#358 - HOW TO PUT INSECURITY TO DEATH PERMANATELY

For many of my teenage and young adult years, I found myself pondering upon the following questions for significant lengths of time.

Are my parents proud of me? Do my siblings look up to me? Do my old classmates perceive me as succesful? Do my current friends respect me? Do my mentors think I have what it takes? Do my peers take me seriously? Does my boss value me? Do my teachers believe in me?

The reason I spent so much time thinking about these things? Insecurity.

I was so unconfident in my abilities. I was so unsure of my calling. I was so uncomfortable with my lack of experience.

As a result of my insecurities, I found myself constantly trying to prove myself. To my friends. To my family members. To everyone.

Though I would have never admitted it, most of the motivation for doing the things I did came from my desire to gain the acceptance and approval of those around me.

And if you’ve ever been heavily motivated by the desire for affirmation from others, you know, it’s elusive and exhausting.

And then, I discovered the gospel.

More specifically, 2 Corinthians 5:21:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, His righteous record is my righteous record. His sinless life is my sinless life. His perfect performance is my perfect performance.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, his complete fulfillment of the righteous requirements of the law is credited to me!

This means, through my faith in Jesus Christ, I stand eternally justified before Almighty God. Eternally approved. Eternally accepted. Eternally affirmed.

There is no amount of good that I could do to make God love me any more and no amount of bad that I could do to make God love me any less!

When this all finally clicked, and I fully received the truth that Christ’s righteousness was my righteousness, insecurity no longer had any place in my life. 

When you know that the God of the universe accepts you, the affirmation and approval of everyone else really becomes a non-issue. And when your need to be accepted by others is put to death, true confidence can come to life.

#356 - HOW YOUR "SINGING TIME" CAN MOVE FROM DUTY TO JOY

For the longest time, I didn’t really understand why we sang songs during a church service. Because I grew up going to church and experienced this “song singing” from a very early age, the act was just second nature to me. I never really thought about whywe actually did it.

I guess I just figured, this is what Christians do. I guess I just assumed, this is how Christians show they love God. I guess I just determined, the music is the prelude to the message.

The problem with this type of thinking was that it lead me to connect very little to the “singing time” of a church service.

Instead of participating, I found myself watching those around me. Instead of enjoying, I found myself evaluating the band. Instead of wanting the singing to continue, many times, I couldn’t wait till it was over.

And then, I discovered the gospel.

Four aspects of the good news of Jesus Christ, in particular, had a profound impact on my view of “singing time.”

1. On the cross that Jesus died, the wrath I deserve is satisfied. (Propitiation)

2. On the cross that Jesus died, the stain of my sin is purified. (Expiation)

3. On the cross that Jesus died, my approval from God is solidified. (Justification)

4. On the cross that Jesus died, my place in God’s family is verified. (Adoption)

Wow! God loves me so much that He sent His one and only Son to achieve all of this on my behalf!

Because of propitiation, I can live with peace. Because of expiation, I can live with joy. Because of justification, I can live with confidence. Because of adoption, I can live with security.

Where else in the world can I find such great gifts? Who else in the world can be such a great Giver? How can I be chosen to receive these gifts when I feel like such an unworthy recipient?

It makes so much sense to me now.

Singing isn’t something I have to do to show God how much I love him. Singing is something I am compelled to do when I realize how much God loves me!

#355 - HOW TO STOP WASTING AWAY IN WORRY

So many waking hours of my life were wasted worrying.

And the area of my life that I was most proficient in worrying about was my finances.

What can I do to make more money? Where can I borrow money from next? When will my financial situation ever improve? Why did I make such foolish decisions? How can I explain to my wife that it’s not going to be like this forever?

These questions, in and of themselves, were not bad. What was most detrimenal was the stress and anxiety that came as a result of dwelling upon these questions for prolonged periods of time.

Allowing myself to be overly concerned with things that were not under my control was frustrating. Allowing myself to be overly anxious about the next source of provision was taxing. Allowing myself to feel overly guily for the past financial mistakes I had made was shameful.

But then, I discovered the gospel.

I discovered the good news about a provision that I could never obtain for a problem that I could never fix.

God has provided, a Savior for my sins.

A spotless life to earn my righteousness. A willing substitute to pay my penalty. God has provided a way for me to have a relationship with Him not on the merits of something I have yet to do, but on the merits of something Jesus Christ has already done.

God has provided a way for me to escape His punishment and, instead, enjoy His presence. God has provided a way for me to stop running from His wrath, and, instead, fall to my knees in worship. God has provided a way for me to avoid isolation from Him and, instead, experience intimacy with Him.

And it is when I am most aware of how God has already graciously provided for my greatest spiritual needs that a confidence rises up within me to trust Him to provide for my physical needs.

It is when I dwell upon God’s goodness in providing for me a Savior that my worries, anxieties, and fears fade away and make space for an experience that no amount of money can purchase…peace.

#354 - HOW YOU CAN KILL PRIDE BEFORE PRIDE KILLS YOU

I never wanted to be prideful, but it just came so easily to me.

Now, just to be clear, I’m not talking about the healthy type of pride that is key for maintaining a proper sense of confidence and morale. I’m talking about the unhealthy type of pride that overemphasizes your self-worth at the expense of the self-worth of another. I’m talking about the type of pride that drives one to believe that they are, in some way, inherently, “better” than someone else.

It came so easily to me to look down on those who didn’t have the financial resources, educational opportunities, and family structure that I had.

Scoffing at those who struggled with addiction, depression, and anxiety was second nature. Dismissing those without discipline, self-control, or drive was automatic. Being frustrated with people who didn’t “have it together” was the norm.

