to get to hear and speak with my pastor, Pastor Chuck. But the greatest blessing was that the Lord allowed me to see the work that He is doing in the people of Calvary Chapel Cape Coral. To see your excitement in the Lord, and how you were ministered to by Pastor Chuck was just the greatest blessing.
A verse that the Lord ministered to me earlier in my walk was John 11:40, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God". Then you might ask where the glory of God is seen. Paul answers that question in a couple of verses. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". And also Ephesians 3:21 says, " to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." The glory of God is seen as He works in the lives of His people. God will be glorified in Cape Coral as we each allow Jesus to continually be working in our hearts. Thanks for helping me to see the glory of God.

In Jesus,
Pastor Chris

Looking for the Lord to Lead

In Acts 8:26-40 we have the story of how the Lord led Philip, step by step, to share Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch. As the ministry in Samaria was thriving, an angel shows up and tells him to go south on the road Gaza. Luke points out that this was desert. The question would come to mind, wondering if this could really be God's will. The critical thing to notice is that he is given only the first step, "to go". It isn't until he obeys that he is given the second step, and each of the following steps. He sees the eunuch in his chariot reading, and the Spirit tells him to go run up next to the chariot. It just so happens that the eunuch is reading Isaiah 53. The follows the Great Commission from there as the Ethiopian comes to a relationship with Jesus. Most of us would love be led like Philip was, to have that sense that God is personally directing our lives. The first step is to believe that God does and He will direct us. Then do what you already know to be God's will. Do those things that He calls each of us to do as believers. Decide ahead of time that you are going to obey, even before you know what His will might be. Then you can expect God to lead you.

As I write this blog, I am in California at the Pastors' conference. I may be in California, buy my body is still on Florida time. I'm here because the Lord showed me that He wanted me to be by providing for the trip. Because of the flight schedules, I have to fly our here on Sunday, even though the conference doesn't start until Monday at noon. I've come to look forward to seeing how the Lord will direct these Sundays here at the conference center. Last year I sat down at a table with some people and had a conversation that led to the article in the Calvary Chapel Magazine. This year, as I was walking across the parking lot in front of the registration area, a man stands up from a table across from where I was and calls my name. I didn't recognize him at first, but after a second look I realized that it was David Evans from Calvary Chapel Greenwood, SC. I had not seen him in 21 years. CC Greenwood is the church where I was ordained and sent out from. We had a great time of fellowship, renewing the friendship and watching the end of the NBA playoffs at Rosa's Cantina. You just never know what the Lord will do, when you are open to, and looking for, His leading.
Pastor Chris

Beginning at Matthew 16:13 Jesus asks the disciples who people are saying that He is. They gave Him many different opinions, just as people have many different opinions today. But then Jesus makes the question personal, asking who they say that He is. And Peter responds that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The important thing about this opinion was that it didn't come from man but from God. Jesus told Peter that he was blessed because he was receiving information from God, and forming his opinion based upon that. What is the source of your opinions about life and eternity, man or God?

Pastor Chris