Sweet Spot Serving and the Glory of God

Yesterday, I spoke on Discovering Your Servant Profile or ("sweet spot").  Had I more time, I would have liked to speak even more about the glory of God in our serving.  This video and song addresses the nature of God's glory as He weaves his poetry into the story of our existence.  The result is our redemption and His glory.  If you are grieving today, please watch this video.

Losing the Gospel

"A servant of God has but one Master. It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honored in that world where his Lord was poor, and mean, and despised." --George Muller




This Sunday begins The Adventure of Greatness at Open Door.  Together, we will take our next step in Christlikeness through Spirit-led service.  Jim did a great job setting up the series by asking one of the greatest questions a leader can ask: "Do I seek to serve or be served?"  I've been thinking about this question today, and I've realized something as a result.  


There are two distinct mentalities among Christians: 

1. Those who follow Christ for blessings (friends, money, connections, eternal life),
2. Those who follow Christ for God's glory as they live in relationship with Him.  

I used to think that self-centered Christianity was limited only to what I saw on TBN, "the health and wealth gospel", as it is called.  It was easy for me to cast judgement on the makeup, big hair and expensive jewelry as I boldly proclaimed that the gospel was all about me getting into heaven.  For me, not sinning was a good way to not offend God, but there wasn't much else to Christianity.  


God renovated my view of the gospel with Romans 1:16-17 when it says that in the gospel, "the righteousness of God is revealed."  I was surprised that it didn't focus on the fact that in the gospel the blessing of eternal life is revealed (though that is also true).  My paradigm realigned when I realized that while the gospel has many benefits for me, it is ultimately about God's glory.  


When I lose site of God's glory, I lose site of the gospel.  


Consider this.  The gospel is the story of God humbling himself, becoming a servant and dying the most humiliating death possible in order to pay our sin debt (Philippians 2:5-11).  This is how God chose to bring himself glory.  This is how He reveals himself.  


I don't want to lose site of God's glory.  I want the thought of His greatness to consume every breath, every thought, every step.  I want Him to get the glory when I step out of bed, when I kiss my wife, when I talk to my son and when I go to work.  I don't want to forget that every moment is for His glory, and as such every moment should be used to glorify Him by serving others.  It's all about God's glory.  


If you haven't signed up for the Adventure of Greatness, its not too late.  Click here to join a Life Group and the Adventure of Greatness.    

A Night to Remember

Tonight God did something amazing.

I recently found out that our special meeting place, Jim's Coffee House is closing.  Business isn't good.  Financially, Jim just can't keep the place open.  A pillar of our community is dissolving, and it hurts.

I think if all the memories I have at Jim's.  I've watched people shed their doubts as they see the truth of God revealed.  People far from God have returned to Him.  Hope has been restored there.  It is a very special place. Watching it disappear is like losing a home.

A lot of things have been changing.  I'm watching my grandparents move more quickly toward eternity.  I've seen friends move away.  On top of it, today I found out my Compassion child, Carlens is too old to remain in the program.  I am writing my last letter to him this week.

With a heavy heart, I walked into Jim's Coffee House for Frequency.  I was grieving, but didn't want to show it.  I tried to keep my chin up so that the group (which has grown significantly in the last year) would not lose hope, but inside I was aching.

I couldn't wait to get to the discussion.  Something happens when we open the Word of God at Frequency.  The words become clear, the discussion becomes rich.  The Holy Spirit shows up.  I wanted Him so bad tonight.  I wanted His comfort.  I wanted to know that God has a plan and that its all going to work out.

It is no coincidence that we have been studying Romans and just happened to be studying Romans 8:18 to the end of the chapter tonight.  The whole passage is on God's power and plan.  The Words were more than comforting.  When we came to Romans 8:28, which says that God works all things together for the good of them that love God, someone who almost never speaks raised her hand and shared about something God had done.  She had prayed very specifically that a child she knows would ask for her to give him a Bible.  She didn't just pray for an opportunity.  She prayed that the boy would ask.  The child had seen great sufferring, and she knew he needed God.  Later, they met and he started talking about God.  A question came up and she got out her Bible to show him a verse.  As soon as they were done he said, "Could I have this?"  She choked back tears as all of us stood in awe of this sovereign God who honors the prayers of His children.

Her testimony led to another, and then to another.  The Holy Spirit was working and we could all feel Him.  I can't explain exactly what its like, but it involves awe as you see the magnificent glory of God.  The discussion went on and we couldn't help but respond with praise to this awesome God.

Eventually, I closed in prayer, but in the middle of my prayer I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me to open it up for salvation.  I paused the prayer and presented the Gospel then asked anyone interested to pray along with me.  When I asked if anyone did, a hand went up.  God saved someone tonight at Frequency!

As we finished, he came and spoke with me.  Before long, another young man came up to share thank me for the lesson.  He has been far from God and came tonight seeking help.  He has returned to God.

I don't know what is next for Frequency.  I know we will keep meeting at the church after we can no longer meet at Jim's (our last meeting there is August 31st).  I also know that God is doing something big.  I'm certain we are going to have more stories of His sovereign hand.  I also know that some of those stories are going to involve trials.  Whatever happens, God is going to work it together for our good and His glory.  Praise Him!

It is a great thing to see His glory revealed.