There’s no doubt about it, I was a prideful punk.

And then, I discovered the gospel.

I discovered good news which was only made better by the bad news that preceded it.

The bad news is, my inclination to turn my back on God through selfish behavior, sinful habits, and shameful thoughts, is deserving of God’s judgement and wrath. The bad news is, my propensity to fall short of God’s perfect standard has earned me eternal separation from God. The bad news is, my pride that I mentioned above is “cosmic treason” towards a holy and righteous God that must be punished.

And to make this bad news worse, there is no amount of good I can do to change this outcome. None.

The good news is, God did something good to change this outcome. The gospel declares that God gave, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to live the life I could never live and die the death that I was supossed to die. The good news is, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, I can escape the wrath of God and enjoy perfect intimacy with my Heavenly Father.

But just in case you missed it, what makes this work of salvation possible is GOD, by GRACE, through FAITH, in CHRIST.

My name appears nowhere in that equation.

There is just no room for pride. As the old saying goes, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.” I need God’s grace to rescue me from the same amount of sin as the least “put together” person that I have ever pridefully judged - all of it.

And it is when this truth sinks into our hearts, that only one thing should seep out of our lives…humility.

#346 - THE REASON WHY I'M RICH

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. - 2 Corinthians 8:9

Jesus was bruised and beaten so that I could live whole and healed.
Jesus experienced a brutal death so that I could enjoy a beautiful life.
Jesus left the comforts of Heaven so that I could be comforted on earth.
Jesus gave everything He had so I could, one day, enjoy everything He has.
Jesus was condemned by God once, so that I could be approved by God forever.
Jesus was declared guilty before men so that I could be found innocent before God.
Jesus was forsaken by God, for a moment, so that I could be embraced by God, for a lifetime.
Jesus took the punishment for my sin so that I could inherit the blessing of his righteousness.

In the final analysis, Jesus became poor so that I could become rich!

But unless what Jesus did for me is profoundly impacting how I treat others, what He has done for me has not accomplished its' purpose completely.

Jesus loved lavishly so that I could lavishly love.
Jesus forgave freely so that I could freely forgive.
Jesus gave generously so that I could generously give.
Jesus sacrificed selflessly so that I could selflessly sacrifice.
Jesus persevered patiently so that I could patiently persevere.

But Jesus didn't do these things just to be another source of inspiration, He did these things so that He might become the power behind my transformation.

#332 - SAYING "YES" MATTERS

Over the last several years I have continually said, "Yes" to exchanging my hopes and dreams for my life for God's plans and purposes for my life.

I shut down a non-profit organization I had started. I transitioned into full-time vocational ministry. I remained faithful with a student ministry and young adult ministry. I followed through with the decision to plant a church. I built a team to plant with me. I committed to plant in the city of Oakland. I moved to the city of Oakland. I went back to school to complete my BA in Pastoral Studies. I raised an "impossible" amount of funds. And I am currently doing my best to create a church that people who don't like church like to attend.

I'm so glad I have said "Yes."

I could have said "No." I could have made excuses. I could have waited. I could have let the obstacles, setbacks and challenges discourage me. I could have allowed fear to win.

But by the grace of God, I said, "Yes" and I'm so glad that I did! Because tonight, I'm convinced to a degree that I have never been before that:

Every time I say "Yes" to God's will for my life, I am saying "Yes" to God's best for my life!

It's amazing to think that a simple three-letter word could change my life for the better in ways that I could have never imagined.

The challenge that I have before me today is to continue to say "Yes" to God's purposes and plans for my life especially when it would be much more convenient to say...No.

#245 - WITHOUT THIS YOUR ACHIEVED DREAMS ARE WORTHLESS

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – Jesus of Nazareth

Though your dreams are important.
Though your purpose is key.
Real life can only be found
In the presence of He.

For apart from Christ’s love
No real fruit will you bear.
Of this timeless truth
I hope you’re aware.

#228 - THE UNCONVENTIONAL WAY TO BECOMING A BETTER LEADER

Are you following well?

Loving those who lead you?
Supporting those whom you serve?
Caring for those who are in charge?

Or are you Arrogant? Selfish? Prideful?

My encouragement for you today is this – Follow well.

Pray for your leaders.
Be there for your leaders.
Go the extra mile for your leaders.

I know, you are a leader too.

But can we really expect of those who follow us what we wouldn’t expect of ourselves?

#207 - SUN STAND STILL BY STEVEN FURTICK

Who would have thought that seven words could be so encouraging:

When God speaks, he does not stutter.

If He said He’d provide for you, He will.
If He said He’d protect you, He will.
If He said He’d be there for you, He will.

God does not stutter.

If He said He loves you, He does.
If He said He forgives you, He has.
If He said He is enough, He is.

God does not stutter.

If He said you will accomplish great things, you will.
If He said you would make His name famous, you will.
If He said you are going to make the world a better place, you will. 

And because He’s doesn’t stutter, we shouldn’t stall.

If He said go, go.
If He said try, try.
If He said stop, stop.

God does not stutter.

If He said pursue, pursue.
If He said believe, believe.
If He said forgive, forgive.

Act on what you’ve heard.

God didn’t stutter.

#110 - IF YOU ONLY KNEW

If you only knew
Of your destiny inside
You would decide on this day
From your art you won’t hide.

If you only knew
Of your purpose within
You would no longer bother
With that particular sin.

If you only knew
Of your assignment from birth
You would make a commitment
To realize your self-worth.

If you only knew
The true value of you
Your world would be changed.
If you only knew...