Saturday, June 26, 2010

Principle #25--Psalms of Discipleship--June 26, 2010--Worship

How full is your "worship tank" today?

Hello my dear friends. How about you? Are you running on empty when it comes to having a life-style marked by worship or have you found the secret to experiencing the kind of worship that fills your heart for more love for God?

I believe song writer Jackson Browne captured the raw feelings of a generation when he penned these words:

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on

Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

And at the end, Browne writes:

Running on
You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find
Running behind
Running into the sun but I'm running behind

In this week's Psalms of Discipleship we will discover the need to keep our focus upon the Lord and worship Him. There are some wonderful promises given to the disciple who runs into the Son and worships Him.

Running with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #25

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:7-8

Core Value: Worship

Worship, true worship, is always an interactive act of faith. God moves and overwhelms the heart and we, the disciple of Jesus, respond accordingly with a fresh sense of awe, wonder, and love for God. Biblical worship must never been seen as a passive, religious duty. Worship is all about cultivating one’s relationship with God. In their groundbreaking book, How People Grow, Cloud and Townsend offer this fresh and freeing perspective:

“Relationship is always more important than task. . . . Activity is bad when it takes the place of relationship rather than serving the purposes of relationship. Activity was designed by God to involve us in the work of life, not to replace closeness.” (Pg. 342)

May we never confuse the kind of activity that keeps us busy doing religious duties (this is driven by works and performance for Him) but leaves us far and away from experiencing an intimacy with the Lord (this is driven by grace and acceptance by Him).

Principle #25 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ, with a heart of worship, has a laser-like focus upon the Lord.

• A heart of worship causes the believer to bless the Lord.

• A heart of worship keeps the Lord continually before the believer.

• A heart of worship takes great comfort in experiencing the Lord’s abiding presence.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Is my worship of the Lord a transforming experience?

What do I need to do today in order to keep the Lord as the focal point of my mind?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, as an act of faith, I choose to bless You. Thank You for the counsel You lavish upon me. What a joy it is for me to always be learning more about You and of Your great love for me. By faith, and out of a desire to walk closer with You, I choose to set You continually before me. Because You are at my right hand, I will not be shaken. I will bask in Your presence as I worship You. May my life be a testimony of one who is intently focused upon You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Principle #24--Psalms of Discipleship--June 19, 2010--Grace

During the day dreams of your life, have you ever dreamed about "striking it rich?" Winning the lottery.....placing your money on the next MicroSoft, Google, or Apple....finding yourself in the will of an eccentric relative you've forgotten about.....getting rich enough so you will never have an unmet need ever again? This classic thought comes from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof:"

Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that
it's no great shame to be poor... but it's no great honor, either. So what would have
been the difference if I had... a small fortune?

If I were a rich man,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
All day long I'd biddy-biddy-bum
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard,
Daidle deedle daidle
Daidle daidle deedle daidle dum
If I were a biddy-biddy rich,
Daidle deedle daidle daidle man.

Hello my friends. We are all very needy people, no matter what our current bank balance might be today or in the future. We all are in desperate need of the Lord and His grace. Rich or poor, we all face the temptation to take control of our lives. This common temptation always leaves us with two choices: to live the Christian life in our own strength or to live the Christian life using God's strength.

This week's Psalms of Discipleship clearly shows us that the Lord's way is much better than ours. If we embrace the poverty He has given us, we will end up much richer than our wildest dreams.

May we learn to embrace our poverty in order to gain Christ's riches,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #24

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalm 16:5-6

Core Value: Grace

There are two ways to accumulate riches: our way or God’s way. Our way, the way of self, costs us much more than we can pay. Sure, we might be able to collect in the course of our life an abundance of possessions and superficial “honors” and fame and be considered by many people as a “winner” of the rat race. But really, what kind of disciple of Jesus wants to win that kind of race? Our way of gaining riches will always lead to a temporal, decaying outcome. God’s way to riches is far different. It begins and ends with poverty.

"Blessed [i.e., fortunate or prosperous] are the poor [i.e., those who are not arrogant] in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (NASB95)

Dallas Willard translates this verse “Blessed are the spiritual zeros—the spiritually bankrupt, deprived and deficient, the spiritual beggars, those without a wisp of ‘religion’—when the kingdom of the heavens comes upon them.” (The Divine Conspiracy, pg. 100)

This is the point: when we renounce the way of legalism, works, and performance and acknowledge our spiritual poverty, we open ourselves to the full benefits of grace. Then, and only then, will we fully appreciate the Lord as the Portion of our inheritance, the Provider of all our needs, the Person who graces us with a beautiful life.

Principle #24 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ is so blessed because of God’s grace.

• The Lord is the Portion of our inheritance. It is grace that gives us what we do not deserve.

• The Lord is the Provider of all our needs. It is grace that gives us what we need.

• The Lord is the Person who graces us with a beautiful life. It is grace that gives us a life of meaning and beauty.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What comes to my mind when I think about the ways God has been good to me?

As other people look at my life, can they see evidence of the grace of God at work in me?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Portion; my Provider; and the Person who graces me with a beautiful life. You, Lord Jesus, are the portion of my inheritance and my cup. You, Lord Jesus, are everything to me. May You, Lord Jesus, pour out Your all sufficient grace upon me.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Principle #23--Psalms of Discipleship--June 12, 2010--Community

It was the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield who made a living off of one line: "I get no respect." Though he used the joke as humor, he was speaking a painful truth on the behalf of many people; even some Christians.

