Kingdom Bound Radio

I found myself thinking about Pastoral ministry today. So, this is a quick message about how Pastors need prayers too.

Everybody hurts. Most people hear those words and instantly recall the R.E.M. hit song. I can assure you that today's message will comfort you a whole lot more than listening to music will. It's one of the most common questions: 'What is God's purpose in suffering?' Today, we'll attempt to answer that question not with a deep, theological treatise, but with a brief Biblical overview that I pray will give you some hope for the future regardless of your circumstances at this very moment whether you're a believer or a non-believer.

We've been talking about work and being a Christian who masquerades as a professional in the marketplace here on Kingdom Bound Radio. Today, let's talk about ministry, which is anything but a job, but a calling. You work hard in ministry for the Lord. You devote lots of time and energy to your efforts for Him. Yet, no matter how hard you work, you won't see any true changes for the better unless Jesus shows up to be in it. Guess what? He won't show up if you're doing what YOU want to do, instead of what HE wants to do through you. Your ministry will change lives only if you crucify your own personal agenda and focus on Jesus Christ and His perfect plans for your work in ministry. It's called 'crucifying your ministry' and today we'll examine how you can do just that.

Do you worry about work? No, I don't just mean whether or not you worry about getting/losing a job (although that's certainly part of it), but instead mean whether or not you are the type of person who sweats the outcomes of almost each and every situation you face at work. Maybe you're in Sales and you're faced with reaching a specific budget or quota each month. Maybe you're in Staffing and you regularly worry about getting enough New Hires in each week. Maybe you're a Senior Manager or a Small Business Owner and you constantly stress about generating enough cash flow and revenue. How should Christians in the marketplace respond to such things? In the previous podcast messages, we've been talking about how important it is for Christians to understand that their life is their witness. One of the most common mission fields today is a person's place of employment. What is your attitude and behavior saying about your faith with others you work with? That was last time on KBR. Today, we continue to focus a little more on ourselves and our shortcomings and ask whether or not 'sweating outcomes' is Biblical behavior for us in the workplace.

We all are familiar with complaints. People complain about foul weather, poor health, and lack of sufficient funds. They cry about their rights being violated, the mistakes of their civil authorities, and the poor performance of their cars. The list of people's complaints is practically limitless. We rightly tire of hearing others' complaints, unless they are ones we share, then we join in the grumbling and criticizing. Do you think that complaining about anything is a fruit of the Spirit? Do you think being a person who gripes all the time is truly becoming of a Christian? Don't you know that your life is to be a witness for Christ? What happened to the truth of verses like Philippians 4:11 "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."? Today, we look at a complaining spirit and how we can counter it.

Did you know that God's Word clearly tells us over and over again to make sure that whatever we do we do it to the glory of God? Why is that? Well, because your life is your witness to the power of Christ working in your life. Why is it important to be mindful of what your life is saying to the rest of the world? Most people could care less about what others think of them. However, if you call yourself a Christian, then you have no business possessing that kind of mindset. Today, we'll examine this principle and consider its real life application.

Bitterness is what we feel when others sin against us. I think we’re all in agreement about that statement, right? Ok, but just because that’s the natural human response, is that also the Christian response to such people and their actions? The reality is that in all walks of life we’re going to encounter sinners who will hurt us directly or indirectly by their actions. There are those who are the lost and unregenerate who sin against us causing us feelings of bitterness, and then there are even those brothers and sisters in Christ who sin against us and cause the same feelings. Truth is, we were lost sinners once ourselves, and even stumble even now and then even though we're saved and in Christ. The goal for us –- regardless of who did what -– is to create a 'No Bitterness Zone' because that’s what the Lord wants us to strive for as we learn to submit to the Holy Spirit during such experiences. Are you bitter? If so, how can you break the bondage to bitterness Biblically?