Sad, isn't it? Instead of the church being a safe place where the believer is built up and edified, for many it has become a place of never-ending hurt and mistrust, and a place where respect for each other is woefully lacking.

Hello my dear friends. Once again, it is a pleasure to share with you the significant aspects of my journey. Like you, I am in constant process; learning, contemplating, readjusting, and then pressing on towards the next life lesson the Lord sends my way.

This week's Psalms of Discipleship directs our focus upon the importance of creating "environments of grace" with those we call our "community" of faith. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to give respect to others. The psalmist reminds us how connected we are to each other and to the Lord. May we be challenged by His Word to do exactly what He says: to faithfully live out what we profess to believe.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #23

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. 3 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15:1-5

Core Value: Community

Trust in relationships must be established for any community to be considered as “safe.” The goal of any community of Christians should be “an environment of grace.” In his book, Choose the life: exploring a faith that embraces discipleship, Bill Hull suggests that, “Trust is only present when the faith community experiences relationships of trust in an environment of grace” (2004, pg. 130). Later, Hull goes on to say:

"An environment of grace is a safe place in which people are encouraged to live out the dream God has for them. An environment of grace is where we are accepted for who we are. That doesn’t mean we are not expected to grow and develop—quite the opposite. It is only when we sense acceptance that we will lower our defenses and walk in the light, admitting our needs and allowing others to help us. That is when we will 'trust others with me.'” (Hull 2004, pg. 150)

Living in an environment of grace will always help us treat others with great respect. May we all do our part in creating a safe place where we are helped and where we help others grow closer to Jesus.

Principle #23 & Personal Application: The quality disciple of Jesus Christ treats others with great respect. He or she…

• Walks, works, and speaks in a way that treats others with great respect (vs. 2). Their walk (what they do) is consistent with their talk (what they claim to be).

• Treats others with great respect by using words that do not slander; by committing to a way of life that lavishes each neighbor with godly kindness, and by protecting the integrity of the friendship (vs. 3).

• Despises “the flagrant sinners (NLT) and gives honor to those who are faithful followers of the Lord” (vs. 4).

• Has made the conscious decision to treat others with great respect by never taking advantage of those who are innocent and weaker (vs. 4-5).

• Experiences stability in life because they treat others with great respect (vs. 5).

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Would those who know me best consider me to be a person who treats others with great respect?

Who in my “community of family and friends” need to be affirmed by me?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I do not want to be Your disciple in name only. By Your grace, help me be the kind of person who treats others with great respect.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Principle #22--Psalms of Discipleship: Grace

Warm greetings to each one of you, my friends.

The last time we talked, our subject matter dealt with our response when it seemed that our circumstances would overwhelm us--even to the point of our giving up in the heat of the battle.

I am reminded of the words of an old seminary professor of mine who would remind his students of this great principle: "Don't hoist the white flag of surrender during the smoke of battle." His point? Never underestimate God's plan for you during your trial. "What is He saying? What does He want you to learn? What does He want you to do?"

If we wait on the Lord and trust in His provision of grace, we will be far more stronger in our faith when we get to the other side of the storm.

This is exactly what the Psalmist did: when it seemed that all hope was lost (Psalm 13:1-4), he made the volitional choice of faith to trust in the character of his Lord (His lovingkindess or mercy). Remember: Although our circumstances change, God's character is always the same.

For all of us, we too must make a choice: are we placing our trust in our ability to bend God's will so we may have a "pleasant" outcome from our trials or are we placing our trust in God's character no matter how things turn out for us? Sobering questions. May we all learn how to apply God's grace in a way that will cause us to grow closer to Him.

Learning with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #22

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6

Core Value: Grace

Although the disciple of Jesus Christ often faces times of great adversity and spiritual challenge, it is God’s grace that helps us not only survive, but to live in such a way where we actually grow in our faith. In the book, Follow me: experience the loving leadership of Jesus, Jan David Hettinga lends his voice to the perspective of grace being the catalyst to spiritual growth.

“Grace, the supernatural forgiving love and transforming power of God, is released through the deliberate act of giving up the kingdom of self. Giving up is not a ‘work.’ It is a cessation of resistance. It is the losing wrestler surrendering to the winner. God repeatedly makes it clear that He resists the proud (those who are full of their own egoism) but gladly gives grace to the humble (Psalm 18:27, James 4:6-10, 1 Peter 5:5-6). The faucet that turns on the pipeline of saving grace is the voluntary choice of humility. This is the heart of repentance. The event of salvation then immediately becomes the process of humble obedience. And enabling grace keeps on flowing.” (Hettinga 1996, pg. 141-142)

May His enabling grace keep on flowing through each one of us; every day, in every way.

Principle #22 & Personal Application: The quality disciple responds to the grace of God with trust, rejoicing, and singing.

Because God’s grace has been bountifully applied to our lives:

• We can put our trust in His lovingkindess.

• We can rejoice in His salvation with our heart.

• We can with sing with a heart of praise and worship to the Lord.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Psalms 40:5 (NASB95)

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I take a few moments and meditate on the grace of God, what comes to my mind?

How does the grace of God compel me to serve Him today?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You have dealt bountifully with me. You have given me what I do not deserve (that’s grace) and not given me what I do deserve (that’s mercy). May I put my trust in Your lovingkindness; may my heart rejoice in Your great salvation; may I sing to You today with a heart of praise and worship to my Great God!

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.