It's one of the few passages recorded for us in the Gospels that we probably know by heart. The infamous 'log' verses! Matthew 7:3-5 "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." Today, I want us to focus on what it means to "speak the truth in love" as Christians are expected to. The content for this podcast comes from Defending Contending’s July 2011 post titled 'Poking Each Other In The Eye', and it’s entirely appropriate given our current series here on KBR about confronting sin, anger, bitterness, and resentment. My intention with this study today is to continue our series by investigating this theology of gentleness and love, and what it means to "speak the truth in love" , but to do so by truly walking in the Spirit, and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, as we deal with one another honestly, but Biblically.

"Why are you so angry?" God asked Cain this question when He had rejected Cain’s offering and Cain became angry and sullen. Perhaps the same question could be asked of many of us today. Many people are battling with bitterness, or outright anger and hostility. People are angry at parents, angry with the government, angry with spouses, angry at their circumstances in life, angry about their health, angry about the outcome of some financial venture, and angry about injustices of all kinds. The anger within people is destructive both to one’s thinking and one’s relationships. Anger is the devil’s foothold in many lives. Why are you angry and what are you doing about it? Did you know that God notices all of our sinful passions and discontents? There is not an angry, envious, or fretful look that escapes His observing eye. Please join us and learn why this question "Why are you angry?" is an important one to ask yourself if it applies to you.

Is there someone in your life that you look up to? A parent? A brother? A sister? A family member? A friend? Someone you think a great deal of? What if all of that changed in an instant? What if you discovered a dark, secret sin of theirs and felt the consequences of their sin to the point where it changed everything in your life? My guess is that even those of us who call ourselves 'Christians' would become very angry in response to the hurt and pain we felt. But would we allow that anger to take root and to cause us to be angry toward the Lord, the church, and anyone who crossed our path? Someone once said that bitterness imprisons life, but love releases it. Today, we're going to briefly examine the issue of believers and bitterness.

God's Word as contained in the Holy Bible is intended to serve as our 'Instruction Manual For Life' it's been said. It is so much more than that though! It is God's 'Love Letter' to His bride, and so whenever the Scriptures present the 'do's-and-don'ts' of Christian living it is never in a legalistic fashion (as if to say, "Do these things or else you won't be saved!") No, hardly! We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, they are there to serve as 'boundaries' to help guide us into obedience and worship of Him with our very lives. As any parent or grandparent knows, boundaries demonstrate one's extreme love for another since their best interest and well-being is always at the heart of it. That being said, why do we always act as if His clear boundaries are a 'bad' thing? More importantly, how can we mature in our faith to the point where we immediately know (as though it were a reflex) what the proper Biblical response is when temptation comes to push us to cross God's boundaries? Please join us today for this Bible study and discussion.

Let's be honest. We really have nothing to complain about. Whatever our lot in life, the Lord is sovereign, and He richly graces us with His blessings according to His perfect will for our lives. Today, I'm noticing that this seems to be the theme that God is hammering into my mind for some reason since everywhere I turn this spiritual truth (praising Him at all times regardless of our circumstances) is coming up over and over again. At the moment, I can't quite determine if it's a message intended solely for me, or the kind of general reminder intended to be issued to the entire Body of Christ. I'm not taking any chances either way.

Some brief comments about the answer to this age old question...

I don't think that anyone (whether a believer or a non-believer) would dispute that we're living in dark, unprecedented times. From foreclosures to infidelities, bankruptcy to the pressures of being better than everyone else, this life can weigh you down and suffocate you if you're not careful. The problem is that we need to take our eyes off of the mirror we hold up to ourselves because it is influenced by a world that wants nothing else but to seduce you until you drown in a sea of lies. Please join Kingdom Bound Radio as we explore an encouraging word let alone what it means to 'Peel Your Eyes From The Mirror'.

Did you know that the Scriptures tell us that we have 3 enemies that are bent on our death and destruction? Satan, The World, and The Flesh. In the previous podcast, we spent some time talking about the pressures of life and how Christians should respond to them Biblically. Typically, the pressures of life are fueled by our common adversaries. In this edition of KBR, we spend some time talking about the reality of "spiritual warfare" and try to offer some principles of growth for the new and/or maturing Christian. Please tune in to learn who your enemies are and how to defend yourself and your family from them.

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